Depression is a Lying Bastard Fest
Nov. 26th, 2012 12:57 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
untonugganIt 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:
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. ^_^
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!"
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. ^_^
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Date: 2012-11-27 12:10 am (UTC)I'm a therapist. I've been through depression, had more friends than I could count with depression, and now I treat people with depression. And you know, so many people who are deeply depressed think they can't accomplish anything meaningful, lack self-worth, or believe they're awful... but so many of them accomplish things despite the incredible handicap in their way. They learn and work and create. They love and help others and bring value to their communities. The world is a better place because of them.
Which they don't believe. I remember what it's like not to see any of that. So it gives me patience when these people struggle to see the world beyond the dark veil. Sometimes the first step is to be okay with being depressed, to accept that there's nothing awful and evil about feeling this bad; to give yourself permission to hurt and doubt and struggle without thinking you "should" feel better.
But sometimes I wish brainweasels were real so I could pull them out of a client's head and send the person down to the cafe for a coffee, while I, the brainweasels, and a big stick talk about how terrorism is not an appropriate way of getting what you want.
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Date: 2012-11-27 12:24 am (UTC)I love this imagery! Would be so nice if we could actually do that. :)
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Date: 2012-11-27 03:27 am (UTC)♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
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Date: 2012-11-27 12:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-11-27 03:06 pm (UTC)Sometimes the first step is to be okay with being depressed, to accept that there's nothing awful and evil about feeling this bad; to give yourself permission to hurt and doubt and struggle without thinking you "should" feel better.
That's a really good point. It's kind of analogous to being okay with feeling cold - you feel cold, so what's the use in thinking you shouldn't feel cold? Just put on a sweater or turn up the heat or whatever - just deal with it as it is, instead of feeling guilty / bad / etc for feeling cold. We never think about it when it's cold, pain, etc, so why should we fight feeling low? Just accept we do, and learn to cope with it.
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Date: 2012-11-27 09:52 pm (UTC)BRAINWEASEL: They have a stick with a nail in it!
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Date: 2012-11-28 04:13 am (UTC)