How do you guys shake off Depression?

[corarose]

I don't know If I can shake it this time and it's getting harder by the day. I thought that everything was behind me but something else has come up and I miss my Kitty.

I also have a Birthday this week and I don't want it.


How do you shake off depression? I have always managed to get past it but this is the worse that I can remember in a long time.

[alexwcovington]

1. Well...

It's not simple... but you've got to see that it does you no good. Whatever is depressing you, depression isn't going to help it. You have to face it.. or at least not bother yourself with it.

[jeter]

2. Keep busy and don't think about your cat so much

[Leftist78]

3. Music

Listening to it, playing it, writing it. I realize that's not going to work for everyone, but what I'm saying is whatever you're passionate about is the thing that will pull you through. At least that's the way it works for me.

[BelleCarolinaPeridot]

19. Music helps me too ..,

Whenever I feel sad inside or happy , I write everything down into musical compositions .

[FloridaJudy]

63. Feel good music: a definate upper.

The last movement of Beethoven's Nineth, "Hey, Jude", "Michael Roll the Boat Ashore", and *My Fair Lady* do it for me.:party:

[Journeyman]

4. Abraham Lincoln offers this advice. . .

"It is said an Eastern monarch once charged his wise men to invent him a sentence to be ever in view, and which should be true and appropriate in all times and situations. They presented him the words: 'And this, too, shall pass away.' How much it expresses! How chastening in the hour of pride! How consoling in the depths of affliction!"

-Abraham Lincoln

(a man who knew more than most the extent of human suffering)

[Paragon]

5. Depending who you talk to...

...it was either FDR's "New Deal" or the start of World War II. :silly: (You did capitalize the word "depression".)

Sorry - I suffer, too...and I find cracking jokes and being an all-around jackass often helps. :)

[leftofthedial]

11. I've found the same

I'm the biggest wiseass I know.

My friends wonder why, and it's for exactly that reason.

[sujan]

6. RUN

run like hell.......

[leftofthedial]

7. small world. I'm depressed and have a birthday this week too.

...though I'm kind of looking forward to it.

I've been pretty depressed for as long as I can remember, so I don't think I can help you get rid of it. But I'm pretty good at the maintenance.

Are you just depressed over a current life situation, or is it a chronic-recurring thing? If it's chronic, it may be medical. Definitely see a doctor.

Otherwise . . .

Do you have a creative/cathartic outlet--writing, painting, cooking, whatever? That's always good for me. I find that listening to music helps. It also helps me to get away from politics for awhile too. That's too much bad news that I can't really do much to change.

When it gets bad, I force myself to work more, which is escapist for me. I know tht's hard to do if you don't feel you can do anything. I also find domestic chores to be distracting, expecially if they make a long-term improvement to my circustances, like fixing something broken, or making a space more usable or nicer.

Most of all, if it gets too bad to handle, find someone to talk with.

Hugs help alot. Here's one for you. <hug>

[corarose]

16. No, it's just a bunch of things that have happened

The last couple of weeks.

I love to cook it's my passion and I use to draw and paint. I am going to get a pad and start drawing again.

It's just so many things at the same time at once.

1. I got sick in August and I took some incomplete in College
2. Someone came to visit me and I took some days off of class thinking that I could take incomplete again but instead I received F's and they are not in my Culinary Classes
3. I lost my Scholarship that pays for a portion of my tuition and I got told not to come back to class until I pay them the part that I lost
4. I can get my loan back once I bring my grades up but I can't go back until I pay them which means I am stuck and I have to get out of it somehow
5. I lost my Cat on Friday she died
6. My other Cat Rudy turned a candle over on him and he had to be rushed to an emergency vet because hot candle wax got on his tail
7. I live with a Mentally Challenged Adult who I need a break from
8. My only outlet are my classes and I was going to be in class 5 days a week starting Monday
9. My hopes for the future are put on hold and that was my only light at the end of the tunnel and my way off of disability.
10. I have a MAN laying a guilt trip on me for buying my two teachers a 97 cent T-Shirt and I bought several 97 cent T-Shirts for myself because my clothes were stolen back in March.
11. I have a birthday and I don't want it and my class was on my Birthday which means I would have had something to do.
12. I thought that I had a friend but I realized that was a joke when he made fun of me by talking about his you know what.


