Great post, Michael. Wonderful to read your story and how you have been able to manage your depression.
To help me cope with these depressing times, I steal a quote that the British Columbia Provincial Health Officer ended her pandemic press conferences with: “It’s not forever but it is for now. Be kind. Be calm. Be safe.”
It’s a mantra I repeat to myself when I can’t sleep and when the news hits, hurts, and frightens me.
I’m clinically depressed, passed down from my parents. 17 therapists due to moving frequently as a Navy wife. Plus, it’s hard to find a good therapist.
So, I’m still depressed, but less due to therapy, meds and TMS(new version of electric shock). But, life is so depressing right now. During his first presidency I had an emotional breakdown down leaving me in bed for 17 months.
This time I’m not in bed. I’m trying to fight, trying not to flee the country leaving my three children and 7 grandchildren. I make my choices for me now. I believe I am stronger, but it’s still depressing.
I'm so glad you're managing your depression! I've found that reaching for a book for entertainment or to pass the time is much better for me than reaching for my phone so I'm trying to do that more often. I've always been one to read while I eat, so I'm going back to a book like in the old days before smart phones.
Still working on The Expanse series (I'm on Cibola Burn), chipping at Red Comet (about Sylvia Plath) and on my phone there's William Gibson's Burning Chrome. Depends on my mood.
Glad to hear you’re at the outer edges of it, Jana. And so well put re: MacDonald and McGee. Devoured the first book this weekend and I’m halfway through book two. So good.
There are so many good Florida writers like MacDonald. Just look up Florida Writers and dive in. Personally, I’ve been reading Tim Dorsey and Carl Hiaasen a lot just because of their absurdity.
It's very easy to watch and enjoy, and it definitely has us asking plenty of questions and learning. We haven't started season 4 yet, but it walks right up to the state of where things were prior to October 7th, from what I gather. Eeee!
I do think depression is genetic (obviously turned on by environmental or chemical things) just like anxiety. Some people have an over abundance of these genes that are influenced by outside factors. We now know that experiences your GRANDMOTHER had
while pregnant can be passed on via skipped generation to you (your moms ova were already there). Epigenetics has taught us that genes can be switched on and off. Medications, awareness, coping strategies, meditation,yoga, all work. Glad you found yours.
4. Ugh, Strindberg, and then more of that. Not enough B vitamins. To be honest, depressing is just reality. Depression comes from within and acts like brain blockers. Take your brain blockers off!
5. Joyce: "The heaventree of stars hung with humid nightblue fruit."
1. I hate/watch TV (I am on my laptop usually paying some amount of attention) but I won’t complain about shows because I’d rather be reading or writing.
2. I refuse to post pictures of food I’ve eaten on social media. And people who do are usually insufferable.
3. Nihilism is like everyday. LOL
4. I get depressed often because things are depressing.
Depression runs in my family, but things are just depressing for me. I don’t do nihilism, but I love existentialism. Can’t wait to hear about your goat yoga adventures!
I'm a mental health provider and I have battled depression most of my life. My depression presents as very anxious. Last summer I went through something that caused me to be very stressed. My epiphany was similar: Stress is not anxiety.
I am recovering from back surgery and trying not to be depressed. I left Twitter and am trying not to doom scroll while I'm trapped in my bed.
Goat yoga is the best!! I've done both goat and bunny yoga. Goat yoga is way better. I can't wait to hear your hilarious take on the absurdity that is yoga with goats.
Tv shows that are depressing? CNN. The state of the americans under trump is depressing and surely to cause depression. The topic of nilihism is what is happening under trump. Trump trump and trump- a bully who gets too much attention who claims to love god and his country but is destroying it. Took a picture of a meal my friend and i trevor made this week - a salmon dinner with veggies. Good for the brain.
Great post! I'm rewatching Twin Peaks with a new generation (my 23 yo) and it's fun to pass on the weirdness. I sent same 23 yo a picture of the Hoppy Pilsner and Brisket sandwich I had for lunch today, but no one else.
