DEPRESSION: Fight it or embrace it?

[Doolhof]

Right now I feel like I don't have the energy to do either. Just existing is difficult enough. I've been trying to "float" this one out but the Black Dog is right there trying to drag me under.

My Psychologist tells me to embrace the depression, to accept it, to make the most of those rotten days when you feel like you can't do a thing. To just live with it and the sting of the depression will ease away. If I don't feed it, it will give up.

I must be doing something wrong as all that seems to do is escalate how horrid I feel, I break down in tears and feel like "what is the point" this monster is winning.

Depression. BPD. Stress. Suicidal thoughts. Maybe I do need to find ways to embrace these issues before they totally destroy me. But how?

Maybe I could try poetry, I've already painted a couple of pictures showing what is going on in my head, maybe more paintings or drawings might help get the muck out.

I'm just so tired and exhausted. Mental health issues suck!

Fighting it is exhausting. Trying to embrace it is soul destroying.

ACCEPTANCE! Where the hell is ACCEPTANCE! Think it ran away with HOPE!

Wishing you all a sense of acceptance and hope!

Cheers from a battered feeling Dools

[startingnew]

hey Mrs D just letting you know im still here for you. hope your going ok today. sending some hugs and some fresh flowers too xoxo

[PamelaR]

Hello Dools

Still here sitting with you. I like StartingNew's flowers. They are beautiful.

Hugs and more hugs. Do you like chocolates?

[Birdy77]

Hello Dools,

I am wondering how you have been feeling?

I haven't seen your refreshing presence the last little while. I know you've been struggling.

Hope you are treating yourself very gently and being good to yourself.

Love 🌻birdy

[Doolhof]

Hi Birdy,

I'm back! Or at least I am trying to be back! It has been a rough few days, feeling like I have been broadsided by intense depression that has come out of no where like a tidal wave!

Guess that is part of this illness. I have nothing to be depressed about right now apart from the chemical imbalance of depression!

I did have a lovely laugh yesterday when I went walking after dinner. We have a lot of galahs in our town at present, the bird type of galahs that is. As I walked along one street, the galahs all flew out of the tree I was approaching with ferocious raucousness only to land in the next tree down the street.

As I approached the next tree the same thing happened! After the 5th or 6th tree the galahs decided I wasn't going to climb the tree and attack them so they just squawked at me as I walked under them.

Now, if only I could leave "depression" in a tree, that would be lovely!

Thanks for your care, also to SN and PamelaR.

I've been reading a self help book and watching positivity talks on the computer. Hopefully some of the stuff will stick and work!

Cheers from Dools

[Ggrand]

Hello Dools,

Its really lovely to see your back, I'm sorry you've been feeling so depressed. No Dools depression doesn't have to have a reason, it just seeks out random victims and torment s them..

I love the story about your walk with the galahs, lol animals, furry or feathered are interesting to watch they constantly amaze me how intelligent they really are..

Dools I hope your self help books and positive thoughts help you..I found a book at my op shop written by Dr Claire Weeks, I bought it because I read a few times that Paul has mentioned her and recommend her books on other threads, as soon a I can settle enough to read it I will.

You are amazing Dools the way your fighting your depression..Well done ✅..

Kind thoughts,

Karen.

[PamelaR]

Hello Dools

So pleased to have you back!! Was a little concerned there for awhile.

I know what you mean about that tidal wave - no real understanding where it comes from. The chemical in-balance has a lot to answer for. Trying to do the right things like - good sleep, good food, good social times, good friendships is sometimes hard. I must say I feel myself going down when I don't do these things. You'd think I'd learn.

BTW - eat lots of chocolate for Easter (said in jest). Apparently:

Chocolate is known for its ability to increase levels of the calming neurotransmitter serotonin. It also contains small amounts of a compound called phenylethylamine, which stimulates your brain cells to release dopamine.

