As I make progress and hash out some of the underlying issues that have caused my depression to intensify at different times in my life, I am beginning to see the value of visualizing my new future. I asked for professional medical attention 5 months ago because I has lost my focus. I could NOT…
Category: SMART – Self Management And Recovery Training
I want to say thank you for yesterday.
Focusing on the one thing I could control, I decided to look at my attitude towards the weekend. On Friday, I had decided to understand how I needed to think if I was going to relax and enjoy the day. It was clear that I normally would be stressed out about not doing things I…
My new idea in my relationship with depression
Recently, I was up against the wall. 100 or so days ago, I was sure that I had no way forward; I could not even see that there was a way. It was pitch black, or worse, colorless, and my life was emotionless, too. I was going through the motions, not appreciating or enjoying anything….
New thinking is helping me achieve balance in my life
How much time do you spend on self-care? I have been asked that question now for months. I have been jumping and running from one thing to another in my quest to learn all I can about depression. While this has been hugely helpful in understanding and facing depression, it has not left much time…
What am I teaching people about how to treat me?
I have spent over 100 days building my life facing depression, with the mantra “depression is not my boss.“ And yet, with all the support groups, therapy sessions, psychiatrist appointments, and independent reading I have done, I have not owned up to my own self-worth. I realized yesterday that I have not created healthy boundaries…
I found a new place to be SMART
Now that I am back in the workforce, my schedule doesn’t allow me the flexibility to go to support group meetings whenever I want. Before starting back to a “day job,” I was going to three different support group meetings each week held on three different days. There is the SMART group, focusing on Self-management…
Once upon a time, I never even thought about it.
My life at the moment is still somewhat of a whirlwind. I am adjusting to being back into the workforce after 14 months of retirement. And while I have slowed my side business, word of mouth is still producing leads that I feel obligated to accept. This squeezes my time at home into smaller and…
Why did I make that decision?
Making decisions is part of life. “Do I brush my teeth this morning?” “Yes, I will.” “Will I take out the trash before going to work?” “No, I will get it tonight when I get home.” We make hundreds of these simple choices every day. Most of them are routine and require only the most…
My uncharted journey into the future
As I travel the new road facing my depression, it is clear the path is not straight. As I read and learn more about depression, I ran across the concept of stages of change. Currently, I am reading the SMART Recovery Handbook. It reminds me that it’s difficult to change long-standing behaviors, even when new…
Sometimes I want to go where everybody knows my name
OK, so I am dating myself by using the line from Cheers! But they were on to something special. Sam Malone, a former relief pitcher for the Boston Red Sox’s and a recovering alcoholic, is running a bar. I always felt the show seemed genuine, and that the characters portrayed the lives of people I…
