Living With Depression: 12 Things I've Learned

<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH5g5WIrbg8HeE9ORUohtyondHuXhYmV4Pm7_YQlWwx-ySlQwf5SCnsnE_3pHNf7sauWdbZOqrMmF1nFE1YpZGmgjre6t62XIWZLjlvlXkNsuJpEDIUBVqE4lTHYjNxhjDdGKly7nPoSE/s1600/living+with+depression.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Depression has been a big part of my life for the past seven years and although I wish it Living With Depression: 12 Things I've Learned " border="0" data-original-height="1450" data-original-width="735" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH5g5WIrbg8HeE9ORUohtyondHuXhYmV4Pm7_YQlWwx-ySlQwf5SCnsnE_3pHNf7sauWdbZOqrMmF1nFE1YpZGmgjre6t62XIWZLjlvlXkNsuJpEDIUBVqE4lTHYjNxhjDdGKly7nPoSE/s1600/living+with+depression.png" title="Living With Depression: 12 Things I've Learned " width="323" /></a></div> <span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span> <span style="font-kerning: none;">Depression has been a big part of my life for the past seven years and although I wish it wasn't so familiar to me, I've come to terms with it a lot and it's completely changed me as a person. I've had some stages where it was very bad and some where it's been more manageable and even though I still live with it today, I'm continuing to search for a life where I don't have to be so consumed by it.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 25px; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-kerning: none;">I've become very familiar with different aspects of depression and these are the main things I've learnt from it.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 25px; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Avenir Next Condensed"; font-size: 38px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-kerning: none;">1. You learn to live with it</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 25px; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-kerning: none;">Depression has become normal to me. It's an everyday thing that's a part of me now. I didn't wake up one day and think 'Oh, I've contracted depression,' like some sort of flu, but it crept into my life and now I'm living with it! I don't let it define me and I do my best to control it but at the end of the day I've learnt to live with this not-so-pleasent thing and adjust my life to it.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 25px; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Avenir Next Condensed"; font-size: 38px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-kerning: none;">2. Some days are better than others</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 25px; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-kerning: none;">Don't get me wrong, depression sucks and I wouldn't wish it on anybody, but not all days are as bad as the others. Sometimes you feel like you're never going to escape it and you might have to live with it forever, but other days you see hope and find the motivation to keep going and fight for your happiness and yourself. I'd rather not have it in my life at all, but I've found that depression doesn't have to ruin every day for me, I can choose to rise above it.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 25px; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Avenir Next Condensed"; font-size: 38px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-kerning: none;">3. You forget that not everyone realises you're depressed</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 25px; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-kerning: none;">When you're depressed, you almost feel like everyone else is depressed and they understand what you're going through or they have the same outlook on life as you. But then you notice people laughing and having loads of energy and you think 'Wow, how can they be so happy?' Then you realise that the majority of the population don't understand what depression is like and that's ok.</span><br /> <span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div> <div class="mailmunch-forms-widget-614785"> </div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 25px; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: "avenir next condensed"; font-size: 38px;">4. It's incredibly easy to shut yourself out</span><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 25px; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-kerning: none;">When you're depressed and you have a choice of either going out into the world and working, socialising and putting yourself out there, or the choice of staying indoors, lying in bed in your comfortable space, you pretty much try to choose the latter every single time. It's so unhealthy to shut yourself out from the world but it's so incredibly easy to do it as well. I've found the more I push myself to try new things and get out there, the more my depression gets better.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;"> <span style="color: #e06666; font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><a href="https://justandmyguys.blogspot.com//search?q=mental-health-books"><span style="color: #e06666;">Read: 10 books about mental health that will change your mindset</span></a></span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 25px; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Avenir Next Condensed"; font-size: 38px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-kerning: none;">5. Medication for depression is incredibly normal</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 25px; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-kerning: none;">The amount of people who have told me they've been on antidepressants or medication for their moods is incredible. I've even had people in my workplace openly tell me that they were on tablets for depression and I was shocked. Shocked that it's such an incredibly common thing and happily shocked that people are openly talking about it and it doesn't feel like it's just me dealing with depression.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 25px; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Avenir Next Condensed"; font-size: 38px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-kerning: none;">6. Medication doesn't always work</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 25px; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-kerning: none;">Taking a magic pill won't cure your depression. As much as you'd like to think that starting antidepressants will make you feel 100x better and happier, they just don't. Anti-depressants can work really well for some people to increase your mood but on their own, they're not going to do much. It takes diet, exercise, social life, work and many other factors to properly combat depression, not just tablets alone. </span><br /> <span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span> <span style="font-kerning: none;"><a href="http://go.tryonlinetherapy.com/aff_c?offer_id=2&aff_id=1526" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: #e06666;">Counselling</span></a> is a brilliant way to fight depression and I've found it hugely successful. <a href="http://go.tryonlinetherapy.com/aff_c?offer_id=2&aff_id=1526" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: #e06666;">Try online counselling today from the comfort of your own home.