There is always someone worse off than we are

No matter how we are feeling on a particular day, there is always someone else that feels a lot worse. Let's try to reach out to that someone else and see if we can help lift that person up a little bit. In the process...we are lifted also.

How are you holding up?

simple gift wrapping...
simple Christmas tree decorating....

I hope you have been able to find something enjoyable to do that is able to lessen the depression blues. And I also hope that you are working hard at making this years Christmas simpler, easier, and less stressful.

I am trying hard to help and encourage a friend to do the above. I think it is working. He seems to be in better mental spirits, lately, and he is having fun and joking. So…it must be helping him.

Tis the season......

The Christmas season with all of its busy-ness and stress can really put us in a tailspin towards depression as we struggle and tend to get overwhelmed with it all. But try to keep Christmas as simple, easy and stress free as you can...it will greatly help.

Some days.......

Be sure to celebrate all your good days and moments

It is important to make a big deal of all the good days and moments that we have. Reward yourself some how, maybe buy a little treat or whatever works for you. By looking for, and recognizing our good moments, we are more conscience of them and will work harder at trying to have those good days. Besides...we sure like the feeling we have when we are up.

Whistle a happy tune

When days are bad and you’re feeling really down...force yourself to whistle or sing a happy tune. Find a song that you like very much and which is catchy and fun, memorize it and whenever you need to give yourself a lift, just whistle or sing it.

Try some midi music:
http://notendur.centrum.is/~sih/midi/

There are also many happy children’s songs that might do the trick for you, so find one of those:
http://bussongs.com/animal_songs.php

Your dog knows

Have you ever noticed how your dog reacts around you when you have blue days? They sense that something is wrong and that you are unhappy. Watch your dog next time and see if she/he will come by you and stay close to you while you are struggling. They are loving and compassionate creatures.

Newly added on Nov. 11:
One day I started to cry and our dog perked up her ears and immediately came over to me, nudged her nose into my hand and layed her head against me. It was almost as if she was letting me know that she was there to comfort and love me.

Write a list

When we are depressed and everything is turned miserably inward, it is hard to feel joy and gratitude about things in our life. That is why it is such good therapy to force ourselves to write a list of all the things that we consider a blessing in our life for which we are truly grateful for. Once you can manage to get started on the list, you will be surprised at how many things you can think of to put on your list.

My new discovery

Within the last month I have made a very important discovery pertaining to my depression.

For months now, I have been doing tons of writing, including beginning a book, and also reading a lot more fiction books. Surprisingly, I have noticed a pattern developing which I certainly hope continues throughout the winter months.

All this writing and reading has hugely helped improve my depression. Generally this time of year I am well into the depression blues and not having any motivation to do anything. Of course, when we are depressed everything seems to bother us and it all turns inward, to ourselves. But all this writing and reading has just accomplished the complete opposite...all my feelings and thoughts have turned outward away from within me.

My writings help me to delve within myself and pull all my feelings and thoughts out from within the depths of me and put them onto paper. Reading helps me escape for awhile into another time and situation, thus providing me with an outlet with which to ponder, enjoy and get lost in, for awhile.

So, the secret is...to find something that you enjoy SO MUCH that it will enable you to bring all your feelings and thoughts out of you and center them on something that can take you away from your pent up emotions.

Try an online depression forum

There are all types of forums online, for all types of things that we might be interested in, for help or to learn from. Forums are safe and private...they are NOT chat rooms. You just post a question and later people answer or comment on your question. The depression forum is made up of other people who suffer from depression. You can even just read the questions and comments from others...you don’t have to post one yourself, if you don’t want to.
Click on the following link to take you to a good depression forum:

http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=messages&webtag=ab-depression

Because I am also an introvert, I have joined an introvert forum which I really love and have learned so very much from. My favorite introvert forum is:
http://hiddengiftsoftheintrovertedchild.com/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=c98c3ed277b925c2539725fcd535ff64&board=5.0

Today....

Have a very good day today...because you KNOW that you have been blessed with family and friends who love and care about you !!!

Stop thinking of self, and go do something for someone else

When we are depressed, all our energy and thoughts are turned inward to our self. If we can muster all our strength to break out of that process and go do something for someone else, then we will be surprised at how much better that little act of kindness for others can help us feel.

Get outside!

