Share your coping skills anyone?

[teko]

Depression is a physical illness. The symptoms of this physical illness is how we FEEL at any given time. Emotions are feelings, no more no less. Depression can be brought about by stress, prolonged to the point of our body quitting making its own natural stress hormones, or situations such as grief or loss of some kind. It can be short lived, or a life long disease with periods of remission. Sometimes the meds that ar given to treat the symptoms, bring about the very emotions we are trying to do away with. One med is not good for everyone. It is trial and error to say the least. The unbelievable fatigue and feelings of living under a black cloud are usually what does us in and if we allow it, we will soon begin to have suicidal thoughts. It is imperitive to get exercise and we must force ourselves to do what we do not feel like doing. We need to be on the outlook for flare ups. Anytime we get upset, we have to watch for that black cloud to arrive and start doing preventative measures to make it not so dark and to realize that this is a disease and remember the emotions go along with it. Knowing this somehow makes it more manageable. We should not internalize it into thinking we are bad seed, unworthy of life, friends, affection and true love. Ignorance will kill, education will get us thru. I have dealt with this most of my life and can only share what I have learned. I want to know of any other coping skills you all have, so I can learn more.

[ILADVOCATE]

I think everyone made good points and my approach is a bit different but still well understands that people need medication. I see a psychopharmocologist who does talk therapy as well. I seperate what difficulties that come from me from what comes from society. I do respect society and the law of course, as should everyone but as long as I do when other people disrespect me because I have a psychiatric disability that is just discrimination. I don't accept that. But as for medication I believe in "partnering in recovery". I believe it best people know what medication is for and how it helps exactly, what are the side effects and how to know when its not working. I have very close discussions with my psychopharmocologist about what medication is for and as new treatments came out I advocate to get on them. When I have the down feelings or negative energy of depression I try to convert them into something constructive. That's essential for all of us.
   So you are right for you your particular path to recovery is faith based recovery. That's fine. Its a matter of what a person does with the remaining unpleasent feelings that medication doesn't work on. I have my own goals and ideas but I keep those to my journal entries. But the important thing to understand is that what we are experiencing is biochemical and treatable and some feelings we experience aren't real. That's why we take medication. Its nice to live in the real world and any constructive way we can acheive it is worth it. Cognitive behavior therapy as some people have mentioned is good as well in addition to medication. But I never accepted I wouldn't recover. It wasn't just a "positive attitude". I worked with the system to find what could help me. And have tried to help other people find recovery as well.

[teko]

I agree wholeheartedly. No, it was not demons, altho it was a great experience as you said, I still suffer from depression. lol. You are correct, but hey at the time, I was grasping, as you all well know how that feels I am sure. A much better experience than the times I tried to end it all. You are also correct in that not the same thing works for all, beit a pill, therapy (which helps), coping skills. In sharing what works for each of us, we can only help each other. Each persons experience helps me deal with me own. You are very wise, thanks for sharing.

[LeftCoastChick]

Like many folks have shared their stories.. the running theme is, self-care, no matter which med you are on, that alone isn't going to cure you. You have to do a holistic approach, eat well, learn ways to cope with stress, know your limits, and if you are having a really rough days, drop that bar of self expectations, that will only make you worse if you aren't able to follow through on some usual activities.

Everyone's path is different, some because religious, and it's beneficial, some find relaxation techniques to help. Though I will interject, depression is not a demon, though it's been proven that being exorcised is a cathartic excercise, you can let it all go.  Part of my Univ. specializations was about non-tradirional forms of healing, like shamans or priests who do things to just make the person feel better, but they aren't "better' in the physical part of depression,. Talking, releasing anger, finding solace in which ever way you do it, helps.

Don't forgo allopathic (western medicine) because you are "healed"  because it will come back. I had a First Nations Medicine Man, try to clear off the demons that were following me, sort of an excorcism, it helped let go of anger/sadness, during the process I cried like a baby and couldn' stop the whole time. I left afterwards feeling so light, but because of my education, I knew that this was only temporary. It gave me enough clarity to go forth and deal with my sadness. It was a neat experience!

I just wanted to share my experiences, life is an amazing journey.

[teko]

It took me years of suffering, wanting to end it all (even tried a couple of times). Feeling as if I was a misfit, feeling sorry for myself (and I did). I had electric shock therepy, because at one point I withdrew within myself and just had a blank stare. I lost a lot of my memory and continue to have long term memory loss as a result of that! But I guess it jolted me into the real world, so I guess it is worth the loss to some degree. I went to a church and had them cast out demons ( they are real, i found out), I became a believer in Christ and got involved in the church. (The happiest I have ever been by the way!) I will always be on medication I am told and have found that to be true over the years. I wean myself off just to go running back to the doctor 6 months later crying help! I began researching depression, different kinds, causes and what helps. I educated myself, kept a log of how I felt from day to day ( I liken depression to being on a 24 hour roller coaster ride emotionally). I am where I can see it coming like a violent storm on a calm hot summer day. Now, I increase my exercise, (hardest thing in the world to do when all you want to do is sleep), eat energy foods like raw broccoli, carrots etc. Warn my hubby to not push me and ride it out. I used to work in an office, so I quit and went to cleaning for other people. That takes care of my exercise, social life and my income issues. I never miss a day no matter what and have found this to be extremely beneficial to depression issues. I am trying to shed light on what helps us cope instead of diving into that murky mess. At first I tried and failed but with a lotta practice and determination we can successfully fight this monster. I enjoy life now, but let me tell you guys, It dont happen overnite. My prayers are with each and every one of us and ya know, unless someone has experienced it, they have no clue. So if someone tells me they do not understand! I say good for you, I am sooo glad you do not understand, cause I would not wish this on my worst enemy! Well, if I am totally honest "lol", yeah I would too!

[mags59]

You're right about the meds; it took several different tries to finally find one that is doing a fairly good job.  However, there are times when the anxiety and depression rear their ugly heads for seemingly no reason at all.  What I find helps is walking.  I don't care if it's walking around the block, or walking around my living room.  Just getting up and moving (and getting those endorphins going) seems to help alleviate the symptoms somewhat.  I've been dealing with this for years, and it seems to come out of nowhere and for no reason that I can fathom, so you're absolutely correct when you say it's a disease like any other.  

[LORDINEEDHELP]

good morning teko your right about meds trial and error and the balck cloud is a gloom and doom for alot of us stress is real high for me and latley its overwhelming me i used to read cant do that lost all intrest but latley i have tried working on puzzels and have found great comfort in concentrating on that does help to work on something that is not so physical although exersice is great for depression on a physical side it may sound strange but just a sugestion i find very calming and relaxing when i get to the point where i cant even think straight some days it gives me just a sence of achomplishment
and its quiet and it makes me concentrate on the puzzel and not so much the depresion i feel  
have a nice day
Theresa