This is how I overcame my depression

Hey friends! This video idea came out of the blue for me. It took a while, but I wanted to share it.

I wanted to talk about my experience with depression and how I overcame it.

I'd love to hear your own stories in the comments section.

Because mental health is such a personal issue, I know many people feel strongly about it.

It's not my intention to make anyone angry. I'm not saying this will work for everybody. I'm not saying all depression is curable.

But this IS what definitively worked for me. I not only managed my symptoms, but I decidedly overcame depression and changed my life. I've since been very resilient to it.

I talk in the video about 3 things I did:

1.) ACKNOWLEDGED my depression but did not accept it as part of my core identity.

2.) Took ACCOUNTABILITY for things I PERSONALLY did to cause my current mental state.

I resolved issues and accepted blame for things that were my fault.

At the same time, I freed myself of guilt from things that were NOT my fault.

I forgave people that had wronged me, even if only for my own inner peace.

I actively identified fears and insecurities that wrongfully controlled my behavior.

3.) I focused on giving to OTHERS.

The last one is perhaps the most controversial, but it was a MAJOR game-changer for me.

Focusing on giving, loving, and helping others has radically improved my mental health.

I discovered that the days I felt the worst were the days where I was focused on MYSELF... even for justifiable reasons.

Reframing my worries and concerns into how I can benefit others leads to similar actions, but a better mental process for me.

Learning to want the best for others has been an extremely empowering mindset.

Legal Notice: Consult your doctor or mental health professional before taking any new health advice. This video does not replace a physical therapy program or consultation with a medical professional.

#hybridcalisthenics

0:00- Introduction
0:23- Disclaimer
1:05- Share Your Story
2:05- Exercise & Diet Helps Depression?
2:53- Acknowledgement
4:30- Intermission
4:51- Interpersonal Relationships
5:27- Accountability
6:32- Denial
6:52- We Are All Flawed
8:46- Learning To Forgive
9:16- Compassion
9:45- Identifying Our Insecurities & Fears
11:00- Resolving Issues
12:20- Helping Others
12:57- Give Without Expectation
13:27- Know How To Draw Boundaries
14:34- No: A Tutorial
15:04- "The Days When I Focused On Giving To Other People Are The Days I Felt The Best"
16:26- Outroduction

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All Other Links:

[HybridCalisthenics]

Hey I'm really sorry there weren't any new videos last week. I ran into a LOT of technical issues. I felt like I worked all week but didn't get much released haha. Trying to renovate my process. Hope you all are well!

[noahcavalier]

I liked the part where you specified that depression was never a part of your identity. It is SO easy to just say "i'm depressed, this is who I am now" and just keep sinking in it. Fighting this thought is very important, YOU are not meant to be unhappy, YOU are not meant to feel like this. Never hesitate to ask for help, some people may not understand what you're going through but you'll end up finding. YOU'RE GOING TO BE OKAY :)

[ethanrichardson]

I've had a depression for a good 7 years now (I'm 21), and some days its not too bad. I've kind of learnt to deal with it so I can get through my day, but it always comes back at odd times and completely shuts me down. I've been to therapy, taken anti-depressants, and while they DID help, it was only short lived. I'm currently trying to push myself back into a healthy lifestyle of regular activity and healthy eating, as I used to do that and I felt a bit better than I currently do. The lack of motivation makes it hard, but I believe that I can get there.
I know not really anybody will see this, but it feels nice to be able to share this with a community who I feel cares about this kind of stuff.
Thankyou Hampton and everybody here

[hiiambarney]

Lotta shit I've been through, I saw my first girlfriend get ripped open by a truck and die on the spot, born and raised into a divorced, drug/heroin and alcohol addicted households with no jobs and anger issues as the youngest son, my older brother being severely disabled and requiring constant attention, proper medication or else he would extremely spazz out and simply guessing what he wants as he couldn't talk, just make noises. Later on I had to share my room with my cousin for a long time, where he would get a lot of special attention from his dad and my mom who would tream him as my equal, which is fair in that situation.

I somehow pulled through to university, given I kinda HAD to study something according to my uneducated parents that couldn't even help me or actively done physical harm to me on bad grades, some days even bad handwriting when my mother would sit behind my back and watch me write huge essays over and over again, as every mistake or unreadable word resulted in firm smack on the back of my head and needing to restart the entire essay over.

