[QUOTE=Lizi18;4185976]Hi Arsenal99,

I too suffer from depression (undiagnosed) and no how tiring it is when the general expectancy from a new year is that you change and things become very different when in fact you just feel like the same trapped person ready to start a different year in the same way. I'm certainly not an expert on how to change the way you feel as I'm pretty bad at it to be honest, but I can tell you what I plan to do In hopes that maybe you can do it too. My plan is to not "expect" anything. No rapid personal development or positive change. Why? I think It's a sure way to be disappointed. The only thing I WILL do is change small behaviours that I think encourage my depression. So for me, stressing and worrying incessantly, staying isolate, putting myself down and thinking extremely pessimistically and negatively. I'l probably try to be more active. Will I fail, maybe, but this year unlike any other, I'm probably going to keep trying. I use words such as "probably" and "maybe" because again, I have no expectations. So that's my advice, don't expect too much, if anything, expect a struggle and really crappy relapse into depression, but be persistent make small lifestyle changes so even if 2015 is the year you struggle to change you can enjoy that improvement in later years. I'l be right alongside you doing the same thing.
Best of luck [/QUOTE
Thanks for writing this! You put into words exactly how I feel today. I think New Years Day makes those of us suffering from depression feel pressure to feel so optimistic and positive, when that's the furthest feelings from our hearts and minds. We have to remember to be gentle with ourselves. I like what you say about having no expectations. That's the best thing to do! No pressure . . . But try to take one day, or one hour, or one minute, or one second at a time!