A Letter to your Future Depressed Self

Depression can cloud our way to clear thinking. The wise part of ourself is blocked out by this dark, confusing cloud telling us that nothing matters, no one loves us and that we are an awful person. We may know what we need in order to move through the depression but we cannot access this wisdom. And for those of us who have experienced depression, we also know that when it lifts, we have learned a lot. Utilizing our own wisdom is so important as what works for one person may not work for another.

I want to help you utilize what you have learned while in a depression, so that the next time you find yourself there, you have access to your own knowledge to guide you through.

Here are some prompts that will allow you to write a letter to your future self, one you may need if ever depression comes to visit you again.

How do I know that I am in a depression? (Thought patterns, feelings, behaviors)
What do I need to hear when I am depressed? (Evidence that goes against what the depression is telling me about myself, loving words previously shared by others)
How should I take care of myself when I am depressed? (Things that have helped the last time I was depressed, a list of feel good activities)
What are the stories my depression tends to tell me? Are there certain memories that tend to come up that I replay over and over?
What has depression taught me?
Are there any “false benefits” of depression showing up? This one may seem counter intuitive, no one wants to be depressed, but sometimes we are gaining something from it. Does depression somehow give you something? Does it serve a function? Why does it tend to show up for you?

Here is an example of a letter to your future depressed self. Again, this is personal and will look different for everyone.