Depression Self Help: Finding People To Hang Out With

A lot of us isolate ourselves when we're depressed and that doesn't help. Maybe you don't want to be seen or maybe you just don't have any friends that like what you like. If you don't have anyone to do activities with you can post an ad on Craig's list in the "activities" category. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. You can sit there and complain about not having any like-minded friends or you can make and effort to find some. Who knows, you might find your soulmate.

Hope you're feeling good.

p.s. email me if you want to do some skipping.

http://www.depressionddodging.com/

Depression Cures- Detoxifying Your Circle of Friends

I haven't done any studies on this or anything, but my instincts tell me that most people get depressed and stay depressed because of other people. I think most of us have people in our lives that treat us badly, which makes us feel worthless. We begin to think that if people we care about treat us like crap then people that we don't even know are going to treat us even worse...the seeds of low self esteem. Most of us know these people are bad for us and that we should get away from them, but it isn't that easy. They just keep returning. They do just the bare minimum to stay in the circle. I say "who needs um?" All they do is make us miserable.

I've been pissed off all day today because one of my "friends" made me wait for hours for them. He thinks his time is more important than mine. It ain't. People will say stuff like "oh you're too sensitive" as an excuse. Of course i'm sensitive, i'm depressed! If you treated me like a human being I wouldn't feel like a piece of shit all the time! They think you're desperate and maybe you are, but it doesn't mean you have to act like it. The more you allow people to disrespect you the more they think its okay.

I say get rid of the people that make you miserable and pay more attention to the ones that don't.

Hope you're doing well.

http://www.depressiondodging.com/

Depression Drugs: Optimizing Your Nutrition to Reduce Side Effects

Broccoli is your friend and as far vegetbales go it doesn't taste that bad.

Depression drugs often have side effects, like gaining weight or feeling like a "zombie". This often makes people discontinue drugs, not take them consistently, or not take them in the first place. However, there is a way to minimize these side effects and that is by maximizing your nutrition. This means eating more fruit, vegetables, lean meat, whole grains, etc, and less sugar, trans fats, processed foods, etc. If you're on depression drugs and you eat healthy (consisteny) you won't gain weight or feel like a zombie. I used to be against meds because they made me feel lethargic, but now they don't because I eat healthy.

By the way...you will have to eat healthy for a good month or so before you notice that its helping. Then you'll have to keep eating healthy to keep feeling energized. Once you eat healthy for a while you get used to it and it becomes automatic.

Hope you're doing well

www.depressiondodging.com

Causes of Depression- Lack of Rewards

We need rewards to be happy and feel good about ourselves. When we work really hard for no reward we get depressed and discouraged. Maybe you're working really hard at a job and they won't promote you or give you a raise. Maybe you're working really hard on a business but there is no demand for what you're selling. Maybe you're working really hard on a relationship and the other person isn't reciprocating.

Are you doing something rewarding? Rewards can come from work, hobbies, exercise, etc. They can come in the form of money, being in tune with your values, helping others, improving yourself, etc. If you're spending a lot of your time and energy doing something that isn't rewarding enough, perhaps you want to try something new.

Hope you're dong well.

You can learn more about depression and how to heal yourself at www.depressiondodging.com

Money Saving Ideas

We often get depressed/stressed because of money problems. We need money to buy the things we need and want. We can all be smarter with our money.

One of the best money saving ideas that I have come across is saving your money gradually. Everybody wants easy money and everybody wants money now, but 99% of the time this is unrealistic. The way to have money is to save it gradually. Its like learning a sport or a musical instrument. You can’t just one day pick up a guitar and expect to be Stevie Ray Vaughn. You have to gradually invest something (like money in this case) and then one day you’ll be where you want to be.

So stop spending money on crap you don’t need and start saving for the day when you will see something you really want or really need. Most people don’t have a couple of hundred or couple of thousand dollars to spare when they could use a vacation, or they need a new car, or an emergency happens.

Let me paint you a beautiful picture for a moment. Save $100 every month for 1 year and you will have $1200 at the end of it. You can go to a 5-star resort in the Caribbean and have the week of your life for that amount. You can buy a massive TV. You can get a dream couch (or even a sectional dare I say). Even a homeless person can save $100 a month.

Lets say you’re a family. Save $300 a month for 1 year ($3600) and you can go on a nice trip for a week or 2, like to Europe for example. Or you can get a state of the art home theater system. Or you can start a family business. Or you can just keep it and keep saving until the day you see what you want or need.

You can read the rest of this article here: http://www.depressiondodging.com/moneysavingideas1.html

Love + Sex

Its tough to be happy when you're alone and not getting any. If this were the movies someone would fall in love with you and pull you out of your deep wet well of depression. However, this is real life and finding love and getting some requires know-how and effort on your part. There are a lot of books and programs out there that can help you find a partner and keep them when you find the right one for you. Love is a game and if you want to win you need to learn how to play. There is no point in feeling sorry for yourself and complaining about your bad luck in love. Take action. Invest some time and energy into learning about attraction and how to create it. If you can invest years of your life in schools that mostly teach bullshit you will never need, then surely you can invest a couple hours a week in getting the kind of love life you want. Love + Sex = Happiness.
Go here to learn more and completely change your life:

http://www.depressiondodging.com/curesfordepressionloveandsex.html

Another Healthy Meal Idea: Fajitas

Just call me chef Aleks from now on, okay?

