Depression and Happiness: These are two topics I've struggled with for a long time. My mom had MS and never seemed to be depressed so I always felt guilty when things got me down. Then I realized she was on like 3 different depression medications. haha
I know many of you battle with depression and thought I would share a site with you that I love. Its called Flylady and her mission is to help us "distracted" homemakers find ways to keep our house clean, she has also helped many lose weight and face their finances. Her next challenge, help her follows find happiness.
Here is the email she sent out today. If you would like to sign up for a daily email in ways to find happiness follow the links in the email or go to Flylady.net . Also if you struggle with house keeping she has a method for helping you get it clean, in time, with simple habits.
Gentle Hugs,
Stacey
Dealing with Depression
 |
| We Can Do This! |
Dear Friends,
A few days ago I set up a new list for Getting Happy! I am coming up with ideas for this subgroup of our FlyLady Emails. We are going to have some fun and put some happy back in our lives. This week I have been fighting sadness over two of our dogs getting out of their fence. We have been searching for three days now. I know that this is not depression because I have been in that deep hole and don't want to go back there again.
When I feel sadness I automatically look for ways to counteract that dark shadow that tries to overtake my every waking moment. I have tools at my disposal because I have created a step by step way to fight unhappiness.
One of the ways I do this is to find videos that make me smile and laugh. All the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge videos have helped. Here is the one we did on Friday. Michele's laughter is contagious.
On Monday I found a website that put a huge smile on my face. It is called the 24 Hours of Happy! Get up and move to the happy music. You cannot sit still and listen to Pharell William's song.
Sign up for our Getting Happy Emails. We will take the next week to get people signed up and then on September 1st we start with essays and anything that comes to mind to get happy.
Are you ready to FLY with Happiness being your engine?
FlyLady
Here is a testimonial we received about dealing with depression.
Dear FlyLady:
I read your Morning Musing on overwhelming depression - and I know exactly what you are talking about. I was diagnosed with chronic depression so many years ago - I don't even remember how many years. I take anti-depressants - sometimes they change in name or dosage; and I utilize the services of a mental health therapist. But depression waits like any addiction - it is very patient. It picks the most vulnerable moment and jumps right into your head. This time, my moment was the day the world lost Robin Williams.
Many knew he suffered from depression and various addictions; I loved his openness about things I held secret for so long. Robin never failed to make me laugh when I reached out to him. It doesn't matter that I didn't know him personally; YouTube has many of his videos available - free of charge! Robin would talk about depression and addiction; tell the darkest truths about the madness - then turn it around and laugh. And he laughed so well that I would laugh too.
Tragically, depression waited patiently and found Robin alone at his most vulnerable moment. When I heard he was gone - a suicide - I was so selfish. How would I survive if Robin couldn't? He was loved by everyone, yet faced the final darkness alone. How would I ever beat the dark monster? I spend so much time alone - do I have any hope of winning the battle that Robin lost?
Your writing today was gut-wrenching and honest; and it helped me. I read your entire essay, and I saved it (seven pages!). My sadness has started to go away over the past few days, but today was just hard. I am so side-tracked; it took three trips to the kitchen to get my coffee. So I sat down and read it all, some sentences I needed to read twice. When I returned to my email inbox, there was the note about the Getting Happy List. What a great idea!
A few years ago, a therapist asked me to create a "Happy Book." It's just a little photo book, the kind that cost a dollar and look like they won't last a week. She told me to put anything in there that makes me happy to look at it. It didn't need to be photos - there were poems, magazine pictures, brightly colored blank slips of paper. It wasn't long before I needed a second book...but the therapist said "No."
The idea is not to create a finished product - it is a work in progress. Like being a FlyBaby - I am definitely a work in progress! There have been changes to my Happy Book. I eventually changed the name to "My Book of Gratitude" and it has a few more pages! When I had to replace the original book (after taping it over and over), I bought a 4x6 photo book with a few more pages. The second book cost $4.95, inflation is crazy!
I have moved three times since 2010, all state-to-state moves. Things get packed, but not always unpacked. For the first time since 2010, all my belongings are in one house - and I am slowly unpacking them. I could do it faster, but I need to find a home for each item - or get rid of it. I wish my darling hubby was willing to let "things" go - but he and I do not agree on the definition of clutter. I was feeling the martyr syndrome and whining about his "mess," but I can't change him. I can change me.
Recently I unpacked a tote containing FlyShop items - still brand new. I bought them in 2011, and then moved for the second time. I remember thinking how pretty the purple was and how I can't use that to clean...it's too pretty! Not anymore. The Rubba Swisha(s) are in the bathrooms (in crocks with soap) and the Rubba Scrubba(s) are being used daily. One is for my elderly Boxer - I wrote her name right on the back. She loves it! I have a 16 oz. water bottle, Rubba Sweepa, and the dryer lint kit. This month I purchased the purple Rags in a Bag and the 2015 calendar. Your essay reminded me about my gratitude book. My newest "mission" is to find it and place this adorable FlyLady patch inside! I have everything I need...including gratitude that you are who you are and that I found your website...more than once!
I read your essay and I cried. I wrote this letter to you and I cried. I will get better and I will keep reading your emails every day because I need them. My heart will heal over Robin Williams someday - today he still makes me laugh! Today I have pushed depression away and I feel strong. And tomorrow I will follow my routines with baby steps.
I can do this.
a very grateful FlyBaby in Indiana