Hopelessness is one of the most common and brutal symptoms of depression to experience. You may feel that your life will never get better. You may have problems socially or at work and feel like you’ll never be able to fix them. You might think killing yourself is the only way out.
Here are some reasons for you to have hope:
1. There are treatments out there that you haven’t tried yet. Keep looking and you will find one that works for you. Try the treatment section of this site.
2. More research is being done at this moment in time on depression and bipolar disorder than ever before. Not only are there many treatments that are effective but there will be new, better, and more refined treatments soon.
3. You are needed. There is at least one person in this world that needs you to be around. It may be a friend, family member, or someone that needs your help.
4. Self help works. Once you find a medication that makes you feel better you can use the strategies I provide in the self help section of this site to enjoy your day more, be productive, and have meaning in your life.
5. Depression is curable but nobody is cured instantly. Treatment will start to make you feel better, this will allow you to make changes to your lifestyle, which will make you feel even better, this will allow you to go back to work, dating, socializing, school, etc. The cycle continues until nothing is left of your depression accept a bad memory.
For more reasons why you should be hopeful go here: http://www.depressiondodging.com/hope.html
For smile therapy go here: http://www.depressiondodging.com/smiletherapy.html
Friday, February 26, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Dealing With Anxiety Through Visualization
Olympic athletes use visualization for dealing with anxiety and performing their best under pressure. They train 4 years for the Olympics and when they get called up to the starting line they have to get it right the first time, because there are no 2nd chances. Visualization allows them to practice in their mind before the real thing.
You too can use visualization for dealing with anxiety and being more effective in situations. Visualization is simply going through a situation or event in your mind before you do the real thing. After, when you do the real thing, it will seem more natural and automatic because you’ve already practiced. Plus, you’ll be prepared for any obstacles that might arise.
If you have a job interview that you’re nervous for, imagine how it might play out in your mind first. What kind of questions are they likely to ask and how would you like to respond? Imagine the interview from the interviewer’s perspective. What might they be looking for and how can you show them you’re the person for the job. Imagine any problems that might arise and how you’ll deal with them. See yourself calmly solving the problem and confidently selling yourself to your new boss.
For more examples of when you can use visualization to deal with anxiety or improve your mood, please visit http://www.depressiondodging.com/dealingwithanxiety.html
For programs for dealing with social anxiety, please visit http://www.depressiondodging.com/socialanxiety.html
You too can use visualization for dealing with anxiety and being more effective in situations. Visualization is simply going through a situation or event in your mind before you do the real thing. After, when you do the real thing, it will seem more natural and automatic because you’ve already practiced. Plus, you’ll be prepared for any obstacles that might arise.
If you have a job interview that you’re nervous for, imagine how it might play out in your mind first. What kind of questions are they likely to ask and how would you like to respond? Imagine the interview from the interviewer’s perspective. What might they be looking for and how can you show them you’re the person for the job. Imagine any problems that might arise and how you’ll deal with them. See yourself calmly solving the problem and confidently selling yourself to your new boss.
For more examples of when you can use visualization to deal with anxiety or improve your mood, please visit http://www.depressiondodging.com/dealingwithanxiety.html
For programs for dealing with social anxiety, please visit http://www.depressiondodging.com/socialanxiety.html
Monday, February 22, 2010
Bipolar Disorder and Creativity is Not a Myth
Bipolar disorder and creativity is not a myth. You can check out the lengthy list of famous people with bipolar disorder for proof (and these are just the ones we know about). The energy and inspiration that can come with bipolar disorder can allow you to reach levels of creativity that other people can’t.
“If a man comes to the door of poetry untouched by the madness of the Muses, believing that technique alone will make him a good poet, he and his sane compositions never reach perfection, but are utterly eclipsed by the performances of the inspired madman.” (That’s you : )
Socrates
Poetry and art are not the only intersection where bipolar disorder and creativity meet. Creativity is also an asset in business, relationships, invention, and pretty much everywhere else. There might be an artist inside of you that you don’t know about yet. You should try to harness your “manic powers” and focus them on some kind of work or activity. Try the "how long can I focus on one things" game @ http://www.depressiondodging.com/howlongcanifocus.html.
