If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
|
#1
|
|||
|
|||
[OT] Tips for Coping
Baha's recent post inspired this. For those of you who don't want to talk
in person (and that is one of the symptoms of depression - we don't have the energy to make the effort to get help), I'm putting down here some of the things to watch for as the early signs of depression (the earlier you catch it, the easier it is to overcome - and as strange as it may seem, we don't always recognize it when we begin to feel depressed), and some tips on what you can do to help yourself get through. Signs to watch for: - Feelings of lethargy, not wanting to put forth the effort to do anything. - Changing your normal routine without apparent cause. - Feeling alone or isolated from the rest of the world. - Loss of appetite (or, for some, eating much more than you normally do). - Sudden weight loss or weight gain. - Wanting to sleep, not wanting to get out of bed or, adversely, insomnia. - Sudden bursts of weeping for no apparent reason. - Memories of bad things that happened to you that seem to stick in your head. - Dwelling on the loss of someone or something important in your life. - Wanting to hear sad songs over and over again. - Feeling annoyed when someone around you is acting happy, bubbly, excited, etc. - Feeling angry about something that wouldn't ordinarily make you angry. - Feeling "clingy" with partners or pets or, adversely, not wanting to be touched. - Shutting yourself off from others by going to another room to be alone, or going driving alone. (And lots of others that may be specific to an individual - learn to recognize your own signs of depression.) Things you can do to help get yourself through to the "other side" of your bouts of depression. These are *IN ADDITION TO* getting help from a doctor or psychiatrist. [PLEASE - don't be ashamed or afraid to seek professional help. Society tends to stigmatize people with mental health issues ignoring that fact that there are *MILLIONS* of people who suffer from these problems. The only shame involved is when you know you need help but refuse to seek in.] - Smile! This is weird, but it works and I'll tell you why it works. B.F. Skinner showed us that we have physiological reactions - real physical changes to our bodies - when using repeated, or "learned" stimuli. Just as his dogs salivated when he rang a bell, our bodies "learn" that certain actions are associated with certain reactions and will automatically trigger physical responses to associated actions. From the time we are born we smile when we feel happy, loved, secure, and comforted. What makes us feel those things (or maybe because we are feeling those things - cause and effect here are a bit tenuous), is that endorphins are being released in our brains. Endorphins are very powerful hormones equivalent to morphine. They help to ease pain and they make us feel good. For all our lives our bodies have associated the physical act of smiling with the release of those endorphins. Even if you are feeling terribly depressed, *FORCE* yourself to put a smile on your face and consciously *FORCE* yourself to *KEEP* a smile on your face. After a few minutes your brain will start releasing endorphins and you will begin to feel better. This really does work, try it even if you're not feeling depressed and note the difference in your feelings! - DO something. Rearrange the furniture, clean out a closet, and if you don't like housework, just pack up the kids and take a walk. This accomplishes two things. First of all, the physical exertion will help wash out of your bloodstream the hormones and chemicals that are associated with depression. Secondly, just the act of doing something, anything, helps get rid of that feeling of helplessness. You are taking charge of something, no matter how small, and this leads to confidence that you can take charge of the larger things. - Exercise (along with or in addition to the above for the same reasons). - Find a friend to talk to. Even if there is nothing they can do to help you out of your situation, it will at least keep you in contact with a "saner" perspective on things (providing you pick a sane friend, that is ; ). - Help someone else in need. An act of kindness or charity will make you feel better about yourself and might also help you put your problems into a better perspective. Caveat: don't choose someone whose problems are similar to your own, don't get into a hopeless situation that will depress you further - you want something that will take you out of yourself and get you involved with something other than your problems. Choose someone who *CAN* be helped, not a "hopeless cause". - Rent the funniest movies you remember seeing, things that you know will make you laugh in spite of what you may be feeling. - Put on fast-paced, upbeat music and get up and dance (pick up a kitty and dance with him/her. - Play! Play with the kitties, go to a park or playground and swing on the swings. Let yourself enjoy the physical sensations and the freedom of acting silly no matter who might be watching. - Stand in front of a mirror and make funny faces at yourself - stick out your tongue, wiggle your ears, do something to keep from taking yourself too seriously, show yourself that that your can make fun of yourself and your problems. - Think about, and make concrete plans for, something fun in the near future (like a special treat for Valentine's day or your or your honey's birthday. Write down all the things you want to do to make the occasion festive. - Have sex (even if it's just with yourself ;). Make your body feel good and get reconnected with life. - Eat chocolate. It's been shown that chocolate affects the same area of the brain that sex does, especially in women. I hope that some of this helps whoever is out there who may be dealing with seasonal depression. Again, feel free to email me your phone number and I *WILL* call you to talk about whatever it is that is making your feel