I Can't Take This Feeling Anymore...

[BuckarooBanzai]

i hate it when i dont have the control off my life...

But you DO have control over your own life! The other bit, about not having control, is merely the depression talking.

Some ideas:

1. Don't worry about the future, rather live in the moment.Whenever you feel anxious or whatever, stop, and look around you for danger. Do you see anything dangerous going on? A flood? An earthquake? A man with an Uzi? If not, write off the negative feelings and tell yourself you are safe and OK in that moment - and that's all that matters.

2. Use Thought Stoppage. You can look this up online for details. What you do: put a rubber band around your wrist. Whenever you speak or think a negative thought (like, "I have no control over my life"), gently snap the rubber band, and then restate the thought in a positive fashion (for instance, "I DO have control over my life. I only said the negative thought because I've been depressed." )

These two techniques REALLY WORK! They are POWERFUL!

 

[Jeffrey Visser]

But you DO have control over your own life! The other bit, about not having control, is merely t...

the rubber band sounds painfull tho

yea my therapist said aswell that i need to live more in the now but its kinda difficult...

 

[BuckarooBanzai]

The rubber band snapping is not meant to be painful. It isn't meant as a punishment but rather as a sort of wake-up call. Some people, instead of snapping a band, yell out "stop!" as they smack a wall or table with their hand. I find the band much quieter and less obtrusive. :)

Living in the moment is mandatory. So, for instance, I began to sink into a depression several days ago. Tonight - right now - I am in my apartment complex gym gently spinning the pedals on a bike as I write. If I start to think about pain, I look around the room, see all the friendly people, note that there is no danger, and then conclude that I am safe and fine in the moment. No need to feel depressed, nothing bad is happening. By extension, I learn that feelings come and go, and there is no reason to fear my feelings.

When you stay in the moment, you realize there really isn't any need to be depressed.

 

[joeylittle]

When you stay in the moment, you realize there really isn't any need to be depressed.

I agree with a great deal of what you've written. I only want to point out that you are describing situational depression (I think), and in my experience it doesn't handle quite the same as depression that has a biological foundation. There's a million things they don't know, of course. And when one is capable of pushing through to getting out the door and engaging in activity, that is absolutely a good thing to do. It usually takes more pushing than a person might expect, and it's going to be super-uncomfortable, but once it's happening, it helps.

If/when the depression is significantly more clinically severe, to the point where the individual is not capable of basic behaviors, then medical intervention is often needed. Whether that's drugs, TMS, ECT, intensive CBT, some combination thereof, doesn't matter - what matters is only that the individual get themselves into managed care.

It's my opinion that the kind of depression people with PTSD suffer from can be addressed pretty effectively by the kinds of life changes you are talking about. The depression that exists on it's own, would maybe respond 75% of the time, especially if caught early.

For the OP: you don't have to climb the mountain - just try and take some steps. Take a 10 minute walk three times a day. Start keeping a gratitude journal (there's some good science behind how it can affect mood - this article is decent: In Praise of Gratitude - Harvard Health). Be proud of yourself when you are able to meet simple goals - don't expect to be able to do more than you can. And keep posting - connecting with peer support is a great way to combat depression, too.

 

[Jeffrey Visser]

thank you both for your advices im glad that there are also GOOD people out there who understand my pain and struggles.. it really isnt so easy to just go do things on your own and when you dont have things in control you sometimes can go nuts over it. right now its just waiting and see what the world brings me now.. next week tuesday i have a talk with my T again and i will ask her some questions aswell what she thinks is neccesary to do.

i wish you both aswell the best of luck in the future and we will speak each other soon i suppose as long as i am on this website u guys will get updated how it goes with me

 

[BuckarooBanzai]

I only want to point out that you are describing situational depression (I think), and in my experience it doesn't handle quite the same as depression that has a biological foundation.

No, I am not describing situational depression.

Yes, I truly am c!aiming there is a way out of biological depression that does not include drugs and psychiatrists. Been there, done that, more times than I can count.