How do you do it, how do you come up after hitting rock bottom?

Winter is hard, SAD kicks in and changes my whole dynamic and plans. There are moments I feel like disappearing, instants when I don’t see the point in dragging the human existence but then I remember about the people who love me and I feel guilty for ever thinking that way (which surely doesn’t help either). SAD makes you go on a roller-coaster of emotions through the day. As a therapist one imagines: ‘that shouldn’t happen to you, you should have it under control’, I hear this jugging voice in my head. When it hits rock bottom I spend my free time watching inspiring talks one after another Abraham-Hicks is by far my favourite as it touches the wounds and makes them heal with a little smile.

The Soul is tormented I hear people saying. The soul is not tormented, the personality (ego/self-identification) is tormented. If you can sense the soul all the torment will gradually disappear. Once you connect with the infinite beauty, love and perfection that your soul is, the tormenting will cease. I am not saying that you will feel numb or that you will be somehow hypnotised and won’t experience any pain but you will acknowledge the pain in a different way when you don’t attach your sense of self to it and don’t allow it to define you.

There is a difference in experiencing the pain as something that it is happening and being the pain and feeling unworthy, unloved or desperate because you identify with it so much that can’t understand that the pain isn't you, you aren’t the pain, you aren’t your physical, mental and emotional states, you only experience these. You are the soul.    

How do you do it, how do you come up after hitting rock bottom?

Do things that will help you get up the scale of feelings. If you are feeling sad look around you and find at least one thing in your life that you are grateful for. If this is already a lot of work stay there and maybe think about other things that you are grateful for, then gradually come up the scale to feeling optimistic…and up to feeling joyful, free, empowered.   

Meditate, practice yoga, surround yourself with things that inspire you (plants, books, people). Go outside, walk in nature, swim in the ocean, call your friends, gather your crew for a cup of tea, try something different, cuddle your pet, tell a loved one how much they mean to you.  

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It is still a beautiful day, just a little bit sadder

I rouse early, made soup, baked flourless bread and prepared raw protein bars. Brunch was alfresco in shorts and t-shirt while enjoying the fantastic weather. By impulse the scrubs ended up nicely trimmed and the pateo clean.  While walking barefoot on the grass the urge to practice yoga arouse and the movements were fluid and soft, the body gently caressed by the sun rays.

On my return from the shop and with the Sunday newspaper in hand I sat on the grass with a freshly brewed coffee. I tend to start with the serious news and then move to culture and travel supplements to end in a good note. Some articles I only cross read to get an idea of the contents, others, I immerse myself fully into the writing. My heart stopped when I read that my favourite columnist had walked into the sea 5 days ago.

Sally Brampton has been the reason why I buy the Psychologies magazine every single month. ‘You buy a paper magazine, that’s so old fashion.’ My friends say.
I open the magazine with the same excitement as if it was a letter written to me and sent all the way by post in a pink envelope with heart stickers.

She wrote ‘Life is about connection and it is what we lose when we are in the shadows.’ The woman who helped us all (British & Irish) fight through the darkest days of the soul (depression) decided to leave us. She had been the one cheering us up and helping us understand ourselves and others. I felt like I knew Sally, I emailed her once telling her how impactful her words can be when one feels grey, and no, not the fifty shades kind. She was an inspiring and uplifting character that helped me deeply through the year’s way back to her column in the Sunday times newspaper.   

I don’t believe in gurus as I prefer real people, the ones that reveal who they really are, with their flaws, insecurities and fears. Sally was one of these people, she wrote from the core of her own being. Her essence was one of a beautiful flower, no wonder she loved gardening.   

"I had carried on when all I wanted was to be dead. I had stayed alive for other people. I never stayed alive for myself. I cannot begin to describe the intensity of that effort." Sally Brampton

 I haven’t moved past the same page, it is still a beautiful day, just a little bit sadder. ©

Picture from Sally's site http://sallybrampton.co.uk/category/sanity/page/2/