I HOPE THAT YOU HAVE A NICE BIRTHDAY AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY FELLOW SCORPIO.

GOD BLESS,
DEBBIE

[Name removed]

18. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[corarose]

22. I am just venting

The part that pisses me off the most is thinking that someone was a friend and he well never mind. I think that you might now what I mean.

I guess it's true women can't have a male friend unless the man is gay. I thought that he was a friend and he thought that I could be a phone well you know.

[spinbaby]

39. I see why you're depressed

It's not your imagination, you have a lot of sucky things going on in your life right now.

Here's what I do when life seems to get off track. Get a large pad of paper and a pen and write down what you want your life to be like--don't be shy and don't think small here--put down anything at all that you think is your heart's desire. Then, on the same pad, start writing down ideas that might get you to your goal. This exercise really opens your mind to possibilities and makes you feel optimistic. Sometimes when you're listing things, ideas pop out that you didn't know you had.

Good luck.

[Demobrat]

60. Someone came to visit you so you blew off school?

In that case, you chose failure. I hope the visit was worth it.

[Dirty Hippie]

8. Try to remember

"This too shall pass"

I think it is important to remind yourself that your mood will improve. You may not be able to feel that your life is good at this point but you can reassure yourself that you will feel better in the future.

For me, depression last about 2-3 days. I try to remind myself that it will pass soon when I am at the bottom.

Bless you.

[JohnKleeb]

9. Music helps me

:shrug: I dont know, sorry about your cat, I lost my dog when I was 4 and I dont remember much how I felt.

[corarose]

29. Music does help

When I use to work for bands and I was on the road Music helped everything.
I keep odd hours because it's an old habit that never dies. You go to bed at 6:00am and you get up in the afternoon and god forbid a maid comes in to clean the room when you are asleep and hungover from the night before (Just Kidding).

[JaySherman]

10. Binge drinking...

a long walk, pop in a favorite CD, go out with friends, take an unplanned spontaneous trip. Sometimes a combination of the above :evilgrin:

On edit: If you have someone you feel close, talking helps more than anything, especially in the long term. And companionship goes a long way.

And sometimes it's good to just stop and remind yourself you're alive and healthy. Just feel it for a moment and remember things could be a whole lot worse.

[Catch22Dem]

12. Happy birfday

Don't worry about birthdays. No matter how many one has, they're always gonna keep coming. My mantra is "don't waste time worring about things you cannot change." I've been saying that to myself for many many years. It works well for me.

[JailBush]

13. Keep busy and attack the source.

The source of my depression is corrupt government - notably King County Democrats, the Green Party of Seattle and Republicans - corrupt school officials, teachers unions and media. I got so sick of getting sh*t on every day, I finally decided to start fighting back.

It's an uphill struggle, and I get no support, but it feels so good to simply vent the rage I used to keep bottled up inside. Also, I derive some satisfaction from the knowledge that mine is a good cause - even if I'm the only person in the U.S. who realizes it.

[OneBlueSky]

14. well . . . off the top of my head . . . you might . . .