“The volitional excitement which accompanies the disease may under certain circumstances set free powers which otherwise are constrained by all kinds of inhibition. Artistic activity namely may, by the untroubled surrender to momentary fancies or moods, and especially poetical activity by the facilitation of linguistic expression, experience a certain furtherance.”
Emil Kraepelin
Here are some activities where your bipolar disorder and creativity might be an asset: work, invent things, draw, paint, write/play music, make movies, act, sing, make sculptures, or spend time on any hobby you have. You might find something that you like and that you’re good at.
“From a part of the brain preternaturally elevated, but not diseased, the mind sometimes discovers not only unusual strength and acuteness, but certain talents it never exhibited before…Talents for eloquence, poetry, music and painting, and uncommon ingenuity in several of the mechanical arts, are often involved in this state of madness…The disease which often involves these new and wonderful talents and operations of the mind may be compared to an earthquake, which by convulsing the upper strata of our globe, throws upon its surface precious and splendid fossils, the existence of which was unknown to the proprietors of the soil in which they were buried.”
Benjamin Rush
You can accomplish a lot of great work with bipolar disorder, but you need to discipline yourself and focus your energy on one thing instead of letting it scatter all over the place.
Personally, my mood has improved tremendously and stayed high ever since I decided to focus all of my energy on this website and playing music. I used to want to do everything and as a result I accomplished nothing. Bipolar disorder becomes a gift instead of a curse when you focus on something that is important to you and forget about everything else.
Use your gift of creativity!
Go here for a list of famous people with bipolar disorder: http://www.depressiondodging.com/famouspeoplewithbipolardisorder.html
Go here for inspiration: http://www.depressiondodging.com/inspirationtherapy.html
“If a man comes to the door of poetry untouched by the madness of the Muses, believing that technique alone will make him a good poet, he and his sane compositions never reach perfection, but are utterly eclipsed by the performances of the inspired madman.” (That’s you : )
Socrates
Poetry and art are not the only intersection where bipolar disorder and creativity meet. Creativity is also an asset in business, relationships, invention, and pretty much everywhere else. There might be an artist inside of you that you don’t know about yet. You should try to harness your “manic powers” and focus them on some kind of work or activity. Try the "how long can I focus on one things" game @ http://www.depressiondodging.com/howlongcanifocus.html.
“The volitional excitement which accompanies the disease may under certain circumstances set free powers which otherwise are constrained by all kinds of inhibition. Artistic activity namely may, by the untroubled surrender to momentary fancies or moods, and especially poetical activity by the facilitation of linguistic expression, experience a certain furtherance.”
Emil Kraepelin
Here are some activities where your bipolar disorder and creativity might be an asset: work, invent things, draw, paint, write/play music, make movies, act, sing, make sculptures, or spend time on any hobby you have. You might find something that you like and that you’re good at.
“From a part of the brain preternaturally elevated, but not diseased, the mind sometimes discovers not only unusual strength and acuteness, but certain talents it never exhibited before…Talents for eloquence, poetry, music and painting, and uncommon ingenuity in several of the mechanical arts, are often involved in this state of madness…The disease which often involves these new and wonderful talents and operations of the mind may be compared to an earthquake, which by convulsing the upper strata of our globe, throws upon its surface precious and splendid fossils, the existence of which was unknown to the proprietors of the soil in which they were buried.”
Benjamin Rush
You can accomplish a lot of great work with bipolar disorder, but you need to discipline yourself and focus your energy on one thing instead of letting it scatter all over the place.
Personally, my mood has improved tremendously and stayed high ever since I decided to focus all of my energy on this website and playing music. I used to want to do everything and as a result I accomplished nothing. Bipolar disorder becomes a gift instead of a curse when you focus on something that is important to you and forget about everything else.
Use your gift of creativity!
Go here for a list of famous people with bipolar disorder: http://www.depressiondodging.com/famouspeoplewithbipolardisorder.html
Go here for inspiration: http://www.depressiondodging.com/inspirationtherapy.html
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Improving Your Focus with the "how long can I focus?" game
“The ability to apply your physical and mental energies to one problem incessantly without growing weary…You do something all day long, don’t you? Everyone does. If you get up at 7 a.m. and go to bed at 11 p.m., you have put in 16 good hours, and it is certain with most men that they have been doing something all the time. The only trouble is that they do it about a great many things, and I do it about one. If they took the time in question and applied it in one direction, to one object, they would succeed.”
