Hello, friends and loved ones! I’ve started a YouTube series called “How To Do Things When You’re Depressed.” I’ve yet to do so much as an introductory video, though I did talk about it a bit on my Facebook page, so it’s time I inform everyone exactly what this is for.

While it’s called “How To”, it’s not the classic kind of tutorial you might expect. Some of the videos do have that typical tutorial element to them, yes, but that’s not the idea behind this series. What I’m going for is to end the stigma of depression for those who are experiencing it. This is my attempt to help others relearn how to find joy doing things they used to love, or teaching them how to choose activities that will bring them joy.

In my experience with depression and anxiety, nothing tastes the same day to day or month to month. I may obsess over coloring books one week and the next I can’t sit still long enough to do anything. Through each new phase of life and mental health, it can feel impossible to settle down and find peace through a hobby. Self-awareness is crucial to making the most of your time by discovering what works for you now.

I’ll be writing down the key points of each video as a blog article and sharing them here, and my hope is that these videos and articles will help others to a) see their options, b) break down those options to help others settle on a method that will actually relax them, c) teach the essentials if there’s anything that needs to be taught, and d) go over coping mechanisms and world views that will help build self-awareness and hopefully make it easier/possible for the activity to be enjoyed.

With most of these videos and articles I will also be sharing links to the corresponding items I’ve purchased on Amazon. I am an Amazon Affiliate and I do earn from qualifying purchases. To be clear, this is not why I’m doing this series. I spent weeks trying to figure out how I can give back and help people, and it wasn’t until after I stumbled upon this idea that I realize there was an opportunity to a) monetize it and b) earn back the money I spend on craft and other materials for these posts. That said, I’d rather you buy and read my books than buy the Amazon items if you’re just interested in a way to support me!

If you have any ideas, suggestions, or requests for activities for me to cover next, feel free to contact me! You can email me, message me on Facebook, or comment here or on one of my YouTube videos, for starters.

I hope that this series can make a difference for people. I know I’ve only burned through so many crafts because I’m stubbornly obsessive over learning new things even when I’m depressed, and I know that isn’t the case for everyone. If anything I’m doing makes a positive impact on you, I’d love to hear about that as well!

Have a wonderful day, and know that you are loved!