Stay in bed all day.
Dry clothes in the sun.
Eat mangoes naked.
Keep toys in the bathtub.
Spin yourself dizzy.
Dream of gypsy wagons.
Be ridiculous.
Hang upside down.
Listen to old people.
Make yes your favorite word.
Taste beauty.
Boogie woogie all night long.
Wear pajamas to a movie.
Tickle someone’s fancy.
Play cards with your mom.
Run barefoot in the grass.
Drink sunsets.
Take a bubble bath.
Eat a cake with no hands.
Delight someone.
Make a fort with blankets.
Paint your sneakers.
Caress yourself.
Plant licorice in your garden.
Encourage silly.
Invite someone to tea.
Read a trashy novel.
Give money away.
Kill your television.
Squeeze the Charmin.
Sing with the birds.
Draw on the walls.
Giggle with a child.
Build a lasagna.
Dance naked in the rain.
Eat sensually.
Burp.
Sleep under the stars.
Hug a baby.
Pick corn.
Smell lilacs.
Get wet.
Take a chance.
Expect miracles.
Follow a rainbow.
Forgive everyone.
Write yourself a love letter.
Give a backrub.
Gather stardust.
Take moonbaths.
Overdraw your account.
Listen to silence.
Play the harmonica.
Talk to an elf.
Hug a tree.
Eschew obfuscation.
Eat a flower.
Put a pink flamingo on your lawn.
Plant tomatoes.
Play with yourself.
Sing in a chorus.
Have a root beer.
Be happy for no reason.
Heal Humpty Dumpty.
Think like a mountain.
Listen to Mozart.
Smile seductively.
Swim in mud.
Learn how to serve.
Hang loose.
Invest in closeness.
Spit watermelon seeds.
Rent a dirty movie.
Slay a dragon.
Fondle a rock.
Make lemonade.
Follow your passion.
Cultivate creativity.
Help a stranger.
Go without underwear.
Play in a sandbox.
Count your blessings.
Believe in magic.
Open up.
Dive in.
Get high.
Be free.
Cherish life.
:hug:

[FlaGranny]

53. I second the Mozart suggestion

I cannot feel blue when I'm listening to Eine kleine Nachtmusik or Turkish March and last, but not least Horn Concerto. Mozart is depression's antidote for me. The world would be a much sadder place if Mozart had never been.

[CandyCrim21]

15. Personally........

I like to drive. My dad lives an hour and a half away from where I live so I like to drive down there just for the drive because it clears my head. I turn up the radio and roll down my windows and just drive. Its so relaxing. Working out helps me sometimes too. Maybe you should just have a good cry and call it a day! Sometimes thats just the ticket. Good Luck!;)

[Dr Satan]

17. 3 things

smoke a joint.
meditate.
Play Halo.

[megaplayboy]

20. Exercise, decent night's sleep, hot shower, vitamins...

1. 30 minutes to an hour every day or every other day of intense exercise--get your heart going, get a sweat going--this will boost your energy levels within a week or two.
2. get a full night's sleep every night, no matter what.
3. take longer showers to relax your muscles. Or baths. Always feels good to feel clean.
4. take a good multivitamin every day, and lots of B and C vitamins. Helps your energy and focus.
5. avoid things that trigger your depression. Find something entertaining that gets your mind off things for a little while.
6. Listen to your favorite uptempo music. Dance.
7. Talk with friends whenever you feel really low. It helps a lot.
8. Set minor, achievable, incremental goals every day and celebrate when you achieve them.
9. Practice "thought stopping"--when you start having negative thoughts that you know get you into a negative pattern, practice stopping those thoughts by thinking of counterarguments to make with yourself, or just telling yourself not to dwell on things you can't control and focus on what is in your control.
10. Masturbation is a great way to relieve tension, but remember that cliche about "moderation in all things"
:P

[Maddy McCall]

21. There's a major difference in "the blues" and clinical depression.

If you are experiencing depression, you don't need advice from DUers, but you need treatment from a mental health professional.

If it's just the blues, everybody gets them, and you have to find your own way to deal with them. But if it's depression, you need to find a therapist who can help you--you might need antidepressants and counseling.

[corarose]

24. No it's the blues

It's not depression the last time that I have been out with a man I was raped and its been something that I put out of my head a long time ago.

I live with a person that is Mentally Challenged and it's very rough every day as she gets older and she gets worse off.

