Stress Center Peer Support

Kay, you really need a change in medication or see a therapist. Believe me it will get you started thinking differently then you do. I was in the same place you are. I still take meds. and see my therapist. Then when I do get a chance to work on the program it makes me feel really great. You are not whinning you need someone to talk to that has the education to help you. I pray you get the help you need. I will pray for you. God bless you

Kay,
I am probably one of the most negative people and I have a difficult time not feeling depressed. I don't want to do anything. I am using the cds but I don't think they are doing much. My husband and daughter think it is just an infomercial for someone to make money and my sisters yell at me to snap out of it. I just can't do that. I would love to get off all medication. I am on Zoloft 200 daily and have Xanax for anxiety. The psycchiatrist doesn't say a lot but prescribes me medicine. I do notice I feel better if I don't eat so much sugar. I gain weight on these meds and I don't like going to doctors due to weight. I feel alone but I know God will be there for me. I just wish this would all leave me and I would be like when I was younger. Write back and let me know more about you. I tried the chat line but it won't open. I emailed support and they are checking as to why not. Thanks, June

I have to keep my cds now but I amhaving a lot of depression also. i am so much like you. i am one to procrastinate. I will do it later and then I feel more stressed and more depressed. I am at work so I can get on and see what everyone is talking about. I can't get to the online chat. It may be becaue I am at work. I am discouraged and I wish someione could help me too. I am afraid I will have to be on my medicine the rest of my life. i wuld love to get to meet with a group of people that is trying this out and I would like to meet Lucinda. Write something back and God bless you.

Hi June,

I sent you a PM. Please check your private mail box for contents.

thanks jcat, for sharing. what week are you on. i just started week 2, so i am still a little skeptical. i feel this program works more for anxiety (which i have) than it does for depression. depression is really where i need the help. i have not been able to pin point why i am depressed. i just wake up thta way sometimes. sometimes it just comes on, and i dont know why. hopefully, lucinda is right and i will learn what is doing it and will learn to stop it.

keep me posted. keep me in your prayers as i will you

imkay

Hi imkay and Gman,

I have been gone this weekend and didn't get to listen to any of the cds. I think the cds help anxiety better also. I am depressed and I have a difficult time functioning. I do go to work but I dread doing anything. I kind of skipped around on the cds like they told me before I had to make a decision. I tried to listen while I drove to see my daughter but my sister was there and she said the cds were no good for anyone and I don't get support. Everyone thinks you just want to be sick to get out of doing things. I had stopped sugar and now I am back on it and feel sluggish. I plan on starting from the beginning now and do the lessons. I would love to hear how others are coping with depression. Thanks, jcat

Hi jcat,

Trying to receieve support and encouragment from others is often difficult because they either don't understand, think you are using it as an excuse (as you had mentioned), or just don't want to be dragged down with you.

With the help of medication (Zoloft and Klonopin), therapy once a week, yoga twice a week, and working with this program, I have slowly but surely been able to control my anxiety and become more active. I was in a severe state of depression for 6 1/2 months...and it wasn't until about a month or so ago that I began to feel better. I still sleep a lot but it's because our bodies have been through so much trauma.

Ironically, my sister does not believe in the program or what the cd's say either. She either rolls her eyes, mumbles a comment under her breath, or just ignores me when I am trying to explain how it has helped me so far. I think the best thing you can do right now is begin the program from scratch, begin to decrease your intake of sugar, caffeine, etc, again, and if possible, listen to the cd's when no one is aroud. That way no one can judge you or make any comments.

I know how it feels to not have enough encouragment from outside sources. I myself am still disappointed with the lack of praise that I feel I deserve from my mother after all I have been through. No matter what, remember you can log onto to this forum and we will all be here to support, enourage, and help you as best we can. You aren't alone.

Hi Jcat,

I suffer from depression. I am bi-polar. I am also a broken down old goat with not much of a future. Believe me, I was where you are. I wasn't sure why I was depressed. But unlike your situation and imkay's, my wife, was the one that ordered the program. The relaxation tape doesn't do it for me. Neither does hearing all the stories on tape or Lucinda's voice. In spite of all that, there are people that work at StressCenter.com that saw through something I could not. I felt like there must really be something wrong. I visited this web site and took the evaluation, then visited the forums.

Then Instead of listening to the relaxation tapes, I did see the logic of trying to relax and searched around the internet for something like this one: http://www.shirleycason.com/

Once I was relaxed, my approach was much better.

I went through the DVD's first as though it were a college course and took notes of the entire dvd program. I then studied my notes, and I was able to pinpoint several things that showed me the clear signs of my depression and a deeper review of the notes and looking back at the many life events that have had me down, it was clear I need to probe deeper into the program.

The more I dug into the sessions, and participated in the forum discussions, the more I remembered how much I enjoyed helping people, and how my spiritual experiences going back to being born again, and all the wonderful things that God did for me in my life, the more I wanted to do.

For me, it was the dvd coaching sessions and the evaluation they have here that really shook me up. Because of these things, it helped me to figure out that I was depressed and why. I have then worked to distract my attention from the misery that I feel so often and focus on all the good that I can do to help others.

It is still very difficult for me, and quite often, I will be reminded of the things bugging me. Like all the physical problems that I have. The key is that when I focus or turn my attention to other things, one moment at a time, my depressed feelings leave me alone or vanish for just enough time to move on to the next moment.

Sometimes, my concern for many people here, triggers a little anxiety and my blood pressure goes up a bit too much, so I have to take a break and get into the relaxation mode, until my blood pressure gets reined in. I consider these things minor inconveniences and just part of my day.

Will I be able to overcome the things that depress me? I don't know for sure, but if I count all the successes in the daily battles I go through, I thinking I doing pretty good. I just have to take it one moment at a time. I consider the minor bouts with anxiety just that minor in comparison with the good that I feel God has helped me to do. At least, I feel I have a sense of purpose, and I do try to get out more often, where before, I was ashamed to be seen as a broken down old goat.

Not only has it given me a sense of value and worth, the sense of purpose that I feel, gives me a another reason to live another day.

jcat, you have to give yourself that chance. If you feel that you can not get the support from family, you have it here, from screwed up and dysfunctional me, and all the prayers I can lift up for you and others.

If you want a friend to talk to; PM me with a number I can call you on and I will call you and we can talk. I am home all day, except for doctors and therapy appointments, and I crash early, but if you can't get me you have the chat room. In the mean time, I recommend the comedy channel or:

http://www.ahajokes.com/

Laughter is the best medicine:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/re.../01/080124200913.htm

Involve your mind in something and that is good. Involve yourself in good works and not only will it distract you, but there is a greater reward in giving of yourself and your time.

You owe to yourself to give this a good effort and forget about the negatives. You will get over that.

I send you a big hug >:D<