Posted by Fi on November 17, 2001, at 13:10:17
In reply to Re: There is Hope for Everyone » fi, posted by jay on November 17, 2001, at 3:13:26
Thanks for those wise observations, Jay. I have tried not watching the news myself (at the most just
do the headlines) and agree that its a very good idea.
Actually turned the TV *off* to check my email, so that's a good start!I was a health professional *before* I got depression (still working but in different field)- I would be
a much better health prof now!I had a stage of reading lots of books but have got out of the habit- will have another shot.
You've got me thinking re practical ways to get thru the day. I gathered quite a bunch; I'll think about
which might be useful to pass on to others. They could be pretty basic, such as my ways of ensuring I get
out of bed in the morning (isnt that just so incredibly hard often- even if you're feeling pretty OK?) I use
any or all of:
1. Being woken by a radio alarm tuned to a station with cheerful chat (Terry Wogan on Radio 2, if there are other UK folk
out there).
2. Having a noisy alarm clock too far away to reach from bed
3. Lying in a position I know will get uncomfortable but only giving myself the option of that
or getting up.
4. Bribery; eg I have work to get myself up Mon-Fri but tape Buffy (goes out around 1am in UK) as a bribe
to get up on Sat.
5. If its actually during a bout of depression, reminding myself this is the worst I'll feel all day. And that
on past experience, I will feel worse if I lie in bed than if I get up.
6. Trying not to link getting up with getting cold- a dressing gown (I think that's a 'robe' in US)plus warm bedroom and bathroom.
7. An absolute ban on ever, ever getting back into bed once I've got up.If people find tips like these useful, I'll let you know some more..
Fi
>
> A great analogy was made in the book
> Noonday Demon. "Depression is sadness about the past...Anxiety is fear of the future." No, it is not quite that simple, but it covers a lot of ground.
>
> What I find a powerful tool in attacking both depression and anxiety, along with meds to help control symptoms, is breaking your life into very, very tiny goals. "Family, Job, Home" is the title of a chapter of another excellent book on mental health in Canada (I can't recall the name.)
> Make sure some of the basic things in your life can be somehow managed, and these are often major stressors that can burden our depression and anxiety. If people can, forcing yourself to keep a basic daily routine, in particular a job...any job. One of the worse pieces of advise doctors can give is for people to "take time off" for mental health (in the short run, fine, but not over many years.)
>
> Use services in your community to attain afordable housing. Maybe a house is too expensive, and there are many excellent income-scaled co-op apartments.
>
> In your family, even if everyone seems completely against you or messed up, try and seek out atleast one person who you somewhat trust, and try to keep in touch. Seperate yourself from very toxic relationships.
>
> Spend as much time as possible reading up on good books on mental health. Spend less time in front of the t.v., and give yourself a "news break". Especially with the horrific events of Sept. 11, there is little you can do by just watching or reading about them constantly. You are ill, and need to focus on your healing before you are capable of doing much else on the world stage.
>
> This is just randomn pieces of info, because there are no tried-and-true answers. I have collected this from my readings and experience over many years with this dang illness, but I also have had the ability to study much of it, getting my social work degree as well as working in the community of mental health. I am both a consumer and helper. We can all be that...and you don't need a degree.
>
> This is a great thread...I hope to hear many other ideas and takes.
>
> Jay
poster:Fi
thread:13946
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20011117/msgs/14025.html