Fajitas...Everyone likes fajitas and they're good for you too. Looking better is feeling better. Feeling better is looking better.

Ingredients:
Chicken, beef, or fish

Bell peppers

Onions

Fajita spice (crucial)

Mushrooms (optional)

Pita bread or wrap

Fry all of that stuff up and put it on the pita.

Toppings:

Salsa or taco sauce

Sour cream (optional)

Lettuce

Tomatoes

Let cool for 5 minutes so you don't burn your face/mouth/lips/tongue, add toppings and enjoy.

If you really want to lose some weight you can substitute the bread for salad (like spinach or garden) and just put the fajita stuff on that and have a fajita salad.

Hope you're getting well

www.depressiondodging.com

Diet and Depression

Eating better will give you more energy. It will also help you lose weight and looking better is feeling better. Nutrition isn't a race it is a marathon. Changing little things about your diet will make a huge difference in the long run. Crash diets rarely work because they are too extreme to stay on them. To me, a diet isn't only eating super healthy food while abstaining from everything else. An effective diet involves gradual changes over time and this allows you to ease into a new diet instead of being thrown into the fire with a crash diet.

Sugar has been linked to depression and anxiety. This doesn't mean you can't sugar (I eat sugar every day), but you sould try to eat less. Instead of cola or juice or liquor, drink water. Doing this one little thing in your diet will make a huge difference in a couple of months and it isn't as difficult as you think.

Coffee is linked to depression, anxiey and insomnia. I'm not going to tell you to not drink coffee because i love coffee and drink 2 cups a day. However, I think that if you're drinking more than that you might want to cut down. A lot of the time I only drink half my cup to cut down.

Is drinking worth it? That's a question you need to answer for yourself. I go out and get drunk sometimes and I usually regret it after. Alcohol often leaves you more depressed than it found you. It also causes you to gain weight. Personally i think that abstaining from alcohol is unrealistic, but you can definately cut down. You can cut down gradually.

Check out this article on depression and alcohol abuse if you like:

http://www.depressiondodging.com/beatingdepressionwithsobriety.html

There are certain foods that can help with depression and you should try to incorporate them into your diet where possible:

1. Fish have omega-3 fatty acids that can help with depression and anxiety.

2. Chicken, beans, nuts, eggs, and seeds have protein that will give you more energy and help you concentrate better.

Here are some very doable tips if you want to lose weight and feel better:

1. Eat stir fry for your last meal of the day with no starches (like rice or pasta). Just take all the vegetables you like, chicken or beef or fish, fry them up and add a sauce you like (like sweet chilli tai or black bean sauce). You'll be getting all of your carbs from the veggies and the sauce. The sauce will make it taste good. You will not get hungry after. This will also help you poo better:) If you want to do this you should buy a wok.

2. Drink water instead of sugary drinks. Nothing is a better thirst quencher. It will also help you feel more full so you won't get hungry so often.

If you change your diet for the better only good things can happen.

http://www.depressiondodging.com/

Commitment and Results

George is the champ becauase he trains every day.

If you want your condition or your life to improve you need to make a commitment. For example, if you decide to do exercise, or eat healthier, or yoga, or meditation, etc, to make you feel better you need to do it almost every day for it to be effective.

If you do it almost every day for a couple months you'll begin to see results.

If you do it once or twice a week you'll get nowhere.

If you do it almost every day for a couple of years you'll get the full effect.

If you do it for a couple of months, then stop for a couple of months, then keep cycling like this you'll get nowhere.

The same rules apply to being successful at school, work, business, etc.

Personally, I have wasted so much energy by giving up too soon and starting all over with something else. I've wanted to do everything and the result is that i've done nothing. You're better off choosing 1 or 2 things that are most important to you and focusing your energy on those every day than trying to do everything. Right now i'm focusing on exercise and music to help me feel better. I know that I am a long way away from where I want to be with these, but i know that if i keep working on them every day i'll get results.

I know its tough to stay focused when you're depressed, but next time you feel like giving up think of how much energy you've invested already and how long it takes to actually get results.

Don't destroy what you've built, keep building.

http://www.depressiondodging.com/

Writing in a Journal

Hey....I write in a journal every day and I find it helpful. I think that when we are depressed we have less control over our thoughts, which often leads us to lose track of them and fall deeper into a downward spiral. Writing in a journal can help you see your thoughts more clearly and notice how distorted they often are when you're depressed. It will help you notice what is at the root of your depression. This can motivate you to question your delusions and make changes in your life or to seek help. The first step of curing depression is knowing you have it and how it is destroying your life. You can also turn your thoughts into poetry, which is just a more fun and creative way of expressing yourself. Writing in a journal doesn't take a lot of time or effort and reflecting on your day can help you float instead of allowing yourself to sink lower and lower.

Hope you're doing well.

http://www.depressiondodging.com/

Armor Against Depression

When I get depressed me and Friendo rock out.

