Coping with Depression or Anxiety

Over the years, Stones to Bridges (STB) has received many posts about depression, anxiety and feelings of self-worth. Our “Fatimas” have come up with excellent strategies to deal with these issues, ranging from internal reflection to active coping techniques. Instead of searching through the various posts for these strategies, we thought it might be helpful for the STB user community (i.e. you all!) if these strategies were combined into one place. So, here you go–we’ve compiled the various strategies that may help you in your unique situation. Next to each strategy, we’ve listed the Dear Fatima post that it came from. Of course, if this isn’t helpful enough, you can always submit a Dear Fatima question! 🙂

Strategy #1: Internal reflection

One of the most helpful ways to deal with depression or anxiety is to put time aside for yourself and reflect! Try thinking about and doing the following things:

  • Focus on the strengths within you (From Post: “Where Do I Go From Here…”). What are you good at? What helps you in difficult times? What are your strong points?
  • Pray! Because it is needed for your soul, the same way oil is needed for an engine.  (From Post: “Where Do I Go From Here…”)
  • If you are feeling lost, figure out where you are currently, and where you want to go. Then chart the course in between (From Post: “Where Do I Go From Here…”)
  • Detox: Identify what is toxic in your life and work on removing that (From Post: “Feeling Hopeless”)
  • Find ways to boost your self-worth- Try this every day for a week: (From Post: “My Apocalypse”)
    • Recognize and embrace your positive qualities. Start by making a list of all your qualities including skills, experiences, talents, and anything else that makes you feel good about yourself. Add to the list the compliments that others have given you as well.
    • Understand and accept that you are a desirable package rather than any one individual item. Also, accept that you are not perfect. Don’t let any one particular shortcoming negate that you are a complex, multifaceted desirable human being.
    • Trust that you are competent. Remind yourself of all the problems you have faced and tackled. Have faith that even if you cannot deal with a problem yourself that you will have the ingenuity to get the help, skills, or knowledge that you need.
    • Look in a full size mirror and pick five things that you are looking at that make you feel good. You can pick five things you see on the outside such as your physical attributes: eyes, lips, hair, nails, legs, feet, toes, or smile. You can also pick things related to your style such as: your hairdo, clothing, or stance. Or you can also pick items that come from the inside such as: your sparkle, spirit, energy, compassion, or kindness.

Strategy #2: Act!

Now that you’ve spent some time reflecting on your state of affairs, you may find that you need to do something! It’s time to act! Here are a few ways you can start doing things to make progress on what you reflected on:

Strategy #3: Get Emergency Help

Sometimes Internal Reflection and Acting on your own may not be enough, and you may need to get immediate or urgent help. Here’s what you can do in these urgent situations:

  • Call a hotline or go to the nearest ER (From Post: “Suicide”)
  • Talk to someone in your area to help you cope with your emotions and help you understand better ways to express what you are feeling. (From Post: “My Apocalypse”)

REMEMBER: If you are afraid of seeking help, just think about it this way: we all need a wise guide, who helps us with the “jihad annafs”  (struggle of the soul) which is by far the hardest struggle that any one of us will face. (From Post: “Suicide”)