Depression Support Group
Depression is a real and debilitating condition that is often misunderstood by family and friends. Its meaning can range from a prolonged period of sadness to an actual mental illness with specific symptoms. Find and share experiences with others who are going through the same struggles.
I have about 8 things that I have documented that have helped me in my battle to beat addiction, depression and anxiety. Today is my 10 month anniversary of being 100% clean from prescription drugs (pain killers) which I was addicted to for many years. I am also in charge of my life now and for the most part, depression and anxiety are under my control. The depression more then the social anxiety..but regardless. To accomplish this, I did more then depend on medication. I also took many steps (shown below) to help me in this daily battle. Here is what I think would be a great idea (unless it has already been done).
I would like to compile a list of those things which you believe help you in your fight against depression. I can them make this list available to anyone who desires to look at it and perhaps try some of the things on the list. So many people come here everyday looking for answers. Why have them struggle looking for answers. If we can provide them with a shopping list of things to read and perhaps try, then maybe there struggles would be lessened. I'm looking for things you have done that have helped you in your fight against depression. Consider it a summarized users guide to fighting depression. This is not something I intend to publish officially. Ideally, it would be cool if there was a central site or database that everyone can contribute their suggestions in a structured format. But for now, I'll take the suggestions, compile them and put them in a list to share with everyone.
Below are some things I have done:
1. Putting Yourself in a Position to Attack the Root of the Problem
For many years I have faced and battled what I call the Big 3 (anxiety, depression and addiction). Anxiety (social anxiety) and Depression hit me hard when I addressed my addiction to prescription drugs and finally stopped taking the drugs. I used pain killers first for a lower back problem, but I soon became dependent on the drugs and used them to counteract my social anxiety, depression and the stresses of everyday life. I soon became powerless to them and my daily life revolved around them. I was in trouble and fortunately I knew that and I also knew I would die from the abuse if I didnt do something soon. I knew that I couldnt do it alone. This realization was key to the start of dealing with my problems. So I decided to address my addiction to prescription drugs by seeking the help of a psychotherapist to help me discover the root of the problem of why I became addicted and to help me through the recovery process. My therapist specialized in addiction and referred me to a Doctor who she knew would prescribe the appropriate medications to help me through the recovery process. I was prescribed Suboxone for the addiction to opiate based drugs (pain killers) and Lexapro to deal with the anxiety and depression. The medications helped to put me in the right frame of mind and gave me the ability to work on my anxiety and depression. For me to improve and heal what is inside me; in my consciousness, unconsciousness, in my heart and in my soul, for me to be as mentally, physically and emotionally healthy and as complete as possible, the medications helped me on that journey. So I urge you to not take on your battle alone and to seek out the help that you need and do not forgo medications as part of the healing process.
SAM-e is a natural chemical made in the body and can be picked up at a regular Health store. It is supposed to address depression and is popular in Europe. I have been using it about a week now and I like it so far. Just check with your Doc before you use it (which I did not do and I really should, and will at my next appointment).
2. Reconnecting with God on a much deeper level.
Praying everyday and talking to God throughout the day. Talking to God as I would talk to you or anyone else. Not everyone believes in God or anything spiritual for that matter. But as for me, I have a strong faith in God and my faith in God is what has helped me deal with my issues on all levels. Being spiritual and recognizing that a higher power is there to help you is one of the 12 steps in recovery. I am not a 12 step person but I do believe my prayers and talks with God have been extremely helpful in my recovery and in everyday life. Also, I strongly recommend you read Conversation with God Book 1 by Neale Donald Walsch. This book is a great read and dramatically changed my beliefs in God.
3. The Secret
On Valentines Day, my wife gave me a book called The Secret. When I looked it up online and read the description of the book I became immediately excited and in addition to reading the book, I wanted to watch the movie. It has literally changed my life tremendously and has renewed hope in my quest to live my life as fully as possible. I strongly urge you to read the book and especially, if you can spare 1hour and 20 minutes some morning or afternoon, please go to http://thesecret.tv. There for $4.95 you can download and watch the movie on your computer. You can stop and start the movie at any time while watching it on your computer. I have the book, the audio CD's, and the movie DVD.
