Depression: dog vs black dog

[Sea-n-sky]

Some guy elsewhere in this forum, asked the question "How would we describe depression if it were a physical creature.

What a sensible question to ask.

The guy who asked, must be an intelligent guy, a guy with a future of success.

I can answer that question, but would first like to remind everyone that many famous

and successfull persons have experienced depression. (Burton and Taylor come to mind)

Indeed it seems likely that depression is a precursor to success, even to victory, in most dramatical terms.

The late Winston Churchill himself said he had been afflicted by deep depression for much of his life.

He called it Blackdog.

Therefore I will call it that too, when considering it as the "physical creature". Most human beings can relate to the dog, and will recognise the animal as being of varying temperament according to breed. The wolf is a dog, as is the dingo. Likewise the poodle, the pekinese and the labrador.

On the one hand, we have the wild feral destructive canine, whilst on the other we have the loveable domesticated pet.

Clearly therefore, depression can be represented by the dog.(Blackdog).

It is, all dogs, merged into one.

The loveable domesticated pet today, and a destructive feral  tomorrow.

If you own a dog, you train it. If you do not do that it will not become the loveable domestic pet you may desire. It may become something different entirely. It will likely become a menace, in fact.

The first step in training the animal is to treat it in precisely the same way as you would like it to treat you.

That way, the dog will become your friend - and yes, blackdog can be that too.

In training your dog, you feed it morsels of reward, treats or titbits if you like, when it behaves/responds as you would like it to.

Blackdog is no different.

Returning to Winston Churchill, Did he win World War II ? No of course not, but he was a leader and inspirer amongst allies, perhaps guided by Blackdog, the friend.

Blackdog, is no longer my demon.

I might be again one day, and if it is, I'll just remove the cause, if I can.

My pain is now greatly reduced, because of that. I even jog a bit now, (when walking).

I have to, in order, to keep up with a friendly blackdog, which is running ahead of me. (metaphorically speaking) 

If it can be true in my case, Why not yours ?

Cheers,

Sea-n-sky.

 

[CMF]

I'm so depressed. Why won't it just GO AWAY. He looked like a little lost boy today. I hate going to his/ his parents house. So many memories. I hate that he's stuck living there. It's not a black dog it's a big wave, a wave of tears. 

[Neil_1]

Dear CMF

How did you go with that piece of paper with the pro’s and con’s??   If it weighed towards the ‘pro’ side, I’d re-do it.

Cause to me, all I can see is ‘CON’s’ and in a massive way.

Having this person in your life is causing you no end of angst, worry, anxiety, depression – um, need I go on.

On this site, everyone reaches out and cares for others and supports (as you know) – and it’s because of this that I’m writing this.  I’m sorry, but I can’t see any benefit to you for having this person in your life.  If he cooks meals and the like, well, until you’d met him, you were doing pretty well for yourself – and let’s face it, he’s not always there to cook for you.  But is that the only thing that’s keeping you from making a break from him??

I’m sorry again, but I still can’t get over the fact that he made up a story about you, just to justify his obsessive ways towards you.

I care (we all care) for you – and we don’t want to see you in pain, in torment, feeling so incredibly sad.

I do hope this coming week can be a little better for you.

Neil

[CMF]

Hi Neil,

he is going through his own things at the moment. He's has his own anxiety and he's down. It's more his mother that causes my anxiety. She judged me and said things to me when I was pregnant and she doesn't know the first thing about me. 

Anyway I have anxiety over other issues now not related to this at all. It just never ends. 

But hey, my coffee shop was good today. We had a laugh. 

[Sea-n-sky]

Woof Woof,

Woof Woof,

Woof Woof,

GO BITE THE MOTHER......

Then:-  "Fetch" -  bring him home. !!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's obvious, - I would have thought.

Rgds,

Sea-n-Sky

[Neil_1]

Hey CMF

You know we're here if you would like to unload anything.  🙂

Neil

ps:  great to hear you had a good time at the coffee shop.  🙂

[CMF]

Thx

My son attends a private school, this is his first year.  he didn't get off to a good start and has been in a little bit of trouble which we sorted through. well I thought all was going well but I needed to raise an issue which was affecting him and BANG! they hit me with 3 issues of things he has done that they disapprove of. these issues are over 3 weeks old.  well I stuck up for him, according to him the issues were not as they were explained to me and I had a go at the coordinator.  I get anxiety talking to her, imagine my poor son.  i was unwell all day yesterday with anxiety because of her. she said I was out of line for a comment I made re how the issues were raised. anyway, if his responses don't match with the answer she is looking for she keeps nagging him until he goes silent and then she takes that as an admission of guilt, which it isn't. she emailed me again today and has manipulated things he has said telling me he admitted to things when he didn't. when I raise an issue re something that a kid did to him she defends the other party immediately without even getting any details and in her email she still downplayed the things that an older kid has done to my son saying it was just a bit of fun yet when my son does something "for a bit of fun" she threatens to escalate it. so its ok for someone to pick on my son "for fun" but a different story when my son does it. what a joke.

anyway, I have enrolled him at another school, hopefully he gets accepted or I don't know what I will do. if he does, I'll be escalating my issues with her.

Thx for listening

CMF

By the way, coffee shop was great today, I walked out with a smile on my face and a spring in my step 🙂

[CMF]

This is my third attempt to post this  they all go missing.

my son attends a private school and didn't get off to a great start. He has been playing up a little and he hates it. However I now feel that he is being picked on a bit by the co ordination. When I raise issues affecting him she defends the other party straight away. If a kid annoys him its "just a bit of fun" but if my son does it he gets in big trouble. She badgers him to admit things she wants to hear and when he doesn't and goes silent she takes that as an admission. She has manipulated to me things he said and made him look like the bad one. I can't deal with her, I keep fighting for him but it goes round and round so I'm trying to let it go.  

She causes me anxiety- imagine him!  I have enrolled him elsewhere for next year. I don't know how I'll cope if he doesn't get in. 

[Sea-n-sky]

Hi again CMF.,

Well that coffee shop seems to be doing you the world of good, at least on most occasions.

In addition, it's probably a good thing that you have found a new purpose in life at this time, namely standing up for your son at school. That must be a worthwhile cause. Focusing on the difficulties experienced by others will improve your situation immensely.    

I think you were right when you said that it meant something when that guy appeared at the coffee shop with his black dog. You are now definitely moving forward - I believe.

Do you own a dog of any kind.?

Rgds,

Sea-n-sky. 

[CMF]

Hi sea n sky,

That black dog at the coffee shop was definitely a sign.  I think it was there to show me not to be afraid of 'the black dog'.

We have a cat. probably not really my thing. I prefer dogs and if I were to get one I think I would get a black one.

my neighbour has a black dog, she sounds nasty when she barks but is very friendly.

[Neil_1]

Hi there CMF

Excuse me for this, but I can’t resist:   “Your neighbour has a black dog, she sounds nasty when she barks but is very friendly” – and I’m assuming that the dog is ok as well??

🙂   🙂    🙂

How long do you think it’ll be before you’ll find out about the hopeful acceptance into the ‘other school’?

Also, I’m not sure at how the situation is with the coordinator at the school – but it’s good that things are happening via email – in that, there’s a word/email trail – so if the coordinator slips up or changes their story, you’ll have a history of it all nicely typed.  Something to then raise in the future to the next level up from the Coordinator if things end up going down that path.  I feel sorry for your son, as things like this at school can play a bit part in their own mental health.  I hope that he’s doing mostly “ok”.  I think he’d be very pleased to know that you’re there for him and backing him up to the end.

Kind regards

Neil