Kind regards

PamelaR

[Doolhof]

Hi Karen, PamelaR and All,

Thanks! The book I am reading is called "8 keys to Mental Health through Exercise". The author Christina G. Hibbert writes about the mind, body and spirit including information on my friend "Motivation" self-worth and how everything ties in together.

I'm taking notes as I am reading, there are a lot of questions in the book you can answer about yourself as well for greater awareness. Apparently the "8 Keys to Mental Health" are a series with some other interesting titles.

Yes, the tsunami of depression can hit any time, ready or not! On one of my walks it hit very badly, so I sat in a sort of secluded park and had a good cry then sat there for a while and saw a rabbit! Shame it wasn't the Easter Bunny! This one didn't have any chocolates for me!

Learning new tricks is fine isn't it, the putting them into practice, when the mood is dark is the hardest bit. Maybe when it is so dark, all we can do is float for a while, and then pick the pieces up again after.

A little bit later I will be doing my stretches and going for a walk.

Cheers ladies and All from Dools

[Doolhof]

Hi Everyone,

I am wondering if there are times when we need to fight our depression and mental health issues and at other times accept and embrace it.

Over time I have tried both and have had various levels of success and failures at trying to deal with my depression.

t is making sense to me that maybe fighting the depression actually makes depression stronger. The more frustrated and angry I become towards it, the more it seems to stand up and attack me. Maybe it is a bit like calling depression The Black Dog.

Usually if we walk around a snarling dog, it won't generally harm us. If I try to approach a snappy dog I may be likely to have my arm ripped off. (Slight exaggeration, but you get the picture!)

When I do try to fight my depression, it can become worse, unless I "fight" it with the attitude of winning over unhelpful habits around depression hat have not assisted me in the past but become a habit.

Today I came across the theory of "FLOURISHING" in all areas of our lives. To make the most of what I do have, to show gratitude, to create new ways of thinking and doing life.

It has taken me a little while to realise I don't have to keep fending off the negativity, even when it is powerful. I can acknowledge it, accept I may not be able to do much about it right then and there, and to tell myself that is okay.

Tears are oaky. Moving on when I am able to do so is excellent. Little bit by little bit.

Have there been times when you have tried to "fight" your depression and feel like you have won or lost? Would you like to share your thoughts here?

Or maybe you are more into "embracing" your depression and living harmoniously with it.

All thoughts and comments are welcome!

Cheers all from Dools

[PamelaR]

Hello lovely Dools

I was looking for your thread this morning. Do you think I could find it..... Must have been buried.

Just wanted to pop in to see how you are travelling.

Obviously, you've been doing a bit of thinking and researching. Good on you dear Dools.

Not sure about depression fighting and not fighting depression. I think I face with the view - you're here, yuck, how am I going to move on. I hate being depressed. At these times I get annoyed with myself for being down in the dumps. Mainly because I can't do what I want to do - that is achieve stuff. I get so low, I can't do anything. Which kind of snowballs into anxiety because I feel guilty about not doing anything.

Accepting and living with it is very hard for me. I like my happy/positive times and that's where I want to be. Being down is no good, I'm unhappy and make everyone else around me that way too. So I keep putting my hand out to 'tame' the black dog, to settle it, to make friends with it. Not that I want to live with it or accept it. If you can understand that. Does it make sense Dools? I know we are all different and we all deal with things differently. No way is better than another. You have to do what is right for you.

Kind regards

Pammy

[Birdy77]

Hey to the Dools 😊 and all 😊

I feel like sometimes I embrace it, and that i feel good, but sometimes when I embrace it, I feel like I get too comfortable with it ... and when I get too comfy I feel like that's when maybe I start to spiral down.

But then again, sometimes I embrace it and accept it and that allows me to march onwards, not like a cheery ray of sunshine, but I move forward, accepting this is part of me.

On the days I choose to fight it, sometimes I feel like I win because I defy it and move through my day and achieve! And get things done! And feel good! Other days I try to fight it and I feel dreadful. Cry. Sob. Hate myself. Great fun.

Not sure if this makes sense to anyone.

❤

🌻birdy