Category Archives: Fellowship

12 Step Meeting, Choice, DA Literature, Fellowship, The 12 Steps

Good stress and bad stress

August 9, 2017 Hugh Smith 1 Comment

CLARIFICATION OF THOUGHT

“There is good stress and bad stress. Good stress challenges us to live each day with enthusiasm and hope as we go about our daily routine. Bad stress is that which causes us to worry, be concerned about things which we have no control over and generally causes us to feel tired. By following our 12 step program of recovery, we discover that our life can have hope and purpose.

We believe that the God of our understanding makes it possible for us to gradually eradicate our need to worry and distress ourselves. I am like the addict who continually needs to medicate their feelings of helplessness and hopelessness by saddening myself when things look bleak and out of control. With the help of my Higher Power, I believe I can begin to feel better as I take the proper means to take care of my physical health.”

SOURCE: Copyright(c) Higher Thoughts for down days:365 daily thoughts and meditations for members of 12 step fellowship groups. Depressed Anonymous Publications. Louisville. Pg. 159. August 8th.

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The following is an example of a member of Depressed Anonymous turning their bad stress into good stress:

At first I was frightened by my various symptoms of depression. The symptoms proved to be baffling. I was not able to get out of bed of a morning as well as being unable to concentrate or manage a complex thought. I began to worry that I was losing my mind and I often asked myself if I was going to survive. But now my ability to handle situations in a meaningful way is due to my frequent attendance at meetings, and by making a daily time for prayer and meditation and a feeling that my life has purpose and meaning. The more I am physically active, i.e., going to meetings even when I don’t feel like it. Working in my Depressed Anonymous Workbook, reading my 12 step literature.

This is where my freedom begins. And yes, I do feel lousy at times but I also know that nothing can stand in my way to make choices in my own behalf. Previous to my involvement with the group I had no idea that my depression was not so powerful as to prevent me from even thinking that I could choose to feel differently.”

SOURCE: I’ll do it when I feel better. (2016) Depressed Anonymous Publications. Louisville. Pages 50-51.

Please Visit the Store for more information.

12 Step Meeting, DA Literature, Fellowship, Prayer

Depressed? Feeling all alone? Want support?

August 5, 2017 Hugh Smith Leave a comment

Want support? That’s what we all want for our lives, especially when we are depressed. This is certainly a fact as we sink deeper into the quagmire of a melancholy mood. Without support from others when we feel depressed — even hopeless — is a critical time for us. It’s a do or die moment. It’s time to make a decision. What do we want?

I think that for most of us who are or were depressed to have someone understand what we are living through–but let’s be frank–unless you yourself have experienced the deadening feeling of depression it is quite a leap for others to try and understand our experience if they have never been there themselves. And really this is the reason we have a support group for those of us who can come together and get support. We are not alone. We have walked the walk where we were all alone and in a continued isolation from family, friends and our world.

CLARIFICATION OF THOUGHT

In a social diagnosis made by C. Lasch, (La cultura del narcissimo (Andres Bello, Barcelona. 1999). “who typified our contemporary culture as a culture of narcissism – a culture in which every person relies on himself alone and is horrified by old age and radically marginalizes the elderly.” (Dolentium Hominum. Church and Health in the world. xix. 2004.)

Social support for those of us who are or have been depressed has saved many of us from those deeper and life threatening forms of addiction, such as alcoholism, gambling, pornography, hoarding. We have become a materialistic throw away society, craving more things to consume and more things filling up the hole of our emptiness.

While having already personally experienced the power of the 12 spiritual principles of the 12 steps, plus a powerful social support of the fellowship of Depressed Anonymous, I know of the power of being with others who just like myself, who find unconditional acceptance from the group. I also continue to learn about and use the many tools that keep me from relapsing back into depression . In Depressed Anonymous we all speak the same language of hope and recovery.

Dr. Aquilino Polaino-Lorento, a psychopathologist, in his article Is depression solely a matter of medical intervention? tells us “the absence of social support is not a cause of depression but is its consequence….less social support meaning a greater expression of symptoms.”

Here are more of his thoughts on social support and how that can be a predictor in a depressed persons’ response to therapy. He shares the following; Depressive illness in elderly patients is higher the lower the level of the social support they receive.The speed of the response to therapy correlates in both sexes with the social support they received. The higher the level of social support the more rapid the response.