</span></a></span><br /> <span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div> <a href="http://go.tryonlinetherapy.com/aff_c?offer_id=2&aff_id=1526&file_id=260" target="_blank"><img alt="Depression has been a big part of my life for the past seven years and although I wish it Living With Depression: 12 Things I've Learned " border="0" height="250" src="https://media.go2speed.org/brand/files/influencelogic/2/20170605171935-BreaktheCycle-2-300x250.jpg" title="Living With Depression: 12 Things I've Learned " width="300" /></a><img height="1" src="http://go.tryonlinetherapy.com/aff_i?offer_id=2&file_id=260&aff_id=1526" width="1" /> <br /> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 25px; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Avenir Next Condensed"; font-size: 38px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-kerning: none;">7. Social media is your worst enemy</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 25px; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-kerning: none;">Social media has had a huge impact on my depression. The internet can be a very lonely place and make you very isolated. It's ok in moderation but trying to distract yourself from your own life through things online can only lead to worsening your mental health.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 25px; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Avenir Next Condensed"; font-size: 38px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-kerning: none;">8. You get used to having very little energy</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 25px; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-kerning: none;">Along with your motivation and positivity, your energy levels can drop pretty low. Especially if depression is making it hard to exercise and get out and about, your metabolism will get very slow and can cause weight gain, along with late nights distracting yourself by watching netflix or being glued to your laptop, depression can mess your sleep schedule up pretty bad. The best way I've found to combat this is force myself to go for walks and get outside and limit distractions.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 25px; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Avenir Next Condensed"; font-size: 38px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-kerning: none;">9. It's hard to be motivated to do anything</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 25px; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-kerning: none;">Simple tasks can seem like the hardest things to do. Even easy things like taking a shower or brushing your hair or changing your bed sheets can seem almost impossible.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 25px; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 25px; text-align: left;"> <a href="https://justandmyguys.blogspot.com//search?q=mental-health-books"><span style="color: #e06666;">Read: How I live with a life changing anxiety disorder</span></a></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 25px; text-align: left;"> <br /></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Avenir Next Condensed"; font-size: 38px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-kerning: none;">10. You can't remember life before depression</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 25px; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-kerning: none;">Depression can become a normality, which is a pretty scary realisation when you can't actually remember how you used to be happy everyday and full of energy. You can't remember a starting point of being depressed and you definitely can't remember what it feels like to not live with depression.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 25px; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Avenir Next Condensed"; font-size: 38px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-kerning: none;">11. It's frustrating when you can't explain that you have depression</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 25px; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-kerning: none;">There are a lot of times when you want to cancel plans or just say no to invitations or make up some stupid excuse as to why you can't meet up with people and you wish you could just say, 'Hey, sorry I'm feeling pretty depressed today so I can't make it.' Unfortunately it can be too hard to tell people you have depression, especially people you're not very close with and you wish they could just understand your situation.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 25px; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Avenir Next Condensed"; font-size: 38px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-kerning: none;">12. The decisions <i>you</i> make are the best cure for depression</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 25px; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-kerning: none;">I've found that out of medication, therapy, counselling and online help, the only way I can cure my depression is to make the decision to do it myself. Anti-depressants can only get you so far and although <a href="http://go.tryonlinetherapy.com/aff_c?offer_id=2&aff_id=1526"><span style="color: #e06666;">counselling and CBT</span></a> (Cognitive behavioural therapy) is extremely helpful, it's YOU who has to put it into practice and take the steps needed to make your depression better. I have to make myself get out and exercise, join a group, change my job, start a course, take a class etc. to put myself out there and stop hiding myself away to let the depression worsen.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 25px; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-kerning: none;">These are very important lessons I've learned from living with depression and understanding this horrible mental issue is the best way to combat it and beat it for good. Whether you've dealt with depression, anxiety or ocd, you can take the steps necessary to give yourself a better and happy life.</span><br /> <span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span> <span style="color: #e06666; font-kerning: none;"><a href="http://go.tryonlinetherapy.com/aff_c?offer_id=2&aff_id=1526" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: #e06666;">Try BetterHelp online counselling here</span></a></span><br /> <span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span> <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-kerning: none;">Pin it for later:</span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT9JEglmmggksHiz6eNIIRtGC7vWW3kNRXS4X-REYAHzw6GWiGzvfGhUaG27YekCe2qHuUXXJ6c7Fbf-VM-CZFdplf0og6doRVx_YEoUd0zXSnW2MbkfnMOH4vsc7q7ltg8atUAZmapJ0/s1600/living+with+depression.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Depression has been a big part of my life for the past seven years and although I wish it Living With Depression: 12 Things I've Learned " border="0" data-original-height="1450" data-original-width="735" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT9JEglmmggksHiz6eNIIRtGC7vWW3kNRXS4X-REYAHzw6GWiGzvfGhUaG27YekCe2qHuUXXJ6c7Fbf-VM-CZFdplf0og6doRVx_YEoUd0zXSnW2MbkfnMOH4vsc7q7ltg8atUAZmapJ0/s1600/living+with+depression.png" title="Living With Depression: 12 Things I've Learned " width="202" /></a></div> </div>