I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to get lots of fresh air and sunshine, along with exercise. There is something magic in it all.

Now as our weather is getting cooler, I just love to sit out on our back deck and spend a few hours just reading, in the refreshing air. I have noticed that it really makes a difference in how I feel...and that appears to be...happier.

Forget the blues and have another laugh

Click on the following link to see some funny animal antics on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_S_TKqu9pxU

Time for Laugh Therapy

Laughter is very good for what ails us.

Click on the link below to see a funny YouTube movie trailer by that 'movie voice-over guy'.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMngjDMZTWo

Writing therapy

I realize of course that not everyone shares the same abilities and talents….but for me writing has been my life saver. Actually you don’t have to have any special writing ability to write private articles for your eyes only. It is a great release to put down on paper things that bother you; things you have learned and are grateful for; things that you yearn for and admire. I even read once that it is good therapy to write a letter to someone you are angry at and tell them how you feel. Get it all out of your system and then destroy the letter. Try it.

Exercise therapy

We know the value of exercise when it comes to trying to loose weight and improving our health. But exercise can play a major role in helping our depression, also, so that is why I am writing another post about it.

I know that sometimes my depression and anxiety causes me to feel that I do not want to do anything at all, nor do I have the energy to do anything. But I have to really struggle past that and KNOW, really KNOW and understand that doing some form of exercise 3 or more times a week is the best thing for me to feel better. Really...it is no fun to have that black cloud of depression hovering over me all the time. I need some relief and to feel somewhat normal again as much as I can.

So, I push and talk myself into going to the gym and walking on the treadmill for 30 minutes, as many times a week as I can manage it. And it does make me feel better, honest.

Click on the link below to read a good article about depression and exercise:

http://www.ahealthyme.com/topic/exdepression

What is your hobby or something you thoroughly LOVE to do?

....whatever it is, immerse yourself in it; get lost in it; get renewed giddiness with it. Do all you can to use that hobby, activity or interest to help you through your rough days of depression. Don’t feel too guilty if other things do not get done. Just know, and help your family to know and understand, that this is a temporary outlet to help you get through those days of darkness.

Yes, I know that when the bad days come, we generally do not feel like doing ANYTHING AT ALL...that’s why you must choose an activity that will strongly work for you and be like your medicine.

The activities that I LOVE and which help me are: watching movies, and doing my various writings including my 10 blogs. Yikes!...10 blogs? ...yes, I am addicted and also I love knowing that I can help other people through my various kinds of blogs.

I dread this time of year

As we approach fall each year, I start to get nervous and glum. Something begins to work inside of me filling the spaces with the dreaded anticipation of what looms before me in the coming months.

I have more pronounced depression this time of year because I suffer with SAD...Seasonal Affective Disorder.... due to the fact that the daylight hours are all whacky. Through the last several years, I have been collecting my arsenal of ways to handle the increased depression when it comes.

This blog is all about how and what I do, not only in the fall and winter when my depression is at its worst but throughout the whole year. Hey...it works for me and I hope you can find help with these ways also.

Deep breathing therapy

http://www.improving-health-and-energy.com/breathing-your-way-to-health.html

(see my list on the left, of the different types of therapy that I use to help my depression)

A few weeks ago when I went to the doctor, he said that my oxygen levels were a touch lower than what they could be. It all boiled down to the way that I breathe, as I am a shallow breather.

I have known for years that deep breathing exercises is very important for our health…and brain function. The more oxygen to the brain, the better we think and the healthier our brain and other organ systems will be. Closing our eyes and doing some slow deep breathing can also help stress.

The problem is that I don’t always take the time to pay attention to my breathing, just as long as I know that I am still doing it. But I have to try to be more conscious and make myself take deeper breaths. I wonder if that is a habit that a person can adopt...and get better at unconsciously?

Photo therapy

Calming and serene scenery can do magic for what ails us. When beginning a relaxing and de-stressing session, we are instructed to visualize in our minds eye a beautiful, peaceful place that we would love to be at.

Here are a few of my favorite types of scenery that calm and relax me:

Music therapy

Certain music can do wonders for depression and all that goes with it. Personally, I just love the music of Kitaro. For me it is soothing, relaxing and uplifting.