Also, and at the very least, go to this link below and watch the 2 minute video clip. It has beautiful music, beautiful scenery and beautiful affirmations. Just 2 minutes of your time.
http://www.thesecret.tv/secret-treasures.html
Other books that I read and were very helpful and on which the Secret was based on that dealt with much of the same philosophy was "Ask and It is Given" and The Secret Science of Getting Rich. Great books that are truly inspirational and motivating.
4. Daily meditation through Holosync technology. (Prayer and Meditation compliment each other extremely well).
Through my research with The Secret and something called The Law of Attraction, I came upon a forum www.powerfulintentions.com that lead me to a company that deals with and produces meditations CD's. These CD's utilize special sounds and music recorded at specific frequency levels that impact the different wave patters in your brain (alpha, theta, delta, beta). Each of those wavelengths deals with different brain functions, ie, creativity, learning, emotions, etc. All I urge you to do is go to www.centerpointe.com and read up on the Holosync CD's. I bought them 8 months ago and have started the program which is awesome and totally effortless. The strides I have made as a result of the Holosync technology in dealing with the big 3 has just been incredible.
5. Do Something Relaxing for You.
In conjunction with the meditation, try Aromatherapy. It is very soothing and relaxing during your meditation sessions or at bedtime. I like the black currant vanilla scent. It's so so relaxing. The aromatherapy kits are cheap, maybe $12 at Bath and Body Works and then the aroma oils cost about $8 each. Great stuff and again, very relaxing. My wife and I use aromatherapy almost every night while we watch TV or give each other a massage.
6. Being Grateful for What You Have.
Being thankful and showing gratitude to God or your higher power for what you have right now in your life is something that will lift your spirits and help you steer away from negative emotions and steer towards positive ones. You will be amazed how good you feel if the first thing you do everyday is thank God for the good things in your life. I know when you are depressed, your first thought is that you have nothing to be grateful for. However, if you really think about it, you will come up with some things. They can be anything. Small, silly things. Whatever. But begin by showing gratitude to God for what you have. Doing that everyday not only lifts your spirits but you will also receive more of what you are grateful for. That's how God works.
7. Focus on This Moment.
Put your focus on right now. Don't worry about the past or future. Focus on doing the things that will make you happy right now. Do not focus on what you don't want. Focusing on what you dont want will only bring you more of what you dont want. Instead, focus on what you really and truly want. Focusing on what you truly want will bring you more of what you want and less of what you dont want. Its a simple concept but a powerful one. Make it a habit and you will have an incredible life.
8. Invest in an iPod. (or simlar technology)
Recently I received one of the lower end iPod's (the iPod Nano) for my birthday. It has been a tremendous gift for me since I am now able to go to sites like iTunes, Hay House Radio and other self-improvement websites to download free podcasts (audio recordings of seminars, talk shows, etc.) that talk about and give advice on self-improvement issues such as positive thinking, self-esteem, self-confidence, how to deal with depression, anxiety, addiction, jealousy, etc. You can also download free songs that for meditation, prayer, relaxation, affirmations, and so on. Since they are so small and portable, it's a tremendous thing to have available to you to listen to whenever you want. Piping positive things into my brain whenever I feel the need or desire has been a big help in my battle against addiction, anxiety and depression. I don't pay for any of the podcasts I download. I download only the free ones. But when I go to the gym, grocery store, do chores, etc., I strap on my iPod and listen to my self-improvement audio recordings. What a great way to start the day or end the day or keep you going in the middle of the day. And you can download lots of other podcasts that are of interest to you. There are podcasts for everything, believe me. Sometimes the hardest part is weeding through them all to find the good ones.
Let me just remind you that these are just some suggestions. But I believe if they helped me, they have to help some of you. What do you have to loose? Try some or all of them for yourself. Id be very interested in how you make out. Good luck and God Bless!
