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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Angela2 on October 20, 2013, at 20:13:38
I got up at noon today, and while, it was really nice to sleep in, I am also missing the sunlight. I think I saw 4 hours of it today. Nice but i need more! I'm going to see how getting up earlier feels tomorrow.
Things i am grateful for: my halloween string lights, cozy blankets and dvds in the dark, orange juice, yoga, I walked for 2 hrs, writing.
Is anyone doing anything for Halloween?
How has your guys' weekend been?
Posted by Partlycloudy on October 21, 2013, at 7:38:59
In reply to Happy Sunday, posted by Angela2 on October 20, 2013, at 20:13:38
I mostly slept and read. Slept and read and ate. I am in a pattern of poor self care, but my current hair cut is very forgiving.
Bad movies. On Netflix streaming. I walk away and go upstairs. Right now, my holiday seems years ago, and all I can think of is the mess I live within.Happy, let's see. Purring cat, always. Meditation, while it lasts. I skipped my women's group because an online discussion went really weird and I felt too uncomfortable to see the members face to face. I think I am moving out of this phase, it is getting less of a support and more of a How Much WTF can You Handle? This may be a good thing.
And now it's Monday, and I will take a shower. Still really disturbed and depressed. But if you saw my home, you might find happiness a challenge right now, too.
Posted by Phillipa on October 21, 2013, at 10:01:30
In reply to Re: Happy Sunday, posted by Partlycloudy on October 21, 2013, at 7:38:59
Two story home and haven't been upstairs in over 7 years due to the stuff stored there for ebay. And I was a perfect housekeeper. So the way I learned not to get upset was to not venture upstairs and stay down here. And I always ride my bike rain or shine like the postman. It's my time to meet people out walking dogs, kids plays, people walking, and even other bike riders. Then home to walk the pups, today have to return some jeans to a different city. I don't need them. So why keep them? Phillipa
Posted by Phillipa on October 21, 2013, at 10:11:51
In reply to Re: Happy Sunday » Partlycloudy, posted by Phillipa on October 21, 2013, at 10:01:30
I left and came back as I truly don't get it. I would love to get away on a holiday and travel. But money doesn't allow this. I feel you are extremely lucky to have the resources to remodel, and travel as well. Something right now the majority of people don't have as so many don't even have jobs. This is going to get worse the world before it even thinks of getting better as they say. Appreciate what you have. You are blessed to live where the sun shines, with the resources to enjoy life. I wish I also did but don't and so be it. Phillipa
Posted by Partlycloudy on October 21, 2013, at 11:08:18
In reply to Re: Happy Sunday, posted by Phillipa on October 21, 2013, at 10:11:51
I know I am blessed, Phillipa. But depression knows no financial bounds. I suffer as much as someone who has no holiday. I found this one really hard because I was overseas, deep in the dumps, and had to drag my *ss up and down Mount Vesuvius for 8 days. Tell me that's not hard.
And my renovation happens when the guy shows up. Maybe Wednesday, maybe not.
You want my life? I dare you, give it a try and put a smile on your face. But you have to live with my husband too.
Thanks for making me feel worse.
Posted by baseball55 on October 21, 2013, at 19:11:24
In reply to Re: Happy Sunday, posted by Partlycloudy on October 21, 2013, at 11:08:18
I know I have a lot to be grateful for, though I sometimes lose track of this. I try to think about being grateful every day. It's harder when you feel depressed. Everything turns dark. What looks good on the outside, feels awful on the inside.
But even when things feel dark, I try to remember that my life could be so much worse objectively. My therapist really pushes me on this. I try to imagine the life of a poor single mother, worried about eviction, about putting food on the table, about the safety of her children, about losing her part-time, low-paying job because she called in sick to care for a sick child.
I don't have those stressors in my life and need to remind myself on a daily basis that others do and I am lucky.
But again, when I slip into darkness, it's easy to lose sight of this. I am grateful to my therapist for reminding me over and over again of how much I have to be grateful for.
Posted by Partlycloudy on October 21, 2013, at 19:51:12
In reply to Re: Happy Sunday, posted by baseball55 on October 21, 2013, at 19:11:24
I started questioning gratitude the first time I felt suicidal. It only induces guilt. I have enough to go around, thank you.
But if it works for you, go for it. I have spent a lifetime feeling guilty for being depressed. No more. I'm a sick puppy. I go to therapy and take medication to combat it. Not easy right now.
I am going to run away before someone else tries to remind me how lucky I am to be depressed and relatively well off. You don't get it. Money does not make you happy. Period.