Some people are more prone to depression than others. However, many people who are prone to depression manage it well because they have certain barriers against it in place in their lives. These depression blocking things (for lack of a better word) include relationships (non-toxic), jobs (not ones you really hate), hobbies (not drinking Jack Daniels)...Its so good once it hits your lips I know. Having these things in place in your life is often as effective or more effective than medication or psychotherapy. They provide feelings of self-worth, means to support yourself financially and emotionally, and distraction. These things fill up your day so that you don't sit around ruminating (thinking obsessively) about problems (which just makes them worse).

I'm sorry if what I said is obvious, but we often miss the obvious when we're in a deep depression. I know that getting these things in life is easier said then done, but the effort will be worth it. Medication often gives you a boost of strength and mood that will allow to pursue these things in life. Keep trying to meet someone or maintain the relationships you already have. Train for a new job instead of complaining about how much you hate your current one. Find time in the day to do something you really like.

Take care

http://www.depressiondodging.com/

Spit or Swallow?

Should i take medication or not? You should decide for yourself.

Are you on medication? Do you like it? If it doesn't make you feel good it isn't working! You can try a different medication or try changing your life instead.

Are you not on meds? Does it really suck? Do you want to die? Then there is no harm in trying medication. It helps a lot of people and some people it doesn't help at all. You can take medication to get you out of a suicidal state long enough to fix your life (go back to work, go back to school, bandage your relationships). Medication is not a long-term solution, but could save your life.

"My doctor says i have to." Doctors are wrong all the time. Doctors don't have to live in your shoes. You're smart. Listen to what your doctor says, decide for yourself.

"But if not medication, then what else?"

Socialize. Go places and meet people (have sex with them if possible). Meet people with similar interests on the internet (have any hobbies?). Go volunteer somewhere. Get a job. Everyone needs people in their lives who treat them with respect. Go find them, because they won't find you. And if you don't look hard enough, the only person you can blame is yourself. It is impossible that there is nobody on this planet like you.

Hiding is Not fun

Unless you're playing hide and go seek with 10 of your friends.

Hit rock bottom a couple of days ago. Felt pretty horrible, but pain is the best teacher. Had some revelations recently.

You need people in your life. Its stupid to try to get through it on your own when there are so many nice people around. I've been feeling sorry for myself that i've been lonely, nobody wants to do what i wanna do, etc. But was I doing anything about my loneliness? Not at all. There are so many ways to deal with loneliness. I posted an ad on Craig's list to find musicians to play with and i've gotten some replies. I looked for bipolar meetup groups in Toronto and there is a meeting coming up soon. I've been walking the streets looking for a job and have met some nice people (and got a really shitty job, but i'm feeling pretty humble right now).

Bottom line: If you want something you have take the initiative and not give up when you keep failing. Lets say you look for a boyfriend/girlfriend on the internet and it takes you 5 years to find someone you really like that likes you back. Was it worth it? Probably.

You can't just say and do what you want all the time if you want to have friends. I just had this phase where i pretty much just gave up on life. I was like: "Fuck this, i'm sick and there is nothing i can do about so i'll just do whatever i want and people should understand". That's just retarded. When you're mentally ill you can't control everything you do everyday, but you can control 95% of it. Use yur brain. What's the problem? What would a smart person do about it? I have damaged somer elationships and now I have to fix them. If people see that you're trying, they'll give you another chance, but they won't give you 8 chances so stop being a selfish dumbass. Friends that don't understand you are better than no friends at all. In my experience, people just get mental illness and i would just keep it too myself. However, if you feel like you're going to die or really need help you should tell someone you trust and respect.

If you give up on yourself it is nobody's fault but your own.

Hope you're doing well. Are really trying as hard as you can?

Music Therapy

Hey, its been a while.

I'm finished with the website and i've moved on to something else. I'm really glad I built it and I hope its helpful.

I've been playing music obsessively for the past 2 months and I haven't been taking my medication since I started. I've been happier than i've ever been in my life. Nothing makes me feel better then writing a song. I can't say that I never feel down or angry anymore, but I feel confident that those feelings won't last long if i'm playing music. Also, for once in my life I have found an avenue where feeling fucked up sometimes is actually an asset.

The point: I think the best medicine is finding something you love in life and doing that as much as possible (easier said than done I know). Keep looking. Its your life and you only get one so don't give up on yourself and settle for a shitty life of hell.

Hopefully i'll be a huge rockstar and write songs that will empower you

Loneliness and Volunteering

I've been wanting to volunteer for a while, but today i finally got off my ass and actually looked into some actual opportunities to do so. I'm going to call a couple of places on Monday that are related to mental health.

Sitting at home all day and playing poker on the internet is a good job, but its lonely. I want to get out of the house and be around other people. A lot of people who get depressed are unemployed and doing some volunteer work is a good way to get out of the house while you're looking for a job.

Check out this article on volunteering: http://www.depressiondodging.com/fightdepressionbyvolunteering.html

In it you'll find websites that will help you find volunteer opportunities in North America. If you don't live in North America you're screwed. You'll just have to stay home all alone and think about how much life sucks. Just kidding:). You'll have to do the leg work yourself to find volunteer opportunities in your area.

p.s. You're awesome

My Shit "Vacation" to Ukraine

It took forever to get there. 9 hours flight, 9 hours bus, and hours of waiting inbetween.
My bag goes missing at the airport. My medication is in it. Panicking....Also, my camera was in it so i have no pictures.