Social support for many who are depressed is just not there. Period. It is a sad fact that there is even a stigma placed on persons depressed. A depressed person has need of other depressed persons who can give them hope that their experience doesn’t have to go on. The social support of a mutual aid group can give exactly this–support and hope. As persons depressed have a tendency to isolate themselves — and the less social support they receive the deeper the spiral into darkness.

So what we have here is that more persons in our modern societies are isolated and remote from others. We have become nomads looking for more things, more experiences that deepen a focus on oneself, pushes us away from the community however large or small, and contributes to an attitude of “it’s all about me.”

So is all we are left with is a society filled with isolated narcissists? No, that doesn’t have to be at all. But if we want help for those of us who are depressed, we learn that the greatest help can be not to judge, not to tell them how to live, but instead, listen and be present to them as friend.

In our Dep-Anon Family Group Manual we have a section titled

WHAT TO SAY TO SOMEONE WHO IS DEPRESSED.

“It is more tempting, when you find out someone is depressed to immediately fix the problem. However, until the depressed persons has given you the permission to be their therapist (as a friend or a professional) , the following responses are more likely to help.

The things that didn’t make me feel worse are the words which 1) acknowledge my depression for what it is (“No, its just a phase.”) 2) give me permission to feel depressed ( “But why should you be sad?) .

Here is a list of things that might be said to a depressed friend or family member. “

“I love you.”

“I care.”

“You are not alone in this.”

“I’m not going to leave you or abandon you.”

“Do you want a hug.”

“It will pass, we can ride it out together.”

“When all this is over, I’ll still be here (if you mean it) and so will you.”

“You are important to me.”

“We are not primarily on earth to see through someone –but to see one another through.”

“I am sorry that you’re in so much pain. I am not going to leave you. I am going to take care of myself so that you don’t need to worry that your pain might hurt me.”

“I listen to you talk about it, and I can’t imagine what it’s like for you. I just can’t imagine how hard it must be?”

“I can’t fully understand what you are feeling, but I can offer my compassion.”

If you need a friend…” (And mean it).

Here we are. There is hope and there is social support available.

For more information please read and learn about the HOME STUDY KIT which one can use as an individual with their therapist, family member or a friend.

The two works which comprise the Home Study Kit are:

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

and

The Depressed Anonymous Workbook(2002) Depressed Anonymous Publications. Louisville. These two works comprise the Home Study Kit.

Depressedanon.com (here at this site) has a daily blog from which information and inspiration can be experienced.

VISIT THE STORE for other available literature. Remember, our literature is written by those of us who were depressed.

Hugh

12 Step Meeting, DA Literature, Faith, Fellowship, Hope, Isolation, Step 01, The 12 Steps

No pain – no gain! We pay a price to free ourselves from any and all addictions

August 2, 2017 Hugh Smith Leave a comment

First of all we know that the first step to freeing ourselves from the deadly clutches of any and all addictions is to ADMIT that our life is out of control, unmanageable and that we are powerless over what has us by the throat! Our lives have hit the wall and there is no place to go but to seek HELP. Humbling it is. To ask for help. But it is absolutely necessary if we are to free ourselves from the pain of any addiction.

I am speaking from my own experience with that deadly and scary reality that we all know as depression. I finally came to the frightful reality that if I wanted my life back then I would have to do something that I had never done before. I had to admit that I was beat. I had it. My life was a mess and I had created it by gradually drifting away from taking care of my mental, emotional, physical and spiritual life. Just by my admission that my life was in shambles, I realized, begrudgingly, that I had to take full responsibility for cleaning up the mess. And where was I to find that solution to the cancer-like illness which was eating me up with each depressed and hopeless breath?

From Alcoholics Anonymous I found my solution. They told me that my pain was the door that I had to go through if I was ever to find any peace for my troubled life. And so I went through that door which opened me up to hope and belief that there truly was a way the out of the daily mental grind of sadness and despair. It came to me that the fellowship of those using and working the 12 Steps of recovery had all found a home.

“There was a time when we ignored trouble , hoping it would go away. Or, in fear and in depression, we ran from it, but found it was still with us. Often, full of unreason, bitterness, and blame, we fought back. These mistaken attitudes, powered by alcohol, guaranteed the destruction, unless they were altered.

Bill W., continues sharing, “Then came A.A. Here we learned that trouble was really a fact of life for everybody – a fact , that had to be understood and dealt with. Surprisingly, we found that our troubles could under God’s grace, be converted into unimagined blessings.”

