How Gratitude Helped Oprah Overcome Depression: “It’s Hard To Remain Sad If You’re Focused On What You Have”

With a thriving television network (literally her OWN television network), it’s hard to imagine a time when an Oprah endeavor may not have gone as planned. The media mogul revealed recently that she’s hit some real lows and explained the difference between being sad and suffering from depression.

“I shall never forget Saturday morning, October 17,” she told Vogue, referencing the day after her Beloved film (1998) released nationwide. “I got a call from someone at the studio, and they said, ‘It’s over. You got beat by ‘Chucky’.’ And I said, ‘Who’s Chucky? What do you mean it’s over? It’s just Saturday morning!’ I knew nothing about box-office projections or weekend openings. It was ten o’clock in the morning, and I said to [personal chef] Art [Smith], ‘I would like macaroni and cheese for breakfast.’”

“And soooo began my long plunge into food and depression and suppressing all my feelings,” Winfrey continued.

According to Winfrey, her bout of depression lasted just under two months. “I actually started to think, Maybe I really am depressed. Because it’s more than ‘I feel bad about this.’ I felt like I was behind a veil,” she explained in the magazine’s iconic September issue. “I felt like what many people had described over the years on my show, and I could never imagine it. What’s depression? Why don’t you just pick yourself up?”

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So, how did she come through? By practicing a little gratitude. “That’s when the gratitude practice became really strong for me,” she told Vogue, while admitting she’d buy up blocks of tickets to Beloved to boost box office sales. “Because, it’s hard to remain sad if you’re focused on what you have instead of what you don’t have.”

She added, “It taught me to never again — never again, ever — put all of your hopes, expectations, eggs in the basket of box office. Do the work as an offering, and then whatever happens, happens.”

 Of course, Winfrey is not alone in her struggle. Fame aside, she is like one of many Americans — more than 1 out of 20, age 12-years and older – who suffer from the serious mental disorder, the CDC reports. Furthermore, her change in weight and appetite, feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a loss of interest in pleasurable activities are signs of a depressed mood.

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In severe cases, depression can lead to significant healthcare needs, problems in school, job loss, trouble in paradise (think relationships), even earlier mortality.

It’s important to note, that women are at a higher risk of falling into depression then men. “Among Americans 12 years of age and over, a greater percentage of females reported depression than males. Almost 10% of adults aged 40-59 reported current depression,” a 2012 report reads.

Fortunately for those living with depression, there are things you can do right now to help. While medications may be useful, they are not always necessary. There are natural routes one can take to boost their mood:

• Regular exercise.
• Consider therapy or joining a support group. Sometimes, you just need a good vent.
• Try relaxation techniques like yoga, meditation, and breathing exercises.
• Build a support system: family and friends who are willing and able to be a help.
• It may sound cliché’ but reading self-help materials may show you how to redirect those sad feelings.
• Practice gratitude like Oprah by writing daily in a gratitude journal or adding notes to a gratitude jar.