Honestly, I'm not sure whether I am depressed or find The Current State of Things depressing as hell. I'm not jumping out in front of traffic, or anything, but I do find myself musing, "would it REALLY be that bad if the doctor told me I only had 6 months to live?"
I THINK we are going to get through this, but I'm not really 100% confident of this assessment. Time will tell, I suppose.
Michael. I'm so glad that you were able to have this realization/epiphany. I've found yoga to be a huge help to my own depression and PTSD symptoms. That, and of course a lot of therapy! Being able to come out of the deepest hole and then have to stare down what was a big trigger for you in the first place and come through it. That's huge. That's progress. Way to go. The work you're doing for yourself is the most important and it's paying off in the most important way.
Thank you for sharing this. And congrats! Now tell me, what does the other side look like? I’m having a hellova time getting off the final 5mg of Lexapro. And I already do all the recommendations for a non-depressed life.
Love your questions this week.
2. Homemade mint ice cream. It wasn’t green. Who equated mint flavor with green?
Great post, Michael. Wonderful to read your story and how you have been able to manage your depression.
To help me cope with these depressing times, I steal a quote that the British Columbia Provincial Health Officer ended her pandemic press conferences with: “It’s not forever but it is for now. Be kind. Be calm. Be safe.”
It’s a mantra I repeat to myself when I can’t sleep and when the news hits, hurts, and frightens me.
I’m repeating it a lot recently.
Love the mantra, Paul. Thank you for sharing!
I’m clinically depressed, passed down from my parents. 17 therapists due to moving frequently as a Navy wife. Plus, it’s hard to find a good therapist.
So, I’m still depressed, but less due to therapy, meds and TMS(new version of electric shock). But, life is so depressing right now. During his first presidency I had an emotional breakdown down leaving me in bed for 17 months.
This time I’m not in bed. I’m trying to fight, trying not to flee the country leaving my three children and 7 grandchildren. I make my choices for me now. I believe I am stronger, but it’s still depressing.
It sounds like you’re a helluva fighter. Stay strong, Wendy.
I'm so glad you're managing your depression! I've found that reaching for a book for entertainment or to pass the time is much better for me than reaching for my phone so I'm trying to do that more often. I've always been one to read while I eat, so I'm going back to a book like in the old days before smart phones.
Love this, Amber! What are you reading these days? I had fallen into a rut, but I just discovered John Macdonald’s Travis McGee series and I’m hooked
Still working on The Expanse series (I'm on Cibola Burn), chipping at Red Comet (about Sylvia Plath) and on my phone there's William Gibson's Burning Chrome. Depends on my mood.
Glad to hear you’re at the outer edges of it, Jana. And so well put re: MacDonald and McGee. Devoured the first book this weekend and I’m halfway through book two. So good.
There are so many good Florida writers like MacDonald. Just look up Florida Writers and dive in. Personally, I’ve been reading Tim Dorsey and Carl Hiaasen a lot just because of their absurdity.
Screw getting into today's hottest political issues. We are escaping by watching a little lite show called "Fauda."
Ha! I’ve heard Fauda is great.
It's very easy to watch and enjoy, and it definitely has us asking plenty of questions and learning. We haven't started season 4 yet, but it walks right up to the state of where things were prior to October 7th, from what I gather. Eeee!
A friend in Israel said the show was popular amongst the Palestinians as well.
I already thought this about the situation, but the show does a fantastic job of showing that the situation is the real enemy, not the people.
My Israeli friend also said the PA and Hamas hate each other more than the Jews. What a crazy neighborhood. 😞
Fab show! I can’t believe there’s another season coming!
Ephany the world will not stop if you relax and smell the roses but will only if you stop breathing!
Bingo!
I do think depression is genetic (obviously turned on by environmental or chemical things) just like anxiety. Some people have an over abundance of these genes that are influenced by outside factors. We now know that experiences your GRANDMOTHER had
while pregnant can be passed on via skipped generation to you (your moms ova were already there). Epigenetics has taught us that genes can be switched on and off. Medications, awareness, coping strategies, meditation,yoga, all work. Glad you found yours.
I'll pass on 1 and 2. and go straight for ...
