Managing My Depression: Strategies That Help

Throughout my life, I have battled depression. I’ve explored countless treatments, including three courses of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), and numerous antidepressants, yet none have significantly alleviated my depression over the long term.

Discovering what helps me has taken time and small steps. However, I am gradually uncovering strategies that assist me in managing my depression and provide some relief in the ongoing, sometimes hourly struggles I face.

Exercise

When dealing with depression, the thought of staying active often feels overwhelming. Nevertheless, I can attest that engaging in physical exercise, irrespective of my initial reluctance, is profoundly beneficial. A vigorous workout can refresh your spirit and help reset your mindset.

I engage in intense workouts every day that my 72-year-old body permits while recovering from various issues. In my younger years, I often exercised twice daily: once in the morning and again in the afternoon to recharge myself. Regardless of how I feel, I dedicate 50 minutes to the bike or elliptical. Truthfully, I dread each session. In moments before I start, I doubt its effectiveness, completely engulfed by my depression.

Each morning, I remind myself to approach it as an experiment and try to see if it brings any improvement post-workout. Initially, those first 15 seconds feel interminable, and I think, “I can’t manage 50 minutes of this.” Yet, I refocus only on the current minute, putting aside thoughts of future minutes until I reach my goal, counting down until I’ve completed my workout. With each passing minute… I ultimately reach the finish line.

It truly helps. Every single time, I feel an uplift. Completing the workout instills a sense of accomplishment, and those endorphins contribute to my mood too.

In the darkest moments of my life, the energy and mental clarity boost would sometimes only last for a short while. However, I always believed that a little positivity is better than none. Now, after 12 years of this ongoing transformation, my workouts energize me for an entire day. If I find myself in a draining situation, I recall my morning workout, and it offers me satisfaction and a residual boost from those endorphins.

Traveling

A change in surroundings can provide fresh insights into your life. It helps to observe those around you—your family, routines, and relationships—from a different angle. New experiences and interactions can reveal aspects of yourself, your needs, and your desires that were previously unclear.

After being compelled to leave my teaching position at community college due to safety issues, I recognized how much I would miss the structure and focus it offered. I realized I needed to find another way to maintain a sense of anchor to avoid slipping back into despair.

In response, I decided to follow Bruce Springsteen’s tour in Australia—a decision that came as a surprise even to me. Over the year since discovering him, his energy and authenticity inspired me, making me feel alive and as though I had the power to change my life. I hoped his positive influence would help prevent me from falling into a dark place.

Travel has never been my favorite activity, and the thought of doing it alone was daunting. A year prior, I had no knowledge of Springsteen. My intention wasn’t to embark on a transformative journey—I simply sought structure and focus through his concert schedule. However, I returned home as a remarkably different person.

For the first time, I felt a wave of positive energy and a compelling story about my life journey—something I was eager to share. The kindness of strangers I encountered in Australia significantly affected me. At home, people were skeptical about my quest to pursue a rock star. They did not grasp the depth of my struggle, but in Australia, many viewed me as brave. Some young individuals even lamented how they struggled to motivate their own mothers to engage in simple activities.

With every kind word directed at me, despite my disbelief, I began to step outside my own perspective and see what others saw in me. Encountering Bruce Springsteen and the people I met during my travels encouraged me to adopt a more optimistic view of myself and my place in the world.

The Power of Music

Music holds immense potential. It can shift your mindset, uplift your spirit, and touch your heart in profound ways.

For me, witnessing Bruce Springsteen perform live is nothing short of magical. He connects you to the present moment, creating a bond with both himself and the multitude of fans in attendance. In that space, you dance, cheer, and revel in the joy of the moment—never fixating on what has passed or what lies ahead. You are completely immersed in the experience, alongside thousands of others.

You do not feel isolated; instead, emotions surge from within, allowing you to truly embrace life. It’s about living in that moment with him and everyone around you. Nothing else matters; you feel complete.

Years later, even listening to his music reminds me of those exhilarating experiences.

Engaging in Writing

Writing about your experiences, emotions, and observations can create connections—with others and with yourself.

Upon returning from my travels, I realized I possessed a narrative worth sharing: it highlighted how to begin healing, move forward, dream, and even find joy again. This narrative also centers around perseverance and hope. I aspire to contribute to discussions about resilience, emphasizing that it is never too late to change one’s life. By sharing our stories, we can inspire hope, and perhaps a bit of joy, in each other.

Commitment to Perseverance

“All you have to do is try. And if you fail, that’s perfectly fine because no one can expect more than your best effort.” This mantra is one I often repeat to myself. Acknowledge your efforts and recognize that simply trying is a significant achievement. By doing so, you hold onto your self-respect and keep progressing, which deserves recognition.

I truly believe in making incremental strides. Any progress, no matter how small, is a victory. Each day and each step count. Even on particularly tough days, I would push myself onto that exercise bike. I confronted my fears and boarded the plane to Australia. Attempting the journey, despite uncertainty, gave me pride and reaffirmed my self-worth, knowing I had done my best. I embraced a philosophy of resilience, openness, and trust in the journey I was on.

Once, during a concert, Springsteen mused aloud about daily struggles and how to navigate them. Observing him move back and forth on stage, I thought, “If Bruce Springsteen can openly discuss these feelings before an arena of fans, surely I am not alone in my feelings of struggle. It is entirely acceptable to face challenges and to keep trying relentlessly.” It was reassuring to hear him express these sentiments, reminding me of the importance of persistence and instilling hope for the future.

Mastering my lifelong battle with depression was always paramount, and I have finally arrived at a place where I can do so. It’s those small, incremental steps that have proven pivotal—along with the inspiration from an aging rock star.

About the Author

Anne Abel is an accomplished author, storyteller, and influencer. Her debut memoir, Mattie, Milo, and Me (2024), was inspired by her success in the Moth StorySLAM in New York City. She holds an MFA from the New School for Social Research, an MBA from the University of Chicago, and a BS in chemical engineering from Tufts University. Anne has contributed to various publications and her work was highlighted in Newsweek as “Boomer’s Story About How She Met Her Husband of 45 Years Captivates Internet.” Her latest book, born from her win at the Moth StorySLAM in Chicago, is titled High Hopes: A Memoir. She resides in New York City with her husband, Andy, and their cavapoo puppy, Wendell. You can find her online at anneabelauthor.com, and on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok @annesimaabel.