“Indeed, that was the essence of A.A. itself: trouble accepted, trouble squarely faced with calm courage, trouble lessened and often transcended. This was the A.A. story, and we became a part of it. Such demonstrations became our stock in trade for the next sufferer.”

Because of my own terrible pain of an insufferable depression I founded a group centered on the 12 Steps and which made these spiritual principles part and parcel of my daily life. This group is aptly called Depressed Anonymous.

Yes, I still have troubles, but now I can help others by sharing my own story of hope and serenity . Even though we may not be alcoholics, we can have a hope that these Steps can help me as well to leave the prison of depression.

For more information about who we are and what we are about please take a look at the menu that appears on the first page of our website Depressed Anonymous.

The Depressed Anonymous Workbook tells us how “Where humility had formerly stood for a forced feeding on humble pie, it now begins to mean the nourishing ingredient which can give us serenity.

This improved perception of humility starts another revolutionary change in our outlook. Our eyes begin to open to the immense values which have come out of painful ego puncturing. Until now, our lives have been largely devoted to running from pain and problems.

We fled from them as from a plague. We never wanted to deal with the fact of suffering. Then in A.A., we looked and listened. Everywhere we saw failure and misery transformed by humility into priceless assets. We heard story after story of how humility had brought strength out of weakness. In every case pain had been the price of admission into a new life. But this admission price had purchased more than we expected. It bought a measure of humility, which we soon discovered to be a healer of pain. We began to fear pain less and desire humility more than ever. ”

Are you will to pay the price?

SOURCES: As Bill sees it: The A.A. Way of life…selected writings of A.A.’s co-founder. Alcoholics Anonymous World Services Inc., New York.

The Depressed Anonymous Workbook (2002) Depressed Anonymous Publications. Louisville. pg.60-61.

Depressed Anonymous,3rd edition.(2011 Depressed Anonymous Publications. Louisville.

For more literature please VISIT THE STORE. Also note that the HOME STUDY SELF HELP STUDY combo can be purchased together. All purchases can be made online at this site.

DA Literature, Fellowship, Hope, Spirituality, The 12 Steps

I Believed Depressed People Could Help Depressed People!

July 28, 2017 Hugh Smith Leave a comment

I have always believed in the power and the influence of the group -either serving as a power for good or a power designed for destructive ends. But as for our group Depressed Anonymous, I believe that it truly builds, enhances and strengthens any one who gets involved with it on a regular and consistent basis. Those who do interact with our fellowship, gradually come out of the pit of their depression and start feeling hopeful about their lives. They know that 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.

I remember when I first proposed my idea, in 1985, to the Dean of the Psychology Department at the University where I was earning my Master’s degree, that we ought to try and get depressed people together. I mentioned that Alcoholics Anonymous, with a few fellow alcoholics, got its beginning with a peer to peer approach. It takes one to know one, so to speak! The professor looked at me like I was completely out of my mind – that I would suggest that depressed people could even muster up the necessary energy to even climb out of bed in the morning, much less get themselves to a meeting with other depressed individuals like themselves. The idea seemed doomed to failure.

With a begrudging approval from the Dean, we got our peer to peer depression group off the ground. It was a success. Just as one alcoholic helping another alcoholic, so it was true with the depressed person. This peer to peer model of recovery worked. In a few months, following the groups formation, we opened our fellowship to the public . On May 30th, 1985, our brand new mutual aid group, Depressed Anonymous was launched. It is still being launched today, globally.

If you believe you can find hope, plus have a ticket out of depression by going to Depressed Anonymous meetings, then there will be nothing stopping you. I have found that my Higher Power has released me. I am carrying a hope to those hurting from a life of isolation and feeling alone. We have a message of hope for them.”

SOURCE: Copyright(c) Believing is seeing:15 ways to leave the prison of depression. (2017) Depressed Anonymous Publications. Louisville. Pages 64-67. (The 14th Way out of the prison of depression).

For more information about the lives of those individuals who believed in the group power, please read about them in Depressed Anonymous, 3rd edition. (2011) Depressed Anonymous Publications. Louisville. There is a special section in the book where thirty members of DA share their personal stories of healing and hope.

For more information about who we are and what we are about, please VISIT THE STORE. Thank you.

12 Step Meeting, DA Literature, Faith, Fellowship, Higher Power, Journaling, Purpose

First, be true to one’s own self

July 27, 2017 Hugh Smith Leave a comment

Way 13 of the 15 ways to leave the prison of depression.