3. too much Strindberg
4. Ugh, Strindberg, and then more of that. Not enough B vitamins. To be honest, depressing is just reality. Depression comes from within and acts like brain blockers. Take your brain blockers off!
5. Joyce: "The heaventree of stars hung with humid nightblue fruit."
1. I hate/watch TV (I am on my laptop usually paying some amount of attention) but I won’t complain about shows because I’d rather be reading or writing.
2. I refuse to post pictures of food I’ve eaten on social media. And people who do are usually insufferable.
3. Nihilism is like everyday. LOL
4. I get depressed often because things are depressing.
5. No epiphanies because I can’t even spell it.
6. I live for your numbered lists.
Depression runs in my family, but things are just depressing for me. I don’t do nihilism, but I love existentialism. Can’t wait to hear about your goat yoga adventures!
🐐
I'm a mental health provider and I have battled depression most of my life. My depression presents as very anxious. Last summer I went through something that caused me to be very stressed. My epiphany was similar: Stress is not anxiety.
I am recovering from back surgery and trying not to be depressed. I left Twitter and am trying not to doom scroll while I'm trapped in my bed.
Goat yoga is the best!! I've done both goat and bunny yoga. Goat yoga is way better. I can't wait to hear your hilarious take on the absurdity that is yoga with goats.
Stress not anxiety. That’s wonderful. Frame that one.
Just wanted to briefly say (for now, maybe more later)
Love this post of yours!!! Thank you for sharing.
And so glad for you that your are not depressed anymore, after having battled with the Black Dog for so long. (No wonder Mortimer is white! 😉)
Thank you so much! I’ve never heard depression called the Black Dog. Is that a common Dutch phrase?
Michael, that’s what Winston Churchill called it!
Oh wow, I had no idea. Thanks for explaining, Debbie.
The expression has a very long history, it's quite universal, not coined by Churchill.
Interesting. Thanks for adding to this one.
In Australia, we even have a Black Dog Institute!
Yes, Churchill. But common name in my circle of friends; we are not all historians 😂
There is a beautiful WHO YouTube video about depression, with a black dog animation. Can give you the link if you'd like.
Yes, please. Would love to see it.
https://youtu.be/XiCrniLQGYc?si=yXDODJYWa7I6y8aK
Tv shows that are depressing? CNN. The state of the americans under trump is depressing and surely to cause depression. The topic of nilihism is what is happening under trump. Trump trump and trump- a bully who gets too much attention who claims to love god and his country but is destroying it. Took a picture of a meal my friend and i trevor made this week - a salmon dinner with veggies. Good for the brain.
This might sound strange, but a good salmon is a little slice of joy and nourishment. Not the answer to nihilism, but a tasty start.
Great post! I'm rewatching Twin Peaks with a new generation (my 23 yo) and it's fun to pass on the weirdness. I sent same 23 yo a picture of the Hoppy Pilsner and Brisket sandwich I had for lunch today, but no one else.
What a great show introduce to a younger generation.
Honestly, I'm not sure whether I am depressed or find The Current State of Things depressing as hell. I'm not jumping out in front of traffic, or anything, but I do find myself musing, "would it REALLY be that bad if the doctor told me I only had 6 months to live?"
I THINK we are going to get through this, but I'm not really 100% confident of this assessment. Time will tell, I suppose.
Michael. I'm so glad that you were able to have this realization/epiphany. I've found yoga to be a huge help to my own depression and PTSD symptoms. That, and of course a lot of therapy! Being able to come out of the deepest hole and then have to stare down what was a big trigger for you in the first place and come through it. That's huge. That's progress. Way to go. The work you're doing for yourself is the most important and it's paying off in the most important way.
Thank you, Kim! This is so well put. Also, yoga4life!
Thank you for sharing this. And congrats! Now tell me, what does the other side look like? I’m having a hellova time getting off the final 5mg of Lexapro. And I already do all the recommendations for a non-depressed life.
Love your questions this week.
2. Homemade mint ice cream. It wasn’t green. Who equated mint flavor with green?
The other side looks like your life, minus the heavy emotional baggage you no longer need to carry (but were / are still carrying for some reason).