maybenow2012: 2011-11-04

says:

You have a choice -- and the decision is yours alone.  You can choose to believe something good/posiitive/helpful/fun/light (etc) or you can choose to believe somethng bad/sad/hurtful/depressing/dark.  Its as simple as that.  You don't have to make it happen and you don't have to find the facts to support your belief.  You simply get to choose which 'side' you believe....at the moment.  One of the slogans of AA is "fake it till you make it".  Well, this is similiar: you get to choose the lightness or the dark.    Why would anyone chose the dark side when you can just as easily chose the light sde?

angieszz: 2011-10-31

says: Where you are right now may feel overwhelming but you are doing well being at Day 7 in Tools. Good on you for reaching out to the community and getting their advice. My advice would be you have to find something that makes you smile. Whether it is a picture of a rainbow, your best friend, a lolly shop doesn't matter as long as it makes you smile. Tell yourself that we by looking at this picture when you are sad and depressed will remind you that there are things that are great in this world. If this is visual that you can imbed in your memory all the better. Then I would also suggest that you find something to do for others less fortunate than yourself. Do something physical (not financial) to help. The act of doing something physical to help someone does 2 things. Usually the helpers are good people and you can learn a lot from them. It helps someone else and that feels good and it puts life in perspective. These may seem like avoiding the initial issue and to some degree they are, but they help take the focus off ourselves for a little while and allow us to re-focus. Have a great day! Angie

cleanmind11: 2011-10-31

says:

A few years ago I read a book written by Dr. Gerry Epstein, a New York psychiatrist, the title is Healing into Immortality, he explains that our suffering, pain and illnesses have a lot to do with what he describes as DED, pronounced as...dead...they acronym stands for DoubtExpactationDenial, we leave the present and go to the past and future torturing ourselves with regrets and expectations.

To heal, we need to stay in the present, living in the present and not living for the present.

I still struggle with depression and self doubt but keep in mind these teachings.

I hope it helps...cheers

Dan

JennysMom: 2011-10-19

says:

So... what are you grateful for?