When I have gotten into a funk or feel down about something, my daughter reminds me of making a Gratitude List....they do this in the AA groups too. We have so much to be grateful for and yet so many moan and groan about lack. I'll list a few and if anyone wants to add their gratitudes, that's good. A 55 yr old daughter and two growing adult grandkids, both college students and seeing some of the world in their college days. Making it to 81 soon and pretty darn good health, including hearing and eyesight. Walk but with a walker, due to OA issues and surgery mess. Nice cozy apt 1 long block from Pacific Ocean, that I can afford in this high rent district. Money to buy good food and the strength to stand in kitchen and cook. Good friends. Quality programming on NPR. A long list of good memories from a life well lived, some hard times but growth from those times. I know there is more but I'll stop at these for now.
Over the last decade, whenever I start to get depressed, or go to "that dark place," I stop to count my many blessing, no matter small they may seem. I have a good job I have a roof over my head I have been able to meet my financial obligations I have a wonderful son, in whom I take much pride My 13 year vehicle is still running I have a loving dog that has gotten me through some very lonely days.
A good husband and a roof over me head Only have to think of others to know we should be grateful, that's for sure
Gratitude list - great idea. My list is always on my mind and I'm eternally grateful for so many blessings the list of which would be too long. What matters most is that I don't take them for granted but that I'm aware of them and truly appreciate them.
The Gratitude List-, I thought Oprah had started that. I am grateful for each and everything and person in my life- including all the Net Friends on this forum. Having fought depression-on my own for years.- I can say this, if depressed or down and out, you already know, and are grateful for what you have but the 'feeling of depression', is heavy and,at that moment-it just does not help. Well it did not me. One thing I have learned, variety is the spice of life. people. Screw all the crap they tell you on the news and how to live. Eat dinner for breakfast, dress up or dress down, the opposite of your norm . Get in the car and take roads in your own neighborhood you have never seen before, Take a bus or train instead of drive. Instead of buying new picture and bric brac- move them around. I think you get the picture here. Shake things up, helps me. Through in a few naughty thoughts - hey its worth a try
Such a great post Gloria - depression is just awful, I've been on the brink a few times, the thing that got me out was I didn't like the feeling one bit. So pleased you found your jolly self again - keep going down that road x @Gloria Mitchell
Depression comes with many faces and for me a deep one was from a sluggish thyroid for 10 yrs that doctors would not/could not fix. Once a smart D.O. put me on thyroid med, no labs, nadda, depression lifted in 4 days. MD's miss so much that the thyroid does for us and a big one is "clinical" depression. Mine came on after menopause and that had a big factor I'd bet. Then in 2006, found Vit D was in the tank as I was feeling a lowness. There is clinical and there is situational depressions. Our U.S. people are given A/D drugs like candy and so often the thyroid is what needs a good MD to help a person. I deal with a bodywide load of arthritis and a mess from hip replacement, I'm not happy about all this, but not depressed. My thryoid support keeps me ALIVE and well.