Mike's Story
Mike shares how exercise, journalling, and celebrating the small victories helped him overcome his depression.
"Don’t be afraid to celebrate small victories. It’s those small victories stacked one on top of the other that will pull you out."
About Mike:
Proud Papa Bear, and your friendly neighborhood beer salesman. Well, at least if you live in DC, Maryland or Virginia! Author of “The Baby Daddy Survival Guide – Common Sense Coparenting”
WHAT WAS THE MAJOR TURNING POINT IN YOUR RECOVERY FROM DEPRESSION?
Growing up in a sphere where mental health just wasn’t talked about…or even treated like a real thing, I carried the symptoms of my depression like little secret failures that I needed to hide at all costs. It was a simple moment of transparency from a friend, over a cup of coffee one day, that somehow cracked the vault.
He confided in me about some personal health struggles, and after he finished, he simply asked…”What are you holding onto, Mike?” – I couldn’t stop myself. I told him everything. I told him how some days, I couldn’t bear to get out of bed, and then I would feel so bad about wasting the day that all I could do was go back to sleep. Or how sometimes my mind would be so foggy that I would find myself staring at my laptop screen while time just ticked away. I even told him how sometimes, no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn’t be happy. He sat back in his chair…laughed and said, “Man…you too?!”
WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT REALLY HELPED?
- I just wanted to lose a little quarantine weight…but over time, I realized that regular exercise was helping me to stay clear and connected during the day. Working out early in the morning gave me the momentum to push through times where I normally would have just rolled back over.
- Journaling became a huge tool in my arsenal in the battle against depression. Getting the thoughts (good and bad!) onto paper, well…laptop, and out of my head, greatly minimized some of the anxiety I was causing myself by overthinking.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO OTHER GUYS FIGHTING DEPRESSION?
If you’re fighting depression, pat yourself on the damn back…because you’re in the fight. Don’t be afraid to celebrate small victories. Got up and got moving at 9am instead of noon today?…that’s a win. Celebrate that. Got in the car and put on some music that’s uplifting and energizing instead of that sad song you’ve had on repeat?…great job! It’s those small victories stacked one on top of the other that will pull you out. So don’t forget to tell yourself, “attaboy” from time to time.
– Mike Smothers, Prince George’s County, Maryland, USA