I would like to compile a list of those things which you believe help you in your fight against depression. I can them make this list available to anyone who desires to look at it and perhaps try some of the things on the list. So many people come here everyday looking for answers. Why have them struggle looking for answers. If we can provide them with a shopping list of things to read and perhaps try, then maybe there struggles would be lessened. I'm looking for things you have done that have helped you in your fight against depression. Consider it a summarized users guide to fighting depression. This is not something I intend to publish officially. Ideally, it would be cool if there was a central site or database that everyone can contribute their suggestions in a structured format. But for now, I'll take the suggestions, compile them and put them in a list to share with everyone.
Below are some things I have done:
1. Putting Yourself in a Position to Attack the Root of the Problem
For many years I have faced and battled what I call the Big 3 (anxiety, depression and addiction). Anxiety (social anxiety) and Depression hit me hard when I addressed my addiction to prescription drugs and finally stopped taking the drugs. I used pain killers first for a lower back problem, but I soon became dependent on the drugs and used them to counteract my social anxiety, depression and the stresses of everyday life. I soon became powerless to them and my daily life revolved around them. I was in trouble and fortunately I knew that and I also knew I would die from the abuse if I didnt do something soon. I knew that I couldnt do it alone. This realization was key to the start of dealing with my problems. So I decided to address my addiction to prescription drugs by seeking the help of a psychotherapist to help me discover the root of the problem of why I became addicted and to help me through the recovery process. My therapist specialized in addiction and referred me to a Doctor who she knew would prescribe the appropriate medications to help me through the recovery process. I was prescribed Suboxone for the addiction to opiate based drugs (pain killers) and Lexapro to deal with the anxiety and depression. The medications helped to put me in the right frame of mind and gave me the ability to work on my anxiety and depression. For me to improve and heal what is inside me; in my consciousness, unconsciousness, in my heart and in my soul, for me to be as mentally, physically and emotionally healthy and as complete as possible, the medications helped me on that journey. So I urge you to not take on your battle alone and to seek out the help that you need and do not forgo medications as part of the healing process.
SAM-e is a natural chemical made in the body and can be picked up at a regular Health store. It is supposed to address depression and is popular in Europe. I have been using it about a week now and I like it so far. Just check with your Doc before you use it (which I did not do and I really should, and will at my next appointment).
2. Reconnecting with God on a much deeper level.
Praying everyday and talking to God throughout the day. Talking to God as I would talk to you or anyone else. Not everyone believes in God or anything spiritual for that matter. But as for me, I have a strong faith in God and my faith in God is what has helped me deal with my issues on all levels. Being spiritual and recognizing that a higher power is there to help you is one of the 12 steps in recovery. I am not a 12 step person but I do believe my prayers and talks with God have been extremely helpful in my recovery and in everyday life. Also, I strongly recommend you read Conversation with God Book 1 by Neale Donald Walsch. This book is a great read and dramatically changed my beliefs in God.
3. The Secret
On Valentines Day, my wife gave me a book called The Secret. When I looked it up online and read the description of the book I became immediately excited and in addition to reading the book, I wanted to watch the movie. It has literally changed my life tremendously and has renewed hope in my quest to live my life as fully as possible. I strongly urge you to read the book and especially, if you can spare 1hour and 20 minutes some morning or afternoon, please go to http://thesecret.tv. There for $4.95 you can download and watch the movie on your computer. You can stop and start the movie at any time while watching it on your computer. I have the book, the audio CD's, and the movie DVD.
Also, and at the very least, go to this link below and watch the 2 minute video clip. It has beautiful music, beautiful scenery and beautiful affirmations. Just 2 minutes of your time.
http://www.thesecret.tv/secret-treasures.html
Other books that I read and were very helpful and on which the Secret was based on that dealt with much of the same philosophy was "Ask and It is Given" and The Secret Science of Getting Rich. Great books that are truly inspirational and motivating.
4. Daily meditation through Holosync technology. (Prayer and Meditation compliment each other extremely well).
Through my research with The Secret and something called The Law of Attraction, I came upon a forum www.powerfulintentions.com that lead me to a company that deals with and produces meditations CD's. These CD's utilize special sounds and music recorded at specific frequency levels that impact the different wave patters in your brain (alpha, theta, delta, beta). Each of those wavelengths deals with different brain functions, ie, creativity, learning, emotions, etc. All I urge you to do is go to www.centerpointe.com and read up on the Holosync CD's. I bought them 8 months ago and have started the program which is awesome and totally effortless. The strides I have made as a result of the Holosync technology in dealing with the big 3 has just been incredible.
