BS: Black room is getting me

Subject: RE: BS: Black room is getting me
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 06:05 PM

"I wish it were SAD related. I,unfortunately,have inherited the characteristic from my grandmother.
"

That doesn't follow - could even have been SAD related with her, and you've inherited that. But whatever, getting into the sunshine and the fresh air is probably better than not doing that.

Which isn't to say, do that and it'll all sort itself out. Are you getting any face-to-face help and support from someone who you can tell more about yourself than you possibly can here?

People here can give all kinds of good suggestions that might really help, but it sounds to me as if you shouldn't just leave it at that.

Subject: RE: BS: Black room is getting me
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 05:56 PM

Just remember that the room has a way in, so it has a way out as well.

Sometimes you need to sit in the room and look for the door. Whilst you're in there, try reading something. My Dr wouldn't prescribe me more pills, he gave me a book list instead. One of them is called the 'Feeling Good handbook', which I would recommend.

Take care, and remember we are here.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Black room is getting me
From: Peg
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 05:47 PM

Go for walks! Nice brisk, long ones, cuz endorphins are nature's Prozac...

Oh, and treat yourself well; set the table nicely, have a good meal, make sure at least a few things in your surroundings make you happy to look at them...Get a new   print for the wall or paint a   few walls. Shades of green, orange and rose are very uplifting colors. Sometimes just a bunch of fresh flowers livens up your home.

Citrus essential oils are uplifting and recommended for mild depression: they are also the most inexpensive ones! Try grapefruit, sweet orange, lemon, bergamot, mandarin, blood orange, etc. Put in a diffuser, the bath, or heat some water and add to the steam, to scent the air...

Subject: RE: BS: Black room is getting me
From: Kim C
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 05:44 PM

Adding to what Jeri said, yoga is very useful for learning how to focus on the moment at hand. I am still a new practitioner but it has gone a long way towards helping me not to dwell on things in the past I can't change, and things in the future I don't have any control over. I know that personally, I have wasted a lot of time on that stuff. I don't want to waste it anymore.

Subject: RE: BS: Black room is getting me
From: Walking Eagle
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 05:44 PM

I really, REALLY appreciate all of your concern and ideas. It looks as though the 'room' is going to get me. I wish I could do some of the things, but I can't.

Subject: RE: BS: Black room is getting me
From: Sorcha
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 05:05 PM

Take a bubble bath by candle light. Take yourself out to a nice dinner. Buy yourself a present. Call a friend and TALK! Pet the dog/cat. Smoke some weed. Meditate on a candle flame. Clean out a closet or attic. Clean something, even if it's just the kitchen sink. Go for a walk. Put lavender oil on your wrists.

Subject: RE: BS: Black room is getting me
From: Jeri
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 04:39 PM

I watched an interview with Christopher Reeve last night. He talked about living in the moment and focusing 100% on whatever you were doing now. It makes a lot of sense to me. Animals do that - they don't wish for yesterday or dream about tomorrow or wonder whether things might have been different, if only...

Sometimes I can do that. Sometimes I find something that has to be done which requires focusing. If I look for something I want to do, I find too many reasons not to. I don't think that this is useful for getting out of a depression, but it sure helps in getting through one.

Subject: RE: BS: Black room is getting me
From: M.Ted
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 04:03 PM

It may sound a bit odd, but cold bottle of sparkling mineral water can often be a great help. Also, avoid snacking, particularly sweets,   but don't neglect your meals--I have found that a good bowl of chili or a trip to a good Thai restaurant for something seasoned with hot pepper beats any three psychiatrists--

Subject: RE: BS: Black room is getting me
From: CarolC
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 03:47 PM

Consider some of the way you've added beauty to the world. Re-reading some of your Mudcat posts might be a good way to refresh your memory if you're having trouble with this. If that's not enough, you could do more things that add beauty to the world. And then think about those.

Subject: RE: BS: Black room is getting me
From: Amos
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 03:41 PM

WE:

Empty ONE ashtray or trashcan. Put away one thing left out. Complete ONE letter or other communication. Complete one incomplete task NO MATTER HOW MINOR.

Repeat as needed.

Eat well, breathe, sleep as long as you need to and keep seeking the light.


A

Subject: RE: BS: Black room is getting me
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 03:25 PM

As it says in the bible.. "And it came to pass." Or as the Stones said, "Time is on your side." Or as Nick Lowe said "Time wounds all heals."

Been through it Walking Eagle...

Keep you in prayer..

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Black room is getting me
From: Helen
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 03:17 PM

Hi Walking Eagle,

I use a multi-B Vitamin supplement when I am feeling depressed or stressed. I often forget to take it but when I do remember it is there things often start to ease off. There is a supplement here called Executive B-Stress, Very good. Good old Oz has Vegemite on toast as a remedy from the pantry. I often crave Vegemite when I am not feeling the best emotionally, too.

My favourite funny movie for when I am down is Drop Dead Fred. It's funny, but it is about feeling low and being put-upon by the world, and it always makes me cry at the end, but in a good, uplifting way. I also love Rik Mayall's wacky brand of humour, and I can totally relate to the imaginary friend bit because I had a friend, called Betty, when I was a kid.

I especially love the scene in the psychiatrist's waiting room with all the imaginary friends carrying on with silly behaviour in the middle of the room, and their kid friends trying not to laugh and alert the parents to what the IF's are doing.

This thread is closed now,

Help: Lost my sense of humour

so you can't post to it, but I started it 4 years ago because I was going through an extremely painful and stressful experience which was - and still is - seriously affecting my physical health as well. There are lots of humour and joke threads on Mudcat but I'm particularly fond of this one.