But working in Germany and Studying kinda sucks when you live in a government funded household as you have to give up money for whoever lives with you that is being funded, in cases where you happen to make enough income, sometimes they would cut the payment completely, so you are basically stuck with below minimum wage work and thus I couldn't finish my studies as an Audio Engineer (which was a pointless endeveaor to begin with I've learned recently).

Traveled across and got my own 1 Room Apartment with some Government Study loans (that I still have to repay) and my Dad gets liver cancer. So ofc I go to see this asshat one more time, who wouldn't?
So my car crashed during that time and repair wasn't in for my financial situation so I couldn't return on time. During my forced stay until I could gather the money to get myself a way home with all my stuff I had to witness my father pass away too and suddenly a handicapped accessible apartment, my older brother and a funeral was all for me to take care of too. By the time I could get one thing done, bringing my brother into a foster care, I got notice that I wouldn't attend the university, thus the government suspected me of being fraudulent with the loans, cutting access to my home (which still booked rent for month afterwards) and my studies entirely for good, charging me with a huge upfront payment or possibly even jailtime.
So I had to take care of that as well in the only way I knew how in that situation, becoming criminal.

I can't give any details but lucky for me, the police was clueless and nobody was harmed physically although the insane stress put an immense burden on me for years now.

As of now I'm sitting on a fat list of mental health issues.
It took me 7 serious attempts at suicide,

including getting a gun illegally trying to shoot myself but getting ripped off with blank ammonition,
hanging myself but the wood ceiling support breaking and downing an entire packet of sleeping pills that apparently weren't including the right substances to kill me anyways,

to realize, I have something to do in this world, which is why it doesn't want me to stop existing.
Not some new era messias yaddah, yaddah talk but actually a reason.

I have yet to find it out but in my pursue of this reason I could find glimpses of general happiness and furfillment, so what I want to do is find a way (quite possibly through a creative media outlet, be it Art, Music or even Video Games, I have a lot of experiences in all of these) to grant others who may be in similar or even worse situations compared to me and help them in any way I can to start regrowing that hope and search for plus take the steps necessary to gain control again over their lives.

I think nobody is gonna read this wall of text, but honestly, whoever, did anyways, thank you from the bottom of my heart.
May you not look who you once were or even are today but look towards who you can become and work at it one step at a time!
Stay safe!

[digital.adrenaline]

I’ve had clinical depression since I was 12, here’s what helped, in the order I did them:
- Coming to terms with the diagnosis itself
- Telling my friends and family (that I trusted)
- Going vegetarian and eating healthy.
- Therapy! It took a few tries to find a therapist I clicked with, it really helps with the negative thought processes and such.
- Moving from a toxic environment to a better one.
- Minimalism, coming from a family of hoarders, this was important to me.
- Spoon theory
- Adopting a pet ( there were other people to help me take care of them)
- Psychiatric medicine. This one scared me and my family at first, but was necessary. Don’t be afraid of it, it may very well help you out a lot.
- Taking a gap year for my mental health. No work, no school, literally just focusing on my self and relationships.

[patvalencia]

Funny how I was just thinking about some stupid scenarios where I was unable to climb out of my own insecurities and dark thoughts. Thanks for a quick reality check on where I am, thanks friend!



Edit: Wow to say I forgot this comment would be an understatement. Thankfully I've moved on from what ever was holding me down in the pass. I still feel gloomy new and then, but taking time to reflect and feel emotions have taken me far since I am now in my 2nd year of college. I was never good on expressing my feelings but to sum it up, I am thankful for all your kind and supportive words, thank you.

[KennyMelan]

One thing that I don’t see enough people talking about is the value of commitment. The ability to commit to literally anything I found to be one of the most useful changes in my life. Whether it is keeping a promise, finishing a book or sticking to a workout routine. And the more you commit to certain things the easier it gets to commit to other things. I‘m saying this because it has helped me tremendously to convince myself that I‘m actually capable of persevering difficulties. I know that it is especially hard when you’re depressed to get anything done but even getting out of bed is a good start. It might be hard but it gets easier. Mental fitness, just like physical fitness, is a skill that can be learned and needs practice.

