Reading Competition: Book 3
Shoot the Damn Dog: A memoir of depression by Sally Brampton.
To anyone who suffers from depression, knows and/or loves someone who has depression, or is even just interested in knowing more about depression, I recommend this book.
Do you know the difference between wanting to die and just not wanting to be? If you do, then you've probably got at least an inkling of what depression is.
For me, depression is not a transient event, a temporary low feeling. Depression is chronic, always there, never really gone. And it never will be. But what I do know is that I can keep it as a part of me, instead of letting it take control of my life. I am a depressive. I acknowledge that. But it is not all I am. I must face it, not deny it; because depression is all about denying. Hiding in bed, under the covers, denying life.
There are some days when just getting out of bed, getting dressed and feeding myself are a true feat. Others, I can be what I refer to as "productive", where I function as a "normal" person, getting things done, speaking with people, etc. I am often more proud of myself on the days I force myself to get out of bed and participate in my Activities of Daily Living (as things like washing, dressing and eating are referred to in psychological circles) than I am on days when I get twenty things done.
And crying. I know I am depressed when I cannot cry, or when I cry for no reason and cannot stop. Crying for a short period of time, feeling a relief afterward. That is healthy.
What I need to do is figure out my own way of staying sane. What combination of physical activity, social interaction, alone time (solo time is dangerous: everyone needs it to reset and rejuvenate; a depressive hides in it and it can be horribly disastrous), self-soothing activities and supplements--combined with feeling as sense of meaning or purpose in life-- will help me to stay sane, to float above the black hole that is a depressive's mind.
To anyone who suffers from depression, knows and/or loves someone who has depression, or is even just interested in knowing more about depression, I recommend this book.
Do you know the difference between wanting to die and just not wanting to be? If you do, then you've probably got at least an inkling of what depression is.
For me, depression is not a transient event, a temporary low feeling. Depression is chronic, always there, never really gone. And it never will be. But what I do know is that I can keep it as a part of me, instead of letting it take control of my life. I am a depressive. I acknowledge that. But it is not all I am. I must face it, not deny it; because depression is all about denying. Hiding in bed, under the covers, denying life.
There are some days when just getting out of bed, getting dressed and feeding myself are a true feat. Others, I can be what I refer to as "productive", where I function as a "normal" person, getting things done, speaking with people, etc. I am often more proud of myself on the days I force myself to get out of bed and participate in my Activities of Daily Living (as things like washing, dressing and eating are referred to in psychological circles) than I am on days when I get twenty things done.
And crying. I know I am depressed when I cannot cry, or when I cry for no reason and cannot stop. Crying for a short period of time, feeling a relief afterward. That is healthy.
What I need to do is figure out my own way of staying sane. What combination of physical activity, social interaction, alone time (solo time is dangerous: everyone needs it to reset and rejuvenate; a depressive hides in it and it can be horribly disastrous), self-soothing activities and supplements--combined with feeling as sense of meaning or purpose in life-- will help me to stay sane, to float above the black hole that is a depressive's mind.