It was a hard Christmas day for me. Even with difficulties it was a blessed one. Depression is a hard one. If you are in pain you can do little things to help. A heating pad maybe some pain killers, something to make it easier. But depression is more difficult. I allow my self to feel the feelings of sadness sometimes with warm tea and a fuzzy blanket. I then take things instead of one day at a time I take things one moment at a time.

A quote that made me think

“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”
Eleanor Roosevelt,

Well, I have to say, I am helped to some degree by each of the following: Meditation, distraction, meds and therapy (after, yes, some utter rectal polyps disguised as "help", yes). And, to some degree, yes, faith.

I keep post-its around the house or near where I spend most of my time reminding me:

Be as kind to yourself as you want others to be to you.
When going through hell, keep going. (W. Churchill)
I can control one thing: my reaction to a situation.
And similar.

That, plus good supportive hugs from hubby when I just decide I need to go ahead and cry, as well as breathing techniques for calming my body and mind (different from meditation), help me at least keep going.

No one thing ever seems to help. I try to take it one moment at a time and remind myself I've already survived a *lot*. (too much maye, hence my PTSD). And forgotten much of what bothered me even a week ago.

I wish there was a one-stop-magic-fix. I'd love one. Or advice that doesn't include anything about "Don't worry, be happy". OMG. Really? That and "God only gives you what you can handle". Uh, God overestimes me!

I am striving to be an optimisitc realist. That as bad as it sucks, the hope for better exists. Wish I had more, but that's all I got.

BTW, I found that my therapist was helpful b/c he suffers PTSD and chronic pain---and so do I. I don't hvae to worry he doesn't "get it". He lives it. He knows. Whew!

Hugs,
Leo

Great advice team!! Thanks:)