Well hello to you my reader chums! Living with depression isn't easy and has been challenging day after day to deal with. Although, sometimes I hate that I have to live with it, without it and my anxiety, I don't think I would be the same person I am today. 

Depression has taught me many things and here are the top things I've learnt living with depression.

To have more of an open mind

Being open-minded is one of my favourite qualities about myself. It's important to me to live with no judgment towards others and be accepted in a world that is so controversial. You never know when someone may need your love as there are people around them who don't understand or want to understand what they're going through. Living with depression has helped my mind grow to know how people are and why they're like the way they are, whether that's trauma, inner pain, or other mental health conditions. It has given me a space to recognise the vulnerabilities in others and what they're going through as some signs will be similar to my own personal experiences.

To develop my knowledge of mental illness

Knowledge is power in any sense as you never know who you're able to help. Living with depression has given me the opportunity to learn more about mental illness as a whole and the many that exist, what they entail, and spot the signs. It has opened my mind to be cautious and more aware of others and what they may be going through. It has also given me the want to learn more about depression and the many other mental illnesses so, in turn, I can offer my help, understanding and support in any way I can. 

To spread kindness wherever I go

Kindness is the most important thing in life. It doesn't cost anything to be kind and wherever and whenever you're able to, spread it around like confetti. I think living with an illness that causes me to feel such negative things about myself, has made me want to ensure nobody else feels that way - and that's why I try to be kind as much as I can. You never know what someone is going through and that sprinkle of kindness could make a person's day.

To not judge a book by its cover

The happiest of people are often the saddest, you never know what someone is dealing with behind closed doors. I like to think I present myself as happy go lucky online, like many of us do as we want to show the highlights of our life, not the hardships, however, it doesn't mean everything is perfect - and often or not, people don't realise what is really going on. Knowing that fact has helped me realise that I shouldn't take everyone for face value and dig a little deeper sometimes to help that person. 

To be more empathetic and understanding

This leads me onto being empathetic and understanding. I definitely think by living with mental illness, my empathy for others has vastly grown because I know how hard it is to experience, and can see that hardship in others - and want to support others in any way I can. Plus, I know what those close to me have to deal with and I hate feeling like a burden, that in some ways, I want to be able to give that care and reassurance back. Understanding something is always easier if you've experienced it yourself and I find with what I've gone through gives me personal insight.

How strong I am

Occasionally, when I'm living a normal day and feeling good, I look back at the darker days and the times I've felt so low and admire the strength I have to get through. I don't know how but I managed to and I'm proud of that because I love life, I love what it has to offer and what I'm able to experience, and living with depression can take that joy away from me. My strength is definitely something I've learnt and has grown with the more battles I've been through.

Those bad days will pass

This too shall pass. All bad days will pass. Emotions are temporary and won't last forever. These three things are something I've learnt time and time again living with depression. There are times when I'm so low I never think I'm going to feel normal again, but I have before and I will again. Bad things can't last forever. There's always a little rain before a rainbow after all.

Be more self-aware

Having a mental illness means I've learnt a lot about my own mind and what causes me to feel bad, causes me to feel good, and when a depressive episode comes. I know where I'm at and have become more self-aware in my emotions and how I should deal with them. It has taken time and every day I'm still learning to be more aware of myself, but it's important for me and others around me to understand my own illness so I can inform them of how they can support me and what to look out for.

Know what my triggers are

Being self-aware goes hand in hand to know my triggers. After time and time again of being in and out of depressive episodes, I could see a pattern to what exactly was causing them and it has helped me pinpoint my triggers and know how I can self-soothe to avoid potential triggers once more.

I hope you enjoyed this post. Do you live with depression?

Thank you for reading <3