Posted by Noa on October 18, 2000, at 16:38:19
In reply to Re: Pass on the CNP, posted by ksvt on October 17, 2000, at 21:21:48
> Noa PS: What do you do to help yourself view depression as an external force? ksvtI TRY (the operative word) to visualize it as a monster/beast, a la Tracy Thompson( I think her book might be called The Beast) and also on a similar idea by the author of Conquering the Beast Within. Often it does feel like a trade off of fear/anxiety vs. depression as part of who I am. But if I can visualize the monster and allow myself to feel angry at it and scared of it and visualize fighting back, it helps a lot.
Also, grieving for the lost time, etc. has helped. Of course, I had to get to a point where I could allow myself to grieve as opposed to blaming myslef and engaging in self loathing.
I think that if you can create ways to remind yourself that there have been times without the depresion, it can reinforce that "temporary" concept, which you find helpful.
It also sounds to me like you are not really in remission, that there is still more antidepressant effect to search for.
poster:Noa
thread:990
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20001011/msgs/1264.html