[wi_fighter]

Can somebody help me out here?

When you appreciate the little things and get a good feeling from it, but then something big comes along to stomp on that good feeling, how to you keep appreciating the minor daily blessings?

I'm starting to think the more I appreciate the little stuff, the more big stuff comes along to squash it, so if I ignore the little niceties, maybe the big bad stuff won't happen.

[silver_queen]

Perhaps the big bad stuff would seem even worse if you didn't appreciate the little things?

(((((((((((((( wi )))))))))))))))

[dexter]

IMO it is largely a depression issue.

Depression makes our brains tend to ignore anything even remotely positive and focus heavily on every little (or big) thing negative.

So if you can take it upon yourself to think about, remember, and appreciate those good things, even if small, it is very healthy for your brain and maybe even help toward recovery and dealing with the big stuff better.

Also, in general, life is a series of good feelings and bad feelings, and you wouldn't want to ignore the good feelings just because there are bad feelings sometimes.

With depression though it sways the balance of what we see as good/bad feelings and that is what sucks so much with this illness.

[wi_fighter]

I just feel like "why get excited about not getting yucky mail today?" or finding a way to do a minor task easier, or even having a good therapy session with my daughter? They're insignificant. But if I don't enjoy things like that, it feels like I never have anything to enjoy. Nothing major happens for me happiness-wise anymore. The only major things are the downers.

[lenjan]

My philosophy has always been, you have to celebrate the little victories, because the big ones don't come around that often.

I'm excited as hell every day I pick up my snail mail and there isn't a bill in it! :-) I owe a gabillion bucks in medical bills that I can't pay. They're on my butt constantly. But if for one day, none of them sends me anything -- WOO HOOOO!

I guess it's all in your outlook.

Candy

[wi_fighter]

CB, that's how I'm trying to look at it. Every day I don't get something in the mail from my lawyer or don't get an irritating e-mail from my ex, I feel like the day is just a little bit better. Most times I feel idiotic taking pleasure in those sorts of things though.

Those little things add up to be a majorly bummer day or a smoooooooth pleasant one.
I'm all for the little things!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jmo531]

Its hard to praise the little things because we see them as "little" or "no big deal".

It is the depression talking. The fact that we demand so much from ourself that we tend to overlook all the little things. Fact is W_I, your doing great. Baby steps, it aint easy.......I know, but try to remember, those little things add up.

all the little things do add up to make your day a little bit easier, you may not see them but they are still there when the big things come a stompin, sorta like cushioning the blow, for a better analogy, you would miss them more if they were not there

[Lifelost]

I know what you mean.. I feel that many of the people that posted are correct. When you are depressed, your view of the world is distorted. Positive things seem less significant. Negative things seem more significant. It's hard to reconcil that. Maybe you can come up with a list of goals.. accomplishments that you wish to attain in the short term and long term. Perhaps accomplishing these things will make you feel a sense of significant gain.