Or would the correct term be joy, a core emotion? Either way, I suppose this is a milestone of birthdays. It has been coming for a while. There was nothing to do but allow it to tick forward, a day at a time, until now it is the big day. I turn 65 today. Now I can finally take advantage of the senior discount at Denny’s. Just kidding. It’s been so long since I was in a … [Read more...] about Can I Be Happy With My Birthday?
unhealthy thinking styles
Never Again Will You Not Face Your Depression
Not facing my depression was a direct slap in the face to Self-Care. I have written extensively about my struggle with self-care. Finding the balance between “just say no,” and the needs of others can be confusing. Self-care starts with the premise that you must put your oxygen mask on before helping others. I get that, but my generation was not brought up automatically … [Read more...] about Never Again Will You Not Face Your Depression
What Depression Doesn’t Want You To Know About Unhelpful Thinking Styles
Predictable, steady, expectable, certain, sure, unsurprising, humdrum, obvious, and foreseeable. That is my life. And that has been my life for several months. I guess it is always something. And depression has clouded my life with generous helpings of unhelpful thinking. A year ago, I was fixated on not being able to get started in the morning. It took five months of … [Read more...] about What Depression Doesn’t Want You To Know About Unhelpful Thinking Styles
Want to get me feeling like I don’t deserve something?
Then just pay me a compliment. My mind immediately goes to everything I have ever done that didn’t measure up. I cannot hear the “good job” because my head is filled with “You don’t deserve this,” or “it’s only a matter of time before people figure out I am a fraud or imposter.” With all that in my head, I cannot hear “good job.” Now I have been working on this. I … [Read more...] about Want to get me feeling like I don’t deserve something?
Proven Coping Statements for Depression and Anxiety
I know coping statements work. I use them in my daily life. And positive affirmations are a form of coping statement that reinforces a belief or moves me in the direction of owning that belief or feeling. Some of my go-to coping statements are: Stop, and breathe, I can do thisThis will passI can be anxious/angry/sad and still deal with thisI have done this before, and … [Read more...] about Proven Coping Statements for Depression and Anxiety