[arwenevenstar]

I am really depressed today and decided to watch Hampton to comfort me. I don’t even exercise, I just love his personality and he feels comforting like a friend and then I found this video. Love from Ireland 💖💖💖

[marlahendriksson]

I came for the “push-up tutorial” and got hooked on this video on overcoming depression. Thank you for sharing your story and sage advice, Brother Hampton! Your vlogs are clear and unpretentious. Keep doing what you do.

[aguy]

We need more people like you in the industry

[paulchenpi]

What worked for me:
- Exercise: starting super slow
- Self Compassion Meditation: this was an important one
- an environment that did not give tips but was just there and listened
- time
- a plant based diet/anti inflammatory diet: for me this seems to be important. My theory is that my depression is fueled or even triggered by subliminal inflammation
- reducing online time to a minimum

[mariahhaynie]

Hampton, thank you for remaking this video, your efforts are greatly appreciated!

My journey out of depression started with a single piece of fruit. I wasn't eating well, I was sleeping all the time, and I never left my house. This was all last summer, which is not normal for me to be depressed when it's nice outside. After months and months AND MONTHS of not feeling well or feeling myself, I was SO tired of feeling that way. So I made the decision that I want to feel better, and just coming to that decision was incredibly difficult. I started small. I literally started with one piece of fruit. While eating it, I acknowledged that I was doing something kind for myself. I held onto that feeling and let it fill my being as much as I could. I decided I wanted to at least TRY doing one kind thing for myself each day, even if it was only eating one piece of fruit.

That was a couple months ago, I'm still on this journey. I'm not making fast progress, but I am making progress. I'm starting to feel like ME again. And now whenever I have a REALLY bad day, I am more kind to myself because of what I've been through. Small steps are the key for me.

Drink a glass of water, sit in a sunny spot on the floor and feel the sun's warmth, or eat a piece of fruit.
You go this, and I'm so glad you're here. ❤️

[mineshnissanka]

If you're going through depression, I hope you get better. You're an amazingly strong person to be able to go through depression. It's completely fine if you wanna cry. If anyone makes fun of you for crying, cut them off. Stay safe and happy, my friend :D

[hypocrisydetector]

Its important not to ignore stress sadness or depression. Many small warning signs show up before it gets really bad.
Dear friends pls pay attention to yourself. we forget this too often and burn up ourselves for others

[facade]

Man, you are so wise. This whole video you described the things I've started to come to realize within the last few months at the age of 23. This gives me so much hope for 2023 in a few days. Personally I've dealt with depression since I was 9 and I honestly don't think I can take even one more year of how I've been living since that time. Thank you.

[larrylapin]

Pointing out other's flaws rooting from your own insecurities is probably the most accurate thing I've ever heard. Most people when they insult someone else about their appearance are projecting. Why would they fixate on a certain thing if not?

[yannpafemy]

First i had to get rid of alcool to start getting over my depression. I found out that even while drinking very little, alcool poisoned my thoughts more and more. I feel much better when i don't drink at all.

Second of all, besides of talking to a professional, starting working out really helped getting my stresslevel down and feeling way better.
I like eating, and i cannot live without pizza for example. Even if i don't try to get under a certain % of body fat i can feel that, when i try to lose a few kg and i eat "cleaner" for a certain time, again i feel better. Even if i can't directly see a changing on my body. So for me, a clean diet and working out really helps. But you don't need to force it. If you want a rest indiet or workout, just pause for a bit. But try not to lose control over it.

[trushant]

I've been dealing with hopelessness for the past 3 years. After graduating from college, I was completely lost. At the same time my family was going through very tough times. So instead of finding my way out of the situation, I turned into a couch potato. I spent my days playing video games, browsing NSFW content on internet. So much time wasted. But since last few weeks, I've started to take small steps. I quit video games and p*rn, and enrolled for new classes. I'm waking up early and going for a walk. I'm also keeping a journal to manage my thoughts. I know the road ahead of me is tough one, but I'm going to show up every day and do my absolute best.

[sandrahaber]

Hampton, you are adorable. Inside and out. I appreciate how you communicate. Your wisdom is beyond your years. I also so appreciate your positive attitude even when dealing with uncomfortable issues. 🙏🏻💗

[SweetDreamSounds]

I don’t know if it was actually depression that I was dealing with, I had major burn out and didn’t feel like doing anything. Believe it or not, Hampton helped me get out of that. I started watching all of his videos and started looking at life and everything in a different way. So thank you Hampton, thank you for pulling me out of my state of burn out. I would argue that u saved my life