After day 1 reality sets in...OMG I am in fucking Bratislava (Eurotrip) for 3 weeks without my meds. I was in a small town called Chernovtisi, which is basically a carbon copy of Bratislava.

It rained every day for the first 2 weeks. All my relativers were busy so I was sitting at home a lot lonely and depressed. Music videos on Youtube and the ocassional outing with my cousin were the only things keeping me sane.

Finally, after 2 weeks the weather drastically changed to very hot and sunny. My cousin had the week off work and spent a lot of time with me. I got used to sleeping and controlling my mood without my medication.

A couple days before i left i got some sickness. I woke up in the middle of the night with a brutal pain in my side arounbd my ribs. I was thought i was dying. My aunt had this little machine that sends an electric current through the affected area and that helped the pain subside so i could go back to sleep. I wake up in the same brutal pain a couple of hours later. It feels like someone is stabbing me in my ribs every time I inhale. "I have to go to the hospital!". Apparently that isn't that easy in a small Ukrainian town at 7 in the morning. They call a doctor to come to the house. She says i'm hurting because I caught a cold breeze somewhere. She gives me some needle in the ass, tells me its going to hurt bad and for a long time, and that all I can do is lay down and wait for it to go away. Gee thanks.

The pain went away and came back several times as my grandmother rubbed me with all kinds of shit, like honey, menthal, alcohol, to get me buy. I didn't sleep the night before we were suppossed to leave because I couldn't find a position to lie down in that wasn't excruciating. We get into a cab and go to the airpaort, which is about an hour away. About halfway in my side begins to hurt really bad. I make it to the airport and can barely breath. I'm walking around holding my ribs like somebody shot me. Luckily some people help me by taking me to the doctor there. She gave me a needle in the ass and some medication. She was shocked that the doctor i saw a couple days ago didn't giveme any medication. They didn't want to let me on the plane because it looked like i was dying, but the pain subsided after about 20 minutes and we got on the plane.

I went to the emergency room in Toronto as soon as we got back...Pneumonia. Thank you Jesus for not letting me die in that shit town.

There were some positives from the vacation. I stopped taking my medication and I feel good without it. It made me so antisocial and i don't want to just sit at home all the time. I appreciate Canada so much more now. This is such a good place to live. I got to spend a lot of time with my cousin who i get along with better than anyone. Oh, and they have 24-hour liquor stores.

Its so good to be home

Kurt Cobain is my Homeboy

If I was married to Courtney Love I would probably kill myself too.

Thanks for making music that helped me get through my depressions.

Enjoy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63r4GMAmRqA

2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkcJEvMcnEg&feature=fvst

3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTWKbfoikeg

4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbgKEjNBHqM&feature=channel

5

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fa30bdEXNeM&feature=related

6

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWmkuH1k7uA&feature=channel

7

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vabnZ9-ex7o

8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qv96yJYhk3M&feature=related

9

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvwqSMRtoSI&feature=related

10

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2JgqF384cU&feature=related

p.s. I'm going on vacation to Ukraine. Be back in 2 weeks.

Boredom and Depression

I find that I get depressed when i'm bored and I get bored easily. I think everyone should have an acitivity in their life that is exciting. So far the only thin i've found that never gets boring is poker. It can be difficult when you're losing, but its never boring. I know that I can sit down and play some poker, and while i'm doing it I will not be thinking about any of my problems.

You can play for no money at a lot of websites, but I think its a little more interesting with a bit of money involved. Ideally, you would get a friendly poker game together with some friends and socialize a bit too.

Warning: poker is not for everybody. If you notice that it makes you depressed or angry, you should find something else to do.

If you have found activities that cure your boredom, i'd love to hear about them. Post a comment.

http://www.depressiondodging.com/

Drinking, Drugs, and Meds don't Mix

Next time you get the urge to get drunk, do extacy, and smoke weed while being on psychiatric medication, don't. It'll just make you more depressed in the long run. Its good to see your friends, but you can't everything that they do when you're being treated for a mood disorder.

That cat is fiending for drugs. Its not as cute when humans are fiending for drugs.
You can find hilarious photos and videos here:

http://www.depressiondodging.com/treatingdepressionwithsmiletherapy.html

I'm A Lucky Guy

I was suicidal yesterday and I had 2 choices: 1) Go to the hospital 2) or do drugs and go out with my friends. I went with number 2 and it was just what I needed.

All my friends know that i'm bipolar now and they are so supportive. I had a number of people come up to me last night and tell me that I can call them if i'm ever not feeling well. The other day i was thinking about how I had nobody to call if i felt down and i was so wrong. I'm so lucky to have my friends.

