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follow-up on a question (from a while ago...)
Hi there,
A while ago you answered this question ([Link](Mouse over link to see full location)) that I asked about dealing with dysthymia and told me you would appreciate it if I told you how things are going. I meant to respond a lot sooner, but somehow didn't get to it until now.
You listed five things that may help me. I'll give my response based on those five things because I need some way to structure this or else I'll end up rambling randomly.
1. Laughter: I honestly struggle with this. I don't really know what makes me laugh. I also find it hard to take time out of my day specifically to make myself laugh when I'm not in a happy mood.
2. Meditation: I don't think about it on a regular basis, but when I'm particularly stressed or feeling off, it does help to take a few minutes to just breathe and let myself exist.
3. Movement: I find this so hard to fit into my life. I have a super busy schedule with almost no spare time and way less energy than I need to make it through each day. Walking is my favourite type of movement, but I just don't have time to go for a half-hour walk every evening.
4. Hugs: Hugs help so much. So much. I love hugs and the more I get, the happier I am. Unfortunately, I live in a house with 6 other girls, and the only one of them who will hug me only gives loose, short hugs. I have a couple friends I see once or twice a week who give good hugs (one of them is the best hugger I have ever met), but I know I need at least one good hug a day for it to be particularly helpful.
5. Music: I had already found several songs that make me feel better instantly and put them on a playlist for when I'm feeling really down or anxious. I make use of this playlist on a regular basis.
I guess...overall, I'm not sure if I'm doing that much better than I was when I sent the question, but without some of these tools I could be doing significantly worse. University is stressful and stress triggers me to feel even more down than usual. I'm currently able to keep it at a manageable level, in contrast to the past when it's gone out of control when I've been stressed.
Thank you for the advice.
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Want to answer more questions in the Health & Fitness category?
Maybe give some free advice about: Mental health?
Thank you for updating me. I do truly like to hear back from those who've received my two cents worth. I figured it was worth a try as the things listed are more for temporary depression of those who only are depressed a few times in life due to situations. The more chronic depression can only be possibly a little alleviated which it sounds like what you are finding.
I did not mention a psychologist turned writer that I am a great fan of. I needed to see if what I first mentioned did the trick. Since its a little more manageable but not greatly improved, I'd like to have you check out this Dr.s website:
[Link](Mouse over link to see full location)
or facebook page:
[Link](Mouse over link to see full location)
Dr. Burns used to be strictly a Dr. who dealt with medication as the only treatment for depression, anxieties or other disorders. Some colleagues told him about a new treatment method that was non medicinal and better. He was hard to convince but finally said he'd try this 'CBT' method, cognitive behavioral therapy, a try on his worst depressed patient. To his surprise, with this mental therapy, she ended up totally cured. He had to know more. Eventually, he ended up relying mostly on CBT and developed the TEAM method to help bring down peoples resistance to help or CBT won't work. So in all, he has helped many people either as his own patients, or through teaching other psychologists, or through his books, his website, you tube videos or facebook. You can check it all out and see if any of it sounds helpful to you. There will be a person listed who is currently a Dr. and can refer you to any Drs. in your zip code area who use these non medicinal methods which have proven more helpful than anything else. Its not widely publicized because pharmaceutical companies would lose too much profit if every depressed American were cured after a few months or less. Think of a surgeon and his tools like scalpel,clamps, etc and he only has one tool available to him. You wouldn't want that Dr. doing surgery on you because you know theres going to be problems, major problems. ITs the same for those with mental illness or depression and anxieties. Drs. are trying to help all these people with only one tool in their bag and the sad thing is, only a small percent of people actually still require medicine. Its the greater majority who can all find relief but continue to suffer because they take their prescribed medication that does not really help or makes things worse with side effects. I used to have severe social anxiety and although through another source, I got the exact same tricks to follow to learn to become anxiety free that Dr. Burns has in one of his books. SO I know his methods work. At the very least, reading what others have to say about how they methods helped them can give you hope. I know from reading the self help books that it is too complicated to diagnose yourself as to which particular methods and in what order they need to be used will work best for you. So while this all may still not help much, at least you know there are Dr.s out there who truly know how to help people like yourself. This new method is not all that new, at least 40 years old and it is only now starting to gain some popularity and getting to be known. So give it a look. I wish the best for you dear. I have a daughter who has depression and mental health issues and is too resistant to getting the right help so this all is near and dear to my heart.
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