Getting to the couch is a baby step. And when we are in the hold of a depression, it is only the baby steps that we can do. It is when the baby steps start to add up that we can finally get somewhere.
You moved out to the couch. That's a step! If you can do that again sometime today, and sometime tomorrow, and sometime the next day, then it's something you can feel good about. Keep doing it. At some point you may find that you can rely on the couch as much as you rely on bed now. And then at that point perhaps you can move to a chair for a little while with your laptop, or the kitchen table. Even just 15 minutes in another room does us a world of good.
I'm glad you have a laptop and a blackberry. They help you stay connected to the world when you would otherwise feel very disconnected, don't they?
You might like this support group very much: www.mixednuts.net. Click on the blue words where it says "Click for depression chat." It will ask you to make up a chat name and then take you into the chat room. You can just sit and watch the conversation go by, or you can participate. They are friendly people -- all of whom have dealt with depression and some of whom are bipolar. Many of them would feel trapped in their homes without Mixed Nuts. Here's a link:
http://www.mixednuts.net/
After a few days visiting there, you will start to recognize a few of the "regulars" and they will start to recognize you. It's a nice feeling to feel like you "belong" somewhere when you don't want to leave the bed or the couch.
And Francene, please practice what you will say if your psychiatrist tells you to "tough it out." If that is the scenario you fear the most, you need to practice your response so you will feel ready and competent. Perhaps you might say, "That does not feel very supportive; I need better advice than that." If you walk out, you are NOT walking out like a fool. You are simply walking out like a woman who didn't get much help from a psychiatrist who wasn't very sensitive or supportive.
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Francene,
Getting to the couch is a baby step. And when we are in the hold of a depression, it is only the baby steps that we can do. It is when the baby steps start to add up that we can finally get somewhere.
You moved out to the couch. That's a step! If you can do that again sometime today, and sometime tomorrow, and sometime the next day, then it's something you can feel good about. Keep doing it. At some point you may find that you can rely on the couch as much as you rely on bed now. And then at that point perhaps you can move to a chair for a little while with your laptop, or the kitchen table. Even just 15 minutes in another room does us a world of good.
I'm glad you have a laptop and a blackberry. They help you stay connected to the world when you would otherwise feel very disconnected, don't they?
You might like this support group very much: www.mixednuts.net. Click on the blue words where it says "Click for depression chat." It will ask you to make up a chat name and then take you into the chat room. You can just sit and watch the conversation go by, or you can participate. They are friendly people -- all of whom have dealt with depression and some of whom are bipolar. Many of them would feel trapped in their homes without Mixed Nuts. Here's a link:
http://www.mixednuts.net/
After a few days visiting there, you will start to recognize a few of the "regulars" and they will start to recognize you. It's a nice feeling to feel like you "belong" somewhere when you don't want to leave the bed or the couch.
And Francene, please practice what you will say if your psychiatrist tells you to "tough it out." If that is the scenario you fear the most, you need to practice your response so you will feel ready and competent. Perhaps you might say, "That does not feel very supportive; I need better advice than that." If you walk out, you are NOT walking out like a fool. You are simply walking out like a woman who didn't get much help from a psychiatrist who wasn't very sensitive or supportive.
In my book, that's a smart woman.
February 4, 2010 - 9:38amThis Comment
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