Thomas Edison (answering: what’s the first requisite for success?)
What the hell does Thomas Edison know you ask? Well, he invented the record player, the movie camera, the light bulb and a lot of other stuff.
It can be difficult to focus in a depressed state because of obsessive thoughts, self doubt, anger, and other distractions. It can be difficult to focus in a manic/hypomanic state because of flighty thoughts that like to jump from topic to topic instead of just staying put on one. However, I think we all can improve our ability to focus by challenging ourselves with a game.
The “how long can I focus on one thing” game involves choosing something to do and challenging yourself to keep working on it without getting distracted. Keep track of how long you can go for so that you can keep improving your personal best.
Personally, I have been terrible throughout my life at keeping my attention on one thing for more than 2-3 hours, but some of my best insights have come after sticking to something and not giving up.
“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.”
Thomas Edison
Good luck
Learn more about bipolar disorder and strategies to deal with it @ www.depressiondodging.com
For smile therapy go here www.depressiondodging.com/smiletherapy.html
Thomas Edison (answering: what’s the first requisite for success?)
What the hell does Thomas Edison know you ask? Well, he invented the record player, the movie camera, the light bulb and a lot of other stuff.
It can be difficult to focus in a depressed state because of obsessive thoughts, self doubt, anger, and other distractions. It can be difficult to focus in a manic/hypomanic state because of flighty thoughts that like to jump from topic to topic instead of just staying put on one. However, I think we all can improve our ability to focus by challenging ourselves with a game.
The “how long can I focus on one thing” game involves choosing something to do and challenging yourself to keep working on it without getting distracted. Keep track of how long you can go for so that you can keep improving your personal best.
Personally, I have been terrible throughout my life at keeping my attention on one thing for more than 2-3 hours, but some of my best insights have come after sticking to something and not giving up.
“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.”
Thomas Edison
Good luck
Learn more about bipolar disorder and strategies to deal with it @ www.depressiondodging.com
For smile therapy go here www.depressiondodging.com/smiletherapy.html
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Bipolar Disorder Quotes
“There is a particular kind of pain, elation, loneliness, and terror involved in this kind of madness. When you’re high it’s tremendous. The ideas and feelings are fast and frequent like shooting stars….But, somewhere, this changes. The fast ideas are far too fast, and there are far too many; overwhelming confusion replaces clarity. Everything previously moving with the grain is now against--you are irritable, angry, frightened, uncontrollable….It will never end, for madness carves its own reality.”
Kay Redfield Jamison
“There was no screech of tires, screams, or thunderous crash when my mind went flying over the cliff into madness, as I gather is true in many cases…One minute I was famous, successful, self-assured Harry Radcliffe in the trick store, looking for inspiration in a favorite spot. The next, I was quietly but very seriously mad, walking out of that shop with two hundred and fifty yellow pencil sharpeners. I don’t know how other people go insane, but my way was at least novel.”
John Ruskin
“Dylan was now having blackouts at frequent intervals. On more than one occasion he had been warned by his doctor that he must go on a regime of complete abstinence from alcohol if he was to survive…Dylan seemed exhausted, self-preoccupied, and morbidly depressed. He went out alone, and an hour and half later returned to announce, ‘I’ve had eighteen straight whiskeys. I think that’s the record.’ (Shortly afterwards) he died.”
About Welsh poet Dylan Thomas
For more bipolar disorder quotes visit www.depressiondodging.com/bipolardisorderquotes.html
For smile therapy visit www.depressiondodging.com/smiletherapy.html
Kay Redfield Jamison
“There was no screech of tires, screams, or thunderous crash when my mind went flying over the cliff into madness, as I gather is true in many cases…One minute I was famous, successful, self-assured Harry Radcliffe in the trick store, looking for inspiration in a favorite spot. The next, I was quietly but very seriously mad, walking out of that shop with two hundred and fifty yellow pencil sharpeners. I don’t know how other people go insane, but my way was at least novel.”
John Ruskin
“Dylan was now having blackouts at frequent intervals. On more than one occasion he had been warned by his doctor that he must go on a regime of complete abstinence from alcohol if he was to survive…Dylan seemed exhausted, self-preoccupied, and morbidly depressed. He went out alone, and an hour and half later returned to announce, ‘I’ve had eighteen straight whiskeys. I think that’s the record.’ (Shortly afterwards) he died.”