If you guys ever need someone to talk to you can message me on Facebook. Or try telling your friends. They may be more understanding than you expect.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001047752909&ref=search&sid=100001047752909.1222866567..1

Insomnia Tips

In used to take a medication that helped me fall asleep, but I have recently switched medications. So the first night without the medication I couldn't fall asleep for hours. I was anxious, my heart was beating fast, and I was constantly shifting positions. The 2nd night I tried deep breathing. Deep breathing is just breathing in slowly as deep as you can and then exhaling slowly. I used to do yoga and I remembered how the deep breathing we did there relaxed me and made me sleepy. It was annoying at first to have to concentrate on my breathing while trying to sleep, but I kept at it and it helped me fall asleep a lot sooner. It relaxes your body, you get more comfortable and less fidgety, and then your mind relaxes as well and gets ready to sleep. Give it a shot if you're having problems falling asleep.

http://www.depressiondodging.com/

How to Deal with Depression and Get the Most out of Your Day

I used to play poker for a living and I noticed that when I got focused before I played on what I wanted to do, I did well. So I thought “why not do this every day in life so that I can have more good days?”. It really helps to wake my mind up in the morning and get me focused on what I want to with my day, how I want to treat other people, and how I can deal with my illness.

Getting focused before you start your day can really remind you how to deal with depression and bipolar disorder, and help you get the most out of your day, everyday. Just ask yourself these questions to get your mind ready to have a great day.

What’s important to me?

- The things that are important to you are your values. Your values give you a direction to go in, in life. It is important to remind yourself of your values so that you don’t get off track. You want to spend your life doing things that are important to you.

What do I want to be remembered for when I’m dead?

- This is the legacy you want to leave. These are the actions you want to take. This is the way you want to behave. You want your family, friends, and other people you meet to say good things about you when you die. You want to be remembered as a fighter, not a quitter.

What makes me feel good?

- Everyone is different and it is important to know what makes you feel good so that you can do it as often as possible. You should do something every day that brings you joy and satisfaction.

You can read the rest of the article here:

http://www.depressiondodging.com/howtodealwithdepression.html

Today I Hate Everyone

Today I hate everyone (except you)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_T04rO50po

I also hate perfect people (except you)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVG85sUAG4I

Don't drag me down (not you)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fy6iJGqRA48&feature=fvw

There is something wrong with me (and you)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-ZVPECQCOM

I want to ride my bicycle (with you)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpy4xNAnWzM

Managing Anger with ACT

A little while ago I came to the realization that my anger was consuming me. I was tired of being angry all the time and it drained me of so much energy. So a bought a book on anger and read it. So far, it has really helped me a lot. I've been like a buddha for the last week. The book is “ACT on life not on anger” by George H. Eifert, PH.D., Mathew McKay, PH.D., John P. Forsyth, PH.D.

ACT is acceptance and commitment therapy. It involves accepting your angry feelings instead of struggling to change them and making a commitment to focus your energy on the things that matter most to you life. You can't control what you think or feel, but you can control what you do about it. You don't want to spend your time on this earth being angry.

I summarized the importnat points of the book here:

http://www.depressiondodging.com/managingangerwithact.html

Depression Medication: Taking Your Meds is Crucial

I take 2 medications; one is a mood stabilizer and the other is an antidepressant. About a month ago i ran out the antidepressant, which I was taking at a low dose of 5 mg, and didn't get anymore. I thought that it wouldn't matter if i stopped taking it because it was such a low dose.

Now that I look back on it, my mood was very low and angry for the past month. I recently saw my doctor and got more of the medication. My mood has improved significantly over the past couple of days. I feel like a dumbass for not renewing my prescription.

When i saw my psychiatrist she said something that was so obvious but i had forgotten it for the past month. She said, "You have a chemical imbalance". We all have chemical imbalances and no amount of therapy or self help can help us if we're not getting the right medication at the right dose.

It is crucial that you keep taking your medication or get a better medication if you don't like yours. There are tons of medications out there and there has to be one that helps you get by without brutal side effects.

You can learn more about depression medication here:

http://www.depressiondodging.com/depressionmedication.html

If you're having trouble sticking to a medication regiment, check this out:

http://www.depressiondodging.com/depressiondrugs.html

Your Self Esteem Won't Raise Itself

So many people with depression have low self esteem and this makes fighting depression that much harder.

It is your responsibility to figure out if you have low self esteem and fix it, because life sucks when you don't feel good about yourself no matter how much money, success, or friends you have.

Go here to find out if you have low self esteem:

http://www.depressiondodging.com/symptomsoflowselfesteem.html

Go here for exercises that will raise your self esteem (The 6 Pillars of Self Esteem):

http://www.depressiondodging.com/selfesteembuilding.html

Do yourself a huge favor and invest 10-20 minutes a day in developing your self esteem. You'll quickly notice how different you'll feel everyday.

Controlling Anger by Staying in the Present Moment

An effective way of controlling anger is by staying in the present moment.

Anger and depression often come together. People that are depressed often miss the underlying anger that is fueling their depression. People with bipolar disorder often switch between intense anger and depression.

Often we’re angry because of things that happened in our past. You can’t change your past and being angry about it just makes the present and future worse for you.

You can read the rest of this article here:

http://www.depressiondodging.com/controllingangerinthepresent.html

Fight Depression with Sunshine

We get vitamin D from sunlight and you should try to spend as much time as possible outdoors this spring and summer to fight depression. Vitamin D deficiency is why people with seasonal affective disorder (SAD) get depressed during the winter. When we’re depressed we tend to stay inside and isolate ourselves when we should be doing the opposite.

