Depression is a Lying Bastard Fest

[untonuggan]

It has come to my attention that it is That Time of Year again for most people with SAD in the Northern Hemisphere, and that for many other folks Bad Things and/or Anniversaries seem to be piling up. At times like this, it is hard to remember that Depression is a Lying Bastard and that it *does* get better again.

So! A friend and I came up with the Depression is a Lying Bastard Fest. There are many ways to participate in comments below:

• a gratitude list (because there are still good things in the world) or a list of good things
• something you are proud of (a la the Monday Pride thread)
• a funny poem (limmericks work well here)
• cute things! animals, babies, whatever floats your boat!
• anti-winter and/or anti-depression manifestos! This can be in the form of a poem or a simple declaration of "Fuck you, brain weasels, and your lying ways! I will not believe your lies!"

Feel free to comment on someone's comment if you find it particularly moving, but please keep things positive. Anonymous comments are currently turned on. (Please don't abuse them.)

If this grows and becomes very popular, or if you have more ideas, feel free to spread the Depression is a Lying Bastard Fest to your own journal or comm! Also, I would love it if you linked back here so that we got more participants. ^_^

Comments

[kaberett]

Unlike this time last year:

• I don't have any funerals to go to in the next week (so far, fingers crossed, etc).
  
• I have a wheelchair.
  
• My research project is BEHAVING ITSELF and I have DATA that makes SENSE. And I am not so depressed that 5am is a regular occurrence in my life.
  
• my room is full of lovely people being lovely. They are having a detailed conversation about the Brazilian for pineapple, and we shall probably shortly be making apple crumble or something, and we are working our way through the entirety of Buffy and plotting badfic (Xander has hopeless schoolboy crush on Angel, Angel provides pity shag, Xander is simultaneously horrified & relieved to discover that Xander wears socks in bed, etc etc).
  
• The increased dose of anti-depressants is more-or-less working after a fashion.
  
• I am in a position to actually be applying for PhD programmes and... I am baffled and overwhelmed by how positive people are being in response to my queries? But also really flattered?
  
• ... my life is full of wonderful people, really. I couldn't do this on my own.

And something I'm proud of: I've started putting together a small notebook of lovely things people have said to me, and poems that make me feel safe and loved. It is wonderful, and really really helpful.

[jesse_the_k]

Exxxxxcellent.

I have a vitamin L (for love) bank envelope where I keep all the cards and letters and birthday pix with pals. It's at the center of my desk so it's handy to remind me that depression LIES and I am love worthy.

[untonuggan]

Thank you for sharing this, it is really encouraging! Also, yay that things are going well for you right now!!! \o/

[jjhunter]

And something I'm proud of: I've started putting together a small notebook of lovely things people have said to me, and poems that make me feel safe and loved. It is wonderful, and really really helpful.

<3! I'm so glad that's working for you - I've been doing the same. :o)

Re: 5am, hee - I usually see it from the other side (I wake up at 5am daily).

[southernmyst]

My research project is BEHAVING ITSELF and I have DATA that makes SENSE.

Hallelujah. I know in so many of my science labs, nonsensical data was always such a frustration. It'd drive me nuts on any kind of a larger scale. So, yay for your data behaving itself!

Awesome about the PhD responses - and everything else, too! :-)

And something I'm proud of: I've started putting together a small notebook of lovely things people have said to me, and poems that make me feel safe and loved. It is wonderful, and really really helpful.

That's a wonderful idea. I've got the beginnings of one, the letters that people wrote in support of my most recent immigration application. Your idea is brilliant - I should really add to it regularly!

[kaberett]

This is actually entirely jjhunter's idea, which I nicked, and - yes, it is so SO lovely. <3