"Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest."
- definition from Mayo Clinic
This is a short definition of a huge issue. I never really understood depression until I begin to suffer with it or perhaps as I start to hopefully recover from it.
One of the things that many people have said is that exercise is very important for stress and depression. For a long time I couldn't push myself to do anything. I lacked energy and motivation. Before depression, I would almost always get 10,000 steps. This last month I have pushed myself to exercise daily. I changed my goal to 6,000 steps a day. For two weeks I was able to do it. Then, I bumped it up another 1000 daily and achieved it. Exercise was one thing that I had control of and it felt good to succeed. For such a long time I felt like I didn't have control over anything. This week I added another 1,000 steps a day. I want to continue until I get up to the 10,000 and then I will know that I am one step or perhaps 10,000 steps towards better mental health.
Most of my steps are done on the treadmill. It's a safe place but when Ron is home he helps me to be a little more creative with my goal.
Last Monday, we went to the Crowsnest Pass. Ron had his skis and I took my snow shoes. We agreed to meet back at the truck in about an hour and a half. I discovered some new trails. It was a pretty cold day but it was good to breathe deep and get my steps outside. I use to enjoy this so much and I know that I will again soon. Small steps to recovery may lead through the woods.
On Wednesday, we headed back for another day of exercise. We decided that we would meet at the top. This was a new snowshoe trail and so off I went.
I was determined to make it to our meeting spot. Along the way, near the top, I started to see moose tracks and where they had bedded now for the night. I could feel a little anxiety and some panic but I wanted to make it to our designated meeting area. I got to the last section and tromping loudly, not far from where I was, there was the moose. He or she was huge. I let out a scream and then I heard Ron's voice. He talked me to the top of the hill. I was so scared and I knew that I would have to turn around and go back through the moose area. Ron tried to calm me but finally off I went, faster than I probably should have with snow shoes, talking the whole way down like a crazy lady. "Here I come...here I come" over and over I chanted. If the moose was still around, I 'm thinking that they thought a crazy lady was not someone that they wanted to mess with.
Ron said that I would be fine. When I told the story to Stephen, he asked why was I so afraid?...then on Saturday, this message came from the ski club....
| Sat, Mar 11, 2:20 PM (2 days ago) |  | ||
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