Here are the links to a few of my favorite pieces of his, from his live shows.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ulc51ZOGQk&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2FFDDWz3R0&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfVntSicF8Q&NR=1

I found a very helpful website on depression

It is called “The Depression Guide”.
http://members.fortunecity.com/depressionguide/

click on the chart below to enlarge...

"Footprints in the Sand"....very uplifting

To be read and re-read often....

For what it's worth...

...... a YouTube video on depression:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8G19oeJD8Nc

Movies...my life saver

I watch one or more movies each day. I don’t care what others say about watching movies being a waste of time. For me it is my life saver. I can relax, un-stress, totally and fully enjoy, and get thoroughly LOST in a movie. It doesn’t matter what movie it is, I enjoy a lot of types.

I think perhaps the most therapeutic type of movie is a good comedy that makes me laugh till my sides ache. My view point about watching movies as a therapy measure, is that it takes my mind OFF of what is troubling me for awhile so that my mind can relax and calm down and regroup itself. So, movies are for me !

I have started another blog devoted to the movies I have seen. I give the description of each movie and offer my own opinion about it. If you are interested, here is the link to my movie blog:

http://moviesmytherapy.blogspot.com/

Can't I just work through it myself ?

I don’t want to be on any meds for my depression. True, my form of depression is mild compared to other peoples, still it sometimes leaves me not able to function quite like I used to. But I can accept it and deal with it.

I feel the methods I use, explained on this blog, works for me, even though I turn sometimes within myself. I can handle that because I am not a people person anyway and most of the withdrawal/escape happens when I know that I will be in a large group of people. STRANGE HOW THAT DOESN’T BOTHER ME WHEN I SIT IN A MOVIE THEATER FULL OF PEOPLE AND GET LOST IN A FILM !!!

Some of the places/activities where there will be large groups of people, is generally places/activities that appear to no longer interest me like it use to, due to the fact that I am getting older and my interests have changed anyway. So, I choose to just work through my depression episodes by myself, without the aid of meds. By the way, I am also an introvert by nature.

Depression...such an elusive illness

I wish I could completely and fully understand the complexities of depression. Without medication, I deal with mine…and I know my depression is very mild compared to other peoples.

One of my friends, who also has chosen NOT to take meds for depression, is right now suffering terribly. For now, he has shut himself off from others, saying that his depression and mental pain are more than he wants to deal with.

It is so puzzling to me. Why does it have to be such a varied problem? Why does almost everyone suffer with depression in different ways and degrees? Why does one person that I know, who is ON depression meds…still does not feel and act right and has trouble functioning in his life? Why does another person I know, who is also ON meds…lives a fairly normal life, contributes to society and can enjoy doing the things she likes?

The human mind is so complex.

On the other hand, maybe we MUST

Continuing from my previous post:

Then, there are many, many times… and situations…when I begin to feel claustrophobic and nervous in a group setting or when the noise level starts getting high. I have realized that my sanity depends on getting OUT and away from that setting. Many times I just have to leave, or not participate at all. I figure my emotional well being is far more important than the social event. I have also realized that in really tough situations it does not do me any good to try to stay and just “get over it”, as it stresses me out even more. So, as far as I am concerned, it’s OK to leave if it starts getting out of your control.

Try harder

Do we play tug of war with ourself?

The other day I talked to a friend who also struggles with depression. Her depression is a little different and more difficult than mine; she takes depression meds, also, but I don’t.

I guess the medication helps her deal and function with the illness. She is able to accomplish most of the things that she desires, and talks herself through unpleasant and uncomfortable moments.

Though my depression mainly brings me down in the winter (I have SAD…Seasonal Affective Disorder), I still have brief sad moments throughout the rest of the year and I have a lot of trouble feeling motivated to do anything. I had made the decision many years ago that I did not want to be on meds.

When my friend said that she talks herself through uncomfortable situations, a light came on for me. I wondered if I give in too easy with the “avoid it” solution. I must try harder to talk myself through MY uncomfortable situations….and not be so quick to take the easy way out, which is to not do it at all. I know that growth comes when we can overcome a difficulty.

Amazing story

Brain researcher Jill Bolte Taylor got a research opportunity few brain scientists would wish for: She had a massive stroke, and watched and studied her own stroke as it happened ...as her brain functions -- motion, speech, self-awareness -- shut down one by one. She has become a powerful voice for brain recovery. This is an astonishing story.

