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.

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Do you agree with this?

deleted_user
deleted_user
i have been reading a book called "Easier than You Think", by Richard Carlson, Ph.D. and i'm not sure if this guy is a complete idiot, or if he actualy knows what he is talking about. so i'm going to quote some things that have caught my eye.

"as i was reflecting on the small changes each of us can make in our lives, the one that stood out was the most basic of all. its the decision we make every single day when we wake up about how to approach the day. are we going to feel sorry for ourselves, or are we going to take resposibility for our own happiness."

"attitude can be summed up in one word, choice. do we realize that we have the choice to make our day joyful, adventuresome, exciting, and full of magic? or do we demand that life be a certain way, and if it doesn't meet our expectations we whine and complain?"

the more i read the more i feel a little sick. it seems, to me, that he has no idea about what he talking about. i wish i could wake up and just say "i'm not depressed, i am going to have a good day." n-e-ways please give me some feed back here!!! love on...
deleted_user
deleted_user
It is my opinion that he is right on the money. No one could have had a worse case of stinking thinking than me and I was reaping what I thought. Slowly, I began to give thanks for the smalles thing each and every day, and now it is so easy to have an attitude of gratitude. You start to fall in love with yourself and the world suddenly takes on a whole new meaning. I'm convinced that I am what I think.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Positive thinking does NOT cure people of depression--it is like pulling yourself up by your bootstraps. This advice is for healthy people, in my opinion.
deleted_user
deleted_user
The problem w/ it is that it is too simplistic. Peoples' lives are complicated, and the sum total of negative experiences, be they divorce, shyness, trauma, grief, etc., take time to work through, which isn't to say we shouldn't make the best of things. I wish I could just wake up and say I'm not depressed anymore, too. It's taking time.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I guess if I had no bills, no responsiblities, no kids, no husband, no job and the money, time and freedom to make everyday enjoyable and fun it probably would work that way. But I have a husband, kids, bills, a house and a job and all those things bring stress, anxiety and depression for me. There is always something I have to be doing. I have been cliinically depressed since i was 13, and although I did not have all these things when I was 13 I still had an insane amount of responsiblities due to my upbringing. So yeah, I guess if i could open my eyes in the morning and say I am going to fly to Hawaii today and spend a week laying on the beach sipping some fruity drink with an umbrella then possitive thinking may cure my depression.
deleted_user
deleted_user
When we all prayed, harbored good thoughts and wishes and reached out to hug Unimazed19, how did this make you feel? Was anyone hopeful that the greatest possibility thinker of all would hear our pleas and touch this beloved person. It was a choice that each of made to lift the needs of this woman up to someone who is able to do anything and everything.
deleted_user
deleted_user
i wish it was that easy
starfish
starfish
I have the same kind of struggles with some of the scriptures in the Bible. But as time goes on and my depression gets worse, I realize that both are speaking to and about people in general - that is, if it is only your attitude in general that needs changing, then those words are true, and a simple change in the way you look at things can make all the difference.
However, if you do your utmost to change your attitude, and you feel worse, or sick, or find it is not that simple, then you are probably finding it is not just a matter of changing your attitude - you have something else going on.
But I do find that if I ascribe to do those simple things the best I can, that I still have an edge on my troubles and am faring much better than if I just gave in and eat, drink, smoke, do drugs, watch TV, or whatever, like I want to.
starfish
starfish
But lola is right - no matter how hard it is for us to do the right thing, and think the right way, it is a natural law that we still reap the consequences of our negative thoughts, and they tend to spiral us downward if we keep thinking them. So that is why it is still worth the fight, even if it doesn't feel good, to keep working at staying in balance and checking those negative thoughts with positive truth.
deleted_user
deleted_user
hey guys, just wanted to add something that i forgot to add earlier. i do not want this post to cause problems with anyone. it is simply a matter of opinion, and ment to help me see both sides of the matter. i do have my own opinion as you have read, but i am open to the possibility that i am wrong. it is good to hear EVERYONES response, and i thank you for it. love on....
deleted_user
deleted_user
Positive thinking is always better, but I would like to see some statistics on how much it helps people that are clinically Depressed. This disease has many ranges also. Thinking positive with Major Depression is a little harded then if you were depressed just because your dog died. Its funny that almost all these books are written by people who have never been depressed. I used to work 10-12 hours a day at NASA and then for an Investment company. That's how I dealt with my depression. That was my positive thinking. After many years of this it turned into Major depression which is much more severe as it relates to self help. Think of it this way. When you gals gave birth did you think positive when the pain was at its peak or were your thinking positive while you were breathing normally between the contractions. Depression is no different.
deleted_user
deleted_user
The progression of depression is like hanging off a cliff's edge. Depending on how much is in your backpack depends on how positive you will be about the outcome.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I don't remember the pain during child birth. Does that mean that maybe someday I will not remember my depresssion.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I sure hope so Lola.. I wasn't thinking about the Epidural variable in that analogy. Let's just hope the miss was a sign of good things to come.
Cali123
Cali123
I do agree with it to a certain point. I think we do have choice and control over our attitudes. I can remember times where I woke up dreading work, and didn't have such a great day. I can remember other days, where I told myself that it was going to be a GREAT day - and it truly went better. I can't say that it happens all the time but it can work.

I am reading a book called "Panic to Power" by Lucinda Bassett. It talks about choosing your reaction to stressful situations and the power of positive self talk. She makes some good points. Now I just have to get the confidence to try some out.
deleted_user
deleted_user
ryanb86tex: Don't apologize for the controversy. A good post leads to lots of responses and lots of frequently conflicting ideas. Good job!
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