How I did it: Part of my healing happened to me, it wasn't something I consciously chose for myself: I was struck by a firestorm of grief that almost destroyed me but ultimately made me much stronger.  I also changed the structure of my thoughts.

Lessons & tips: One of the best things now in maintaining my emotional wellbeing is having enforced exercise in my life: a strength training class and a dance team.  The key for me is *enforced* because when I was depressed, even though I knew exercise is good for your emotional equilibrium, the last thing I felt like was working out.  I recommend getting an exercise buddy, a trainer, joining a pickup sports league, or anything else where you'll *have* to exercise, even when you don't feel like it.

Resources: The book "Depression is a Choice: Winning the Battle Without Drugs" helped me a lot, although it also made me blame myself a lot for my experience, so be careful with it.

The writings of David Richo have helped me so, so much.

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Mar 07, 2010, 05:53PM PST | 2 comments | 7 cheers