[Trace14]

When you think you have reached rock bottom, and are thinking about giving up, what do you do to bring yourself back in the game?

[Raindropvampire]

Simply that I refuse to let life beat me. No matter how miserable I am I WILL get up I WILL live. I might have zero quality of life but it's my life and I refuse to let go of it.

Plus there's no guarantee that IF something comes after that it's any better than what I have now so what's the point of giving up. Better the demon I know than one I don't

[Trace14]

Originally Posted by Raindropvampire

Simply that I refuse to let life beat me. No matter how miserable I am I WILL get up I WILL live. I might have zero quality of life but it's my life and I refuse to let go of it.

Plus there's no guarantee that IF something comes after that it's any better than what I have now so what's the point of giving up. Better the demon I know than one I don't

Either way you are fighting a demon though. You have good points, but sometimes it just doesn't matter. You are in such a dark place and your exhausted from fighting any only ending up there. Why fight anymore? You've worked so hard, but nothing helps.
But I'm glad you have a strategy for getting yourself out of such places

I like to encourage people by saying "Rock bottom is a solid foundation for a new start", but honestly, it doesn't help me.

[SoupDragon]

It is hard. I have lost count of all the books I have read, so know the theory and when I am in a good place I can see it all so clearly (wow I seem to have written the start of a poem ) but when I am in that hole, it is like I am someone else and being in that hole is the only reality.

Right now I am thinking of quitting T. I question whether that is because I should or is it just that I am in that hole somewhere.

So in answer to your question, I don't know how to pull myself out as I am not always sure if I am in the hole or not.

[NeedHaldol]

Try to think good thoughts about the future.

I found this impossible at times. My wife knew when I was in a deep depression when she asked me about the future and I told her I couldn't see it.

You can get so wrapped up in the depression, it seems scary to NOT be depressed.

Try to do one positive thing a day. It doesn't have to be a huge undertaking. Do something like wash and change your sheets for your bed. Try watching a funny movie. Get yourself a treat - some kind of snack you never allow yourself to have.

If you start to do that, you will feel like you can do two positive things a day and so on. Eventually, you will start to feel whole again and you can fight slipping down the hole.

[Unrigged64072835]

I don't know. Usually it's a new sense of appreciation for all the things that make up my world. I'm not necessarily saying gratitude, but a different perspective on things. It doesn't happen much anymore since I'm living in a crappy place and don't drive because of panic attacks. However, when I was able to drive to a park or nature preserve and just wander around a bit I start seeing things differently. Same as when I take my camera and take photos; it takes me out of myself.

Maybe that's the key; stepping out of one's pain to gain a different insight on things.

[Trace14]

Originally Posted by Breadfish

I like to encourage people by saying "Rock bottom is a solid foundation for a new start", but honestly, it doesn't help me.

It's a good thought though. It's having the energy and fight to start anew. If you even know what that looks like anymore.

[Trace14]

Originally Posted by NeedHaldol

Try to think good thoughts about the future.

I found this impossible at times. My wife knew when I was in a deep depression when she asked me about the future and I told her I couldn't see it.

You can get so wrapped up in the depression, it seems scary to NOT be depressed.

Try to do one positive thing a day. It doesn't have to be a huge undertaking. Do something like wash and change your sheets for your bed. Try watching a funny movie. Get yourself a treat - some kind of snack you never allow yourself to have.

If you start to do that, you will feel like you can do two positive things a day and so on. Eventually, you will start to feel whole again and you can fight slipping down the hole.

I think that can be an issue for a lot of people. Not remembering what happiness was like, not know what would make them feel better, and wondering if it's worth the work. You have to find something outside the normal routine. If you have so many things you have to do for family and friends you are like a robot, doing what you have to do without any emotion. That cycle is not so easy to break.

[elevatedsoul]