Last night my girlfriend and I were talking about the Autumn camping trips that we are planning. We were talking about how Autumn is a great time to “Glamp.”
Glamping is glamorous camping. Meaning you have more amenities and things that make it more comfortable and “glamorous” than the typical tent camping with a vault toilet in the woods.
In therapy today a parallel was drawn in my mind between “glamping” and depression. A lot of the time I find myself trying to “rough it” within my depression. Allowing the minimum things that bring me comfort instead of allowing myself the “luxuries” that I truly want or need in the moment.
I need to allow myself to glamp in my depression.
Glamping in my depression means taking my antidepressants and requesting my doctor to change my medicine or dose when I feel as though it is not doing what it is supposed to.
Glamping in depression means taking myself to my favorite coffee shop in the morning before work so I can start the day off right. It’s journaling and visiting the beach when I know I need it.
Glamping within your depression is not a luxury, it is a necessity.
Depression is hard enough WITHOUT limiting ourselves on what we do to make it better.
Of course there are certain limitations that may be out of our control. I have learned that I tend to spend A LOT more money when I am depressed. All because the little bit of dopamine and serotonin I receive from those silly little purchases are like the boosts on Mario Kart when you drive over the rainbow ramps that speed you up.
Not every “luxury” is going to be attainable, but there is always something available to us. This concept of “Glamping In Your Depression,” draws back to my post about finding the “whimsy” within the darkness. In my post Whimsically depressed I talk about adding little bits of magic to my day to carry myself through the roughest patches. Most of the whimsy that I look for is free. It involves things I already have. Like I said in the post, maybe it’s wearing a color you love, maybe you wear your favorite scent to the office instead of saving it for a night out. Do people still do that?
Glamping in your depression does not have to be expensive. It doesn’t even have to cost a dime. There are many things that you can do to give yourself a boost. One of the things I like to do is move around the furniture in my home. I have been doing this since I was a teenager. It stemmed from my need for change when I felt like I was suffocating in my stillness. I would move my bed to the opposite wall or move every piece of furniture until I didn’t feel like I needed to anymore.
As I got older that need morphed into cutting or coloring my hair. I also found that painting my nails and trying new and difficult nail art what just the project my mind needed. At times I feel as though these small things are not enough and I crave bigger change. But being able to change those things that are fully within my control gives me a better feeling of settle.
As I was saying glamping in your depression is something I recommend to all who deal with the “glorious” presence of depression. Find the things that bring you comfort and allow yourself the “luxury” of those things.
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