“I finally believe in myself.”

April 15, 2016 hopeservicefellowship Leave a comment

“Depressed Anonymous is a spiritual journey, which makes you go back into your past, find the rubbish there, and let it go. Without the Depressed Anonymous group or a group like it, I don’t think I would function in a world as I know it. I thank God for the people who have the courage to come to the group. They will grow and learn. Thee is no easy way out. You don’t change overnight. You have just got to keep working at it. I have been in the trenches with nowhere to go. I find this very common in humans. Change is very tough for us. We would rather bear so much pain before we are willing to change. This black hole is a terrible thing. I wish no one would ever feel it. It is painful and nasty.

This is my short story. I was dead and I was out. I really couldn’t care at one time if I lived or died. Now I do.”

SOURCE: Copyright(c) Depressed Anonymous, 3rd edition. (2011) Depressed Anonymous Publications. Louisville. (Excerpt from Personal Stories: Bill has two degrees behind his name and he still got depressed. Pages 150-152.

This is just one of the many stories in Depressed Anonymous where persons depressed found what they were looking for in the fellowship–hope.

Isolation

I just wanted to be left alone

April 14, 2016 hopeservicefellowship Leave a comment

“I had good friends at work – I am well educated – two degrees behind my name. I wasn’t fulfilled. My world was falling apart. I left counseling after things went better. I had a major loss about two and a half years ago. I lost a job and then another job. I purchased a home. I lost my job and I lost my girl. Bills were too much. I wanted to be left alone. The burden was too unreal. Stress and anxiety were beating up on me. I didn’t want to get up in the morning. I just wanted to be left alone to be isolated and bored. It was tough. I was nasty and mean.”

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Comment

How many of us have felt the way Bill felt? I bet most of us have felt this way. I have. But when you read the next part of Bill’s story tomorrow, you’ll find out what he had to do to feel differently. And as you might suspect–he did find a way to feel better.

I remember how it was when I was depressed. Getting out of bed was the biggest accomplishment of my day. I had to force myself — I couldn’t afford to lose my job.

In time I discovered a way out. My recovery took time, work and support. I had the full support of my fellowship group, Depressed Anonymous. And now, 30 years later I still have the fellowship and all the necessary supports that I need to stay out of the prison of depression. If you are looking for an “easier and more comfortable way” out of the quicksand of your depression–I hope you can find it. Most of us know it is not that easy. It’s a total body pain. It is analogous to having a tooth ache all over. A pain that won’t let up. For some, it turns into a life-threatening situation and ultimately the taking of one’s own life.

If there is anything that I am most grateful for today it is the fact that I have found a powerful program with its 12 Steps and spiritual principles of complete recovery. Our program comes with a complete set of “tools” provided for each and every one’s use. I have found, as does Bill now, that these “tools” are at my disposal every day of my life. By trying to live each day at a time, I have found my life is lived in the now. My life no longer is lived in the yesterdays or the future tomorrows.

NOTE

Put some sanity in your living today and read Bill’s whole account in DEPRESSED ANONYMOUS, 3rd edition. (2011) Depressed Anonymous Publications. Louisville. (See Personal Stories).

Victim Thinking

WE ARE NOT VICTIMS

April 13, 2016 hopeservicefellowship Leave a comment

The FIFTEENTH WAY out of the prison of depression follows below. This is the last chapter excerpt from BELIEVING IS SEEING: 15 WAYS TO LEAVE THE PRISON OF DEPRESSION.

“Depressed Anonymous believes that we are not to think of ourselves as “depressives” or permanent sufferers of depression. We believe that we can move out of our depression and help others out of their depression. To label ourselves as “depressives” is counterproductive to our own recovery. We will not define ourselves solely by our painful and personal experience with depression: we are not victims. We also believe that once you have worked your way through and out of depression that you will continue to receive our support and appreciation. You can continue your recovery by reaching out to those persons still suffering from their depression.”

BELIEVING IS SEEING: 15 WAYS TO LEAVE THE PRISON OF DEPRESSION. (2015) DEPRESSED ANONYMOUS PUBLICATIONS. LOUISVILLE.

12 Step Meeting, Belief, Depressed Anonymous, Hope

I can begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel

April 12, 2016 hopeservicefellowship Leave a comment

“I believe that by working the 12 Steps of Depressed Anonymous, the more my Higher Power can release in me the serenity that I seek. While not giving up hope – I can begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel.” The FOURTEENTH WAY out of the prison of depression.

The following is an excerpt from Believing is seeing: 15 ways to leave the prison of depression. (2015) Depressed Anonymous Publications. Louisville.