I don't mention her much because she is so hard to get along with.

I have been checked for depression and they tell me I need a lifestyle change badly.

I am on SSD from what I have been through in my past as well as the pain.

[Zorra]

23. I learned how to control my thought processes.

I know this sounds simplistic, but I choose not to be depressed. After a divorce I read this book called "Your Erroneous Zones" by Wayne Dyer, and in the book he explains how to use your mind to control your feelings. It took me awhile to learn to do this effectively, but I worked at it and as time passed it got easier and easier. I have not been more than mildly bummed out for more than a few hours for well over a year now. I've actually learned how to keep myself pretty happy almost all the time no matter what my circumstances.

[corarose]

26. I have done that for years and it worked

But some of the things come back to haunt you from the past that you have blocked.

I can't sleep at nights because of what I have been through so I take late classes except they gave me a 7:00 am class with my favorite Chef who I have let in on my life a bit and it's hard to go to bed and get up but I don't have to worry about that anymore for a while.

The hardest part of my life is not being able to leave the room when arguments transpire.

[Zorra]

32. Oh.....

Something seems like it hit you pretty hard. I remember after my divorce I couldn't sleep for quite awhile. Maybe a little time will make it better.

I don't really think I'm blocking anything now though. Just staying real positive and controlling how things affect me. I forgot to mention that three years ago I moved to a place where the sun shines every day, that really helps me! Before I moved here I lived on the Pacific Northwest coast for 7 years, after having grown up in a sunny place, and the clouds and rain there really made me feel sad a lot.

Be really nice to yourself. Remember Golden Rule #2: Treat yourself like you would like others to treat you.
:hug:I hope you feel better soon.

-Z-

[jpgray]

28. To me, this is like thinking "I will not control my breathing"

Which never really worked for me, for controlling feelings or breath patterns. Of course, women can think and speak at the same time, so what would I know? :)

[sandnsea]

37. Me too

Until I took the whole thing and turned it into an over-reaction of normal bodily processes. Anxiety, anger, fear, just over-reactions of normal functions. Nothing else ever worked for me until I quit trying to control my thinking and started slowing down my physical reactions to stressful situations. After that the thinking sort of takes care of itself. For me anyway.

[stickdog]

25. Take two terms of FDR, and call me in the morning. (NT)

[jpgray]

27. Don't ask for, or take, advice. :-)

Whatever happens, you will get yourself out of your funk. Unless you enjoy being depressed, which some people do. Being depressed often corresponds with being inactive--Will Pitt for example was talking about a similar thing, and really, you'd be surprised what regular exercise can do. Also, setting goals (reachable ones) can really get you energized when you reach each one. It sounds stupid and corny, but it works! Also read some philosophy, like Marcus Aurelius's Meditations, that discusses your exact problem, and how it has been dealt with throughout known human history. :)

But satying active is the best advice--if you have free time, run, bike, work out, take a walk, write a story/poem/song, just do anything that exercises you and requires all of your attention. It cleans out the old brain. :)

Good luck.

[corarose]

31. I walk to College and back but that will end

I use to walk to Classes everyday and my College is next door to Cabrini Greens which makes for an interesting walk sometimes.

I live in a Habitat High rise in Chicago and we have a gym downstairs. The 97 cent t-shirts that someone made me feel guilty about buying I can wear to my gym. I am going to start exercising.

[jonoboy]

30. if it's clinical take anti-depressants

the new ones are brilliant, and then keep busy.

[Solly Mack]

33. Helping others always helped me

reaching out to others, lending a hand, sharing a burden...

keep busy with postive activities....

Keep swimming! (Dory-Finding Nemo)

[corarose]

34. I help everyone that I can by Volunteering at Culinary College

Right before I got sick I was coming in two days per week to help several people learn how to bake and I changed my class schedule in order to help them. One girl was going to give up and I encouraged her to stay and not quit that we all have hard times and rough patches to pull through.