Click on either of the links below, to watch the video of her account:

http://www.ted.com:80/index.php/talks/view/id/229

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyyjU8fzEYU

Take time to laugh at our self

I do all sorts of weird things now a days and I just laugh at myself, because it is better than crying. Depression, aging, and all sorts of things cause us to become too serious at times. So I love it when something makes me laugh (besides “House, MD”)

I was sent the following, in an e-mail...


MENTAL HOSPITAL PHONE MENU

Hello, and thank you for calling The State Mental Hospital. Please select from the following options menu:

If you are obsessive-compulsive, press 1 repeatedly.

If you are co-dependent, please ask someone to press 2 for you.

If you have multiple personalities, press 3, 4, 5 and 6.

If you are paranoid, we know who you are and what you want, stay on the line so we can trace your call.

If you are delusional, press 7 and your call will be forwarded to the Mother Ship.

If you are schizophrenic, listen carefully and a little voice will tell you which number to press.

If you are manic-depressive, it doesn't matter which number you press, nothing will make you happy anyway.

If you are dyslexic, press 9696969696969696.

If you are bipolar, please leave a message after the beep or before the beep or after the beep. Please wait for the beep.

If you have short-term memory loss, press 9. If you have short-term memory loss, press 9. If you have short-term memory loss, press 9..

If you have low self-esteem, please hang up our operators are too busy to talk with you.

If you are menopausal, put the gun down, hang up, turn on the fan, lie down and cry. You won't be crazy forever.

If you are blonde, don't press any buttons, you'll just mess it up.

Surviving

Yes, some days are very difficult. But try very hard to go with the flow, ride the waves, and hang in there. We can make it!

It's okay to want/need time alone

I recently returned from a trip to see my granddaughter get married. For two days I was around lots and lots of people, as the events and plans for the reception were taken care of and executed.

Needless to say, as an introvert, I was overwhelmed with so many people and talking and noise, etc. This is NOT a negative statement against these particular people....they are all wonderful individuals. The problem lies within ME, as it is a trademark of an introverted person.

So, for a couple of days after I returned home, I truly enjoyed shutting myself up in my little apartment, enjoying the solitude and peace and quiet so that I could re-energize myself. After that, I was fine again. So it is okay to want time alone for awhile to rest and regain strength and perspective.

Commercial for "mental illness"

I was watching TV the other day and a commercial came on, of which I did not pay a whole lot of attention to at first and so I hope I get this right...it was something about the fact that we have/need certain different GROUPS of our friends to do certain things with, or for them to be supportive of us in different situations....but that it only takes 1 (one) special friend to be there and stand by us when we struggle with mental illness.

Finding that "something"

Some of my days are so repeatedly boring that I have to really think about the things I truly enjoy doing, and then make myself DO THEM !

I have created projects that I would like to accomplish/finish...such as photo albums for my boxes of photos. And I have discovered that I LOVE to write...creative writing I guess it is called. I think about life in general for a moment and get a particular thought about one thing, and then I write my thoughts and feelings about it.

Struggling with depression...it is crucial to our mental and emotional health and well being to keep busy.....any kind of busy that will occupy our thoughts away from the SAD down times, is a good thing. We need to find that “something” within us that will help to soothe and calm "what ails us".

Our inner child

I am told we all have an inner child....My interpretation of it is: that child-like part of me that desires to be carefree and safe, and where my most tender feelings and thoughts reside. I feel my inner child is strong and desires for me to be all that I can be.

What does your inner child feel or think about you?

And what do you feel and think about your inner child?

For me...my inner child longs to be free from the heavy burden of my sometimes mental and emotional up and down problems. My inner child loves me and I love my inner child. I desperately desire to be like my inner child....but I don't know quite how to accomplish that.

I just now had this thought: .... “is that why I retreat within myself a lot” ?

Click on the link below for an interesting website about our INNER CHILD:
http://www.coping.org/growth/little.htm

Get a life

I spend way too much time at this computer....I’ve got to get a life!!!!

But I LOVE writing on my blogs and reading other peoples blogs, and checking out this and looking at that... I’ve got to get a life!!!!

But I learn so much from my travels on the computer and internet. Time goes by so quickly when I am on the computer.....I’ve got to get a life!!!

