If You Are Going Through Depression (Watch This)

Watch the full video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-Azz_a-hrg

If you are going through depression right now, I want you to read this slowly. You are not alone, and it is not over.

This is the written version of my video. I am not a doctor, and I am not going to pretend to be one. What I want to share is my own story, my own opinion, and the simple checklist I go through before I decide that something is wrong with me. If you are a man who feels low, anxious or worn out, this article is for you.

Start here

Depression is something that almost every one of us goes through at some point. Especially us men, and it is something we do not really discuss with each other. We are afraid of how people are going to judge us. So we keep it inside, we keep performing, and we tell nobody.

But you are not alone. Keep that in mind. Some of us are just a bit more public about how we feel, and there is nothing wrong with that. You can be public about it too. Do not think that you are the only person in this world who feels this way, and do not think that the whole world is against you. It is not.

In this article I will walk you through the three questions I ask myself first: did I eat real food, did I sleep well, and did I move my body. Then I will talk about gratitude, about keeping going, and about the mirror. If you want the short version, watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-Azz_a-hrg

The weight men carry

I know we have a lot of responsibilities on our shoulders. You might be running a business. You might have a lot of people depending on you: your family, your team, your clients. And then sometimes you just look around and you ask yourself, well, nobody is really taking care of me.

That is totally understandable. I have been there, and I think many men have.

What I have learned in this life is that as men, we are expected to perform every single day at our full potential. Show up, deliver, stay strong, do not complain. But when do we get the time to actually rest? When do we get the time to actually breathe? That is something we are constantly planning, but it never sees the light. We say we will rest next month, when the business slows down, when the project is done. And that day never comes.

When you carry that much for that long without ever putting anything down, it is no surprise that your mood starts to drop. That does not mean you are weak. It means you are human, and you have been running on empty.

My checklist before I say "I am depressed"

Here is something I do. Before I decide that I am actually depressed, I always go through a little checklist. It is not a diagnosis. It is not a replacement for talking to a professional. It is simply a way to check the basics, because very often the basics are the problem.

My checklist has three main questions:

1. Did you eat real food? 2. Did you sleep well? 3. Did you work out or move your body?

Let me go through each one, because each one matters more than most people think.

Question 1: Did you eat real food?

The first thing I ask myself is: what did I actually eat in the last three days? Not what I planned to eat. What I actually ate.

I know that depression is an emotion. But our body is a center of energy, and our gut especially is a big part of that. If something is not functioning properly in our metabolism, it is going to affect how we feel. That is why I ask: did you eat real food in the last three days? Did you have a bit more coffee than usual? Did you overeat on something?

The reason I ask is simple. We live in a society where a lot of the food in the supermarket is highly processed. It contains a lot of preservatives and chemicals, and our body is not always able to digest it properly. When your digestion struggles, it can show up in how your brain feels.

You might ask: how does the food I eat affect my brain? Well, many studies have shown that the gut is connected to the brain, through something called the vagus nerve. That is science, and it is true. If you have been eating on a stressed stomach, it is going to affect your body, and it is going to affect how you feel.

I always want to bring a bit of science into the conversation, because I want you to have a decent understanding of why you might be feeling the way you feel. When you understand the why, it stops feeling like a personal failure and starts feeling like something you can work on.

The Ferrari and the diesel

There is an old metaphor that I like to use. You do not put diesel in a Ferrari. And if you have an engine that is overheating, nothing in that car is going to work properly, no matter how good the car looks.

Think of the engine as your gut, and the fuel as the food you put into your stomach. If the fuel is wrong, or the engine is already overheating from stress, you will feel it. You might get bloated. You might have brain fog. You might have trouble sleeping. And if your body is not in the right state, your thoughts get confused too. Everything starts to look darker and heavier than it really is.

This is what leads us to the second question.

Question 2: Did you sleep well?

Many people tell me, "But I slept seven hours, eight hours, I should be rested by now." And that is actually not always true.

The most important thing for a healthy mind and a healthy body is your sleep. If you have not been getting at least seven to eight hours of good sleep, that is going to play on your mood and your temper. It is a big reason why you might feel anxious, or low, or short with the people around you.

There is a lot of energy inside you. If it is not channeled the right way, it can affect you badly. And sleep is one of the main ways your body resets that energy.

What was your last meal before you slept?

This one surprises people. I also ask: what was the last meal you had before sleeping? Did you eat two hours before bed? One hour before? Or zero hours before, so you ate and went straight to bed?

That matters a lot. When you eat and go straight to sleep, your body does not get to recover. You may have slept eight hours, but your body spent the whole night in digesting mode. It was busy breaking down your food instead of recovering. So you wake up feeling like you did not sleep at all.

But when you start to sleep better, it can change how your brain works and how you think. Many of the brain fog symptoms start to lift. Everything you do in the last two hours of your day before bed plays a major role.

Your phone, your screen and the people around you

That brings me to the sub-point: did you have your phone next to you? What were you watching? Who were you hanging out with?