She would bake her Cinnamon rolls and put icing on them before putting them in the oven, she would forget to put eggs in her brioche dough, and little things like that. She was the one that went in and told the whole college that I had my Teeth taken out but I still cared enough to help her after that.

I took my last few dollars and bought this woman shoes at payless because her shoes had safety pins in them and I bought her groceries because she was hungry.

I do have a heart and I am a giving person and I never want anything from anybody and anyone that really knows me knows this about me.

[Gore1FL]

35. Water, Vitamin B, Calcium, Coffee, and Fiber.

A lot of Water, a megdose of Vitamin B, a regular supplimental dose of Calcium, a pot of coffe and a glass of Metamucil will have you feeling as good as new -- well after a few days.

[JCMach1]

36. Wait for the next MANIC period to strike...

:)

It works for me anyway.

[dolgoruky]

38. Class Struggle

I embrace the class struggle, and always look for an opportunity to make a stand against injustice in the workplace or the wider world. When I'm not feeling so noble, I usually just tell myself a funny joke. It invariably works. Try and make someone laugh, that also helps.

[onebigbadwulf]

40. If you miss your kitty

why not save a new one's life and adopt

[hussar]

41. No good asking me

I've got it :shrug:

[Kamika]

42. watch a long movie or so

I only had a depression once and i just watched a tv series marathon for like 13 hours.. then It was gone

[spinbaby]

46. 13 hours of TV would make me depressed

Different strokes for different folks, but I find that TV has a mildly depressing effect on me--I guess it's the inactivity and mindlessness of it. I'd be more inclined to say leave the TV--especially the news--off.

[Kamika]

49. watch something good

I watched DS9 :D about 15 episodes hehe

[FloridaJudy]

65. Cool Idea!

Rent:
The Producers
This is Spinal Tap
Waiting for Guffman
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Airplane
Some Like It Hot
Duck Soup
Goundhog Day
Top Secret
There's Something About Mary...
Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure
Blazing Saddles

That should get you started

:toast:

[buddhamama]

43. i wallow in it...

honestly that is what i do. at some point in the process, the answer/s to why i am depressed and how to pull myself out come to me.

there is usually something in my subconscious that brought it on and to feel better i must bring it out. that isn't to say i can fix it or i instantly feel better but, it is part of the healing for me.

I am awfully sorry about your Kitty and the other troubles you are experiencing right now in your life. talk to friends, and know that people do care for you very much. :hug:

[mdmc]

44. think of depression as

the "burning" of negative karma. The negative karma MUST be spent in order to gain posistive karma.

Another point - Pray!
Om Mani Padme Hum (just say this over and over)
or a Hail Mary.

You have to do something! Exercise is good, but pretty hard for me. Try praying.

[Hubert Flottz]

45. I look at my 8x10 glossy of Shrub and Tony wrapped up nude.....

in the American flag! Then I open my window and scream, "I'm Mad As Hell And I'm Not Gonna' Take This SHIT anymore"!

Mad Trumps Depression, "try it you'll like it!"

[mac56]

47. In general, corarose -

Remember the acronym HALT. Don't get too HUNGRY, ANGRY, LONELY, or TIRED.

A little exercise helps, whether you believe it will or not.

[Jonte_1979]

48. Zoloft worked for me

It also helps to watch lots and lots of funny movies and to talk to a good therapist.

Good luck, Corarose. I hope you feel better soon.:hug:

[Endangered Specie]

50. Things great for depression:

Violent video games:


GTA
Halo
MOHAA (always fun to shoot people with vintage weaponry)

[pippin]

51. Eat Fish!

Fish/omega oils and low carbs help relieve depression.


http://www.lowcarb.ca/articlesb/article304.html

[MissMillie]

52. Two things

I try to do something highly productive.... like major house cleaning or organization projects.

I pray a lot.

