Iāve started this post so many times, I canāt count them all, lol. I feel the need to talk about a science-based theory called neuroplasticity, and even though itās a simple concept, itās hard to explain. I will try my best. If youāve been reading the Keepinā it Real blog for any amount of time, you know I suffered greatly from major depressive disorder (MDD) for more than 30 years. I was suicidal much of that time and endured a…
Photo credit:Ā Towfiqu Barbhuiya on Unsplash.com Happy 2023!! The last three years have lasted what seems like a decade, but if we can survive the surrealism of the Covid-19 pandemic, this year should be a breeze. Right? I hope you had a nice time over the holidays and that you got to spend time with the people who mean the most to you. If you struggle to take your meds, this post is for you. MEDS CAN HELP ā IF…
I would probably be dead if I hadnāt found the right antidepressants. Sounds like a dramatic statement, eh? Thatās because it is. And itās true. If not for the two Iām currently taking, I’m confident I would either be dead or in a state hospital by now. How about you? Do you take an antidepressant (or two or three)? PATIENCE REQUIRED The worst thing about antidepressants is that it can take up to a month (and possibly longer) to figure…
Image credit: Michael Dziedzic on unsplash Victim. Thatās how I saw myself for three decades, only I didnāt realize it. I was a victim of depression and all the negative thoughts, falsehoods, and forces it entails. It grabbed a hold of me, thrashed me around, and spit me out. It nearly killed me ā more than once. I tried to fight it, stuff it, sidestep it, ignore it, deny it, and I constantly tried to work through it. But…
Image credit: Thomas Bormans on Unsplash Welcome to Mental Health Moment (MHM) #13! MHMs are short posts that I write every once in a while as a break from my usual 1500- to 1800-word posts, for your convenience. š This one is a list of simple and effective ways of feeling productive, even on the days when you donāt think you can do anything. LIFE IS NOT BLACK AND WHITE As one of my therapists told me several years…
Image credit: Brian Mann on Unsplash I just got home from therapy with Jacqueline, and we did some good talking. In response, I have something a little different to start off todayās post: A pop quiz! Shout out the first thing that comes to your mind: Which comes first ā thoughts, feelings, or behaviors? The answer is: All of the above! Thatās right, folks. Todayās post is about the never-ending cycle of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. WAS THAT A…
Image credit: Valentin Petkov on Unsplash The holidays are upon us once again! And whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Festivus, or any other holiday, you might be feeling a little extra stress. How am I going to make it? you may be asking yourself. To that, I say that youāve survived every previous holiday, and youāll survive this one, too. THE STRESS OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON There are a few extra variables involved when we celebrate the holidays….
Image credit: Scott Graham I recently read a blog post written by another mental health advocate. She stated that itās basically impossible to change your thoughts or your feelings. She went on to say that people who think you can change them are just plain wrong. I take offense to that. SPEAK FOR YOURSELF There is a difference between knowing something factually and believing that something is true. Iām big on semantics, so to me, the words we use…
Image credit: Dayne Topkin **MHMs are shorter posts designed to be a quicker read than my usual posts. Today’s MHM tackles something we don’t talk about enough: Hope.** I wasnāt officially diagnosed with major depressive disorder until I was 47 years old. That was partly my fault, because I did not seek psychiatric help until I was 33, although Iād been in therapy for several years. Iād been very depressed most of my life; I donāt really know why…
Yoga. Tennis. Playing the piano. Softball. Bowling. Photography. Reading for pleasure. What do these things have in common? They are all things that help me feel better. The bigger question is why do I stop doing them when I know they will brighten my mood and could actually help to delay (or derail) a depressive episode? I know Iām not alone in this, although for the longest time, I thought I was. Why do we stop doing the things that…
Image credit: Tim Mossholder on Unsplash Depression and anxiety ruled my life for 35 years. And although my depression sometimes seemed to come out of the blue, in retrospect, I can see that there were almost always signs. Itās taken a long time, but I was finally able to figure out that it usually comes on gradually. I have also learned some of the signs to look out for. When they pop up (and they still do occasionally, even…
Photo credit: Christian Erfurt on Unsplash So, Lisa and I went to a concert last week by a band called Badflower. Theyāre a heavy alternative rock band, and their performance was awesome! We decided to make an evening out of it ā dinner and the show. Sounds good, right? Well, my anxiety had other plans for me. It was out of hand from the moment we left the house until after we got to the concert. I was shaky,…
Do you know the difference between a therapist and a psychiatrist? Many people donāt; they think these terms are interchangeable. A therapist can be a psychologist (someone with a PhD), a licensed social worker, a licensed marriage and family therapist, or a few others. (NOTE: Many insurance companies will only pay for therapy from people with certain degrees or licensure and sometimes put a limit on the number of sessions you can attend each year. Make sure to check before…
Image credit: Priscilla Du Preez Itās hard to talk about whatās bothering you, isnāt it? When my depression first started, around age fourteen, it was bad. Really bad. In fact, I was suicidal. I apparently told my parents how bad I was feeling (I donāt remember doing that), because I soon started seeing a psychologist. But I wasnāt ready to be āin therapy.ā I saw it as a failing, an embarrassment, a sign of weakness, so I didnāt say…
Image credit: Isaac Quesada on Unsplash Iāve felt really good for most of the last year and a half now, and for literally the first time in my 52 years, my depression is in remission. Thatās a BIG freaking deal! š But that does not mean Iām completely out of the woods, and it certainly doesnāt mean that it canāt come back and take me down at any time. While I’m feeling decent and going about my life, my…
Image credit: Ryan Searle on Unsplash Welcome to MHM #11! Mental Health Moments are shorter posts that include tips and suggestions for getting through your day without letting your depression get you down. I tend to be a bit wordy in my regular posts; MHMs are my attempt to be a little more palatable for those who don’t want to read longer posts. And now, onto the show! Spring has sprung and we’re on our way to a nice-looking…
Now that Iāve been feeling good for over a year, Iām beginning to comprehend the difference between sadness and depression. Sadness is transitory: it comes, and it goes. Depression, on the other hand, is often a chronic condition. Yes, it can also come and go. But it tends to be stronger ā it can be debilitating ā and it lasts longer than sadness does. And it can last your whole life. Allow me to share what Iām going through right…
Image credit: Brooke Cagle on Unsplash My therapist recently asked me what happiness means to me. I didnāt have an immediate answer for her. I had to think about it. Naturally, happiness means different things to different people, and the road there varies. Some people think being rich will make them happy. Some believe they will be happy after they find Mr. or Ms. Right and have 2.3 kids, a picket fence, and a dog. While I believe that…