[lasttime]

They say when things are at their bleakest, just try and appreciate the beauty of the sunrise/sunset, or the love of your pet, or, or, or....what about when none of those things helps to lift your heart, even a tiny bit????

I think many of us on the site can relate to this. I've faced some pretty sad moments - including being hospitalized. There have been times I thought it just couldn't get worse. I've just had to cope with the moments as they arise - ways to take my mind temporarily off the bad points. I myself can't suddenly find beauty when I'm in darkness. But, I can alleviate my mind by temporary distractions. I use tactile (touch), visual, audio. This is part of mindfulness. Practise it and it becomes quite easy and those difficult moments will become easier to get through. It won't make your Depression disappear but it ought to take a bite off those really, really hard moments.

[gayleggg]

I understand what you are saying. I have trouble appreciating the good stuff too when I'm at the bottom of the pit. It is really hard to appreciate beauty when you are in the pit of despair. It takes practice. So keep working at it. It does help if you can master it.

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[*Laurie*]

Going to a support group tonight to try and hold on. Trying to pay attention to my breathing to keep it balanced. Re-reading "Full Catastrophe Living" by Jon Kabat Zinn and doing at least some of the practices even if I don't feel like doing them.

[avlady]

i read that book too and its great. also using music helps me too.

[markdl]

I'll need to look for this book. Having the same problem right now. Never been hospitalized for depression, but so scared and worried that I might get to this point. Even talked to my boss about it and he suggested that if I needed to, I should do the FMLA thing. Looked into it but can't really afford to do it. I too need to hold on and want to overcome this episode of depression like I've done in the past. Trying it all. Light box, talks with my wife, praying etc. Still struggling.

[*Laurie*]

Originally Posted by markdl

I'll need to look for this book. Having the same problem right now. Never been hospitalized for depression, but so scared and worried that I might get to this point. Even talked to my boss about it and he suggested that if I needed to, I should do the FMLA thing. Looked into it but can't really afford to do it. I too need to hold on and want to overcome this episode of depression like I've done in the past. Trying it all. Light box, talks with my wife, praying etc. Still struggling.

Full Catastrophe Living is the kind-of "Bible" of mindfulness meditation.

I just try to be aware that things will eventually get better, even if it's a long time from now or even if I don't know when. Life goes through cycles of good and bad, and it's easy to lose sight of that. I know I often have a hard time keeping this in mind, but I find that when I do tell myself "this won't last forever", I often feel better, even if only marginally.

As rcat said, distractions can be helpful too. I've been very nervous about one particular thing coming up in a couple of days, and keeping myself busy has been helping me to overcome that. A lot of the time I fall into distracting myself with nothing but TV though, which I feel is probably unhealthy. :/

How are you? Thinking of you *hugs*

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