100 Days of Wonder – #16

Following yesterday’s post on Fun, I thought it was worth tackling something I haven’t covered yet in this series. The photo is of me and Eyore. We have something in common. We both suffer from depression. Disney has been critical in helping me manage my depression. The escapism when actually there helps hugely to completely re-set my brain but it is more than that. The planning for a trip gives me focus and a way to immerse myself in the escapism in the run up to a trip. The photos I can scroll through (or flip through in the photo books we have created) allow me to reminisce and reflect and to create some of the Disney Bubble at home. Sometimes we have Disney Days where we watch a sunrise series on Disney Plus drinking coffee from our resort mugs, ‘go on’ a ride or two with the help of YouTube and re-create some of the food options we like from the parks. My depression is now pretty well managed and I am very aware of my triggers and the signs it’s coming. I can’t always stop it but I am better able to escape to Disney literally or metaphorically and re-set. Depression for me is about brain overload and not being able to process properly so embracing Disney films and TV series that require no brain power, escaping to the familiarity of Disney characters and enforcing rest (for the brain rather than physical rest) – and allowing the inner child time to play are my antidotes. Understanding that my love of Disney is not silly and childish (in the bad sense) or ridiculous but something that is an important way for me to look after my brain because it nurtures the creativity, story telling and imagination that lights up my soul has been a really important realisation in my depression journey and it, alongside running (more on that in another post), has made staying mentally well much much easier.