In civilized countries (like in the Caribbean) people don’t work from 12pm-2. Its called a siesta and people use this time to go outside, take a nap, or stay inside and have sex. No wonder they’re so happy and we’re so depressed. I want to live in the Dominican Republic during the winter sooo bad.

“The man” likes to scare you with skin cancer talk, but that’s just his way of keeping us depressed and obedient here in North America. I’m not saying you should spend every day naked at the beach without sunscreen, but a little sunshine every day is good for you.

Ideally, you want to have a siesta, but if your schedule doesn’t allow it, then try to get outside for lunch or even after work. Personally, I like to wake up and go play some baseball for an hour.

Go here for the rest of this article and ideas on how you can get outside more:

http://www.depressiondodging.com/fightdepressionwithsunshine.html

Managing Depression: Its Not Your Fault That People suck

You need to realize that most people are idiots and it doesn’t matter what they think. When managing depression, anger, and irritability it is important that our sense of self worth is independent of what people think of us. The only thing that matters is that we respect ourselves.

Take a closer look at your depression and anger. Are any of these feelings caused by ignorant assholes that don’t know how to treat people? Chances are that they are. Don’t let other people make you suffer.

Go here to do an exercise that will make you feel better about yourself:

http://www.depressiondodging.com/depressionselfhelpimawesome.html

Coping with Depression: Every Adversity is an Opportunity to be Great

I have had a rough couple of days coping with depression and anger, but I had a eureka moment as I was watching some show on National Geographic Channel. A plane crashed in the Andes mountains and not only did 16 people survive the crash, they survived in the freezing mountains for over 70 days! They had no winter clothing and they had almost no food (they had to eat dead bodies to survive). Search teams gave up on them but they didn’t give up on themselves. This got me thinking about adversity…

When we’re coping with depression or bipolar disorder we are faced with adversity daily, because even the simple things in life seem difficult. It is harder to get along with people, to enjoy things we used to enjoy, to get work done, etc.

When we’re depressed we dread adversity and see it as just another way that life is fucking us over. We need to realize and stay aware of the fact that adversity is not a curse. Every adversity is an opportunity to be great. Adversity isn’t around to make life hell, it is around so we can become better, stronger people. Your depression or bipolar disorder is just another adversity.

You can read the rest of this article at http://www.depressiondodging.com/copingwithdepressionandadversity.html

Depression and Exercise

I started working out again last week and i'm starting to notice my energy levels rise and my mood improve. I'm also starting to look better, which is making me feel better about myself.

If you don't exercise regularly, try it and stick to it for a while. Start out slow so you don't feel super sore the next day. Begin to challenge yourself when you notice your workouts are getting too easy.

BTW, hitting a punching bag is fun and a great full body workout.

For more exercise ideas go here: http://www.depressiondodging.com/irritabilityandexercise.html

Overcoming Depression With Small Victories

Small victories can help you with overcoming depression or bipolar disorder and feeling better about yourself every day. Every day is filled with opportunities for small victories.

A small victory is when you defeat your depression or irritability with willpower. Some examples of small victories are:

- Being kind to someone that cares about you even though you’re depressed or irritated.

- Continuing to work even though you’re having trouble concentrating.

- Going to the gym even though you don’t feel like it or you’re having anxiety about going out.

- Getting up at a reasonable hour even though you’re afraid to face the day.

- Trying again even though you failed the last time.

You can read the rest of this article at http://www.depressiondodging.com/overcomingdepressionwithsmallvictories.html

I was feeling not too good about myself today so I figured I'd use some of those self esteem building exercises on the site.

They really do help.

To feel better about yourself, go here:

http://www.depressiondodging.com/imawesome.html

or here:

http://www.depressiondodging.com/overcominglowselfesteem.html

or here:

http://www.depressiondodging.com/selfesteembuilding.html

It sure is nice not to hate yourself all the time.

Yoga for Depression, Anxiety, and Irritability

Yoga isn’t just for girls and hippies. It can be used for treating depression, as an anxiety treatment, and provide relief from irritability. It can teach you how to deal with stress. It relaxes your body and mind, and can make you feel euphoric. I often left yoga classes feeling very in the moment, free of anxiety, content, and confident. It can be especially beneficial to you people that are self conscious, pessimistic, and irritable. Yoga is also good exercise and daily practice is most beneficial.

Certain yogic practices have specific healing qualities for certain illnesses. Practicing yoga should be used as a supplement to conventional therapy, not a substitute. Yoga can enhance the effects of conventional therapies. Experiment and pay attention to what practices make you feel better and improve your condition. Yoga, breathing, and meditation cultivate faith, self control, concentration, determination, and patience.

Read the rest of this article at www.depressiondodging.com/treatingdepressionwithyoga.html

Check out Robin Williams Next Time You're Depressed

I spent a good hour today laughing my ass off watching Robin Williams stand up comedy. Its a great antidepressant.