“I’d rather be imperfect and happy than always trying to be perfect.”

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 others 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. I also had the false belief that the more predictable life is, I felt the less stressed my life would be. But in reality, just the opposite happened. By holding onto life with a tight grip, I needed to make sure that any decision that I made would have to have a predictable outcome. I could only operate if there were no risks involved in what I planned to do. This kept me gradually pulling away from forming new relationships and trying new things in my life.

Eventually, my depression became 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 in the past, bad things will continue to happen to us in the future.

This belief keeps us locked up in the prison of depression. We don’t believe anything will change. What a set up for depression. We have a difficult time realizing that we do have a choice in the way we think, feel and behave. We can live a life free of misery by following a recovery program as outlined in the suggested 12 steps of Depressed Anonymous. By coming often to meetings and getting involved with others not only gives us reason to have days filled with friends and help, it also provides us with a daily program step-by-step, for leaving the prison of depression.”

SOURCE: COPYRIGHT(C) BELIEVING IS SEEING: 15 WAYS TO LEAVE THE PRISON OF DEPRESSION (2017) . Depressed Anonymous Publications. Louisville. Pages 63-64.

For more information about literature that is available please VISIT THE STORE here at this site.

DA Literature, Fellowship, Grief, Hope, Journaling, Spirituality

“…spiritually engaged individuals (depressed)were in touch with something important…” David Karp

July 26, 2017 Hugh Smith Leave a comment

As a professor of Sociology at Boston University, David Karp describes in his book SPEAKING OF SADNESS his spending time interviewing 50 men and women about their own personal depression experiences. The following are some of his thoughts about those persons whom he interviewed and who saw a connection between spirituality and depression.

I too found that this connection also provided me with a solid and healing plan for leaving my own depression.

I found a spirituality that produced my own personal transformation by using the 12 Steps of Depressed Anonymous. These steps are based on the spiritual principles of the 12 Steps and take the depressed person through a process of incremental healing actions which gradually can loosen the bonds of their sadness.

Here are some of the findings Karp shares with the reader of his own feelings about those who spoke about the power of a spirituality which provided them hope during their depression experience.

” I was leaving many of my interviews awed by the courage and grace with which certain people faced unimaginable pain and loss. I was especially impressed with those who spoke of their depression as a gift from which they had learned valuable lessons. While I could not relate emotionally or intellectually with visions of reincarnation or explanations of depression as central to a God -given life mission. I left many interviews with a sense that spiritually engaged individuals were in touch with something important. The issue was not a matter of evaluating the truth of their particular brand of a spirituality. What I felt was a measure of envy of those who displayed an acceptance that seemed to me incongruence with accounts of exceptional pain. The people possessed or knew something that I didn’t.”

SPEAKING OF SADNESS by David Karp. (1996), Oxford University Press, Inc. pg. 191..”

And K. Duff shares with us that

“…illness is an opportunity for enlightenment, that, seen the right way, we do not cure illnesses –instead, they have the potential to cure us. This happens when we realize that illness is “not so much a state of being as a process of transformation.” In K. Duff, The Alchemy of illness(New York):Simon and Shuster, (1993). pg. 191.

In our Step Manual , Depressed Anonymous, 3rd edition,( 2011)Depressed Anonymous Publications. Louisville., a work which includes many stories shared by those who use the spiritual principles of the 12 Steps for their own recovery and transformation. Also, this book is written by those who were depressed and graciously share their stories on how Depressed Anonymous transformed their lives.

Like Karp states in the section quoted above how I too see my depression as a gift, as for the last 30 or more years my life mission has been to bring hope to those still suffering from depression. Almost every day I speak, write to someone , or continue to get the message out with our DA publications how I have been and continue to be transformed by putting to use in my own life the spiritual principles of these Steps. For this reason we continue to establish mutual aid groups for persons depressed.

In some of our next blogs I will continue this most important discussion about depression and its connection to the power spirituality.

VISIT THE STORE for more information about our DA literature.

Community building, Fellowship

I discovered a rule for living! I don’t have to try and do this alone

July 25, 2017 Hugh Smith Leave a comment

The Twelfth Way out of the prison of depression with excerpts from Believing is seeing: 15 ways to leave the prison of depression.

“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.”

When I was depressed I just wanted to hide and isolate myself from others and friends. I cut myself off from family and friends. We didn’t want anyone to bother us. We wanted to be left alone. But ultimately this attitude and behavior only helped me dig a deeper hole.