[populistmom]

54. No sugar and frequent....

(not to be perverted or get the thread killed so trying to be discreet) um, uh....climatic experiences either with someone else or alone. I find depression doesn't happen for me if those 2 conditions are met.

[geniph]

55. There's a lot of things that sometimes help

and nothing that always helps - but none of these things hurt:

Get outside for a little while every day, preferably for a half-hour walk in the daylight. Both daylight and exercise help a lot.

Eat healthy foods.

Make yourself keep a schedule. No matter how depressed you are, force yourself to shower, dress, and get out of the house. Hiding in bed in the dark makes it exponentially worse.

See a doctor. A temporary prescription might be enough to lift you out of the current pit.

Interact with people, in person. Volunteer if you possibly can. That can help immensely.

The book "Unlearning Depression" taught me some very valuable cognitive therapy techniques; when I fall into suicidal ideation now, I visualize those thoughts actually being rejected by my mind. It sounds simplistic, but you really can unlearn depressive response. As I said, nothing works every time; some depressions are near-intractable - but none of these things will make it worse, and some might make it better.

When I lose a beloved pet, that is always a very, very bad time for me. If I'm not in a position to get a kitten right away (nothing helps with the blues like a baby cat, for me), then I get a toy cat and carry it around with me, sleep with it, keep it beside me to partially fill the aching hole in my heart.

Peace to you, Corarose.

[BigMcLargehuge]

56. I sit in front of the keyboard

and write. I can usually put myself into the minds of my characters enough to short-circuit the depression.

[Rhiannon12866]

57. My animals keep me going

I can identify with the loss of your cat, since I lost both of my dogs in the past year. I still ache for them, but I recently adopted another dog that really needed a home and she is just a delight. I know some people swear by antidepressants, but haven't found one that works for me. I know that money is a problem, but, if you could swing it, professional help is always best. I am part of a group and have found a lot of support there. Oddly, the others are almost all men. Some of my best friends have been male; I really do think it is possible. Most of all, I think it is important just to have someone to talk to and to know that someone else cares. That's one thing you know that you can count on DU for. People here care and really want to help. I have seen many acts of kindness here. Don't be afraid to accept help or support when it's offered. Hang in there; I care.:grouphug:

[rbnyc]

58. I don't shake it off, I just get better at getting through it.

I write in my journal. I play my guitar. I sing along to my favorite albums. I clean. I look out the window. I pet my cats. I hug people. I allow myself to do things slowly. I try to take advantage of the perspective, ask myslef what things I'm noticing that I might not notice if I were happy and had loads of energy. I try to be grateful for those things.

Before I go to bed, I think of at least 10 things that I'm grateful for.

[Nlighten1]

59. Medication

Getting professional help was a turning point in my life. Since then it has been blue skys for me.

[amazona]

61. you can't be depressed around birds

I'm sorry about your Kitty, it's always hard to see pets go.

As for how I shake off the blues...I'm into birds.
There is always something going on if you're into birdwatching -- migration either way, the breeding season, or else the winter visitors. Even in the middle of the night, there are "owl prowls." :-) And when you really can't bird, there is always the birding listserv or other gossip network for your state.

I don't find birthdays depressing, after all it is the one day of the year devoted to me, me, me. Don't forget, the older you get, the better the bottle of champagne you are entitled to. :-)


Happy Birthday!

[IronLionZion]

62. If you really do have depression, see a doctor !

Otherwise just keep busy doing stuff you like. You can also try St. John's Wort as a natural anti-depressant.

Stay away from weed and booze!

[neuvocat]

64. It can be physical too.

Diet and exercise can have a lot to do with it.

[shanti]

66. let's see....