Check it out at www.depressiondodging.com/smiletherapy.html

Don't Rely on Anybody

One of the things that consistently leads to depression for me is people letting me down. I just can't seem to learn my lesson. I keep relying on friends that usually let me down and the result is always the same; me feeling worthless. Do my friends just suck or am I so worthless that I'm not worthy of respect?

It is difficult not to rely on anyone when you're mentally ill, because gettting on your own can be difficult. However, it might be something you might have to get used. Maybe its just my friends that suck (my friend let me down this week which is why i'm ranting right now)...Anyone else have this problem? At least I have family I can rely on. Thank god for mom and grandma...you're the best.

Its annoying when i get into a hypomanic state, because I feel so confident that people won't let me down (I can't help it). Then they let me down and I feel terrible. However, it does hurt less and less as i expect to be disappointed more and more. I think its finally getting through my thick skull that I can't rely on my frineds for anything and doing so only puts my mental health in jeopardy.

It can be a sad feeling not having friends you can rely on, but I think its even worse to be in denial. You shouldn't put your self esteem and happiness in the hands of people who are going to be irresponsible with it.

I hope you enjoyed my rant :)

People suck

http://www.depressiondodging.com/

Dealing with Depression and Failure

Few things are more depressing than perceived failure. Notice how I said perceived? If you’re dealing with depression you often have to deal with failure first.

You can’t just base your satisfaction and happiness on outcome. If you only care about outcome you are setting yourself up for failure, because it is impossible to get the outcome you want every time.

1. Enjoy the journey, not just the destination. If you can’t enjoy what you’re doing, you should be doing something else. Did I enjoy myself?

2. Enjoy learning. You can’t be perfect, but you should be able to find joy in getting better. Did I improve?

3. Face your fears. Just because you didn’t win or get the result you wanted it doesn’t mean that you didn’t accomplish anything. It takes courage to try when you know that failing is a possibility. Was I ballsy?

To read the rest of this article, visit http://www.depressiondodging.com/dealingwithdepressionandfailure.html

For more information on how to deal with depression, visit http://www.depressiondodging.com/

You will learn to love your body when you find something more important to worry about

I think most people reach a time in their life where they have more important things to worry about than their body.

I used to be obessed with my body. I used to spend a lot of time and energy at the gym. It was exhausting, not just the exercise, but mentally to.

Now i care a lot less about what i look like. I have found something that is more worthy of my time and energy, helping people deal with depression and bipolar disorder.

Now all my stress is related to my website :)

I feel free now and I think you will too when you find something to do that is important to you.

Another thing that would help is getting rid mirrors in your house. If you're obsessed with what you look like you're looking at yourself too much.

I would rather have a belly than worry about not having one.

For more life saving tips like this one, visit www.depressiondodging.com

How To Get Rid Of Unpleasant Emotions Like Anger, Irritability, and Sadness

It isn't helpful to hold your feelings in and suppress them. Get rid of your anger, irritability, or sadness by putting it on paper and expressing yourself.

You can write poetry.

You can write a journal entry.

You can paint or draw a picture.

It is important that you don't hide from your feelings. You don't have to be ashamed for feeling the way you do. It isn't your fault that people have treated you badly, or that you're genetically predisposed to mental illness, or that you've been unlucky recently, or that you're naturally antisocial.
It is a lot better to express your negative feelings that it is to sit there and suffer as your mind just builds the anger, irritability, and sadness inside of you.

You can express yourself at http://www.depressiondodging.com/expressionTherapy.html

You can learn of more ways to get rid negative emotions at www.depressiondodging.com

Depression Facts: Knowledge is Power

Major depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide.

Depression can be deadly and it has been linked to life-threatening conditions like suicide, homicide, alcoholism, cardiovascular disease, accidents, and more.

People often self-medicate for depression by using alcohol and drugs. This just makes it worse.

Depression is a problem all over the world and within all cultures.

Unmarried mothers are especially at risk for depression.

Developmental factors, like childhood adversity, are more strongly related to causing depression than other possible causes.

For more depression facts, please visit http://www.depressiondodging.com/depressionfacts.html

For smile therapy, visit http://www.depressiondodging.com/smiletherapy.html

Know Your Causes of Depression

Depression can be caused by many psychological, biological, and environmnetal factors.

Some psychological factors are: trauma from childhood, frustration with body/psychological changes, substance abuse, low self esteem, and disruptions in social relationships.

Some biological factors are: being female, a chemical imbalance, physical illness, and drugs.

Some environmental factors are: social isolation, the death of a loved one, lack of a good support system, financial difficulties, and divorce.

It is important to think about what might have caused your depression, because these are the issues you're going to have to deal with to be happy again.

If you have low self esteem, you're going to have to work on building it, because you can't love life if you hate yourself. Try this: www.depressiondodging.com/selfesteembuilding.html

If you have a chemical imbalance you will need medication be get balanced. Learn more about depression medication here: www.depressiondodging.com/depressionmedication.html

If you're socially isolated or have social anxiety you need to get out and around people again. Its hard to be happy when you're alone. Learn how to deal with social anxiety here: www.depressiondodging.socialanxiety.html

For more causes of depression go here: www.depressiondodging.com/causesofdepression.html

Depression Quotes

“If depression is creeping up and must be faced, learn something about the nature of the beast: you may escape without a mauling.”

