Astro

Exactly what I needed to hear today, that's beautiful! Thanks Cathy!

DolphinBlue

I tried for many years to self-medicate my depression with alcohol/drugs/people etc which worked for a while but ended up making everything in my life worse, including depression. Now I am in treatment for depression and using the AA program and I feel I've pretty much come up to a reasonably sane state of mind most of the time. Having said that, I have to work hard at doing the footwork and I need to remember that progress sometimes feels really slow. But sometimes I look back and I wonder how I feel so different to how I used to!

My thinking has a pattern of grasping the negative, dressing it up as absolute truth. I need to try to recognise the ******** from the reality. Often, I need outside help with this which I sometimes find just talking to another person. Medication and therapy also works for me for me in this way. It gets easier to spot the ******** which tells me that in my case treatment is both available and effective, but its not for everyone. The key for me I think was seeking help from a doctor who specialises in recovery from depression and addiction.

Other than that, for the normal day-to-day blues I find its what I choose to focus on that makes the difference.