How I did it: it's hard to explain, my depression is an on-of cycle, this cycle has lasted about 2 years, but i think i'm ok now, even though i know it might come back like it usually does, i'm going to tyr and embrace this neutral feeling towards life, that i never usually feel, i guess this is what optimism feels like. You just have to tell yourself that YOUR future belongs to YOU, and your the only person that can shape it, and make yourself happy.Itsup to you to decide what it is that you need to do that will make you happy, sometimes the simplest things do it.find something that will make you get out of bed, or leave the house, make friends, and walk away from anything/anyone that brings you back down that spiral.

I recently moved away from anything i associate with unhappy memories, probably not good to run away, but i feel so muchhappier not having to face all those horrible associations of unhappy thoughts.

Lessons & tips:  

• find something that you love to do
  
• accept yourself (i've accepted my illness, its part of me and i can deal with that now)
  
• get out of bed/out of the house/do something anything that will channel you concentration other than your blues.
  
• i know its difficult to be motivated by anything at this time, but tell your self, that is is rational to do something that you may enjoy, hard to believe, but you deserve it,
  
• start enjoying little things first, smiling seems like a foreign thing to do, but learn to enjoy, or atleast try to.

Resources:

• understand and accept yourself
  
• learn to get along with yourself
  
• hobbies
  
• housework
  
• walking your dog
  
• talk to strangers
  

Oct 24, 2009, 10:22AM PDT | 0 comments | 2 cheers