Dr. R. W. Shepard

“When your horse dies, get off. Sometimes the medications (or even the whole strategy) stops working, so I try a new approach.”

Lonnie

“I am in that temper that if I were under water I would scarcely kick to come to the top.”

John Keats

“He looks on himself as a man who the gods hate and pursue with their anger.”

Plutarch (describing a depressed man)

Read more depression quotes at www.depressiondodging.com/depressionquotes.html

Step 2 Is To Help Yourself

Once you're on medication can you do things to help yourself. Medication alone will not save you and keep you happy.

- You can build your self esteem. Low self esteem can have brutal consequences on your life. It can stop you from advancing at work or having satisfying relationships.

- You can change your lifestyle. You can't be happy until you stop abusing alcohol and drugs. They just fuel depression

- You can find purpose in life and spend your time on things that are important to you. Finding a job or hobby that is meaningful to you can keep you depression-free.

etc

Everyone's depression is different. Everyone gets depressed from different factors and shows different symptoms. You need to be aware of what fuels your depression and find strategies to deal with those things, whether its low self esteem, a stressful job, problems with relationships or all of the above.

You can help yourself as much as any therapist can help you, but you have to be willing to things to help yourself every day if you want to be happier. Many of the strategies and exercises I have on my website don't take more than 10 minutes or a lot of effort to do. Doing simple exercises at the beginning of your day or when your symptoms flare up adds up. Not only will you feel better now, but you will be building your ability and toolkit to deal with any symptoms that arise in the future.

You can find exercises and coping strategies at my website www.depressiondodging.com

Step 1 Is Getting a Psychiatrist And Medication

Step 1 is to team up with a psychiatrist and find a medication that works for you. A psychiatrist can prescribe medication, monitor you, and make adjustments. If you've tried to help yourself and haven't been able to , it is a sign that you need help from someone else.

I hear about a lot of people who are afraid to take medication, or think they don't need it, or want to force themselves to get well without it and I used to be one of these people. I used to also be suicidal...until I started taking medication for depression and bipolar disorder.

Medication is crucial. It can make you well enough to get the full benefits out of therapy or to help yourself by changing your life.

I know a lot of people can't afford a psychiatrist and I am one of those people. Free help is out there. A lot of hospitals have mental health programs that you might be able to get into. If you are in crsis, make sure you visit a crisis center because they can direct you to programs where you can get adequate help.

If you can cut some other expenses out of your budget so you can afford a psychiatrist you should do it. When you avoid getting mentally healthy your work suffers (or you can't work), your family and social lives suffer (or disappear), and you suffer becuse you're walking through life chained to giant bolder.

A general practitioner can also prescribe antidepressants, but you should be aware that they are not as knowledgeable about mental illness diagnosis and medication. They might not notice that your depression is part of a bipolar disorder (which requires completely different medication). It might take them longer to find a medication that works for you. They might be overworked like many general practitioners are and not be able to provide the close attention you need.

There are support groups out there that can help you find doctors or group meetings in your area. For a list of these groups and what they can do for, visit www.depressiondodging.com

Manic thinking

Manic thinking is an easy, effective and fun way to improve your mood.

Thinking more quickly than usual makes us happier, more energetic, more creative, more powerful, and more confident. This works even if we are depressed and have trouble thinking happy thoughts.

There are exercises to induce manic thinking on my website www.depressiondodging.com/manicthinking.html

Challenging Yourself Is A Great Antidepressant

I recently decided that i'm going to focus all of my energy only on things that are important to me and let go of everything else. This means that i'll be trying to spend as much time working on my website and playing music as possible, while letting go of going to the gym, playing poker, and watching television (things that I really don't care about).

So a couple of days ago i decided to challenge myself with a game. The game is called "How much time can you put in?" The point is to challenge myself to put in as many hours a day as possible playing music or working on my website without getting distracted or lazy. This is especially challenging for me because I have problems concentrating and am mood dependant.

So far I feel giddy and energetic. In the last couple days i've spent almost all of my waking hours working on the website and playing music. You'd think i'd be tired, but i'm the opposite. Nothing feels better than the feeling of accomplishent. I'm also getting more confident every day in my ability to avoid distractions and control my mood.

When we're depressed we want to do nothing, but doing nothing just keeps us in that depressed state. Instead, try challenging yourself with a game. Like:

How much time can I put in?
- How many hours of your day can you spend doing something productive while sacrifing the things that don't matter? Remember, you get what you give. It helps to write down how much time you put in so that at the end of your day you look at it and feel good about yourself.

Or set daily goals for yourself. Daily goals are better than long-term goals, because you get to feel the satisfaction of accomplishment every day. Remember, don't make your goals so hard that they're impossibloe to reach. Start easy and work your way up.

1. Try to go a whole day without watching TV.

2. Get out of the house and do soemthing fun to cure your depressed mood.

3. Spend 2 hours doing something you enjoy, like a hobby.

4. Finish something you've been putting off.

Or make up your own goals.

Learn about more ways to fight depression at depressiondodging.com

Bye,

Aleksandr