Posted by Miss Honeychurch on January 31, 2005, at 9:21:48
In reply to Accepting the illness of depression, posted by namaste on January 30, 2005, at 17:59:40
Namaste,
I've been in therapy now for a year and a half for what I thought was severe anxiety. My last session last week, my T told me he had diagnosed me with Major Depressive Disorder! This was a shock! I know I have been depressed in the past, but apparently my anxiety was a symptom of my depression. He has now downgraded me to dysthmia (sp?) which is a sort of low grade depression.
Since I've been in therapy, I have a learned a lot of skills which will act as armor against depression. ONe of them is not to blow things out of proportion and use dramatic languegae as you mentioned. Also, not to put "shoulds" on myself or others. Also not to be so self critical. And many other skills.
So, to practice this, depression is NOT the end of the world. PLenty of people have it and deal with it. It is controllable. I have worked hard hard hard this past year and a half. ANd while it has been no walk in the park, all of the struggle has been worth it.
I read as much as I can about depression. I find this demystifies it for me and makes it LESS scary.
And when I find that I am being particularly irrational, I write down the thoughts which are causing me to be dpressed (such as I'm a loser, worthless, a terrible friend), etc., and reframe those statements to more rational statements. I find this helps a lot, putting this all down on paper like that.
What are some of the techniques you use to combat depression?
poster:Miss Honeychurch
thread:450274
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20050129/msgs/450493.html