Reading
I have realized that one of the thing that suffers when I am depressed is my ability to read and learn. For the past several months I have completely stopped reading. I read things I need to read at my job, but when I come home, and on weekends, I have been just "veging out". Any free time I have I waste watching TV, surfing on the internet, or looking at videos on youtube. I really want to educate myself on mindfulness based therapies and self-help techniques. I need to do this for improving myself as well as for helping others. I have a couple of good books on that I have begun reading, but then I quit somewhere in the middle. Its been so long since I have read either of them that I need to start back at the beginning.
I am a very poor reader. I comprehend OK, but I read very SLOWLY. It therefore takes a lot more effort for me to get through a book than it does most people.
The two books are "The Mindful Way through Depression" and "The Mindfulness & Acceptance Workbook for Depression." Ironically these books have not helped me much because I have been too depressed to read them! I started each during the summer, but then quit in the fall when my SAD set in and I became very lazy and apathetical. I got most of the way through the first one before quiting, but had only just started the second one. My goal is to read the first one cover to cover. After that I will go back to the second one, the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy workbook. This time I will make myself do all of the exercises as well as read the text.
The other book I am working on reading cover to cover is "The Buddha and the Borderline" by Kiera Van Gelder. This is a very interesting memoir of someone who sufferred from and recovered from BPD. As well as being it a good read, I am reading it to better understand the world of those who suffer from BPD. It will also teach me about dielectical behavior therapy (DBT), another effective mindfulness-based therapy which I want to learn more about. Even though I do not have BPD myself, I am sure I will pick up some things which I can apply to my own life, as well good advice to give to others.
So its time for me to stop being so lazy, and get back to being a little disciplined with my reading and studying, as I was back in my college days.
I am a very poor reader. I comprehend OK, but I read very SLOWLY. It therefore takes a lot more effort for me to get through a book than it does most people.
The two books are "The Mindful Way through Depression" and "The Mindfulness & Acceptance Workbook for Depression." Ironically these books have not helped me much because I have been too depressed to read them! I started each during the summer, but then quit in the fall when my SAD set in and I became very lazy and apathetical. I got most of the way through the first one before quiting, but had only just started the second one. My goal is to read the first one cover to cover. After that I will go back to the second one, the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy workbook. This time I will make myself do all of the exercises as well as read the text.
The other book I am working on reading cover to cover is "The Buddha and the Borderline" by Kiera Van Gelder. This is a very interesting memoir of someone who sufferred from and recovered from BPD. As well as being it a good read, I am reading it to better understand the world of those who suffer from BPD. It will also teach me about dielectical behavior therapy (DBT), another effective mindfulness-based therapy which I want to learn more about. Even though I do not have BPD myself, I am sure I will pick up some things which I can apply to my own life, as well good advice to give to others.
So its time for me to stop being so lazy, and get back to being a little disciplined with my reading and studying, as I was back in my college days.
Replies
You\'re not alone - I can\'t remember the last time I read a book cover to cover. The Mindfulness & Acceptance Workbook for Depression sounds good. I went to Minfulness based cognitive therapy sessions last year but haven\'t had the discipline to put it into practice much. It helped my depression no-end though so I hope it helps your SAD too. Take care.
Am not your friend in DS so, my apologies in advance for reading.
I could not stop commenting as I found you rather interesting. Yes, you seem to be far from a very sick person.
I know how it is like having an introverted personality, but learnt to stay with loads of people at the same time. I don\'t think I have BPD either but I may have few similarities with people who got the disorder.
I dont think youre a lazy one, but it is just taking some time for you to digest or to know what you really want. I was feeling the same way, but have been improving lately.
I started by setting few tiny goals. I don\'t like watching tv, but I would surf on the internet for hour instead. I try not to get into social networking, but again...here I am.
I also have a mile depression, and just started handling it.
Going back to your book. I\'m sure that if you have the determination to read cover to cover, then youll do it. Setting tiny goals could possibly help you. How many pages would you like to read each day? Do you want to improve your proof reading abilities, or do you want to learn about the topic itself?
English is not my mother tongue and maybe you spotted few mistakes. lol.
Stay cool \':D
Thanks Stuart. I\'m glad to know that I am not the only one with this problem. It is just hard to stay motivated sometimes. Both of those mindfulness are excellent. They would be a good way for you to keep up with your mindfulness work. Of course it does not help much to just read the books, you also have to put it into practice, which is the harder part.
Mariosa, thanks you for your comments. We seem to have similar struggles. You are right that setting goals is very important. I think the goals tracker is a very good feature of DS. Unfortunately I have not made use of it until now. I am trying to change that. I guess one of my goals for this year is to set more goals!