depressed and try to help make you feel better (it's my repayment for being given a second chance at life - see below). As for me, I am so grateful that I did not succeed in taking my own life 28 years ago. Back then I thought I would be so much better off dead, life meant nothing but pain and I could *NOT* foresee things *EVER* getting better. Looking back it takes my breath away when I think about the unbelievably happy, joyous things I would have missed had I succeeded - meeting my current DH who make my life *SO* sweet; seeing my kids graduate; seeing my kids get married; seeing my grandbabies being born; the wonderful kitties I've loved since then - more happy things that I could ever list here, and none of those things would I have experienced had I be successful in my efforts. I am thankful every day of my life (even the ones when I am battling depression) for the second chance I was given. Life is *NEVER* so bad that we can't get through it and there is *ALWAYS* something better that will happen if you can just stick it out and get through the bad times. Hugs, CatNipped |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
You cannot know how timely this is for me. I'm going thru a bad spell. A
lot of losses I can't seem to get my head around, poor health, a little help from some nasty medication and the season have all ganged up on me at once. I must say I am grateful for and thankful for being older and having been here before. It was so much harder when I was young and didn't really know there was light on the other side. I'll be OK. I'm weaning off the bad medicine. And seeing my doctor Monday. The sun is out today and I will go out and sit in the light if I do nothing else all day. We are having an unusual cold spell, and plans for the next trip to the store include warm socks and gloves to be dropped off at the rescue mission. We have a large local population that just kind of camps in the riverbottoms. Usually it isn't all that bad for them but it usually isn't this cold. I wish I could take you up on the talk. Part of the loss is the loss of my hearing. I was scheduled for a cochlear implant in July only to have it yanked away by my insurance on the day before surgery. Now I have been on disability long enough to get Medicare and I understand they will cover it. Next appointment with the hearing doctors is December 8th. Jo "CatNipped" wrote in message ... Baha's recent post inspired this. For those of you who don't want to talk in person (and that is one of the symptoms of depression - we don't have the energy to make the effort to get help), I'm putting down here some of the things to watch for as the early signs of depression (the earlier you catch it, the easier it is to overcome - and as strange as it may seem, we don't always recognize it when we begin to feel depressed), and some tips on what you can do to help yourself get through. Signs to watch for: - Feelings of lethargy, not wanting to put forth the effort to do anything. - Changing your normal routine without apparent cause. - Feeling alone or isolated from the rest of the world. - Loss of appetite (or, for some, eating much more than you normally do). - Sudden weight loss or weight gain. - Wanting to sleep, not wanting to get out of bed or, adversely, insomnia. - Sudden bursts of weeping for no apparent reason. - Memories of bad things that happened to you that seem to stick in your head. - Dwelling on the loss of someone or something important in your life. - Wanting to hear sad songs over and over again. - Feeling annoyed when someone around you is acting happy, bubbly, excited, etc. - Feeling angry about something that wouldn't ordinarily make you angry. - Feeling "clingy" with partners or pets or, adversely, not wanting to be touched. - Shutting yourself off from others by going to another room to be alone, or going driving alone. (And lots of others that may be specific to an individual - learn to recognize your own signs of depression.) Things you can do to help get yourself through to the "other side" of your bouts of depression. These are *IN ADDITION TO* getting help from a doctor or psychiatrist. [PLEASE - don't be ashamed or afraid to seek professional help. Society tends to stigmatize people with mental health issues ignoring that fact that there are *MILLIONS* of people who suffer from these problems. The only shame involved is when you know you need help but refuse to seek in.] - Smile! This is weird, but it works and I'll tell you why it works. B.F. Skinner showed us that we have physiological reactions - real physical changes to our bodies - when using repeated, or "learned" stimuli. Just as his dogs salivated when he rang a bell, our bodies "learn" that certain actions are associated with certain reactions and will automatically trigger physical responses to associated actions. From the time we are born we smile when we feel happy, loved, secure, and comforted. What makes us feel those things (or maybe because we are feeling those things - cause and effect here are a bit tenuous), is that endorphins are being released in our brains. Endorphins are very powerful hormones equivalent to morphine. They help to ease pain and they make us feel good. For all our lives our bodies have associated the physical act of smiling with the release of those endorphins. Even if you are feeling terribly depressed, *FORCE* yourself to put a smile on your face and consciously *FORCE* yourself to *KEEP* a smile on your face. After a few minutes your brain will start releasing endorphins and you will begin to feel better. This really does work, try it even if you're not feeling depressed and note the difference in your feelings! - DO something. Rearrange the furniture, clean out a closet, and if you don't like housework, just pack up the kids and take a walk. This accomplishes two things. First of all, the physical exertion will help wash out of your bloodstream the hormones and chemicals that are associated with depression. Secondly, just