Go get a big bag of oranges from the grocery store (only a couple bucks) and make your own orange juice. I just did, mmmmm POSITIVE TASTE!

Thanks juiceski - you made me smile

Just want to offer some supportive hugs. XX

heretic, I can relate. I was raised with a very negative father and felt the ingrained weight of it for a very long time. It takes alot of work and constant awareness. I admire you for acknowledging it and wanting to do something about it.

I have read alot of books about positive thinking and learned to "see" situations in my life from a different perspective. With practice, I have been able to see the positive more easily.

One method that I prefer is called "the choices method". I acknowledge my emotions about a specific situation and I choose to handle/manage it in a positive way. I am not denying the emotion or feeling that is evoked in me that way and I am deliberately choosing to manage it in a positive way.

Another way to think positive thoughts is to create them. Living with this disorder and all its challenges just naturally creates a negative environment around us. It becomes heavy and lowers our self esteem. Look for things you are good at, find new hobbies you can master, learn things through reading, etc. With time, building yourself up will naturally create a more positive environment.

It has taken me years to undo all the negative learned behaviors because I refused to recognize them at first. I built up a wall that only allowed my own bitterness and perception in. Breaking down that wall means reaching out, finding your true self, and appreciating where you are right now. You can have goals and dreams just lower your expectatons a little. The higher they are the more disappointed you will be when things are not what you hoped for.

xo

This suggestion is complicated but it works for me. 1st choose a positive word like happiness, love or contentment. Than look up the meaning of the word. Follow that with looking up the meaning of the words that you found in the definition of the original word. Last continue to make a definition for yourself to meditate on in times of stress. You can either write the whole process out or just cut and paste to a document on your desk top for future reference. O.k. almost fininshed here... heres an example. Contentment-satisfaction-pleased-glad... So for me Contentment is being please and satisfied with were I am today. I spent hours on this one and I wasn't manic. I think about this word study when I'm driving so I don't get anxious. I hope this helps. Hugs

I'm sorry I wasn't clear. The trick/skill is called "a word study". Imagine how much time i must spend thinking about positive words with this. ; )

Thanks for the wonderful suggestions, I'll give them some positive thought!

Hi heretic. This is how I get myself back on a positive track. I surround myself with things I love and things that are beautiful. Examples: Make my living space clutter free. Play with my dog--blowing bubbles or just play ball or just hug her close and love her. Going to see the nieces and nephews -- that will wipe everything out of your head. Nice bubble bath, with my favorite bubbles. Having a tea party with myself. Full tea service and really nice tea. Rearrage my yarn stash -- love my yarn. Read a really interesting book -- just for fun.

There's more, but you have to find what pampers and spoils you. You deserve it. There is also alot of joy in doing something for others. I enjoy cooking a new recipe that I know will wow someone.

To get you started, just pick one thing that makes you happy. Fake it if you have to. Pretend to be happy and positive. I think you can condition yourself to thinking positive. If I ever feel the pull toward negativity, I have to fake it for a minute, to get myself back.

Good Luck! MK

Hello Heretic.

I have a new theory that I am going to try. I too get stuck in negativity (and I have a lot to be negative about), but thinking about the negative things is not going to change anything, just leave me wallowing in the pain and feeling sorry for myself, and getting more depressed.

I know that thoughts CAN create feelings, but also having wonky chemicals or brain circuitry can create feelings too. So it is admirable to try think your way out of depression but don't be mad and beat yourself up if it doesn't work cos it doesn't work for everyone. Baby steps.

Congratulate yourself on the few tiny fleeting positive thoughts you have in your life. Anchor yourself to them. Get a piece of paper and write them in bright colours and large letters. Sit there and look at them and tell yourself that they are the Truth. Meditate on them and imagine them increasing and becoming more frequent.

I do have a lot of things to be grateful for, and have tried the exercise where each day you write 5 things you are grateful for. I am going to try to keep doing this and set myself very very small goals and celebrate them with positive feedback to myself even though it feels very artificial.

I am going to focus on small amounts of physical exercise to waken up my body and get the blood flowing and the cells firing.

Are you getting any physical exercise?

Heretic, can you think of 5 things you can tell us you are grateful for having in your life? Go on, tell us here, I challenge you (nicely of course). I've subscribed to this topic so we can be positive together. I need support to do this too.

My List of 5 for Today are:
1. I have a nice house to live in
2.My cat is very loving
3. I am physically mobile and can walk for fitness
4. I have plenty of food to eat
5. I have peace and quiet and I am safe

heretic, I'm really sad you didn't respond to my post. Was I too pushy??

If its too much to think of 5 positive things about your life, can you think of one?

Mine for today
1. My house is not in danger of floods or bushfires
2. I don't have any physical pain
3. I have a comfy warm safe bed to sleep in
4, I can afford my medication
5. I have clean air to breathe

Please help me here, I need your support to remember to do this every day!

I think when we want to start thinking differently we have to make a conscious choice and effort.. changing isnt always that easy.. my pdoc wants me to journal.. so I can think about what I write.. look back and see the difference a day make... and also read what I have written perhaps start looking at different ways to look at something.. sending positive thoughts your way and a big hug..x

Its very very hard to change your habits. Thats why I am looking for a positive thoughts buddy so we can remind each other!

Thank you all, and moltengold - you are Never too pushy! I truly appreciate you concern and how you've reached out to me. I will try to think of things I am grateful for today.
I have a job
I have a place to live
I am not physically ill
I have food
I have DS to help keep me sane
Thanks again to everyone

Something that has helped me in the past - Used to ALWAYS be having negative thoughts CONSTANTLY the majority of them pertaining to myself. What has helped me is when you have a negative thought such as "Im not good enough" isolate it in your mind and then say to yourself the EXACT opposite - "I am good enough"

Sometimes it takes a second to find the exact opposite that is the most comforting to you. Something like "Recovery is taking forever. Its been so long and I havent gotten anywhere. Im never going to get better!" can be replaced by "I am getting better at my own pace and eventually I will get there in my own time"

It can be tedious when you have a lot of thoughts to conquer. But it does help and get easier with practice.

Heretic,

I too am guilty of negativity, I was raised with negativity in my child hood and that has stuck with me a great deal. But also don't be too hard on your self about it. Our chemical imbalances make it easy for us to beat our self's up and view the world more negatively than it really is. Being positive can sometimes take practice.

the trick is to find something positive while at the same time finding truth to it. For example you are alive. The positive thing about that is, that you still have a chance to make the wrongs in your life right.

I don't know how motivated you are. The truth about my self is I'm not very motivated. If you are like me in that regard just try and do one positive thing a day it will make you feel much better. And if you feel up to doing even more than that, you will feel even better, but don't push your self.

I've also found that a little appreciation goes a long way. Find some appreciation for the simple things in life. A very simple thing to start out with is finding something beautiful to look at and appreciate. A flower would be a good example. Another simple thing is to find some one close to you. Think of how wonderful it is to have them. Think about the qualities you admire in them. Then when ever it is appropriate tell them how you feel. You will both make their day brighter and your own.

The next step may be a little harder but there are bound to be some really nice qualities that you have as well. Try to focus on your nice qualities and not the negative ones.

I hope this helps you. There are many more things you can do but I think the above will be a good start.

And I know you've been struggling lately I've noticed. I hope that you start feeling better soon. :)