[Icare dixit]

I was thinking, you are all such wise, intelligent, caring and loving people, who should really care about the rest, our problems? Even mania often is the most loving, caring thing there is, if you think about it. We deserve some time off sometimes.

Just two (more) songs, which describe how I feel about you all: "Beautiful People" by Melanie, and "Forever Young" by Bob Dylan. I hope you enjoy them.

Never feel guilty for who you, albeit sometimes clouded by sorrow and doubt, truly are!

[ComfortablyNumb5]

(((Hugs)))

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[Icare dixit]

Thanks for the hugs! You deserve to be held lovingly! Hold out for nothing less!

And just a reprise, because it might really help you (small print: if depressed, please don't take the bit about death too literally, not even after a plunge back into depression after the song: we need you, truly! You are beautiful, special, precious, scarce, just like we are: life will be harder for us without you, we need your compassion and caring! If manic: watch out for the Romans):

.

[Icare dixit]

Let's turn this into a "reasons to go on" thread: music, jokes, comforting thoughts, deep wisdom, anything that will always keep us going, taking depression in one's stride...

I'll start: do you know BP stands for Be Persistent, Passionate and Patient.

Just go on: you have always done it up to now! You are a natural in persistence! Buckle down!

You are exceptionally passionate: don't mind what others think, but enjoy! Don't ever feel guilty for finding meaning in everything! Just be careful you might make mistakes, go too far. High flyers may fall. It happens. Be humble. Move on.

Take time to recharge: don't see depression as needless self-pity, but as constructive self-reflection and (physical) recuperation. Just wait and you are good to go! Be patient.

[Ocean Swimmer]

Nice. Thank you. I needed to read that. I'm a mess.

[Icare dixit]

Originally Posted by Ocean Swimmer

Nice. Thank you. I needed to read that. I'm a mess.

Don't ever stop posting, if you want, as long as there are still people here to support you.

Another one: did you know BP stands for

? You all are, even, in a way maybe more so, if you don't always, maybe just sporadically but intensely, show it (sorry for generalising, but I think it is pretty per BP-se; you just are: take your time, take all the time you need, and it will show, you will reap instead of weep, tears of joy)! Always hold on. The struggle will make you more beautiful still: you are strong and know yourself to be, even if not now.

[Icare dixit]

Practical, philosophical prowess, for a balanced, more stable, life (hope this introduction covers it):

Originally Posted by venusss

Not talking exactly about "how to be happy" here. That is really not the point, imho.

Pick your fights. Don't try to convince everybody about everything. Not everybody is going to love you. Live with it. As long as some consider you lovable and great, you are doing good.

Notice the little things. Make a memory jar to write good memories, even little ones in. Or carry a journal to record the random moments in. Take pictures of things beautiful or funny. There are plenty of them.

Break the routine from time to time. Make sure you get out. Don't just do the home-work-home, alternatively home-work-supermarket-home. Go for a walk and explore. Sit on a random city transport bus and get off wherever you feel like it. Take pictures. Or go in some coffee shop. Anything.

Don't run from the things that bother you. Most of them have solution. If it's not obvious, look deeper.

Societal and political things matter. If they bother you, don't just whine about it online or in pub. Do something. But then realize the point, where you can say "done all I can, I can just pray now" and try not to obsess.

Compliment random people on the street. Tell them they are beautiful and that their outfit rocks.

Cultivate your spirituality. Feeling presence of strange beings around you may not mean you are crazy... they might be out there, for real. Learn to shield yourself through spiritual shields and cleanse your aura.... or whatever suits your needs. But chances are... you need something greater than yourself and other humans to cling to. And maybe something "illogical" too.

Suffering is part of life. And often, it is meaningful. Listen to your pain, instead of trying to numb it.


What are your philosophies to get you through?

[Icare dixit]

Some more what can be termed philosophy, hopefully helpful, almost gone to waste (add your own if they may help someone of course):

My philosophy: focus on what binds us, transcends us, connects us, makes us see what is essential to each and every one of us, and everything around us. All of us different, all of us special, all of us ever more capable of being as one.

It takes mania and depression: seeing yourself in others and seeing others being different from yourself, the beauty of relations and idiosyncrasy.
__________________

[Standup2me]

I've always thought, "well, I've made it this far, compared to what I've gone through, the future will be a cakewalk" .

And, "is this hill worth dying over?" (pick your battles). I cannot change the world, but I can change this little piece within my reach. Be content with that.

