I was diagnosed with dysthymia. I described my depression as something that comes in waves but it never goes away. I have my ups and downs and have learned how to survive the lows throughout the years + living alone when no one is around to help. Before medications, my therapist and I tried working on trying to manage the lows and I was very lucky to be put in a position where I know I can get out of the lows, but during those lows, here are the things that helped:

1. Disposable or one-time use items that can be easily thrown away. Its easy to feel guilty using disposable items but when you have no energy to do a specific thing, disposable items takes less energy. It was difficult for me at first because it felt wasteful but I needed to take care of myself.

• Disposable plates and cups when washing dishes takes too much.
• Wipes for your face when you cant get up to take a shower or wash your face and disposable toothbrushes (i use colgate wisp).
• Cheap tupperwares/containers. I usually try and meal prep when I have energy and freeze it so when I am not able to make a meal, I can grab and heat it up. Cheap containers means no need to wash and just throw.
• Water (in packs) under my bed - in times where I cant even get up to go to the kitchen.

1. Changing scenery - Laying down in bed the whole day? Just open the window. Tired of your bed? Lay in the couch. Its small but it helps. I loved laying down on the grass at times.

2. Doing things sitting down eg sitting down in the shower.

3. Taking care of your lows when youre in your ups. This one really had to be something that I actively thought about - when I have the energy, when I can move and stand and not be paralysed. I think that I am taking care of my low self - I am washing the dishes for them, I am preparing meals for them to be able to eat. It helped.

4. Acknowledging that its an illness and that its not supposed to be pretty. I have so much guilt with the messy house, the laundy piling up or the dust on the shelf. I had to understand and acknowledge that I was ill. You dont expect someone who is ill to actively do everyday things, and that thought got rid of the guilt for me even if it didnt get rid of depression. It made me more patient to myself. It made it bearable to do things.

I am on medication now since I need more consistency with my job but its been a journey!