I discovered a rule of living that if you want to become free, the best way is to participate in a group of people who know what it is to be depressed and share a plan that works.

“The benefit of participating in a group far outweighs the negative when we are depressed. While depressed you may feel that your social skills have suffered, even so believing that by being a member of Depressed Anonymous, your abilities to fellowship with others will be strengthened. Your life will definitely be enriched. 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 to how others are showing improvement of mood and behavior. You will discover that they are much like yourself. You are not alone. You begin to hope again.” Page 62.

SOURCE: BELIEVING IS SEEING: 15 WAYS TO LEAVE THE PRISON OF DEPRESSION. DAP. Louisville.

Order this book online and VISIT THE STORE and check out the other books offered by Depressed Anonymous Publications. Louisville.

Fellowship, Miracle Thinking, Mutual Aid

The healing shows on the faces of all those who keep coming back to meetings

July 18, 2017 Hugh Smith Leave a comment

THE TENTH WAY to leave the prison of depression. #10 of 15.

“I know that with time and work 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!”

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

This statement of belief is so important that it, like the rest of the 15 ways to leave the prison of depression provides hope for those still suffering from depression. Just by coming to the meetings, even when we don’t feel like moving out of our isolation and comfort zone. This is in itself an investment that must be made if we are to reap the dividends of healing which can be ours. The program works by investing your time and energy in it.

Depressed Anonymous provides a step-by-step program of recovery and doesn’t talk in vague generalities about your own depression experience. Actually, the program offers a map where you can walk out of your past filled with negative thoughts and behaviors creating your own new hopeful lifestyle. The Depressed Anonymous mutual aid group is the “miracle” incentive for getting ourselves motivated and living with hope. The group provides a continued acceptance and support for your life. The purpose of the 12 steps is to free ourselves from the debilitating isolation and pain of our sadness. We realize now that it is by accepting responsibility for our physical, emotional and spiritual care of self that predicts the hope filled long-term effect of a life lived without depression.

First of all, what gains consciousness is to be aware of one’s own need to discover what there is about myself that I do not find acceptable, good and wholesome. Secondly, preparation. I am aware of how I have depressed myself by the faulty beliefs that I’ve held about myself over the past years. I now know that part of the way I feel is due to the way I have automatically talked to myself throughout the day. I now realize that my feelings about myself have continually been very negative and emotional laden. Now I take action. I intend today to replace all negative statements that I make about myself, they are like waving a red flag before my eyes. Every time I call myself stupid or put myself down mentally, I will substitute affirmations such as the following: I will build a new life for myself. I am strong today. I have the courage to go through this experience. I will no longer blame myself or others for my depression. I do not have to wait for someone to make me feel better, as I can do this myself if I choose to do so. And this will sustain me and not just for today but every day of my life. I’m going to tolerate my imperfections while at the same time refusing to feel sorry for myself. I am going to make myself accountable for how I feel… and not blame it on someone else.”

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Sources: The Depressed Anonymous Workbook. (2002) Depressed Anonymous Publications. Louisville.

Believing is seeing: 15 ways to leave the prison of depression. (2017) Depressed Anonymous Publications. Louisville. pages 51-56.

Please VISIT THE STORE where all publications of Depressed Anonymous can be ordered online.

12 Step Meeting, Acceptance, Belief, Compulsion, DA Literature, Depressed Anonymous Workbook, Fellowship, Focus, Higher Power, The 12 Steps

Get connected! Learn how to get connected and begin feeling better!!

July 15, 2017 Hugh Smith 1 Comment

#NINE BELIEF

Excerpts from Believing is seeing: 15 ways to leave the prison of depression. (2017) DAP. Louisville. pgs 47-50.

“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 into the appropriate path.”

“I know in my heart that when I just sit at home by myself, isolating and ruminating within my head about all the terrible things that have happened to me, or are about to happen, that is when I depress myself even more. Get connected!”

It’s our addictive thinking, our compulsive way of processing infor- mation, which describes how we habitually store the negative but continue to dump the positive information which continually 24/7 flows into our brain. These negative thoughts and feelings persist in keeping us falling back into the old habit of staying isolated and avoiding others. We might fool ourselves and say that people have nothing to offer me and that is why I distance myself from everyone. Part of my nature when depressed is to avoid and distance myself from whatever I feel is threatening, like a child afraid of the dark.

We know that depression grows stronger when isolating ourselves from others.

