Posted by Noa on May 19, 2000, at 13:27:07
In reply to Where else would it be?, posted by bob on May 19, 2000, at 0:52:19
It is not all in your mind, at least in the sense of imagining it or bringing it on yourself. It is real But, you might indeed be feeling somewhat better. It happens that way sometimes. Depressions can come and go, be more intense and less. The main thing is never stop taking good care of yourself.
I think the idea of imagining yourself to be crushing or killing the depression isn't half bad. It is an imagery technique, to help you objectify the depression and feel some power to be separate from it, so it doesn't feel like it has a hopelessly enduring hold on you. Listen, use whatever works, unless it causes other problems that will make life worse for you later on.
The idea of "mind" is a difficult one to get our minds around. How we experience ourselves through our minds cannot be separated from other processes going on in us, including all the biological processes. Our minds are deeply connected to a very real organ, our brains. We have been in the habit of thinking of all of these things as separate entities somehow, but they are so deeply connected.
When you use the phrase, "it's all in my mind", you are suggesting that what you have experienced is not real. But it is so very real.
If you are feeling a bit better, try to enjoy the moments in time that are happening now. Don't put too much pressure on yourself by expecting this to mean you are now "permanently" better. Perhaps you are. But the expectation takes on a life of its own, I think, and the pressure that comes with it can be debilitating. Well, I don't know if this applies to you, I am speaking about my own experience, obviously. I try now (it is so so hard) to live more in the moment, and enjoy feeling good, a good mood, a laugh, but not to start thinking about it as a sign of the future, just to enjoy it for what it is and to congratulate myself for having it. That way, the sense of accomplishment can stay with me, whereas if I start expecting the better mood to last, I feel a sense of failure if it doesn't, like I have lost any improvement. Now, I try to see it as cumulative, even with regressions, so I don't have to start from ground zero all the time.
Does any of this make sense? I am having a hard time articulating it.
BTW, there is a nice little book for teens by a teen with depression named Cait Irwin, called Conquering the Beast Within: How I fought depression and won. If you read it, I would be interested in hearing what you think about it.
poster:Noa
thread:33956
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000517/msgs/34017.html