Depression Guide Lesson 2: Depressed Thinking

maybe we can use this as thread as questions,comments,things we have noticed, and links that relate to this posting!

just an open ended question that we can talk about! feel free to add on!

- what helps you overcome depression?

for me its a combination of ongoing gym,therapy,and having 'me' time

Exercise is critical for me too. Also, talking with trusted others really helps me as well.

exercise helps with your seratoninlevels I believe

Keeping a routine is vital to me, as well as planning in the "me" time that Kristey mentioned.

Exercise helps to release serotonin and endorphins in the brain and body to increase your happiness and satisfaction. Sunlight and time outside help to increase your Vitamin D levels, which correspond to your alertness and ability to process things.

Depressed thinking for me feels less like a constant sadness and more like standing at the bottom of a very large cliff with no climbing gear. And depression in general involves people standing at the top of the cliff insisting that you come join them, saying things like, "It's not that high! Come on, I did it!" even though they have climbing gear and you don't.

Subsequently they'll ask you to do things that you can only do at the top of the cliff. "Come on, let's go have fun!" At a club on top of the cliff. "You used to write so much! Why don't you write anymore?" My pen and paper and inspiration are all on top of the cliff!!

Depressed thinking is less about thinking "I don't want to do this" and more about thinking "I physically cannot do this, this task is impossible for me, I am too tired and this cliff is too high and too dangerous to climb."

Because of course we want to climb the cliff!! We just don't have any climbing gear!! And understanding that from a depressed and nondepressed perspective is important. It's easy to see a depressed person - tired, lethargic, no appetite, no motivation, no interests - and think, "Oh, they just don't want to do anything." But with depression, it's less about desire and more about ability.

When you're depressed, you don't want someone to trivialize the thoughts you're having by saying, "The cliff isn't even that big!" You don't want them to ask you to do things that are impossible, like "Let's go to the club on top of the cliff!" You don't want them to use their personal experiences and say, "Well, I have climbing gear, why don't you have climbing gear? What did you do wrong? Why aren't you TRYING to climb anyway?"

We want them to give us some freaking climbing gear! Or a rope to get us out!

And with depression, that gear can manifest in different ways depending on the person. Some people need professional guidance in order to pull their way out. Some people need support and people to lean on. Some people need validation. Some people need a change of activities in their lives.

What matters is that their needs are recognized.

I LOVE that example KittyKat! It makes perfect sense! and its exactly how depression is!

Depression will likely cause you to become demotivated and lethargic. In the self help manual activities are discussed which can help to keep ones mind occupied like reading, gaming, exercising, tv etc. The difficulty now is to overcome the lethargic feeling and keep to a activity routine. In other words leading a regimented lifestyle while suffering from depression can be difficult but succeeding in doing so can play a huge role in managing intrusive negative thoughts and ultimately the depression.