My writings are good depression therapy for me as is everything I do on my computer, along with loving to watch movies and getting myself lost in them. For the moment....this IS my life!!!

By the way, I will give another plug for my new blog: “Movies....My Therapy”
http://moviesmytherapy.blogspot.com/

I am Miss ornery mouth ! (revised)

It is either old age, not feeling well, or something else that is contributing to my new found ornery mouth. Lately, I find that I have less patience, a shorter fuse, and the lock on my mouth seems to be broke!! I hope this phase improves before I get myself into trouble. Maybe I need MORE alone time.....or three days of straight movie watching !

NOTE: I have just started a new blog called "Movies...My Therapy". If you are interested, click on the link up at the very top left of this blog where links to my other blogs are. So, if you love movies like I do and they help your depression days, too, you can read the descriptions and opinions I give on the movies I have seen.

Knowing and understanding that I am an introvert has helped me so much!

.... I N N I E ....

Oh what a blessing to finally discover that I am not all alone in my feelings and habits of not being a people person or not feeling comfortable in large crowds or social events and struggling with carrying on a conversation with someone.

It is such a good feeling to know that I am not “weird” for enjoying time being just with myself. And that I am ok because I don’t WANT or NEED lots of social life and tons of friends.

Discovering that 1/3 of the population is introverted, brings lots of comfort and greater understanding and acceptance of myself. I am a normal introvert and that knowledge has brought me such relief!

There is a book called “The Introvert Advantage...how to thrive in an extrovert world”, written by Marti Olsen Laney, Psy.D. The author herself is an introvert. The book shows introverts how to work with, instead of against, their temperament to enjoy a well-lived life.



If you are interested in the book, click on the link below:

http://www.theintrovertadvantage.com/advantage.html

My anxiety came out of hiding

! ! !


Gosh.....I thought my anxiety problems had vanished. It has been so long since I have been bothered by it in any large degree. But Sunday in church someone shared a bit of information with me about the health of another person and the possibility of it being contagious. I had recently visited this person but was not aware of her health problem.

Being VERY mindful of MY health and situations that I was having, this bit of information was alarming to me to the point of being obsessed with thinking and worrying about it ..... and boy my mind and emotions immediately began to get worked up into a state of anxiety. It was interesting to me to be able to analyze the change that came over me in a matter of minutes. I had never had the opportunity to consciously delve into my feelings like this before. It certainly was an eye opener for me. How very quickly the mind and emotions can take over a person and distort everything.

So...to calm my anxiety, I had to go back to this person who gave me the news and talk further with her and get more facts. This put me at ease and the anxiety began to subside.

Mental and emotional problems....isn't it just wonderful!!!!!

Online tests to determine your personality type

I very recently took two online personality type tests (one was the Jung-Myers-Briggs test) that also determines what percentage introvert/extrovert a person is. It was very informative....and such an eye opener for me to learn so much about myself. It was like everything came together and made sense because it was explained to me how and the reasons why I feel like I do, personality wise.

I discovered and understood for the first time that I really was a dominant introvert (but I don't hate people). No wonder I have depression problems. No wonder I am an introvert......a depressed introvert!! No wonder I love so much alone time. No wonder I struggle socially.

The two websites had tons of information for describing all the areas of personality that was determined by the test.

In case you would like to take the tests, here are the links:

http://www.personalitypathways.com/type_inventory.html


http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp


ALSO....I found a website created by Marti Laney....a website FOR and about introverts. Marti is a psychotherapist specializing in introverted clients. She herself is a strong introvert. She has lots of information on her site PLUS there is a forum on her site just for introverts. It is very fascinating and extremely helpful to read the questions and posts from other introverts. I learned so very much in just the little while I spent reading about these peoples lives, feelings, thoughts, problems, discoveries and questions.

Here is the link for Marti’s website:

http://www.theintrovertadvantage.com/index.html

What are your most favorite relaxing, peaceful places in town?

When I am depressed, I like to be surrounded by something, or some place that thoroughly gives me joy, great pleasure, and where I can feel totally relaxed and peaceful.

Lately, I have been scouring our town for some of these places. I have made a mental list of MY, now favorite, relaxing areas that I can go to. Here are some of them:

Duck pond by golf course

City Park

Within park, overlooking a trail area

Virgin River

Small waterfall on part of Virgin River