How to Find Value in Life When Depression Makes You Want to Give Up
Look for the light and joy in your world because it's there.
Hi there!
I was manic when I ran away from Wisconsin at age 20 and moved 900 miles to Tennessee.
Bipolar disorder (manic depression back then) was a title that fit other people. I never imagined it would one day label me.
My new world in Tennessee filled me with excitement. I made new friends, started a business, and set out to hike as many mountain trails as I could find.
Life was good.
Until it wasn’t.
“Believe that life is worth living and your belief will help create the fact.”
— William James
Scott Ninneman publishes two newsletters each week. The Sunday All Things Bipolar Newsletter features the newest content about bipolar life. The Speaking Bipolar Positivity Club Newsletter shares inspirational stories three times a week to help you maintain a positive mindset.
Facing the Ravages of Depression
Depression is a thief.
It can rob you of your joy, your hope, and your sense of worth. When life feels like it’s not worth living, it’s hard to find the motivation to keep going.
But it is possible to find value in life, even when the darkness makes you want to give up. You just need to know where to look.
For me, the answer was in nature and in my faith.
As I hiked the trails of Tennessee, I found beauty in the simplest things: a carpet of moss covering a rock, the sun shining through the leaves of a tree, or a waterfall tumbling over rocks.
Nature reminds us that life is precious and worth fighting for.
One of my most peaceful moments was standing near the base of a 300-foot waterfall. As the water crashed to the ground, it silenced everything else, including the noise in my head.
Looking Up to Find Light
It was while I was out in nature that I strengthened my relationship with God.
I loved hiking alone, yet felt the need to talk. So I prayed as I walked, telling God my most painful secrets and thanking Him for every beautiful thing I saw.
When a mother deer stopped within arm’s reach of me and let her two fawns keep nibbling on the ground, the moment brought me to tears.
It was the gift of life, and a gift I thought I wanted to give up.
Ever since that day, I try to keep a list of the amazing things I’ve seen that I would have missed if I’d given up years ago. That list helps me keep going.
All of the content from Speaking Bipolar for January, February, and March 2023 in one digital PDF document.
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Finding Your Joy
When you’re struggling with depression, it’s important to find something that brings you joy.
For some people, it’s spending time with family or friends. Others find comfort in their faith or in volunteering to help others.
Nature and art are excellent avenues for finding the beauty in the world. Even visiting a museum or attending a local concert can lift your spirits.
Whatever brings you joy, hold on to it, and let it be your light in the darkness.
Getting Help
It was depression that first drove me to get help for my mental health.
While the first treatment plan was terrible — an antidepressant that drove me into ever-increasing mania — it did start me on the right path. In time, I found the right doctor and a treatment plan that helps me stay high functioning.
Success is possible, and you can get there.
If you’re struggling with depression, know that you’re not alone. There are millions of people all over the world who understand what you’re going through. Reach out for help and don’t give up.
Together, we can find the value in life, even when depression tries to steal it away.
Open a Notebook
Explore your thoughts about this post with these writing prompts.
Journal Prompt: What is a wild thing you did before you knew you had a mental illness? How do you think you would handle the situation if you could relive it, knowing what you know now?
Creative Writing Prompt: There is a crowded restaurant with limited seating. It forced two strangers to share a table. Both of their lives are forever changed before the meal is over. Write the story.
Until next time, keep fighting.
Scott Ninneman
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