Author: admin

I’ve realised today that sometimes we just have to accept that we don’t have control over these feelings and emotions that embody the illness of depression. Some days I really struggle to come to grips with the length of illness I have endured and the severity of my prognosis; nevertheless, overall inevitably I just need to ‘let it rain’. The depression will take its course no matter what I do to fight it.  Accepting it for what it is and continually working on strategies to improve my prognosis is a much more useful path. Furthermore, sharing my journey with others and admitting that I have many days struggled is a brave thing to do and I hope something that will help someone along the way. Any encouragement is good encouragement just as long as you remember you are not alone.

I did this painting on one of those days where I just didn’t have much left in the tank. I reminded myself that although hard, if I could keep going through this, what else could life really throw at me. Although I have to remind myself sometimes, I am stronger than I think and I will eventually recover from this dreadful illness.

I hope you are having a day where you can see some light at the end of the tunnel. I know that it is sometimes hard but I have recovered myself once before and I have seen other strong women I admire at follow-up recover too. Let it rain for now but remember you are not your illness > the special person underneath all that sometimes seemingly endless negative emotion is still there. Remember always that this is not for forever!

I hope you find happiness in your day today 🙂

JG

 

Practicing gratitude is a simple way to build happiness because when we take the time to notice what we appreciate, life seems better and we resonate with what we have, rather than resenting what we don’t have. Living with gratitude increases life satisfaction, personal growth and wellbeing. It helps us recognise the purpose we have in our life, accept what we have and build more positive connections with others. By simply noticing, we can bring ourselves into a state of thankfulness where we also appreciate what we truly value and what has meaning to us.

How does this happen? We simply find ourselves starting to look for the positive changes that have been made or the beneficial aspects that have come about as a result of painful events. One might find more constructive or productive ways of coping such as focusing on what can be done rather than what can’t be done or interpreting a setback as only temporary rather than something that is permanent. In other words, ask yourself ‘What has worked’?

As discussed in Dr Tony’s “Making Australia Happy” series, practicing gratitude regularly can increase happiness and decrease depressive symptoms. It has also been associated with increased exercise, increased social consecutiveness, improved sleep at night and improved alertness and attention during the day.

Depression can be such a horrid cycle to get caught up in it can sometimes seem like a merry-go-round without a stop.

Stressors can lead to changes in sleep pattern and energy, leading to less ability to do the things one would normally accomplish in a day. Associated feelings of hopelessness and disappointment can lead again to reduced productivity and increased stress, just fuelling another cycle of this dangerous circle of negativity.

Once on this cycle of destruction, any number of parts of a person’s life can become affected and professional help may be required to assist an individual to exit the circle.

If you need help, please don’t be afraid to ask. You are not alone – many of us are travelling a similar journey…