Let’s be honest. Breaking any habit can be hard work. There are times when you may feel anxious, hopeless, sad, and pessimistic about your chances for success, especially when you have relapsed. It is important to be aware of when these feelings are more than a persistent feeling of sadness and have turned into depression.
Depression is a mental health disorder that can affect the way you feel about your life and the way you feel about yourself. Depression is more than a passing bad mood, and it affects your thoughts, mood, and body.
If you’re suffering from depression or suspect you may be, you know that you can’t just “snap out of it” and be a happy person the next day.
To make your habit change work, you can try some or all of these habit-breaking secrets:
- working out. Exercise releases endorphins, which are the “feel good” hormones. Sometimes the last thing you feel like doing is exactly what your body needs, so get moving ASAP.
- goals. Sometimes the goal of “quitting smoking” can seem overwhelming. A really useful technique is to break the goal into smaller pieces that are more manageable. For example, if you currently smoke a pack a day, then you might start by having two cigarettes in the pack at the end of the day. The following week you could move to having four cigarettes at the end of each day until you break the habit completely.
- support network. Get in touch with the people in your support network and arrange some nice outings. Have lunch or go to the movies (especially one that makes you laugh!). This will help you improve your mood and remind you of the good things in your life.
- Celebration. Now that you’ve set small, manageable goals, it’s time to celebrate once you reach them. It’s all too easy to let goal achievement slip by without stopping and celebrating your success. Your choice of celebration can be small or large; just remember to do it!
- comparisons. Stop them! Some of our most unhappy moments are when we compare ourselves to others and discover that we don’t like the comparison. Remember that it doesn’t matter if your friend kicks the habit in 21 days. That was her journey to change habits, this is yours. It doesn’t matter if it takes you longer to change clothes than others you know; the important point is that you are taking the important step to change habits.
- keep the future in mind. Focus on how you will feel and look when you have completely broken your habit.
- Medical assistance. Depression is an illness, so if your symptoms persist or you begin to have thoughts of death or suicide, see a doctor. There are many ways a doctor can help you.
It is important to remember that depression is not a sign of personal weakness. Be kind to yourself and get the help you need.
