With all of my fabulous anxiety disorders I’ve found this thought to be a particularly comforting one. We all live in a meatsuit driven by a survival focused brain. We evolved this way.

We’ve evolved to work: hunt, grow, gather, and build our nests, so to speak. It may be working at a job that brings that part of our survival brain satisfaction, or gathering food for our homes, or working the land. Without that our anxiety grows. Depression can make that so much worse. We stop working; we stop functioning as a meatsuit should. The trash, dishes, and take out containers grow around us instead, smothering us in more depression.

The most base rescue for this is walking. It’s a start. Down the block or down the street, that’s something you can do; something to satisfy survival brain. Look brain, I’m working! I’m physically moving my body and working for survival! In the end, you’ll be physically tired and your survival brain will thank you. Also, the reward is a nap, which is awesome! If depression is stopping you from sleeping, the reward can always be a chocolate bar from wherever you can walk to, given that it’s not too remote where you are. Or both, I’m not here to judge you.

Keep going, keep getting up, keep walking and working and satisfying that need. If you can’t walk, crochet or knit or draw or build something. Write a blog! You’ve got this. I’ve got this. We’ve got this!