Taming Depression
I've suffered from depression for the last 7 years. I've seen therapists and psychiatrists. I've tried many different types of anti depressants, anti anxiety and anti bi polar meds. I was even hospitalized in a mental hospital for 3 days back in 2005. I've suffered from terrible emotional pain and thoughts of suicide for years but I have a new frame of mind now and my depression has been under control for several weeks. Several weeks may not seem impressive but I was falling into a depressed state of mind daily for years and I have broken that cycle. I want to tell other people who suffer from depression how I accomplished this. First, I began to realize that my periods of depression came like clockwork. My depressed and painful frame of mind would happen on a regular basis. I decided to keep a journal and enter my thoughts and moods every day. If a day started out OK and I ended up in a depressed state of mind, I wrote down the thoughts that I had before falling into a depression. Once I was able to figure out which thoughts were the cause of sending me into depression, I analyzed those thoughts. I figured out that most of those thoughts were not even true. They were just thoughts of self pity, worrying about things that I don't even need to worry about and feeling angry at the world. I've discovered several patterns of thought that send me crashing toward depression and over the years those thoughts have become a habit.
Now, when I catch myself having one of those types of thoughts I stop the thought immediately and turn it around. I don't dismiss the thought. I rationalize with myself and tell myself that the thought isn't true and it really isn't. The result is that I’ve stopped my depression that I’ve worked on with doctors and therapists for years and I figured it out on my own. If you suffer from depression, medication and therapists can help but ultimately you have to pull yourself out of it. You are the only one who can do it. There is no magic pill or magic therapist. Positive thinking is the key. Thoughts cause feelings. If you can learn how your mind works and train yourself to think positive you will feel better.
Now, when I catch myself having one of those types of thoughts I stop the thought immediately and turn it around. I don't dismiss the thought. I rationalize with myself and tell myself that the thought isn't true and it really isn't. The result is that I’ve stopped my depression that I’ve worked on with doctors and therapists for years and I figured it out on my own. If you suffer from depression, medication and therapists can help but ultimately you have to pull yourself out of it. You are the only one who can do it. There is no magic pill or magic therapist. Positive thinking is the key. Thoughts cause feelings. If you can learn how your mind works and train yourself to think positive you will feel better.
Replies
So happy for you. Keep up the great work. Hope you have the best day ever today. Wish I could take control like you have..
I\'m really happy for you that you\'ve found the secret to getting over depression. What you\'ve described is called \"cognitive therapy\" and it has been recognized for years as the most effective tool used by psychiatrists and psychologists. It actually originated in the Bible in the book of Philippians.
Just as you said, it\'s all about identifying what causes you to do or say or think the wrong things, and then avoid them. With thoughts, it involves identifying the thoughts you have that are not true, and then telling yourself the truth. Choosing to think differently. Dr Daniel Amen, a brain specialist in California, calls it squashing the \"ANTS\"--Automatic Negative Thoughts.
Good for you!