Posted by Phillipa on October 21, 2013, at 20:43:18
In reply to Re: Happy Sunday, posted by Partlycloudy on October 21, 2013, at 11:08:18
Money makes no one happy but it does allow choices others don't have as baseball pointed out. If I didn't want to remain with my husband I'd leave. Nobody forces one to live with someone they don't want to be with. I'm sure you would have the resources to support yourself if you chose to. Personally give me physical health and that's good enough for me. As my Mother told me once before she died at age 48. If you don't have your physical health you have nothing. I guard mine to the best of my ability. When stress is high inside I leave and awe at the beauty of nature. I would like warmer weather but it is what it is. No money will not make your or I happy. But it allows choices. Phillipa
Posted by Angela2 on October 21, 2013, at 21:16:58
In reply to Re: Happy Sunday, posted by Partlycloudy on October 21, 2013, at 11:08:18
> I know I am blessed, Phillipa. But depression knows no financial bounds. I suffer as much as someone who has no holiday. I found this one really hard because I was overseas, deep in the dumps, and had to drag my *ss up and down Mount Vesuvius for 8 days. Tell me that's not hard.
> And my renovation happens when the guy shows up. Maybe Wednesday, maybe not.
> You want my life? I dare you, give it a try and put a smile on your face. But you have to live with my husband too.
> Thanks for making me feel worse.PC, I actually understand this. When I went to Spain in 1999, I not only was having complete doubts about going, but I was depressed. So yeah, great experience looking back, but I'd love to go when I am feeling good.
Posted by Angela2 on October 21, 2013, at 21:23:24
In reply to Re: Happy Sunday, posted by baseball55 on October 21, 2013, at 19:11:24
> I know I have a lot to be grateful for, though I sometimes lose track of this. I try to think about being grateful every day. It's harder when you feel depressed. Everything turns dark. What looks good on the outside, feels awful on the inside.
>
> But even when things feel dark, I try to remember that my life could be so much worse objectively. My therapist really pushes me on this. I try to imagine the life of a poor single mother, worried about eviction, about putting food on the table, about the safety of her children, about losing her part-time, low-paying job because she called in sick to care for a sick child.
>
> I don't have those stressors in my life and need to remind myself on a daily basis that others do and I am lucky.
>
> But again, when I slip into darkness, it's easy to lose sight of this. I am grateful to my therapist for reminding me over and over again of how much I have to be grateful for.Agreed. Depression makes it harder to see the good. So I agree. I have been there. I guess it's just a thing i do when I feel down. I felt better after writing it yesterday.
Good for you. Be gentle and kind with yourself baseball55. :)
Posted by Angela2 on October 21, 2013, at 21:28:55
In reply to Re: Happy Sunday » baseball55, posted by Partlycloudy on October 21, 2013, at 19:51:12
> I started questioning gratitude the first time I felt suicidal. It only induces guilt. I have enough to go around, thank you.
> But if it works for you, go for it. I have spent a lifetime feeling guilty for being depressed. No more. I'm a sick puppy. I go to therapy and take medication to combat it. Not easy right now.
> I am going to run away before someone else tries to remind me how lucky I am to be depressed and relatively well off. You don't get it. Money does not make you happy. Period.Hey PC, I totally get this too. To me, when I am feeling really down, people who don't understand, but want to help, are like, "cheer up, don't look at it like that, " etc. And then I just feel like a loser for the way I think.
You may like this. I've had it taped to my wall for like a year now: http://www.diycouturier.com/post/47249603128/21-tips-to-keep-your-sh*t-together-when-youre The part about misguided happy people.
Posted by alexandra_k on October 21, 2013, at 22:17:46
In reply to Re: Happy Sunday, posted by Angela2 on October 21, 2013, at 21:28:55
i have trouble with the gratitude thing, too. Linehan had that as one of her coping things, I remember. Something about how when you are feeling sorry for yourself it can help to think of those who are worse off.
I guess it does help some people feel better or Linehan wouldn't have suggested it... And neither would Phillipa.
I simply don't get it, though. It only makes me feel worse that the world sucks so much or worse that I feel bad in the first place.
Hmm. But then I just posted a message to myself for the future that would remind me to feel grateful. Why did I do that? I don't know :-(
Posted by Angela2 on October 21, 2013, at 23:01:35
In reply to Re: Happy Sunday, posted by alexandra_k on October 21, 2013, at 22:17:46
I think of gratitude as counting your blessings, being thankful for what you have, remembering happy times, and thinking of like one thing that went right in the day. Currently I think it's a great thing. I guess it's all relative.
This is the end of the thread.
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