Living with depression.

[Ba****]

I want to learn how to cope with depression. I want to learn how to not listen to those voices in your head. 

[Dm****]

Michael Singer’s book The Untethered Soul Binaural beats for depression ❤️

[li****]

I have been struggling since the age of 14. I have had a professional life but tended to self sabotage - nearly losing my life a few years ago. I am still on the path and have found that routine helps...I have a dog and having to get up and walk him in the local parks really helps...being in nature and chatting to people during my walks. It is not easy...but I am plugging away and find my mood lifts when I focus on the nature around me and the joy of my puppy running and playing. Reading self help books is a way - I have read hundreds...but you must put the practice in to help your subconscious develop new ways of being. John Moyer - on YouTube has some great meditations that you can listen to and work with by day or night. I hope this helps a little. x

[Yo****]

I have found special breed ganja and cacao to help in combination with a good diet and meditation. 

 

If you want to know more inbox me 

[Ro****]

Hi all I've joined to try and be more sociable and get happiness back in my life, depression is a very lonely illness and friends an family don't seem to understand or try to support

[Hi****]

Hi Rosa, you are not alone. Here if you fancy a chat. I too have depression, taking anti depressants for 20 plus years

[Sh****]

Rosa,

I have also been suffering from depression, so I completely understand how debilitating and lonely it can be.

One of the things that keeps us in depression is the constant negative dialogue in our heads - it’s not easy to start feeling better when that voice in our heads keeps reminding us that we are failures or unworthy; that constant rumination tends to focus our attention on reliving hurt or regret from the past - or worrying and fearful about the future; it’s a bit like having your mind hijacked by an incessant, negative voice intent on keeping you locked in a depressed state.

Recently, I learned about ‘mindfulness’ and it is making a huge difference for me. Here, on the Happiness.com website, there is a free 8 week, online course you can do called MBSR (mindfulness based stress reduction), which teaches you how to quieten that negative self talk. MBSR has been extensively studied by neuroscientists and it has been shown to have a physical impact on our brain’s neural pathways - helping to alleviate both depression and anxiety.

When I first started, I was horrified at the thoughts that ran rampant in my mind. It is helping me to be more present in the ‘now’, while changing that dialogue into one of love and self compassion - for me, just becoming aware of the pattern of thinking and being able to now interrupt it, is a victory!

At the top of the screen, you will see a tab called ‘Academy’, click on that and choose the option MBSR. I would also suggest getting the book ‘Full Catastrophe Living’ by Jon Cabot Zinn. He actually developed the MBSR program and the book is required reading as a part of the course.

best of luck darling!

 

[Gl****]

Yes, mindfulness is great! Really focus in on what you are doing at the moment. Pick something you think you might like- a new food, a hot bath, a project and dig in. It can give your brain chemistry practice again in sensation in a safe space.?

[Guest User]

@Rosabishop, @Hippy, @ShareeBelshaw, @Glassgate,

Belated welcome and know all this feeling of depression all too well.  Of course also (mostly) on antidepressants for almost for 20 yrs or so.  This also goes for anxiety, but that also comes along with born with speech/learning impairment/disability.

I also highly recommend you and/or others take a look at whats out there.  In which highly recommend that you proceed with caution with whats out there.  Especially, with the money part of it.

I mean I for one would rather prefer to have/see it being for free and/or maybe donating a small amount to keep it going.

[Tine]

As @ShareeBelshaw already pointed out, the MBSR course can help loads with rumination and negative self-talk. So great to hear someone talk about the program and recommend it with the same enthusiasm as I do. Thank you!

I know this from my own experience and the amazing effect it had in hindsight in my own life motivated to become an MBSR trainer myself.

 

However, if you are going through a strong depressive episode looking more intensively at your thoughts might not be advised. Even if you are managing your depression reasonably well at the moment, you should talk to your therapist before you join the program. Also, speak to friends and family about it, and always remember "you are the expert for yourself". We usually know if we are lazy and our thoughts want to talk us into not going to the gym or going to the gym really hurts our knees or spine. It's similar with this there is some inner resistance we need to overcome to get our meditation and mindfulness practise going, but that's different to actually hurt ourselfs. We usually know which one is which.

Besides that welcome! I think talking about depression and mental health, sharing our stories and struggles and most importantly realizing we are not alone with what we are going through might be one of the most powerful steps to acceptance and from there to change.

[Su****]

Hi I'm really struggling with yet another bout of depression.  Have suffered since the age of 14 and on anti depressants. I just can't seem to lift myself out of it.  I did do a mindfulness course in May which was good. Have a trip of a lifetime to Australia in February which i really thought would help this year but am in tears every day don't want to get out of bed let alone go out. 

[dp****]

Greeting everyone. I am a newbie to the site and hoping to take away some new ideas for coping with my depression/anxiety which unfortunately seem to hand in hand. I am currently enrolled in the free MBSR course here and still trying to learn my way around. I have suffered with depression and anxiety for years but I have experienced a couple of rough years which has put me into a deep depression. I didn't deal with my issues for years and with all that has occurred in the last while everything I repressed for so many years has coming flooding back and I am now trying to learn how to cope. The ruminating thoughts are awful and seem like an endless negative feedback loop. I am hopeful between this site, the course here, my CBT therapist and sheer will I am going to come out on the other side better. I have never been one to talk about my issues with others and I am quickly learning that is probably one of the best things to do. I have been ashamed for so many years of my illness. I am learning slowly that I am not alone in my illness and I hope between all I am doing here and with therapy I will improve mentally. Thanks for listening 

[Calvin77]

If I'm feeling depressed, physical exercise is the one thing I know can boost my mood. So, even if I don't really feel like it, I try to go to the gym or have a swim. When I leave I always feel better than I was before. A mix of the enorphin release and simply taking my mind off of other things.

[Ag****]

If I’m feeling in balanced or depressed I have meditations I listen to or singing bowls it’s seem to help me BREATHE AND CALM myself so that I’m able to reconnect to the reality of “ it’s all ok “ this is a feeling and feelings are temporary

[dm****]

Since losing my mom, whohelped me so very much with my depression I find music helps me if I'm preoccupied I try to listen for one specific instrument and just concentrate on its sound. Or I watch stand up

[gh****]

I altered my diet and took up the practice of intermittent fasting. I now choose simple meals and herbal teas. I am a Zen practitioner and teach yoga. We have to choose our associations carefully and engage in meaningful dialogue.

[EH****]

I recommend to read or listen Vadim Zeland's "Reality Transurfing". I found it easier to understand his explanation in comparison to other esoteric and philosophical teachings. Otherwise he doesn't bring "new" knowledge. It's similar to the "What the Bleep! Do We Know", "The Secret", Alan Watts and Buddhism philosophy, Eckhart Tolle "Power of Now", Hermetic Principles. It all starts with exercising one's "free will" - freedom to will, to wish, to think, to choose own thoughts. Then practical stuff helps.