Mindful of self

[Cormac]

My wife suffers from depression. I try to help by chatting to her, and telling her how important she is to me, and how I love her. I also drag her out of the house regularly, and take her on long walks (sometimes kicking and screaming).

However, apart from that, it is tricky. I feel helpless a lot of the time. Want to help, but do not seem able to. Depression is a bummer, since depressed people usually know what they need to do (getting out to socialise, and getting out to exercise), but cannot bring themselves to do it.

Sorry to hear that BG.

[JimC]

My wife suffers from depression. I try to help by chatting to her, and telling her how important she is to me, and how I love her. I also drag her out of the house regularly, and take her on long walks (sometimes kicking and screaming).

However, apart from that, it is tricky. I feel helpless a lot of the time. Want to help, but do not seem able to. Depression is a bummer, since depressed people usually know what they need to do (getting out to socialise, and getting out to exercise), but cannot bring themselves to do it.

Sorry to hear that BG.

Also sorry to hear about it. Is she amenable to getting some professional diagnosis and help?

[Blind groper]

Already done, Jim.
It helps, but is only a partial solution.

[rasetsu]

I don't know that there's any point to trying to cheer up a depressive, and as a chronic depressive, I always found such efforts both insulting and condescending, and it only added to the pain.

What I did find helpful though, was teaching myself ways to make it easier to get by during the times when being me sucked. I bought disposable dinnerware and some canned goods, so that dishes didn't pile up when I was depressed. I return or don't borrow library books; late fines because you don't get them back on time is a recurrent PITA for a depressive. I used to have a hobby which didn't require any real thought so that I could occupy my head and hands even though I was low functioning at the time. (I would build and tear down computers; having only one finger now, this isn't an option anymore; I still can, but it's no longer the mindless, effortless pastime that it was before I lost my fingers.) There's more, if I think of them, I'll try to drop them. (All you other people, depressive or not, add what you do to get by when you're low, injured, tired, or otherwise not functioning at 100% ?)


Regards red. Glad you're liking being you, or doing things to like being you better. Always a good thing. Best. - rae

"Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die."

(Well, maybe you die. I'm hanging on until I see how the season ends. j/k. peace. and warmth.)

[hadespussercats]

I used to have a hobby which didn't require any real thought so that I could occupy my head and hands even though I was low functioning at the time. (I would build and tear down computers; having only one finger now, this isn't an option anymore; I still can, but it's no longer the mindless, effortless pastime that it was before I lost my fingers.) There's more, if I think of them, I'll try to drop them. (All you other people, depressive or not, add what you do to get by when you're low, injured, tired, or otherwise not functioning at 100% ?)

I love this hobby for whiling away a depression: http://thebloggess.com/2011/10/the-haunted-dollhouse/

Jenny Lawson is one of my favorite bloggers. She's been writing a lot lately about mental health awareness.

Anyway, here's a slideshow of some of her miniatures: http://kirtsy.com/2011/10/27/dollhouse- ... ny-lawson/

My only trouble is that if I'm feeling depressed, I look at what she does and feel like a loser for not doing something so cool. But I still love it.

[hiyymer]

My wife suffers from depression. I try to help by chatting to her, and telling her how important she is to me, and how I love her. I also drag her out of the house regularly, and take her on long walks (sometimes kicking and screaming).

However, apart from that, it is tricky. I feel helpless a lot of the time. Want to help, but do not seem able to. Depression is a bummer, since depressed people usually know what they need to do (getting out to socialise, and getting out to exercise), but cannot bring themselves to do it.

Sorry to hear that BG.

Been through it. Not sure about the "know what they need" part. There's one theory that says you just go with it. Not fight it. Leads to a very small life. But she did come out of it a few times. Not sure what to say about the drugs either. None helped. Side affects have not been good for her brain. Not sure I'd let the psychiatrist prescribe a long series of drugs in retrospect. If it doesn't work it doesn't work.

[redunderthebed]

Interesting looking back at this thread i think i was deluding myself the amount of booze i was drinking i was not being mindful of myself because of my alcoholism. Now i think i know the true meaning of this i'am being mindful of everything right down to changing how i deal with depression and cravings and my emotions.

[Blind groper]

I drink too much, but without delusion.
I drink four nights a week. I drink good Australian Shiraz. I drink one glass each night. One glass is 750 mls (about 1.5 pints).

Always nice to know exactly how alcoholic one is.

[FBM]

I drink too much, but without delusion.
I drink four nights a week. I drink good Australian Shiraz. I drink one glass each night. One glass is 750 mls (about 1.5 pints).

Always nice to know exactly how alcoholic one is.

I hear ya. I drink too much. I drink every night, but not enough to get drunk. Just enough to sleep. But it's still too much, too often. I'm well aware of it, and I hope I get the willpower to stop or cut down drastically before my liver pops.

[JimC]

I drink too much, but without delusion.
I drink four nights a week. I drink good Australian Shiraz. I drink one glass each night. One glass is 750 mls (about 1.5 pints).

Always nice to know exactly how alcoholic one is.

On behalf of the Australian wine industry, I thank you...

[Blind groper]

You support the gin industry, Jim, and I will do what I can for the wine bizzo. Tonight I am sober. Tomorrow night, I will consume just one glass of good wine.

[redunderthebed]

I now support a great SA business nay cultural institution on a regular basis...



As opposed to coopers as much as i hold their products in esteem to this day.

[rachelbean]

I drink too much, but without delusion.
I drink four nights a week. I drink good Australian Shiraz. I drink one glass each night. One glass is 750 mls (about 1.5 pints).

Always nice to know exactly how alcoholic one is.

I was going to say that's actually a very healthy amount until I read again. How big is that glass?

[Rum]

Works out as far as I can see to 4 bottles of wine a week. Less than I was drinking but some margin..

[JimC]

I drink too much, but without delusion.
I drink four nights a week. I drink good Australian Shiraz. I drink one glass each night. One glass is 750 mls (about 1.5 pints).

Always nice to know exactly how alcoholic one is.

I was going to say that's actually a very healthy amount until I read again. How big is that glass?

I think it's BG's dry sense of humour - a glass becoming a bottle...

I now support a great SA business nay cultural institution on a regular basis...



As opposed to coopers as much as i hold their products in esteem to this day.

Yep, good cordial it is. I have the lemon, lime and bitters cordial with tonic water on my AFD's...