Depression

I beg to differ with you Sir in regards to your comment that "this is a mostly useless thread". Depression is a very real emotion and often very difficult to learn and/or know who to deal with.

There are different kinds of depression and some can only be dealt with from a medical stance. There are those who have chemical embalances in the brain that require them to use medicine to aid in their feelings of depression. And of course, the other kind of depression is just the kind that life itself sometimes imposes on us. In either instance, depression is not always easy to handle. I have suffered from depression in my life also.

Like you, I have tried to cope with using alcohol, but that is only a temporary fix at best. In actuality, alcohol adds to the depression as it is a depressant. I have had to learn to change my mind set where depression is concerned. Easier said than done, I assure you! I try to surround myself with "Happy". I try also to find things that make me laugh...alot. Sometimes being around others that may be sad, negative or depressed only adds to one depression. Others moods seem to rub off onto us, if you will. I have also learned that being active and/or exercise that is strenuous helps a great deal! It produces endorphine release, a chemical in the brain, that makes you just feel better somehow. I loved doing martial arts at one time, but at my age, I thought it best to close that part of the book, so to speak. Have you ever heard of a "runners high"? Well that is in reference to endorphine release. It makes you feel better...changes your outlook somehow and lessens the depression. Understand I am speaking from the stance of coping with depression without the aid of prescription medication. Anything that gets your blood pumping and your heart rate up triggers the endorphine release in the brain.

Also, I try to focus on the good things in my life. There are many Blessings that we have that often go un-noticed by us. For example, we have a nice place to live, as opposed to having to live under a bridge or in a homeless shelter. Often times it helps to make a list of the good and the bad things in our lives. In doing so, you will find that the good always out weighs the bad.

There is also the Spiritual aspect of dealing with depression, but I will not go there as it is sometimes a controversial type thing. I am not sure if I have helped you in any manner, but please know you are not alone. We are never truly alone in this vast world of technology. There is the cyber world in which we all live that enables us to reach out and touch someone...sometimes that helps a great deal.

Thank you for your Blog and reading my long response. I apologize for the length of my response. Chin up as they say and look for the good. It is there I assure you!

Blessings~
Dayna