Today I am guest posting on Wendy Love’s blog Depression Getaway: Encouragement, information, inspiration and hope as part of her series “February’s Favorite Depression Getaways”:
I have had depression since I was a teenager, perhaps even earlier, but I wasn’t officially diagnosed by a doctor until I was 26 years old.
Since then, I have been in treatment for it. That treatment has included medications and therapy.
Recently, I was diagnosed by my therapist as having not just episodes of depression, but chronic depression.
Medications have helped me tremendously, but I have learned that they can’t help with every aspect of depression. So I have learned other tools for helping when the darkness descends and I need relief. Here are some of those tools:
To read the rest of the post, please follow this link to Wendy’s blog.
I just came back from your link and all of those are very good things to have in your life. I tend to spend lots of time in the bush surrounded by nature it calms me. Take care. B
ReplyDeleteButtons, thank you. I can understand how being out with nature is calming. It helps me, too. I just need to take more time to do it!
DeleteI am heading over to check it out now Tina :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Keith.
DeleteThe blogging community and all their comments sometimes make me feel a little better. It seems like the boost party might have been just what the doctor ordered.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sharon. I loved finding your blog through the boost party!
DeleteHi Tina,
ReplyDeleteI have been on meds for depression for quite a while and they were not helping with all aspects of my depression. I got so down just before Christmas two months ago and I thought to myself, "Enough is enough." So I did a search on the internet and discovered that Vitamins B6, B12 and Folic Acid are supposed to help boost the effects of antidepressants. I found a bottle of all three of these by the company Jamieson and have been taking one per day since December 26th. After a few weeks I noticed an amazing improvement. I am, needless to say, going to continue this avenue, as it is working so well for me. Thank you for sharing.
I just came back from the other link you gave. All the things mentioned really do help with depression. For myself the Vitamin supplement I mentioned above is working wonders. I try to take a half hour (or more) walk a day, eat a good diet of healthy food and I totally agree with spending time with pets and God (not this order, though, LOL!) Unfortunately for myself I no longer have any pets, but when I had cats they were very therapeutic. Their purr is very soothing and having them around to take care of is very good, it helps us to focus on a cat who needs us, and it always feels good to be needed.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Linda, for sharing your experience with taking the vitamins, and I'm glad that you've noticed an improvement! And your routine of walking and eating healthy food is such a good one.
DeleteYes, the purr of the cat is soooo soothing.
As usual, Tina, a great post! I can relate to every one of your suggestions (well, except the exercise one and eating well ha ha ha!!!!). Thanks for sharing. Hopefully some new readers will now discover all the wonderful things you have to share.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Sunny. I need to get on the ball with the exercise!
DeleteI hope that as spring comes you will start to feel better. Winter is I think the hardest time of year.
ReplyDeleteLisa, Thank you. I am usually quite satisfied with winter, but I am actually looking forward to spring.
DeleteReading is a good "getaway" for me too. I've been reading quite a bit lately.
ReplyDeleteKristina, I'm sorry if you've been reading a lot because you need a "getaway" from depression. I hope you are feeling better soon!
DeleteYou saw that huh? :) Well, that's not really the case. I have been depressed for a while and reading really does help, but I started reading this time because for Lent I decided to limit my computer/internet/FB time. Reading takes that time that I have and actually I enjoy it more than being on the computer.
DeleteKristina, I'm glad you're reading a lot for that reason! :-) Being on the computer does take away from my reading time, too. And reading is such a joy--fiction, nonfiction, poetry, whatever.
Deleteoh tina, you are so open and forth coming. i am a nurse (back in my younger years) and i know that depression is not always treated like a disease. people effected are often not offered the medications and treatment they need and deserve.
ReplyDeletei hope you are able to find sourses of joy in your life, and when you feel the depression sneaking in, you can bring yourself to a joyful place. xo
Thank you, Debbie. I do have sources of joy, and I try to remember them when the darkness comes.
DeleteHeading over to visit Tina now. I'm sorry to hear about your depression.
ReplyDeletewww.modernworld4.blogspot.com
Thanks for visiting, Gina.
DeleteThis time of year can be really depressing. I think having a February Getaway is ingenious. Great post, Tina.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Grace. Wendy Love had a whole series of February Getaways, and I was happy she made me a part of it.
DeleteI'm off to read this post now - it's a topic that I really need to look into, as I've been craving some sort of mental health getaway. You're right, it's a lot of hard work (even outside of medication) to overcome depression, but I totally believe it's possible. I'm holding on with you.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your support, Amanda. I really appreciate it.
Delete