Dorothy Rowe, tells us in her award winning book, DEPRESSION: THE WAY OUT OF YOUR PRISON, that

“Seeing yourself as a basically good person reduces the need for other people’s approval. If you see yourself as good, you can set up a select group of people whose approval you desire and can be indifferent to the opinion of the multitude. But if you see yourself as basically bad then you need everybody’s approval….”

David Karp, in SPEAKING OF SADNESS shares the following thought

” that depression is an illness of isolation, a dis-ease of disconnection. As with much of social life, and consequently with much compelling sociological analysis, it is irony that captures the complexity of things. The irony to be explained in Chapter 2 is that depressed persons greatly desire connection while they are simultaneously deprived of the ability to realize it. Much of depression’s pain arises out of the recognition that what might make one feel better –human connection–seems impossible in the midst of a paralyzing episode of depression. It is rather like dying from thirst while looking at a glass of water just beyond one’s reach.”

For those who have no Depressed Anonymous mutual aid group to connect with in their own local community, our Publisher, Depressed Anonymous Publications has made available the HOME SELF STUDY KIT. The HOME SELF STUDY KIT program of recovery includes both the Depressed Anonymous, 3rd edition and The Depressed Anonymous Workbook. These two excellent guides provide us with a path out of depression. By answering the stimulating questions as provided by the WORKBOOK, one also is able to discover the nature of depression while learning how to apply the 12 spiritual principles of Depressed Anonymous to their own lives.

No longer do we have to be alone or feel disconnected in our depression. We provide the necessary resources to help an individual be connected with a community worldwide who know what it means to be depressed. You don’t have to be alone any longer!

To see what literature is available from our Publisher, visit the STORE here at our website www.depressedanon.com. You can now order online.

Affirmations, Fellowship, Purpose

Put SUNSPOTS in your life today and everyday!

July 13, 2017 Hugh Smith Leave a comment

THE EIGHT WAY.

Excerpts from BELIEVING IS SEEING: 15 WAYS TO LEAVE THE PRISON OF DEPRESSION. (See resources)

“Please treat yourself kindly! Begin to plan pleasurable activities into your life today!”

“I think one of the two things which depressed persons feel is lacking is in not having mastery over the way they feel and believe. Secondly, they seem to have lost a desire to perform a pleasant activity which might attach their interest. One of the things I recommend for people depressed is to find one pleasant activity that they once enjoyed before being immobilized by their present depression. I think it is a good learning experience to believe that my depression won’t last forever and that someday I can feel better. In other words, I can still try and do that one thing that was a pleasant activity before I got depressed. We feel that we “have no reason to treat ourselves kindly” because we can’t find anything hopeful or of interest in our lives at the moment. We also feel that because we are so bad we don’t deserve anything good.

Also, as for planning pleasurable activities, you might want to start to listen for the way that you talk to yourself. Try to speak kind words to yourself as if you were talking to a guest in your home. Talk out loud if you like–hear yourself say kind things to yourself. For once, say something good about yourself instead of listening to all those old negative tapes that always made you feel you’d be better off dead. Or else someone else. You get the idea.

When you start listing your strengths as part of your Fourth Step Inventory, list all the good things that you like about yourself. (See the Depressed Anonymous Workbook and the Depressed Anonymous manual, 3rd edition., both books comprise the Home Self Study Program of Recovery).

With every negative statement about yourself don’t allow yourself another statement about yourself until you are able to replace it with three positive statements. We call these your SUNSPOTS. I mean let’s be fair and balance this thing out! I know that you might feel a bit uncomfortable about prizing yourself, byut give it a try anyway.”

Also, plan some activities for the next day and write them on your calendar. This is especially important for the weekend days when there are so many hours that we may find hard to fill. Some of us have made plans for each of the hours of the day. We must force ourselves to get active. Our life may depend on it!

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NOTE: Another resource for personal reflection is the work titled I’ll do it when I feel better which presents some basic personal behaviors which can lead us out of our personal prison.

RESOURCES: COPYRIGHT(c) BELIEVING IS SEEING: 15 WAYS TO LEAVE THE PRISON OF DEPRESSION. Hugh Smith (2017) DEPRESSED ANONYMOUS PUBLICATIONS. LOUISVILLE. pgs.43, 44,45,46.

HOME SELF STUDY KIT

NOTE: To order online please VISIT THE STORE. There you find other excellent resources on the subject of depression and recovery.

Hope is just a few steps away!