Posted by Shortelise on March 28, 2005, at 15:43:31
In reply to depression with a capital D (whining), posted by mair on March 28, 2005, at 5:54:13
Mair, you may be the one who always says that depressive feelings are transitory, but I am the one who says EXERCISE.
Get the neighbourhood pitbull to chase you around the block, hire a mugger to scare you into running away down the street, go for a walk in a bear-infested wood so you can run from bears, get someone you dislike to go for a walk with you and give them a cattle prod to keep you going.
We get endorphins from exercise. There is nothing, according to some very smart people, that helps depression more than exercise.
What I do when I am in the depths of it, is ask my husband or a friend to get me out, to help me move. I can't do it alone sometimes - sometimes I can.
In the past I had an awful problem with anxiety at night. Just like you, I'd wake up in the very early morning, eaten with anxiety. I found a couple of things that helped. One is telling myself that nothing is accomplished by worry. The other is breathing, deep breathing, and repeating whatever I need to hear over and over in my head - y'know, an affirmation.
Both exercise and affirmations can move us out of the mental loop we get into. When we are depressed, we are in a kind of repeat mode, we keep going on and on in the same neural pattern - that's why electro-shcok therapy works for some. Walking and thinking can alter that loop. As can bouncing a ball, playing chess, anything that is new or forces us to use a different part of our brains. I even try writing with my left hand just to change my frame of mind!
My explanation of this is simplistic because my understanding of it is not profound. But it can really help.
Today for you I am a warm bit of sun that seeks you out and shines into your mind, so warm, so bright.
ShortE
poster:Shortelise
thread:476635
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20050315/msgs/476797.html