“As long as I have a belief that somehow, someway, I will begin to feel differently and I can believe that Depressed Anonymous was developed to bring the ‘sufferer’s of depression together. By this gathering of like-minded folks, it resulted in individuals being empowered to find a support which slowly leads them out of the hole. I have always believed in the power and the uinfluence of the group — either serving as a power for good or a power designed for destructive ends. But as for our group Depressed Anonynmous, I know that it truly builds, enhances and strengthens anyone who gets involved with it on a regular and consistent basis. Those who do interact with our fellowship eventually come out of the pit of their depression and start feeling hopeful about their lives. They are feeling hope instead of despair. This is actually happening all the time as those involved in the fellowship begin to see personal changes occurring in their lives.” Pages 65-66.

12 Step Meeting, Belief, Blame, Compulsion, DA Literature, Depressed Anonymous, Higher Power, Journaling

How do people change?

April 9, 2016 hopeservicefellowship Leave a comment

People change by facing themselves and discovering a process, a step by step process, where we begin to be aware of why we are the way we are. In THE DEPRESSED ANONYMOUS WORKBOOK, a companion volume to DEPRESSED ANONMYMOUS, 3rd edition, (HOME STUDY PROGRAM) we will find answers on how to change.

We learn that depression distorted us from the truths of life, namely, that life is to be lived with hope and serenity. Nursing along a good habit can in time wean us from old and debilitating habits of thought and behavior. We want to daily fill our day with the gratitude that we are indeed getting better and that the trust we have is indeed placed in the Higher Power.

In order for us to escape depression we need to begin to be aware of the process of how people change. That process is of a nature a spiral instead of a straight line. In other words, now we are willing to risk feeling differently and we have been gearing up to improve our situation. In other words we are making a very important decision right now about our lives.

AWARENESS STAGE: We become conscious that we can’t go on feeling the way we do. Something has to give.
MOTIVATING STAGE: I am going to prepare myself for needed changes in my thinking, acting and feeling.
DOING STAGE: I am going to take charge and be responsible for positive changed that have to be made by me if I am to feel differently.
MAINTAINING STAGE: I will continue to seek out and sustain my recovery with people, concepts and my personal working of the 12 Step program for recovery.

Now apply these four stages which serve as antidotes to our character defects (ideas and habits which continue to make us feel sad). These defects of character cause us to stay imprisoned in our prison of depression.

In the days to follow we will examine THE FOLLOWING THREE issues which confront the daily lives of most of us when we are depressed.

(1) BLAMING ourselves and/or others for our problems.

(2) BEING A VICTIM.

(3) ANXIETY AND INNER JITTERINESS.

For those of you who desire a more complete approach to finding what depression is, what it does to our self esteem and ways to overcome our isolation and sadness, persons depressed have utilized the HOME STUDY PROGRAM.

THE DEPRESSED ANONYMOUS WORBOOK, with its question and answer format, provides a pathway leading to the road to serenity and community. You find that others just like yourself started where you are starting and found answers to why we have become depressed in the first place. By the time you have worked out answers to all the questions posed by the author in the WORKBOOK you may discover your best self. And, isn’t that what we all are looking for?

With the WORKBOOK, there is the DEPRESSED ANONYMOUS Big Book, 3rd edition., which is coordinated with each Step in the WORKBOOK and provides a recovery process which will complement one’s own progress in working the program

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SOURCES: (c)Depressed Anonymous, 3rd edition. (2011) Depressed Anonymous Publications. Louisville.

VISIT THE STORE, which lists all literature from DAP., and order online if you wish, the HOME STUDY PROGRAM.

Belief, Depressed Anonymous, Depressed Anonymous Workbook, Ego Deflation, Focus, Hope, Negativity, People Pleasing

Always trying to “please others” diminished me!

April 8, 2016 hopeservicefellowship Leave a comment

“I’d rather be imperfect and happy than always trying to be perfect.” The THIRTEENTH WAY to leave the prison of depression.

The following two excerpts quoted below are from Believing is seeing:15 ways to leave the prison of depression.(2015). Depressed Anonymous Publications. Louisville.

” One of the areas in my life where I strive to excel is in the area of trying to be perfect. Somewhere in our early development as children we got the message that if we were perfect we could be more acceptable to others. I gradually began to believe the more I tried to please other’s that this would bring me happiness. Instead all it brought me was a loss of myself. The loss of self reduced me to a shallow self without direction or meaning.” Page 63.

” Eventually, my depression became a sort of a comfort as it kept me from having to risk an unpredictable life. In other words, this way of living took away all hope. This is what keeps many of us depressed. We hold onto the mistaken belief that since bad things happened to us in the past, bad things will continue to happen to us in the future.” Page 64.

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SOURCE: Copyright (c) Believing is seeing: 15 ways to leave the prison of depression. (2015) Depressed Anonymous Publications Louisville.

VISIT THE STORE for more information on other publications offered to the depressed by Depressed Anonymous Publications.

