MANAGING DEPRESSION: What if you don't want to?

Doing just one thing is really important. One thing leads to one more thing...and so on...whenever we notice we're starting to get negative, stop and ask yourself, "Am I dwelling on the problem or am I working on a solution?" chances are we're focused on the negative. Intentionally choose to think about possible solutions.

This is what I'm having to do with my own SAD. I'm often very negative. I have to relearn how to think. And that's what it really is. Relearning. I learned how to think about negative things so it is possible & even likely that I will learn to think about solutions to what I can do to help myself through this depression.

I have been depressed for weeks so I'm going to try your advice and do one positive thing cause all I do is stay in bed so thank you for the encouragement.

Hey,
Thanks for the tip. You're right depression is vicious and the awful thing I find about it is that not only do you feel sad...but it brings on feelings of guilt and shame and because you start "shouldin" on yourself...I should be happy...I've nothing to be sad about...so the important thing to remember about depression is that it is not your fault.

Starlight, if you are stuck in bed I would recommend you write a little bit about how you are feeling, just write and write, it's very theraputic, also things I found that helped were simple things like even brushing my teeth and washing my face, when everything seems like too much and shower seems out of the question, even those things do make you feel a little better about yourself.

Remember you're not alone...it is an illness...a horrible illness at that.
Can I ask are you in therapy for it? I started therapy for my depression last Sept, and it is working miracles with me.

Love to you
Moongal x

definitely great advice. you are right one thing does lead to another and another to make you feel better, and also doing one thing is not overwhelming, its a small helpful step.

depression consumes you. Viscious cycle in deed. It eats away at you and kills you inside, but it is so much easier to let that happen than to fight for what you think you want. But when you start to be happy if you are like me you find a way to hit that red button that says (SELF DESTUCT MODE) and you hit it and you hate that you did that but your are relieved at the same time. DOes not make much since does it. I give a round of appluase for people who do take on depression and beat it. Not easy and is a daily struggle. I am strong but for me it is not so much depression as other feelings but they have won me out. I have reasons to get up and I love my work and my dogs and I work out daily, I jsut hate and am frustrated and angry with my life at times and confused. But do get depressed when I think about my future and that there is none. So I appreciate this post it really is a good one.

K9

"Fake it until you make it"

We may not want to smile everyday, but with practice it will
work, I used to give myself a hug everyday and told myself I loved me. Needed that to affirm that I cared about myself and
with that I got back the power of self.
A magical power that is.
Lots of hugs for now.

damianii that is really sweet advice, and this it is great and can really help with self-esteem.

I will be trying this thx but one thing at a time I tried saying il love you to myself a few years ago and found myself laughing at myself and crying I embarrassed myself weird then I tore myself down after saying how selfish i was. But I still try. I don't want my daughter being anything like me I reeeeally hide myself from her I make sure she knows she's beautiful which is better to me to fake it but when I'm alone I constantly think how dumb are you for trying to fit in with other people and etc but I'm sure we all can relate and thx I will try sny who :)

k7 i think its ok to feel silly, i know i do when i say it, and i also think that laughter is good medicine. but when it comes down to it its ok for us to love ourselves because we should. I also think it is so sweet that you tell your daughter she is beautiful and show her how much she is loved. that makes you a wonderful parent and i am sure she loves you very much. stay strong!

The future will arrive tomorrow not today.So in today sitting here managing this post is all I am doing for now anyhow, and it is very "positive".Big and all that it is. My happiness in in the moment and we have loads of them every day, how many minutes are there in a day and so on. On negative and positive feelings, I find I only usually have to deal with one of two emotions which lead to all my feelings and these are the two basic one for as long as humans are around. These are FEAR and LOVE. With this I have kept my life a lot less complicated and can work out my feelings from this base knowledge. I can love myself on a daily basis and with that the emotion channels out to those around me. This has worked for me and I wish in passing it on it will help others too. Bye for the moment......