Living With Depression: 12 Things I've Learned

Depression has been a big part of my life for the past seven years and although I wish it wasn't so familiar to me, I've come to...

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Ten Destructive Relationship Habits To Give Up For Lent Today

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <br /> <div class="dek" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; clear: left; float: left; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img height="513" src="http://ih1.redbubble.net/image.7587022.1337/flat,550x550,075,f.jpg" style="background-color: transparent;" width="640" /></div> <br /> <div class="dek" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 15px;"> Get ready for 40 days of relationship IMPROVEMENT.</div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the 40-day period of Lent. Even if you're not a Christian, the idea behind the season is interesting. It's a time of giving up vices and substituting more positive behavior in their place. Where better to try this out than in our relationships?</div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> Every couple has their own unique blend of struggles, but here are 10 bad habits of action and communication that most <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">couples</strong> could stand to give up. This trial only lasts 40 days, but who knows? At the end, you might want to give up your bad habits permanently.</div> <div class="ym" id="ym_1003415940242979181" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; height: 0px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">1. You say, "You always ..."</strong><br /> When you disagree, speak in "I" statements about your <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">own</em> feelings. Don't try to tell your partner how he or she feels or what he or she does. Instead, say, "I feel ...".</div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">2. You take "I <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">love</strong> you" lightly.</strong><br /> It's not just a way to end phone calls or something to abbreviate in a text message. You worked hard to find—and keep!—this special connection. Say, "<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">I love you</strong>" out loud and in-person.</div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">3. You two shower seperately.</strong><br /> Get in there TOGETHER sometimes! After a while, couples stop noticing each other's bodies. The intimate act of washing your loved one (and all the <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">sexy</strong> stuff than can occur during and after) is worth taking turns under the shower head.</div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">4. You email each other WAY too much.</strong><br /> Instead of emailing your sweetheart a link to that funny YouTube video or posting something on a Facebook wall, share your thoughts on paper. Write a haiku or a knock-knock joke. Doodle. Check "yes" (not "no"). When was the last time you really looked at your partner's—or anyone else's!—handwriting?</div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">5. You forget to say, "Please".</strong><br /> It's easy to fall into the habit of just telling your partner to do something. But sharing your life with someone is a GIFT. So say "Please" and "Thank you".</div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">6. You distance yourself after a rough patch.</strong><br /> Touch your partner on the face or arms before bringing up a tough subject—it works much more effectively than words do. Then say what you need to say. This way you're keeping the connection alive.</div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">7. You CONSTANTLY complain.</strong><br /> Instead of complaining, try to tell your partner three things that you appreciate about him/her or the relationship everyday.</div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">8. You hyper-focus on everything he does WRONG. (And think he's a mind reader.)</strong><br /> Because he can't. Instead, remember that he will never think like a woman, and focus on what he does do for you and acknowledge it. And if you want something else, ask for it.</div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">9. You avoid couples therapy.</strong><br /> It's important to be proactive and find support before it gets worse. There are a multitude of marriage education resources on the web, ranging from counselors, coaches, ministers, psychologists, non-profit organizations, etc..</div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">10. You give him what <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">you </em>want.</strong><br /> Instead of assuming you know what your partner needs to feel loved, ASK him. If love to your partner is more hugs and kisses, give them. If love is a night out with the guys, give it to him. Show your partner his kind of love for the ULTIMATE loving experience.</div> <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Which bad relationship habits do you think you should give up for Lent?</strong></div> </div>

Ten Destructive Relationship Habits To Give Up For Lent Today

Get ready for 40 days of relationship IMPROVEMENT. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the 40-day period of Lent. Even if you'r...

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