12 Step Meeting, DA Literature, Depressed Anonymous, Isolation, The 12 Steps

To live is to participate

April 7, 2016 hopeservicefellowship Leave a comment

“Our Depressed Anonymous program of recovery is one of hope and peace. The more active I become in my efforts to think and act positive the more confident and free I become.” The TWELFTH WAY to leave the prion of depression. An excerpt from Believing is seeing: 15 ways to leave the prison of depression.(2015) Depressed Anonymous Publications. Louisville.

“It is recommended that if you want to be helped by our program of recovery it is best to go to at least six meetings before you make any long term commitment to whether or not the group is for you. Just as it has taken time to get ourselves depressed, in some cases it may be a lifetime…There is a Swahili saying that states
“to live is to participate.” How true this is especially if you happen to be depressed. One of the things we want to do when depressed is hide and isolate ourselves. We don’t want anyone to bother us. We want to be left alone….You will start feeling different about yourself the more meetings you attend. In time you will be taking the focus off yourself as you listen how others are showing improvement of mood and behavior and you will discover that they are much like yourself. You are not alone. You begin to hope again.”

Give yourself the opportunity to attend a meeting and hear how others, much like ourselves, are feeling better. Gradually, for those who keep coming back to the meetings, week after week, will begin the journey out of the prison of depression . Wouldn’t you like to try it?

Uncategorized

“I will focus daily on my stars and not my scars.”

April 6, 2016 hopeservicefellowship Leave a comment

The ELEVENTH WAY to leave the prison of depression: An excerpt from Believing is seeing: 15 Ways to leave the prison of depression. Depressed Anonymous Publications. (2015) Louisville.

“I will make a daily inventory of all my positive strengths. I tended to magnify the worst in everything in my life and make mountains out of molehills. I will focus on my stars and not my scars.”

One of the problems of being depressed is that every circumstance and situation is filled with potential hurt and disappointment. The depressed person has a tendency to think in patterns of despair, hurt and disappointment. It appears to be a proven fact that the more a person keeps the fears and anxious thoughts to themselves, this can cause the mountain to grow larger. But by sharing these fears and thoughts with others, either by writing them out, as in a daily journal, or group discussion, we soon discover that our fears are not as big as we thought. The expression of fear many times decreases the size of the fear. Now that we are accepting ourselves we can begin to see that we possess strength and a persistence to tackle whatever obstacle lies ahead.”

ACTION PLAN: Take your pen and /or pencil and begin writing your thoughts down in response to the questions posed in THE DEPRESSED ANONYMOUS WORKBOOK. You can find questions that not only help you discover what your strengths are but also how to put these strengths to use in your own personal recovery.

SOURCES: (c) Believing is seeing: 15 ways to leave the prison of depression. Depressed Anonymous Publications. Louisville. Pages 57-58.

For information on ordering publications please VISIT THE STORE here at our site. You’ll be happy that you have found someone who writes about their own journey and struggles with depression.

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I will make a decision to get better today!

April 6, 2016 hopeservicefellowship Leave a comment

” I know that with time and work that I will get better and out of my depression. I believe that though I might feel helpless, I am not hopeless. I will make a decision to get better today. ” The TENTH WAY to leave the prison of depression.

“One of the most heartening phenomenon of our 12 Step program for a person depressed is to see how quickly healing becomes apparent in those who keep coming back to meetings. The healing shows on the faces of all those who keep coming back to meetings. The healing definitely shows on the faces of all those who also commit themselves to getting better. The work that one has to engage in is the deep desire to quit sadding themselves. This means that a person depressed really must make a commitment to themselves, so that with time and work they can leave the prison of their depression.”

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SOURCE: (C) BELIEVING IS SEEING:15 WAYS TO LEAVE THE PRISON OF DEPRESSION,(2015) HUGH SMITH. DEPRESSED ANONYMOUS PUBLICATIONS. LOUISVILLE. Page 51.

Belief

GET CONNECTED! CHOICE NOT CHANCE DETERMINES DESTINTY!

April 4, 2016 hopeservicefellowship Leave a comment

The NINTH WAY out of the prison of depression.

The following is an excerpt from the book, Believing is seeing: 15 ways to leave the prison of depression. (2014) Smith, Hugh. Depressed Anonymous Publications. Louisville.

“Withdrawing from friends and other social contacts is the first clue that you are slipping back into the isolation and pain of depression. Move toward a friend, get a sponsor, and go to a 12 Step meeting. Ask your Higher Power for that nudge that can guide you onto the appropriate path.

There are two times that we need to go to a 12 Step meeting, 1) One, when we don’t want to attend a 12 Step meeting and 2) secondly when we do want to go to a meeting. From my personal experience I can share with you that it’s when I go to my meeting that I am able to come away from it with something positive to think about. I can honestly say that I feel better after a Depressed Anonymous meeting. I know in my heart that when I just want to sit at home by myself, isolating and ruminating within my head about all the horrible things that have happened to me, or are about to happen to me, that is when I depress myself even more. Get connected. ”

It’s not complicated.

Hope is just a few steps away!