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.
Today was so so. I took my meds for the first time in a month. I had taken them about a month ago and stopped cause I felt weird. I just got to the point where I felt I just had to try again. I guess that’s good cause it shows I’m not going to be content on just being miserable. I come on here and try to support as many people as I can and I think I give ok advice. Why can’t I take my own advice. I think maybe some of us know how to help ourselves but are unable to. I can tell you that you should do such and such to help yourself and it probably will help, but I can’t do it myself. It’s frustrating and the frustration leads to all kinds of other things. Like sadness, anger, hopelessness. Then I finally fall asleep and I try to sleep as long as I can so there’s less hours in the day to be depressed. I know it’s not good and I should get up and do something but I can’t. That’s the definition of depression I guess. I don’t know. You keep making left hand turns and you wind up back in the same place over and over again.
Positive statement
I come on here and try to support as many people as I can and I think I give ok advice.
Positive statement
Why can’t I take my own advice?
I think it's easier to give advice than it is to take your own advice. But remember the person receiving the advice is also going to struggle to implement it in all probability just as much as you would...but the advice still needs to be given because that's the medicine - it's just hard to take.
My advice to you is that it's ok to feel a little frustrated that your progress is going so slowly. Letting it lead to sadness, anger, hopelessness is obviously counterproductive. So, how do you focus on the positive and not the negative, on the small, positive increments, and patting yourself on the shoulder for those, rather than focussing on the unscaleable mountain and feeling inadequate to the task?
So easy to give advice , not so easy to take it yourself : )
Negative...space to think about it...appropriate response
vs
Negative...response
Example: Negative: I'm a failure! I can't even help myself! Response: It's true and I will feel guilt, shame, self-pity and make no effort to change
Negative: I'm a failure! I can't even help myself! Thinking about: Is that really true? It's true I have failed but there have also been some successes. I have managed to accomplish some things in the past so I should be able to accomplish things in the future. It's not good to feel guilt, shame and self-pity. Appropriate response: I am not a failure though I have failed. I can help myself to some degree now and hopefully even more in the future.
The same advice we give to ourselves seems different when it comes from others. When an advice comes from a friend there is also an added element of care from another individual and I think it strikes a chord in us. Humans are designed for companionship and friendship. And hearing the same thing from someone whom we know cares for us, there is an extra ingredient beyond the words of advice.