the act of doing something, anything, helps get rid of that feeling of helplessness. You are taking charge of something, no matter how small, and this leads to confidence that you can take charge of the larger things. - Exercise (along with or in addition to the above for the same reasons). - Find a friend to talk to. Even if there is nothing they can do to help you out of your situation, it will at least keep you in contact with a "saner" perspective on things (providing you pick a sane friend, that is ; ). - Help someone else in need. An act of kindness or charity will make you feel better about yourself and might also help you put your problems into a better perspective. Caveat: don't choose someone whose problems are similar to your own, don't get into a hopeless situation that will depress you further - you want something that will take you out of yourself and get you involved with something other than your problems. Choose someone who *CAN* be helped, not a "hopeless cause". - Rent the funniest movies you remember seeing, things that you know will make you laugh in spite of what you may be feeling. - Put on fast-paced, upbeat music and get up and dance (pick up a kitty and dance with him/her. - Play! Play with the kitties, go to a park or playground and swing on the swings. Let yourself enjoy the physical sensations and the freedom of acting silly no matter who might be watching. - Stand in front of a mirror and make funny faces at yourself - stick out your tongue, wiggle your ears, do something to keep from taking yourself too seriously, show yourself that that your can make fun of yourself and your problems. - Think about, and make concrete plans for, something fun in the near future (like a special treat for Valentine's day or your or your honey's birthday. Write down all the things you want to do to make the occasion festive. - Have sex (even if it's just with yourself ;). Make your body feel good and get reconnected with life. - Eat chocolate. It's been shown that chocolate affects the same area of the brain that sex does, especially in women. I hope that some of this helps whoever is out there who may be dealing with seasonal depression. Again, feel free to email me your phone number and I *WILL* call you to talk about whatever it is that is making your feel depressed and try to help make you feel better (it's my repayment for being given a second chance at life - see below). As for me, I am so grateful that I did not succeed in taking my own life 28 years ago. Back then I thought I would be so much better off dead, life meant nothing but pain and I could *NOT* foresee things *EVER* getting better. Looking back it takes my breath away when I think about the unbelievably happy, joyous things I would have missed had I succeeded - meeting my current DH who make my life *SO* sweet; seeing my kids graduate; seeing my kids get married; seeing my grandbabies being born; the wonderful kitties I've loved since then - more happy things that I could ever list here, and none of those things would I have experienced had I be successful in my efforts. I am thankful every day of my life (even the ones when I am battling depression) for the second chance I was given. Life is *NEVER* so bad that we can't get through it and there is *ALWAYS* something better that will happen if you can just stick it out and get through the bad times. Hugs, CatNipped |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
"Jo Firey" wrote in message
... You cannot know how timely this is for me. I'm going thru a bad spell. A lot of losses I can't seem to get my head around, poor health, a little help from some nasty medication and the season have all ganged up on me at once. Oh wow, purrs that your health improves very soon. I must say I am grateful for and thankful for being older and having been here before. It was so much harder when I was young and didn't really know there was light on the other side. I'll be OK. I'm weaning off the bad medicine. And seeing my doctor Monday. The sun is out today and I will go out and sit in the light if I do nothing else all day. That's another thing that contributes to depression at this time of year - the darkness and dreariness, sunshine can literally help lighten up your life. We are having an unusual cold spell, and plans for the next trip to the store include warm socks and gloves to be dropped off at the rescue mission. We have a large local population that just kind of camps in the riverbottoms. Usually it isn't all that bad for them but it usually isn't this cold. Good on you! Bless you for helping out those less fortunate. I wish I could take you up on the talk. Part of the loss is the loss of my hearing. I was scheduled for a cochlear implant in July only to have it yanked away by my insurance on the day before surgery. Now I have been on disability long enough to get Medicare and I understand they will cover it. Next appointment with the hearing doctors is December 8th. Well, feel free to email me whenever you like, lcrew(at)houston(dot)rr(dot)com, and we can still "talk" for as long as you'd like. Or, just continue the discussion here - I'm sure other's won't object, this may be helping those who don't want to actively participate in this discussion or those who just "lurk" here without posting. Hugs, CatNipped |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
You cannot know how timely this is for me. I'm going thru a bad spell. A
lot of losses I can't seem to get my head around, poor health, a little help from some nasty medication and the season have all ganged up on me at once. Oh wow, purrs that your health improves very soon. May I also add that those who feel a tendency towards self-injury, or a tendency towards venting one's wrath on others, realize that these things are symptoms of a disease. They don't make you evil or worthless or weak. It is a disease that can be TREATED. If you can't ask for help, get someone else to call the doctor for you, and go with you. If you go on medication, it will not make you artificially happy or mess up your personality. I learned these things firsthand this year--if only I'd known what the medication did, and didn't, do. Thank the Gods my partner's a medical student, and recognized what was really happening with me. Bright Blessings to all. --Fil |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Jo Firey wrote:
I wish I could take you up on the talk. Part of the loss is the loss of my hearing. I was scheduled for a cochlear implant in July only to have it yanked away by my insurance on the day before surgery. Oh, GRRRRR! One of my pet peeves! I'm so sorry that happened to you. Being hard of hearing can be extremely isolating, and if you're battling depression, you don't need barriers to getting help and support. Now I have been on disability long enough to get Medicare and I understand they will cover it. Next appointment with the hearing doctors is December 8th. Yay! I hope it goes well. Very-rumbly-so-they-can-be-felt purrs, Joyce |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Lots of purrs for you to be approved for the operation and for it to be a
success, -- Polonca & Soncek "Jo Firey" wrote in message ... snip I wish I could take you up on the talk. Part of the loss is the loss of my hearing. I was scheduled for a cochlear implant in July only to have it yanked away by my insurance on the day before surgery. Now I have been on disability long enough to get Medicare and I understand they will cover it. Next appointment with the hearing doctors is December 8th. Jo |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Jo Firey wrote: You cannot know how timely this is for me. I'm going thru a bad spell. A lot of losses I can't seem to get my head around, poor health, a little help from some nasty medication and the season have all ganged up on me at once. I must say I am grateful for and thankful for being older and having been here before. It was so much harder when I was young and didn't really know there was light on the other side. Too true! That's why the incidence of teen-age suicide is higher than that of older adults - They haven't learned yet that "all things pass", so things that an older person accepts and lives through seem major tragedies to them. (And too many tragedies all at the same time will upset ANYONE'S sense of balance - it's just that as we grow older we develop more of a sense of proportion.) I'll be OK. Of course you will! Just hang in there, and know that you have a great many "virtual" friends, here, who will send purrs and prayers your way. |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
On Fri, 3 Dec 2004 09:54:03 -0600, "CatNipped"
yodeled: Baha's recent post inspired this. For those of you who don't want to talk in person (and that is one of the symptoms of depression - we don't have the energy to make the effort to get help), I'm putting down here some of the things to watch for as the early signs of depression (the earlier you catch it, the easier it is to overcome - and as strange as it may seem, we don't always recognize it when we begin to feel depressed), and some tips on what you can do to help yourself get through. Signs to watch for: - Feelings of lethargy, not wanting to put forth the effort to do anything. snip much good advice I'm like that *all* the time! I consider that normal. I really treasure my lack of drive. I wish I lived in Italy or Spain, where they don't think work is the most important thing in life. BUT SERIOUSLY, these are all great suggestions, and I only butted in to make a wisecrack. As a veteran of many clinical depressions, I endorse everything Nipped said. Especially about doing everything you possibly can to make yourself laugh. When I'm feeling down, I get out the "Far Side" and "Calvin and Hobbes" books. Theresa Stinky Pictures: http://community.webshots.com/album/125591586JWEFwh My Blog: http://www.humanitas.blogspot.com |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
Kreisleriana wrote:
On Fri, 3 Dec 2004 09:54:03 -0600, "CatNipped" yodeled: Baha's recent post inspired this. For those of you who don't want to talk in person (and that is one of the symptoms of depression - we don't have the energy to make the effort to get help), I'm putting down here some of the things to watch for as the early signs of depression (the earlier you catch it, the easier it is to overcome - and as strange as it may seem, we don't always recognize it when we begin to feel depressed), and some tips on what you can do to help yourself get through. Signs to watch for: - Feelings of lethargy, not wanting to put forth the effort to do anything. snip much good advice I'm like that *all* the time! I consider that normal. I really treasure my lack of drive. I wish I lived in Italy or Spain, where they don't think work is the most important thing in life. Theresa Wisecracks or no, you'd be surprised. A friend of mine lives in Spain and guess what she does every Thursday? Irons sheets. Yes, she irons bedsheets. Not only is it expected of her, she feels it must be done. She also irons table cloths, napkins, underwear, t-shirts and jeans. I'm saying to myself... shake out the jeans and hang them. Fold the t-shirts. What table cloths and napkins? LOL Jill |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
guess what she does every Thursday? Irons sheets. Yes, she irons
bedsheets. Not only is it expected of her, she feels it must be done. She also irons table cloths, napkins, underwear, t-shirts and jeans. IRONS UNDERWEAR? Underwear???? Whoooaaaa. I iron tableclothes and napkins. Once a year, at Thanksgiving. :-) Sherry |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
[OT] Purrs for Russian kids | Yowie | Cat anecdotes | 46 | September 6th 04 12:57 AM |
[OT] Tropical Storms Bonnie and Charlie | Christina Websell | Cat anecdotes | 2 | August 13th 04 09:51 PM |
OT Tips for those quitting Cigarettes | Tanada | Cat anecdotes | 12 | November 9th 03 05:24 AM |