The views posted below are those of Cindy and are copied exactly as they were sent to me.. I know that not everyone will have the same thoughts and the same faith as Cindy, but these are things which she has found to help her. I am so glad that she sent us this so that we could share it with you all.
Suzi
Monday
This
week is Mental Health Awareness Week. Many of you know, but for those who
don't, I have Major Depressive Disorder or Clinical Depression. I see a
psychiatrist and a therapist and take medication. I'm not announcing this to
get sympathy, but to let you know that it's real, it's ok to talk about it, and
there is help and hope. If any of you or anyone you know is struggling with
depression, I'm more than willing to talk or listen or share my experiences.
Tuesday
In
honor of Mental Health Awareness week I'll be posting what I hope is helpful
information at least once a day. I had suffered from Depression for a very long
time before I was diagnosed. It was because I simply didn't know what the
symptoms were. So, for your information, here they are: According to the
National Institute of Mental Health and the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of depression
may include the following:
- Crying spells for no apparent
reason
- Indecisiveness, distractibility
and decreased concentration
- Fatigue and decreased energy (even
small tasks may seem to require a lot of effort)
- Feelings of guilt,
worthlessness, and/or helplessness (fixating on past failures or blaming
yourself when things aren't going right)
- Feelings of hopelessness and/or
pessimism
- Insomnia, early-morning
wakefulness, or excessive sleeping
- Irritability, restlessness
(pacing, hand-wringing, inability to sit still)
- Loss of interest in activities
or hobbies once pleasurable
- Overeating or appetite loss
- Persistent aches or pains,
headaches, cramps, or digestive problems that do not ease even with treatment
- Persistent sad, anxious, or
"empty" feelings (feeling numb)
- Frequent thoughts of death,
dying, or suicide
Wednesday
Cindy's
Mental Health/Depression advise for the day:Talk
about it.
Sometimes
that may seem like the hardest thing to do, but I promise, it helps. It might
take you a little while to find someone who is willing to listen without being
judgmental, but they are out there. Besides friends and family, try church
leaders or fellow members, a school counselor, or look for a support group.
NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) is a great organization and has
support groups all over the country.
Thursday
Cindy's
Mental Health/Depression advise for the day: Find music that you enjoy and listen to it often.
-
When I need to accomplish something around the house I listen to something
upbeat that I can sing along to, usually County.
-
When I'm paying bills, which stresses me out like crazy, I listen to classical
cello music.
-
When I can't sleep because my mind is in overdrive I listen to composers like
Claude Debussy and Erik Satie. Some more contemporary composers (whose music is
often found in movie scores) are John Barry and Phillip Glass. There pieces
have simple melodies, slower tempos, and I am able to just let my mind relax
and get lost in the music. I try to concentrate on the images it brings to mind
and the feelings it stirs up. I listen to my "bedtime" playlist
almost every night and it has been a great help. I also use it when I am just
feeling overly emotional and need to calm down.
On
the flip side, if you are the one doing the listening, remember that simply
listening is more than likely what they need most. Unless they specifically ask
for it, try not to offer solutions, ways to "fix" things, etc.
Friday
Cindy's
Mental Health/Depression advise for the day: Give yourself credit for something good you've done every day.
Our
own self-talk can be nothing but negative sometimes and we need to make a
conscious effort to find the good. So give yourself a pat on the back if you
got out of bed and got dressed today, or if you walked down the lane to the
mailbox and back, of if you actually cooked supper for your family (that's a
big one for me ;) Life is not all sadness and hopelessness, even when we feel
like it is (because the imbalanced chemicals in our brains are telling us it
is). We have the power to fight back, to talk back to our inner voices and say,
"I am not a complete loser and failure because I loaded the dishwasher
today, so THERE!" :)
Saturday
Cindy's
Mental Health/Depression advise for the day: Laugh!
Easier
said than done when you're depressed, but it is possible.Look up funny videos
on-line, watch old SNL skits (Patrick Swayze and Chris Farley as Chippendale
dancers never fails me ;) or pull out a favorite old comedy. A few of mine are
What about Bob, Napoleon Dynamite, and The Princess Bride. Today I watched an
episode of the new show Ben and Kate and was laughing out loud by the end.
Great medicine!
This
piece of advice is actually a two-fer. The second part is: allow yourself the
time to do something just for you. When I'm depressed and I'm not getting
things accomplished like I should be, I feel guilty doing anything myself, but
it's important to not neglect yourself because if you do it will just worsen,
or at least not improve the depression.
Sunday
This
is the last day of Mental Health Awareness week, so this is my last, and
perhaps most important, piece of advise: Have faith!
This
may not apply to everyone, but I am a Christian, and having faith in a loving
God is what makes the hardest times bearable. The many years I suffered from
Depression but had yet to be diagnosed, I thought the reason I wasn't feeling
the Holy Spirit in my life was because I just wasn't a good enough person.
Turns out, Depression dulls your ability to feel much of anything at all. I
often felt completely numb. I read a book that said that when you are deeply
depressed, you have to really look for God's hand in your life because you're
simply not going to feel it as much as you'd like. I have done that and it has
made me so aware of all the many ways God blesses me. I may not feel it, but I
can see and know it in my mind. He has blessed me with an amazing husband who
is loving, patient, and supportive. He
blesses my by sending His Holy Spirit to others who then feel inspired to
contact me and lend their support and understanding. This has happened over and
over again these past few weeks and it always amazes me.He has blessed me with
amazing friends who are willing to listen without judgment and offer up prayers
for me. It comes down to this:
God
is my Father in Heaven. He loves me more that my frail, mortal mind can
comprehend. He knows me personally and is mindful of exactly what I struggle
with; my pain, my fear, my worries, my inadequacies, my guilt; He knows it all.
No matter how deeply depressed I may get; I know that He will NEVER forsake me.
He will never leave me to face my trials alone. God loves each and every one of
us like this, so I say, have faith.