Those two little thoughts on life have carried me a long way. I think that in some way, they comfort me

[hopeless2015]

Thanks for this thread, just diagnosed last year and been IP 3 times and not bouncing back so quick after last one. Needed to see and be reminded of positive outlooks

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[Icare dixit]

You aren't responsible for your BP (schizophrenia being the other option, if there is any), you probably aren't very much responsible for your depression, but you are certainly responsible to make the best (use) of it!

I am not talking about housework or socialising with family or friends: it can wait. I am talking about not getting under-stimulated (causative factor in (mild) agoraphobia or other anxiety problems, psychoticism and worse psychotic problems), so do go to places where there are people and go and explore the beauty of nature, just observe.

Try to steer clear of excitation/aggravation. Talking to anyone might be too much, at first.

Leaving your bed or house might also be too much at first, but it may also mean you are too late: you should have stayed outside as much as possible.

Take your time: you can't rush depression. It will backfire. Try to make your depression milder and more peaceful first, then and only then start doing stuff.

Take a week's leave of absence from work (if you still have it; or more), but don't push yourself to keep working as much as possible: take a relatively long period off work right when depression hits, so you don't stumble along with dispersed sick days in which you have no time to work on you depression.

Don't ever just stumble along. Recovery is a (very) gradual thing, which needs firm foundations and careful attention and planning. Foundations to restructure your life on. Foundations to stand on and look over the clouds that gathered low.

Depression benefits you immensely: not in the short but in the long run. We discover so much more about what it means to be human. No need to feel guilty about that: quite to the contrary. Just figure out how to use it in a better, more peaceful way: always. Steer clear of aggravation and excitement. Always steer a middle course.

You will eventually get better at it. Maybe even enjoying it in the moment, but certainly afterwards when you truly made progress. It may give you a feeling that you can't wait to be depressed again. To keep getting better at it. Seriously.

Good luck!

[Icare dixit]

Optimism is all about optimality: there is always an optimal way of living!

Focus on living it, it will distract you, if nothing else.



Accept that the optimum is never ideal. Be thankful it isn't: there'll always be room for growth.

[DesigningWoman]

"The truth will set you free, but it will piss you off first."

“Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” ― A.A. Milne (Christopher Robin)

“My entire life can be described in one sentence: It didn't go as planned and that's okay.” ― Rachel Wolchin

[Icare dixit]

An appointment one of us has with a very

, when very severely manic/psychotic, with thought blocking and with a family heteroanamnesis.

Brings back memories, doesn't it?

[Icare dixit]

Dedicated to anyone suffering from BP depression (you are loved): "

" by Bob Dylan.

Depression is just transient blindness. It will pass! You are loved. Just the fact that you can endure depression makes you amazing.

[Icare dixit]

kills: excitation kills. Depression =

. Meds protect cells. Brain cells

. Memories are more reduced conceptually. We are loosely screwed. Society is firmly screwed. More firmly still without us. Acceptance is wisdom. Rationalising the unknown, intelligence.

.

Life is a game you can't lose, when you just keep holding on.

[Icare dixit]

With control comes responsibility. Never feel guilty for things beyond your control.

[Icare dixit]

Ok, maybe you weren't as good as one in a million, but still one in a hundred isn't bad.

[Icare dixit]

Know you're never alone. We feel you no matter what. Whether buried deep or all-consuming, we know your pain. We share your pain.

[Icare dixit]

Final calls for boarding! We are on our way from blinding depression back to blue skies, meaning, purpose and mesmerising beauty! Just follow the thread!

You can always come later: it's never too late. We will be waiting and embrace you as one of us: sometimes blinded by the sun, but all wise, intelligent (that is controversial) and caring. The world needs you: more of us. The world is waiting. Just follow the thread, easy does it. Never too late.

[Icare dixit]

For those who question their (epiphanic) realisations: take the speed with which you have been rationalising and made assumptions as an objective measure of the likelihood that you made a mistake. Always dare to question your assumptions, but never part with your deep, long-lasting, formative beliefs. Beliefs transform you, but don't let then consume you. Guard against overestimating others. Most don't really know what they do or feel. Assume they just do, without much reason: they're sometimes almost like us!

Just assume you might have had a mini-mania, so quick you might feel your screws are firmly fixed, but you might've lost some. Just re-organise, rewire and re-screw: pretend you are depressed. Depression (often) follows mania for a reason: those very reasons.

[pirilin]

Great post.