The Word Cloud

11 Comments

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  by ClaireLeyana 9 months ago

  Those are some good points! Although usually when I have to remind myself not to do those things I know I'm not busy enough. I need to be manically busy, a work load that normal people would have a break down over. Then I'm happy!
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  by Ron Blanco 9 months ago

  Hi Zomb00.
  
  That is a pretty negative mantra you've got there: "Today I won't kill myself." I'm sure you can do better than that. I read a book once called "What to say when you talk to yourself." Like most self-help books it has one useful message which it then flogs to death for over 200 pages of big-font writing, in order to justify the £5.99 price tag. And the message of Shad Helmstetter's book was simply that your body will respond to what you tell it. So why not tell yourself something a bit more positive like "I am lucky to be alive and I am going to have a damned good time," or something like that. I'd also recommend talking to a professional, you know, like a mental health nurse. The last time I was depressed, one of the contributing factors (other than my annoying ex-wife) turned out to be that I was not socialising with other people enough, and was too inward-looking. But then again, I expect that's a pretty common problem amongst writers.
  
  Anyway, they're just my thoughts. Alternatively you could wait for someone to pinch your cheek and say "Cheer up Zomb00, it might never happen" - Ouch!
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  by Miss Muffet 9 months ago

  How about,
  ''There are people who care about you.''
  ''People who rely on you and who think about you all the time.''
  ''Your life makes a difference.''
  ''Your life is worth something.''
  
  Depression is a terrible infliction- not just for the sufferer- as you know but for their family. We might not be able to understand how it feels but we can understand the debilitating effects. Stay strong x
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  by Skylark 9 months ago

  I understand the place you are now. The storm doesn't last forever and actually, these days, it's hard to remember exactly how bad the storm was in the first place. I think Ron has a point - if you focus on the positive, you are less likely to be reminded of the negative. It's incredibly hard to do sometimes but how about this: Today I will do one thing that I've never done before and I will pass the time of day with someone I don't know. These two things could end up being really small, insignificant parts of your day but they could also open doors you never knew were there, revealing new paths that take you away from the place you are now. Hope that helps.
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  by Weens 9 months ago

  I have had depression in the past, and I'm talking not wanting to live depression. I was in hospital for twelve weeks. Mine came from being isolated in the house with my illness and not being able to do any of the things that I had previously enjoyed. Apart from the obvious anti-depressants, the cure is to talk. Get in touch with a friend, probably one who is not too close as they are easier to open up to, ie you can tell them things you wouldn't want your good friends to know. And talk, just talk about how you're feeling and set some goals to work towards and talk about how you can achieve them and how you feel about them Get plenty of rest, use relaxation discs if they help and take no notice of the people who tell you to 'pull yourself together'. If you are truly depressed that doesn't help at all. Have you a support network in place, people that you can do something pleasurable with (interpret that as you will lol)? Social contact is also a key to recovery, people on here will obviously support you, but you need to be with people in the real world too. Often if your depression is not that bad, you find that it leaves you in its own time and you wake up feeling better, but the best thing you can do, is to get your feelings out there, and do something pleasurable each day. I truly hope you feel much better very soon.
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  by mike 9 months ago

  Do you pay a musical instrument? Practising can take your mind off things. I also find walking good.
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  by Old Fat Prop 9 months ago

  Never had it myself..I have some close friends and family who have though and I know it can be an emotional or even a chemical imbalance which causes it. Sunlight, stress, grief, many things.. Changing environment often can keep you from dwelling on things.
  
  the people I know who have been able to succesfully deal with it have all spoken abiout accepting the things in life they can't change and changing the things they can't accept...
  
  Sounds easy, ..like something on a greeting card..
  
  In hard times, in the military, I could almost always look around me and see someone worse off than me and coping..I always found strength in that.
  
  Hope things get better for you.
  
  OFP
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  by Spangles 9 months ago

  Zomb00, I'm sorry to read that you're feeling so wretched. Episodes of depression are gruelling - I know that from experience. There are plenty of good suggestions here, and especially Ron's to concentrate on the positive rather than the negative. As he said, you turn those statements on your blog around, and instead of saying 'Today I'm not going to kill myself' you say 'Today I'm going to live to the full'. The reason for this is that your brain and body (and, again, I am completely in agreement with Ron about this) will remember the words 'kill myself'. They will not remember the 'won't' part of the message.
  