5. Do Something Relaxing for You.
In conjunction with the meditation, try Aromatherapy. It is very soothing and relaxing during your meditation sessions or at bedtime. I like the black currant vanilla scent. It's so so relaxing. The aromatherapy kits are cheap, maybe $12 at Bath and Body Works and then the aroma oils cost about $8 each. Great stuff and again, very relaxing. My wife and I use aromatherapy almost every night while we watch TV or give each other a massage.
6. Being Grateful for What You Have.
Being thankful and showing gratitude to God or your higher power for what you have right now in your life is something that will lift your spirits and help you steer away from negative emotions and steer towards positive ones. You will be amazed how good you feel if the first thing you do everyday is thank God for the good things in your life. I know when you are depressed, your first thought is that you have nothing to be grateful for. However, if you really think about it, you will come up with some things. They can be anything. Small, silly things. Whatever. But begin by showing gratitude to God for what you have. Doing that everyday not only lifts your spirits but you will also receive more of what you are grateful for. That's how God works.
7. Focus on This Moment.
Put your focus on right now. Don't worry about the past or future. Focus on doing the things that will make you happy right now. Do not focus on what you don't want. Focusing on what you dont want will only bring you more of what you dont want. Instead, focus on what you really and truly want. Focusing on what you truly want will bring you more of what you want and less of what you dont want. Its a simple concept but a powerful one. Make it a habit and you will have an incredible life.
8. Invest in an iPod. (or simlar technology)
Recently I received one of the lower end iPod's (the iPod Nano) for my birthday. It has been a tremendous gift for me since I am now able to go to sites like iTunes, Hay House Radio and other self-improvement websites to download free podcasts (audio recordings of seminars, talk shows, etc.) that talk about and give advice on self-improvement issues such as positive thinking, self-esteem, self-confidence, how to deal with depression, anxiety, addiction, jealousy, etc. You can also download free songs that for meditation, prayer, relaxation, affirmations, and so on. Since they are so small and portable, it's a tremendous thing to have available to you to listen to whenever you want. Piping positive things into my brain whenever I feel the need or desire has been a big help in my battle against addiction, anxiety and depression. I don't pay for any of the podcasts I download. I download only the free ones. But when I go to the gym, grocery store, do chores, etc., I strap on my iPod and listen to my self-improvement audio recordings. What a great way to start the day or end the day or keep you going in the middle of the day. And you can download lots of other podcasts that are of interest to you. There are podcasts for everything, believe me. Sometimes the hardest part is weeding through them all to find the good ones.
Let me just remind you that these are just some suggestions. But I believe if they helped me, they have to help some of you. What do you have to loose? Try some or all of them for yourself. Id be very interested in how you make out. Good luck and God Bless!
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I gave my 2 week notice last Friday 13th. Now to join you fine people in a life of leisure and nothing else to do but to look out for myself....is it just me or does that sound pretty boring? My goal was to live to retire and I guess having to take early retirement because of health reasons wasn't exactly the way I had planned things. I just can't stay in that building that is reeking mildew...
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Has anyone tried these supplements? Do they give MGers more quality of life by improving memory and overall well being?Thanks!Barbel
Like you, my faith is probably THE one thing that has helped me the most. In fact, ironically, my road to recovery began right after my husband died. This thought struck me like a bolt of lightening: I believe there is something more for my life--a special purpose to fulfill." I firmly believe that, hang onto it every day, and I believe I am pursuing that "purpose."
Another thing that helps me is keeping myself consciously aware of my thoughts and feelings and, if necessary, working on changing my "stinkin' thinkin'."
Lists also help me. From the mundane ("Do dishes") to appointments I need to remember, cards I want to send and everything in between. It helps to have every task written down. It feels pretty good to cross those things off and see what I've accomplished for the day, too.
Thanks for this thread.