Hi....
Know what you mean. I am off for the summer and have struggled with the up and down mood since school was out in May....among other things I just decided to get busy....I have painted, built shelves, done laundry, cleaned out closets....have done just about everything but spray paint my wife's cats!!!! (Mainly because they run every time they see me!)
But....staying busy doing some things that make me feel like I have accomplished something really helped with the depression. Have also been writing a lot....been writing in a journal for years.....helps me. Am now working creating a small workshop space for myself.....to everyone around me it may look stupid for me to stay so busy....but just sitting around is a garantee that my mood will plummet....just hang in there......
JChick
Trying Positive Self Talk
Hi Andy. It's been one week since your post and I wonder how you are doing? Depression is a roller coaster ride, and I always try to see myself in the first car with my hand up saying I want to get off this ride . The Self Talk part of this program has been a big help. I have such a long way to go, but for once in my life, I believe I've got a good useable tool box full of solutions. Today started out pretty bleak for me, I won't go into details. But I let the mood sit, then looked in the mirror and told myself You are doing it again and then I practiced some positive Self Talk. We are all here in this together, and we will get through this very dark forest. I imagine there is a truly bright field of flowers on the other side.
Life is too short to own an ugly boat. Step aboard for a wonderful journey!
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Guest
If possible, when you're entertaining those nasty thoughts, literally run out of the house! Get out for a walk...allow yourself to change or do something physical for at least a good 10mins (get into an excercise routine if possible). This will kick your endorphins in, which are good happy chemicals! Also even if you're against it, give yourself a chance and if you take a nice brisk walk for 10mins and it doesn't do the trick, then you can always go back to what you were doing in the first place. But try something first before saying 'Oh why bother, it won't do anything...' (Been there, lived that!)
The walks for me are two fold: You get out, get a little exercise, get the body going. Second, as you're putting energy into that, all the thoughts and things in your head tend to dwindle, you become distracted by your surroundings and even think about the neighbors new paint job, the smell of the fresh cut grass etc, and by the time your done, you've given yourself the best chance of getting by that wave of depression.
It may sound a little goofy, but we've got to try things, do things different to get those different results we're looking for.
The walks for me are two fold: You get out, get a little exercise, get the body going. Second, as you're putting energy into that, all the thoughts and things in your head tend to dwindle, you become distracted by your surroundings and even think about the neighbors new paint job, the smell of the fresh cut grass etc, and by the time your done, you've given yourself the best chance of getting by that wave of depression.
It may sound a little goofy, but we've got to try things, do things different to get those different results we're looking for.
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Guest
Pecos - Thanks for asking. I am still exercising, working and trying to do my normal routine despite the pain. But you are correct, certainly a roller coaster ride. I have good days and bad days, good hours and bad hours. Definitely times of hopelessness but I just tell myself to push through. Still struggling with the positive self talk and the guilt/worry thoughts in mind as I work through the program.
Andy
Andy