  One thing that I find helpful when I feel at rock bottom is to smile. At first, it feels false. But if I keep doing it, I start to believe in it. And the physical action of smiling triggers endorphins which make me feel good. Very soon, I forget that I am trying to smile, and I smile of my own accord.
  
  The next thing to do is to laugh. And to keep laughing. There is a well documented story of an American called Norman Cousins who was diagnosed with a terminal spinal illness. His remedy was to book himself into a hotel room with copies of all his favourite comedy films and TV programmes. He literally laughed his way back to health and the terminal illness vanished. If you have never discovered the Simon's Cat cartoons, you might enjoy them. I was pretty fed up the other day and 10 minutes of Simon's Cat on YouTube (and especially 'Cat Man Do') did the trick. You will find them here: http://www.youtube.com/user/simonscat?blend=1&ob=5
  
  Something else that I find helpful is to count my blessings each day. I mentally say 'thank you' for everything, from being able to turn on the tap and get clean, fresh water, to being able to see and touch things. I soon begin to appreciate all the things that I have and usually take for granted. I remind myself that billions of people don't have these things.
  
  And I also subscribe to a website called TUT (which stands for Thoughts Are Things). It works on the premise (which I completely believe) that our thoughts and emotions are magnets that attract events and people that mirror those thoughts and emotions. TUT sends out an email each weekday that is often funny, frequently astonishingly pertinent, and always inspirational. These emails are a wonderful start to the day. You can find the site here: http://www.tut.com
  
  You may or may not find any of these suggestions appealing, but either way I sincerely hope that you are soon feeling much happier. You have so much to contribute to the world. That is quite clear from your blogs. I have great faith in you! I know that one day I'm going to see your name on a book cover and I'll think 'He did it! Hooray!'
  
  I'm sending you a virtual hug and a virtual chocolate biscuit
  Spangles xx
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  by Nibs 9 months ago

  I'd like to add some things as well if I may folks.
  Instead of 'I am going to....' speak the words 'I am having / I am happy with .......' Keep to the present rather than putting things into the future as the future is always future, but we are always in the present.
  Sadly I know you can tell someone until the cows come home in many ways how much you care and love them but unless they know deep down inside and allow themselves to believe they are worth caring about, sadly it's just words.
  
  Possitive thinking is so very important and so difficult for some who can't see through the fog. The fog hides a multitude of arms reaching out to try and help, but they just can't be seen. It is easy for others to look into your fog and make comments but they aren't the ones stuck in there unable to see beyond at that time.
  
  I also agree it is so important to be out there in the world. When you're out and about in town next waiting in a queue to pay for something, try smiling and saying hello to others waiting along side you. Practically all will smile back and strike up a conversation to pass the time. Talking to strangers can often lead to avenues of new friendships that can be a huge possitive boost to the soul.
  
  Depression is a terrible thing, I've been on some major downers myself through this past 12 months. But I promise it's not all doom and gloom. People are waiting to and want to help.
  
  Keeping busy is a huge medicinal benefit. Anything to occupy your mind and time and help you relax, simple craft work for example. You are able to do things, so long as you try. Start be being possitive and say 'I can do this I just need to learn how to'.
  Can I just add before closing. YOU are worth loving. YOU are worth caring about. As soon as you yourself realise this, your soul will start to rise and feel real joy.
  Can I suggest a good mantra.
  
  Love in front of me
  Love is behind me
  Love is to the left of me
  Love is to the right of me
  Love surrounds me
  Love is within me
  I am love.
  
  Corny they may sound to some, but they speak truth.
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  by Gels 9 months ago

  Must agree, don't start with what you are going to do to make yourself happy, think of what you have done etc and keep going.
  
  Wish you all the best, there is great advice above. Some things seem so small but they can make all the difference.
  
  Much love :)
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  by Amarantha 9 months ago

  Zomb00, I haven't visited your link yet, but want to say I'm so sorry you're feeling sad. Truth is it must be terribly depressiing for young people in general today. Youth is already fraught with trying to 'get with' the adult world but made harder by a dearth of opportunity in a recession.
  
  All I can offer is when you're down, the only way is up and a good cure for depression is to get stuck into helping others much worse off. Maybe you could volunteer for service with a charity working abroad for a while?
  
  I hope you'll find a way through this because, as others have already pointed out, you have so much to give, not least of all as a writer. My best wishes. There is always light at the end of the tunnel and distant though it looks right now you will reach it sooner than you think. :-) x