D E P R E S S I O N A N T I D O T E S - July 1999 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A unique newsletter to support, inspire, inform and encourage anyone who is recovering/recovered from depression. IN THIS ISSUE: 1. Notes from the Coach"If you obey all the rules you miss all the fun" - Katherine HepburnWhat a week! Lessons and insights have been flying at me at a great rate and I've been to the pit and back again. The major insight of the journey has been how I use rules to help me feel safe and in control and how much I pay for that security. In that twilight state between waking and sleeping I saw myself standing on top of a very high hill. Surrounding me were a number of black doors. They represented the rules I have created around certain aspects of my life. This is a familiar place. I felt comfortable, secure and in control here. Then I saw myself standing on an identical hill, without any doors. Suddenly I could see this wonderful vista all around me which was great but I felt scared and out of control. It is an unfamiliar place. I realised that the pay-off for the security created by my rules has been a very limited view. This process started with the writing of this newsletter. I had planned to write one letter every Thursday, ready to email on Monday. However, when Thursday dawned I felt I just couldn't face another day inside, sitting at my computer. So, I practised the principles of radical self-care and took myself off to my favourite café. Settled with a Mocha I started writing but it was a struggle. What I really wanted to do was rest. So, continuing to practice the principles of radical self-care, I mooched around town, browsing and shopping and thoroughly enjoying myself. Full marks for taking care of myself but . . . depressing habits die hard!
I felt increasingly guilty, as the week progressed, for not writing my newsletter. My mood spiralled down until I knew I'd never write another newsletter. I'd failed AGAIN, I was hopeless and I was NEVER going to change. What triggered the old pattern of depressive thinking was the rules I'd set up around the newsletter. For example - It would be weekly. It would be emailed every Monday. There was no space in there for how I was feeling or what I wanted to do that week Thank goodness I didn't stop taking the medication early this time. That, and my coach, enabled me to keep the demons at bay and take action before my negative habits took me too far down. I realised I most wanted this newsletter to be simple and fun for me to write. I'd set the rules to make me write each week. But what was the point of that if what I wanted was simplicity and fun? My coach has challenged me to drop the rules and I've agreed. That's scary because my fear is that without the rules I won't write anything. But I didn't send Depression Antidotes last Monday, anyway, so my rules obviously weren't working. And, surprise, surprise, here I am writing the newsletter AND having fun! 2. Depression Antidote No. 4**BREAK 3 RULES TODAY**No need for further explanation of what I have in mind here. Take something in your life that is a struggle. Work out what rules you have set up for yourself and break 3 of them! Scary but deliciously liberating. Do let me know how you get on. 3. Alternative Approaches*Acupuncture depression*Research at the University of Arizona found that two-thirds of women, treated for eight weeks, with acupuncture, were cured of depression. This is a similar rate to that achieved with antidepressants and psychotherapy. John Allen, the head of the study, believes that acupuncture may offer the best way yet to forestall future bouts of depression. Anyone have any experience of this? * The 5,000-year-old Chinese art of gently pressing needles into specific body points, to correct imbalances believed to trigger illness. 4. Resources**Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers**If you've not read this book put it on your Christmas list! A straight forward and encouraging approach to turning your fear and indecision into confidence and action. **www.heartwarmers4u.com** To receive a daily message filled with inspirational stories from people around the world send an email to: heartwarmers-on at heartwarmers4u dot com. 5. Future EditionsRequestIn future editions of Depression Antidotes I would like to include reader's experiences, tips and recommended resources. If you have anything you’d like to contribute, please email me at the address below. Or, failing that just let me know how I'm doing.
Have a wonder-filled week Nancy
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