Retreating to our mental closet

I have a friend who says he goes in his (mental) closet when he has a really bad day with depression. He seeks a quiet place in his home where he can be alone and where he does not have to interact with others for awhile. Here in his “closet”, he can do some reading, or his writings, or just sit and think and analyze and try to work out some solutions to what is bothering him, so that he can come to accept his thoughts and emotions. He says that time seems to be the real cure and then he can go forward again.

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

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.

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.

Sunshine, fresh air, and doing what we love to do

Sun therapy...being outdoors soaking up Mr. Sun and Vitamin D...both of which are important in the defense against depression.

I feel that there is something refreshing and magical with being out in the sun and breathing in the fresh air....especially if there is a little soft breeze and the scenery is lovely. I love to take slow, deep breaths and enjoy the moment. And now that spring is about here, I can truly say that I have “spring fever”, because I can’t get enough of the outdoors. Seems that the more I can just relax out in the sun and fresh air....the less severe my depression bouts seem.

Another thing that helps me, is doing the things that gives me the most enjoyment. One of those things is my writings. I write about my feelings and thoughts on a multitude of various topics of life and things. Doing the things we love to do....and doing them with all our heart and to the best of our ability, is what brings us joy and lifts us out of our down periods. And if the things we love to do can also help other people, then how wonderful is that.

Hanging out in la-la land....aka the internet!

In actuality my depression is always a part of me...but in the fall and winter season it manifests itself more and even within this season I have my good and bad days. So I do various things to help that, as stated in these previous blog posts.

I have discovered that it helps me to go to la-la land for awhile when I am very down. I try to talk myself out of my sad feelings but sometimes I just need to go somewhere with my mind for awhile. For me, getting away or diverting my thoughts to something else usually helps a great deal.

Not everything works for me. When I am sad and melancholy, I have a hard time getting interested in books, organizing my surroundings, doing household tasks, working on projects, and the such.

I have a new found ability, or talent if you want to call it that. I love to write. That helps me. I love to watch movies. I love to get on the internet. We are all different and so we all have to find what helps and works for us.

Hanging out in la-la-land...aka the internet, is not all that bad. Some more healthy people will think it a big waste of time and that it will bring evil spirits. But the internet is chock full of helpful, interesting, fun, educational, and healthy information. It is a great learning place...and I am thinking only of the good, clean uplifting stuff. Educationally...the internet is unending in it’s resources. Whatever you want to know and learn about can be found in this form of la-la land...a temporary vacation spot for the sad, melancholy mind.

Writing Therapy

Writing can be a very good outlet for the "downs". It does not matter if you have writing skills or not....just get a spiral notebook and pick up a pencil and start writing about your feelings!

Are you angry, frustrated or annoyed with something...or someone? Do you feel you are a victim in someway or another? Are you overwhelmingly sad? Do you have fears, anxiety, very low self-image? Write about it. Write about your feelings and thoughts. Get it all out of you, and onto the paper. Put a date on it and keep it.

Keeping all your writings can help you down the road by going back and re-reading them. It can help you to see the progress you have made. Of course you can throw your writings away....but this is THERAPY....and it can help you a lot by keeping them.