By the end of the day, our subconscious is constantly downloading information from everything we are surrounded by. You might not realize it, but it affects you. What you scroll before bed, what you watch, what you listen to, it all gets in.

The same goes for the people around you. There are people out there who are very good at sucking the life out of others. You have a conversation with someone, and afterwards you realize you have no energy left. Be very careful when you are surrounded by people like that. Protect your energy. You do not owe everyone access to you.

Question 3: Did you work out?

The third question is: did you work out? Did you do any physical activity? Did you reach that dopamine?

This plays a major role too. If you are a man who does not do any physical activity, what makes you think you will have a great way of thinking? What makes you think your brain will function properly? Your self-image and your self-love are not going to be at their best if you never move.

I strongly believe that every man who is alive should have some kind of physical workout. We gather a lot of energy in our body, and if we do not take the time to squeeze it out, where does it go? Into stress, into anger, into sadness.

It could be weightlifting. It could be a combat sport. It could be running. It could be any sport. But you have to keep moving.

It is not over

I know that depression is hard. It can feel like life is over. But it is not over.

Listen to me, brother. It is not over at all. Whatever you are going through, keep in mind that a lot of people have gone through the same thing and came out the other side.

As long as you have a roof over your head, a bed to sleep in and food on the table, you are better off than a huge number of people in this world. A lot of people out there are really struggling. I am not saying this to make your pain smaller. I am saying it because gratitude changes how you look at your life.

Start appreciating the little things

Start appreciating the little things you have on a daily basis. It could be something small. For you it might not mean that much, but to other people it might mean a lot.

Appreciate the situation you are in, the position you are in today, and be grateful for it. This is going to play a major role in how you approach every aspect of your life. You do not have to feel grateful for everything. Just start with one thing today.

My personal view

I want to be honest and clear about this part, because it is my personal view and not medical advice. Depression is something that can be present here and there in life. For me personally, I choose not to believe in things that make me weak. I know that might sound crazy. That is my own way of dealing with it, and it does not mean your struggle is not real. If what you feel is heavy and does not lift, please talk to a doctor or a professional. That is a strong thing to do, not a weak thing.

Life is a lot of ups and downs, and there are a lot of obstacles. For me, there is a reason I go through what I go through. I have asked God for things. I asked God to give me courage, and He put me through situations that needed courage. I asked for more opportunities, and He put me in the right position. I believe that is how prayers get answered. You ask, and He helps you build the character that can sustain the goals you are asking for.

There is a reason why many lottery winners end up broke not long after they win. If you get the result without building the character, you cannot hold on to it. The hard season is part of building the person who can carry the life you want.

Keep showing up

So keep that in mind: it is not over. Keep showing up every single day.

But make sure you are eating well, that you are sleeping well, and that you are training well. Those three things are the base. Without them, everything else gets harder.

And once again, if you take care of yourself, you are taking care of the people that you love. Give them the best version of yourself. You have to work for the life that you want.

Look in the mirror

Here is something I do, and I want you to try it. Look at yourself in the mirror. Look deeply. Remind yourself that you got this. Look into your own eyes and say, this is exactly who I am.

And if you are feeling low, or depressed, or anxious, or whatever it is, just remind yourself who you are. You are the man who gets things done. Whatever comes your way, you are going to overcome it.

So stay strong and keep pushing. It is not over. It is not over.

Your next step

If you want to start with the basics, here is where I would begin. Get my free 30-day recomp plan. It is built around the same foundations I talked about here: eating real food, sleeping better and moving every day.

Get my FREE 30-Day Recomp Plan here: https://azermahdi.com/

Want to talk to me directly about your goals? Book a free 30-minute call with me here: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/bookwithusgym-dd37947d-fe0f-46a4-b8f2-a62219276158-503ef48a-568d-4a0d-92a8-ca50a0b42a4b-27ad52de-f58a-4d6e-b839-32178e22d6e4

You can also follow me on Instagram for daily tips: https://www.instagram.com/azermahdi7/

Disclaimer

This article is for general information and motivation only. It reflects my own personal story, experience and opinions. I am not a doctor, therapist or licensed mental health professional, and nothing here is medical, psychological or professional advice, or a diagnosis or treatment of depression or any other condition. Depression is serious and affects everyone differently.

If you feel hopeless, or you are thinking about hurting yourself or ending your life, please reach out right now. Contact your local emergency number, call a crisis line (in the US, call or text 988; in Hungary, call 116-123), or go to the nearest emergency room. Talk to a qualified doctor or mental health professional about how you feel, and never ignore or delay professional advice because of something you read here.

Before you change your diet, supplements, sleep or training routine, speak with a licensed doctor, especially if you have a health condition, are pregnant or take medication.

Results vary from person to person and depend on many factors including your health, effort, consistency and circumstances. Nothing here is a guarantee.

You are fully responsible for your own health decisions and for how you use this information. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Azer Mahdi disclaims liability for any loss, injury or damage resulting from the use of, or reliance on, this article.