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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Brave 03/05/2012

Hi There To All of You !!!

I want your input on the idea of " Fake It Till You Make It. "
Is it true if we pretend to feel better, we will? If you practice achieving
new things within ourselves, What's our chance of doing them?

A couple of years ago, I listened to a tape about a man who was
captured and put in prison! This man spent his time pretending to
play a guitar. When the gentleman was released from prison
he had actually achieved the instrument and went on an played the
guitar for many years!

There are times that I pretend to feel better than you see me as. I am
wanting to use the same technique as this fellow did!

Have any others of you accomplished this, " Fake Till You Make It ? "

BRAVE(Kim)

deleted_user 03/05/2012

Okay (scratches head), I'm just tryin' to get a response together here. I have not had that much coffee...

Yes, I am currently practicing the "fake it till you make it" strategy, and it does work sometimes. I think it is important to understand, though, when we are faking it and why. Understand the situation, and you will be that much further along understanding your depression and its triggers.

Hope to read more posts from you. I like your style.

Brave 03/05/2012

perennial !

Well, Thank You! I noticed the other day, I was pretending to be
happier and my day seemed so much better!

BRAVE(Kim)

deleted_user 03/05/2012

I attempt FITYMI a lot. I've gotten pretty good at fooling others...no one will realize that I just don't want to be there. I'll be able to enjoy moments while faking, but once I'm alone again, I just feel more tired. It's pretty exhausting!

deleted_user 03/05/2012

I do that all the time. I fake it till i make it......then just about time I feel good about myself.....they come home and know me back 2-3 steps. I never get ahead in my situation. But for the short time I am alone I may feel good about myself and even BELIEVE there is hope.

Huggs to all

doghunter59 03/05/2012

naw... that stuff don't work with me....I have had to work my whole life just for the "scratch" that I have. And, by work I mean actual make the body do something not the "I sat all day and made a paycheck" kind of work. All the while pretending on payday I was a millionaire....

U guessed it.......... broke by monday

BUT what does work for me is this say'n... shit in one hand and wish in the other, and see which one fills up first.....

aprilraven 03/05/2012

I practice this all the time, but only because I don't want people prying as to why I'm feeling unhappy. It doesn't actually make me feel happy though. Once I'm alone, it's back to reality.

meandthebeast 03/05/2012

lmao Doggie..

ZAZAS 03/05/2012

ditto dog ...lol

MeggieLizzie 03/05/2012

I often have faked being happy and I'm extremely good at it. Everyone is completely fooled. I'm such a good actress, I should have won an award for it. Sometimes, it does help after awhile. Sometimes, it doesn't.

dustykitty 03/05/2012

I can't and won't fake being happy. To me, it is lying to myself.
I can't fake emotions or truth.

But I can do things like fake being confident if I need to step it up in a social or business situation. And yeah, I find that in faking it, you become it. Becoz if you can fake it, you can actually do it.

deleted_user 03/05/2012

I have heard many people have great success with faking it to make it. It makes perfect sense. With many depressed people the negative self talk can kill what would otherwise be a fun or pleasant moment. By faking it, you actually override the negative thinking and give yourself a chance to enjoy, actual enjoyable moments.
I actually employed this technique with my wife, and to the amazement of more than one psychiatrist, this is a true story, I am actually able to fool my wife. She honestly believed while I was taking sertraline that I had orgasms. Although faking it, never actually helped me make it, at least I got to enjoy the ride without being told how I was wasting my time by her.

deleted_user 03/05/2012

I totally believe in this. I keep forgetting to do it though because I am so depressed LOL

pinkpumpkin143 03/05/2012

I am agree with others on this post. It can sometimes work if u understand why u have to fake it. It can be exhasuting and I wish that I wouldnt feel like I am hiding a part of me

deleted_user 03/05/2012

I believe in "fake it till you make it," but sometimes it works and other times it doesn't. I think for me it's depends on what is going in my outer environment. If the world is falling apart around me then it's pretty hard to fake it till I make it, but if things are going well for me like a relationship is going well, my finances are organized, I'm on top of things at my job, quality time with a friend, and I'm spending quality alone time with myself, then if I feel a little down, faking it till I make tends to work.

deleted_user 03/05/2012

..I shall begin pretending to be a brain surgeon and I'm sure patients will be beating a path to my front door in short order..... or not.

I do get the sentiment and it has been known to work on more positive thinking patterns from time to time. I dare say I do believe it's launched a singer or two I wish it had not.

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