Anyone remember the game "Candy Land"?

I heard an amazing analogy with this game as it relates to chronic depression and wanted to share it with you.

With a state of depression you may want to simply stay at the base of the board and not move on. The experience of depression can be a lack of feeling or emptiness. However with medication this can help you start to move the pieces across the board. As you start to travel, sometimes this is through "angry-place", you may not want to keep moving but then you get to travel only to find yourself in "sad-ville". But don't give up hope; you are learning to feel the feelings instead of avoiding them. Oh sure there will be other places as see and visit; at times that will feel strange or odd; "Joy-town" or "Excitement-Street".

Fact is many don't understand medical depression. You may think depression is sadness but it isn't. Depression was the place where you didn't experience feelings and now on medication you are going through the motions of your feelings. Therefore you are going to have days you don't want to travel across the board - it would be so much easier to just remain at the base and not move.

However theres no a magic pill that will do the work; YOU have to do the work and keep moving. The pill was just to get you started. The prescription is kind of like filling up gas in your car, but you still have to take control of the wheel and step on the pedal.

I really like this explanation about depression; especially chronic depression. Many don't understand it correctly and think of it as 'having a bad day' but it is so much more than that. Each day for the rest of your life may be work but please don't give up.

Remaining healthy is always going to be work. Often because as humans we are dealing with many external pressures. We put ourselves lower on the list of what is important but taking action means we put in effort and work to get where we needed to be.

If you want to explore more healthy habits that may help reduce stress or anxiety be sure to see my new series starting soon. It is online for 5 weeks and will only allow 5 women. Register to hold your spot. Also see my newest YouTube video that has over 40 minutes of a yoga practice for you to experience.

Hope this helps and be sure to have a great week! (for no reason!)

---Paige