:smoke:

[sam sarrha]

67. I was for years and after meditating for a while I began to see it in a

light. I was just really unhappy about life in general. I wanted it to be different..and there wasn't much chance of that. I grew up in poverty and have Attention deficit/dyslexia.. i have an IQ of 165, but a literacy level of 6th grade due to the learning disabilities... a back injury, i am 55 years old and unemployed. I just had a bad case of karma/Life. I would get a meditation teacher, and try it. there is a lot of info on Meditation on www.buddhanet.net some videos, etc. there are some good books, I am using 'Diamond Mind', by Rob Nairn. very good. meditation calms the mind, detaches it from discursive thoughts, the thoughts that go thru our minds all the time are not representative of reality, they are just what happens all the time, it is the nature of the mind.. "A negative thought will perpetuate itself and increase exponentially until it is replaced by a positive or neutral thought". However Positive thoughts have to be constantly cultivated in order to continue to be dominate. Meditation trains the mind to not be unconsciously controlled by its self. Please check out Pema Chodrons, "When Things Fall Apart". available at amazon or b/n. they have it on CD, I like the Cd or tapes best ..ADD. If those sort of things, regular exercise, and NO alcohol-a depressant!! dont work then see a doctor. It has been my personal experience that doctors resort to quickly to drugs, my wife is hopelessly addicted to Prosac...doomed to a life of Fox sitcoms. But that doesn't mean you should not consult a doctor. i am just suggesting covering the simplest alternatives first.

[ironflange]

68. Meds, music, work

Effexor has been a Godsend to me. Only problem is that I have to pee every hour, like clockwork, but it's worth it.

Music, whether the stereo or playing the piano for a bit, is also a big help.

Lastly, good old-fashioned physical labor can take your mind off it. I the past few years I've become a fairly accomplished carpenter and decorator.

Hope you shake it, corarose.

[Ladyhawk]

69. Hi corarose,

I've read a lot of your posts and even though I haven't responded to them very much, I want you to know I really empathize with your situation.

You have had too much on your plate at once. First the infection which led to having your teeth removed, then the death of your adored kitty. As an animal person, I can really empathize with that loss. It must be so hard.

Even through cyberspace my mind has been sending positive thoughts your way, even though I haven't had much to say through the written word. Mainly, this is because I have hit a very rough spot of my own and I've felt overcome with emotion at the heartache of others, immobilized, unable to respond.

I have fought off Depression (I have started using a capital "D" for the disease) for most of my life, but it's always coming back on me. The last time it was this bad I had to undergo ECT.

I am not a great fan of the American health care system, but if you are very sick, start weeding through the doctors, psychiatrists and psychologists now because it might take you a long time to find a good one.

There are some things you can do in the meantime, of course.

It has been my experience that psychiatrists suck. They have medical degrees and egos the size of Bush lies. I halfway expect that more of them are in it for the money than are psychologists. (If you are a psychiatrist and you don't suck, then never mind putting on the shoe I just described. If it doesn't fit, don't wear it.) I've been through a whole slough of psychiatrists and only one did not suck. On the other hand, more than a third of the psychologists tended to actually care. But even a caring psychologist may not practice the therapy you need. There are cognitive therapists, Freudian therapists, object-relational therapists, etc. An example: cognitive therapy doesn't do anything for me.

If you get help through a psychologist, you'll have to pair him or her with a psychiatrist (blecch) or a doctor to prescribe medications. I always feel cheated on this end of things because (in my opinion) medical health care in my area really, really sucks. Most probably you will have better luck wherever you are.

In the meantime...wow. No doubt you'll be feeling a lot of pain. I have been able to stop downward spirals by picking away at one aspect of the pain. Unfortunately, I have trouble arresting the spiral if it has continued for too long, so don't wait!

For example, I will start with my physical health and just plug away at it day after day. I will take my vitamins and my meds, wear my CPAP. I will do exercises. I will take a walk. This tends to slow down that nasty spiral. Once I have that under control, I'll pick another problem and hammer away at that. Of course, you should do whatever works for you.

The problem is that when you hit the bottom of the spiral, there's no energy left to even try. Please don't wait as long as I did this time.