About Welsh poet Dylan Thomas
For more bipolar disorder quotes visit www.depressiondodging.com/bipolardisorderquotes.html
For smile therapy visit www.depressiondodging.com/smiletherapy.html
Monday, February 15, 2010
Use Exercise To Combat Irritability
Exercise is a great way to combat irritability.
Being irritated is frustrating because you can’t sit still or concentrate and you don’t know what to do with yourself. I don’t go to the gym regularly, but whenever I get irritated I do a little workout at home. It is very calming.
You can lift weights, but from my experience, aerobic exercise is the most therapeutic.
If you aren’t a member at a gym, here are some exercises you can do at home:
1. Jogging.
2. Push-ups.
3. Sit-ups.
4. Chin-ups.
5. Hitting a punching bag or shadow boxing.
6. Squats.
7. Lunges
8. Leg raises
For a more aerobic workout, go from exercise to exercise without resting in between.
For instructions on how to do exercises or get more exercise ideas you can visit:
http://www.myfit.ca/exercisedatabase/search.asp?muscle=Calisthenics&equipment=yes
Or http://www.abc-of-fitness.com/info/fitness-exercises.asp
To learn more about bipolar disorder visit www.depressiondodging.com
Being irritated is frustrating because you can’t sit still or concentrate and you don’t know what to do with yourself. I don’t go to the gym regularly, but whenever I get irritated I do a little workout at home. It is very calming.
You can lift weights, but from my experience, aerobic exercise is the most therapeutic.
If you aren’t a member at a gym, here are some exercises you can do at home:
1. Jogging.
2. Push-ups.
3. Sit-ups.
4. Chin-ups.
5. Hitting a punching bag or shadow boxing.
6. Squats.
7. Lunges
8. Leg raises
For a more aerobic workout, go from exercise to exercise without resting in between.
For instructions on how to do exercises or get more exercise ideas you can visit:
http://www.myfit.ca/exercisedatabase/search.asp?muscle=Calisthenics&equipment=yes
Or http://www.abc-of-fitness.com/info/fitness-exercises.asp
To learn more about bipolar disorder visit www.depressiondodging.com
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Learn To Forgive Yourself
If you have bipolar disorder and you want to be happy in life you must learn to forgive yourself, because not everything you do is in your control.
You may get depressed or angry and lash out at someone, or isolate yourself from everyone, or blame other people for your problems. You need to realize that this is what people with bipolar disorder do sometimes and it isn't always your fault.
You may get into a manic or hypomanic state and desperately reach out to other people, or feel like your too good for some people, or get shit-faced drunk and make an ass out of yourself. You need to forgive yourself, apologize if you've hurt someone, learn from your mistakes, and then get back to living.
I have destroyed some personal relationships and damaged others. I have spent a lot of time hating myself and feeling ashamed because of this, but I refuse to blame myself any longer. I've stopped drinking, i've stopped gambling, i've done everyhting I could to be a better person, but this disorder often causes me to screw up in some way. That is just the way it is.
Forgiving yourself doesn't imply that you should do whatever you want without regard for others just because you're sick. It means that you should do what is in your power, but not blame yourself for things that aren't.
Learn more about bipolar disorder at www.depressiondodging.com/whatisbipolardisorder.html
You may get depressed or angry and lash out at someone, or isolate yourself from everyone, or blame other people for your problems. You need to realize that this is what people with bipolar disorder do sometimes and it isn't always your fault.
You may get into a manic or hypomanic state and desperately reach out to other people, or feel like your too good for some people, or get shit-faced drunk and make an ass out of yourself. You need to forgive yourself, apologize if you've hurt someone, learn from your mistakes, and then get back to living.
I have destroyed some personal relationships and damaged others. I have spent a lot of time hating myself and feeling ashamed because of this, but I refuse to blame myself any longer. I've stopped drinking, i've stopped gambling, i've done everyhting I could to be a better person, but this disorder often causes me to screw up in some way. That is just the way it is.
Forgiving yourself doesn't imply that you should do whatever you want without regard for others just because you're sick. It means that you should do what is in your power, but not blame yourself for things that aren't.
Learn more about bipolar disorder at www.depressiondodging.com/whatisbipolardisorder.html
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