I started it because one day, after almost a year of emotional trauma, I realised that I had lost my sense of humour, and that thread helped me to laugh again. A lot of people thought I was, as we say in Oz, "bunging it on", i.e. pretending to be traumatised/sick when I wasn't, but believe me, it was the worst time of my life and I am just coming back to some sense of normality.

Another thing which really seems to help me is listening to running water, either out in the wild, or even a fountain. Soemthing about that sound really calms me down and reminds me of the energy and creation of the Universe, and why we are here.

Music I listen to includes: Vivaldi - The Four Seasons, but especially a 5 CD set I have called the Complete Sacred Choral Works. Baroque music has been proven scientifically to have positive effects on the brain waves. See www.brain.com for more details, if you are interested.

Also I have a tape which has Albinoni's Adagio in G Minor (the one used in the film Death in Venice) followed by Pachelbel's Canon & Gigue in D Minor. The Albinoni is deep and mournful, but very spiritual, but leaves me feeling that we all die some day, and then slowly but surely the Pachelbel lifts me up and reminds me of how wonderful the world can be. It's a very powerfully uplifting, but cleverly surreptitious piece of music. It sneaks up on me every time.

I also have a copy of Mudcatter Musicman/Paul Evenden's CD called Farewell. It is sad but it lifts me up as well.

Look after yourself. Pamper yourself. I have my tv & stereo set up near the bathroom so I can lie in the bath watching movies, or listening to music. Very luxurious but also a life saver sometimes.

Helen

Subject: RE: BS: Black room is getting me
From: fat B****rd
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 02:42 PM

I wish I had something more helpful to say WE but I hope mine and all the above kind thoughts will help. All the best from the fB.

Subject: RE: BS: Black room is getting me
From: Tinker
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 02:41 PM

Much of the movement patterns in old fashion hands on cleaning actally does help jump start the brain. The warm water and repetive motions of dish washing. Hands and knees cross motor patterning of floor scrubbing. It sounds strange, but they do help the brain move to a more meditative state.

Along with Rapaire's laughter... let some of your own silliest stories from the past float up and re-play. Our own stories can be the most powerful. My teenage self coming to grips with the fact my gradparents came to the Halloween party as Adam and Eve can usually get me to at least admit to a smile. If I then find stepping stones to another tale, and another.... Engagment of , like here at Mudcat, is always a good start.

Subject: RE: BS: Black room is getting me
From: Kim C
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 02:35 PM

Yes - exercise really does help, even if you just take a walk around the yard.

I also keep a journal. I can yell and scream and holler in it without disturbing anyone.

Subject: RE: BS: Black room is getting me
From: GUEST,pdc
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 02:26 PM

I come from an entire family of people with depression. One of the hardest parts of depression is that although you have a thousand good ideas for overcoming it, getting started on one of those ideas is very difficult. Once you've started, it's easier to keep going, but the start itself is tough. I have a sister who fakes a smile -- she has found that the fake smile sometimes fools the brain into cheering up (and she says that if she keeps it up long enough, she feels so silly that she actually smiles).

Metchosin is right -- force yourself up from wherever you are and get some exercise, preferably outdoors. A simple walk helps, and if it's sunny out, even better. Dr. Hans Selye, an expert on depression and stress used to emphasize exercise. (Don't laugh here!): I used to clean my house, put things away, wash the floors, walls if necessary, because not only did the exercise involved in doing so help a lot, but when I was finished, and the depression had eased a bit, there I was with a nicer environment!

Good luck to you.

Subject: RE: BS: Black room is getting me
From: wysiwyg
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 02:20 PM

What has really worked for me is listening to good Bible teaching/preaching/messsages. The truth that shines out of them shines right through the gloom. There is a lot of good stuff online, too, that you can play on the puder.

Also, just collapsing into Jesus' lap and letting go can be very rewarding.

If you would like me to offer more on either of these ideas I will, but I don't want to push. I will, however, renew the message for the prayer chain, with your posts here as an update. OK?

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Black room is getting me
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 02:18 PM

Sometimes yer the windshield
Sometimes yer the bug...

Good luck to ya WE!

Subject: RE: BS: Black room is getting me
From: Rapparee
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 02:09 PM

Laugh.

Try watching a silly movie -- I like "Cat Ballou" or "Robin Hood: Men in Tights" or "Young Frankenstein" or "MASH" or 'most anything along those lines. NOTHING with A Message -- "Blazing Saddles" would okay. Or the Marx Brothers. Or Red Skelton.

Read a funny book. Patrick McManus's stuff is good. Dana Stabenow's "Breakup" or the Nordstrom's/Party scene in "Blood Will Tell." Again, don't read anything with A Message.

Very little will survive laughter. And friends. Have a "Silly Movie" party, invite friends over, and laugh together. Make it a weekly event: everyone brings their favorite funny movie.

And get what exercise and sunlight you can, too, but don't deplete what energy you have doing so.

Subject: RE: BS: Black room is getting me
From: Walking Eagle
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 02:06 PM

Keep 'em coming folks. These suggestions are all very thoughtful and nice. I wish it were SAD related. I,unfortunately,have inherited the characteristic from my grandmother.

I am gratefull to all of you.

W.E.

Subject: RE: BS: Black room is getting me
From: Metchosin
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 01:52 PM

get outside and do something, anything, physical. Sunshine Vitamin D is really necessary and you need some exercise to get those endorphens flowing. Even if it's just a bit of a speed walk.

Subject: RE: BS: Black room is getting me
From: Tinker
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 01:48 PM

I have to agree with Mario. "Bubble bath" books while indulging in a fragrant hot soak (full of bubbles) are one way I like to let the close out the world and let myself collect again. Treating myself to a total pamper ( especially when I don't feel I deserve it) can often let we reopen the door to the rest of the world.

Re-ordering a small cornor of this chaotic old house, which can truely overwhelm me at times, can help me get a sense or order and color back in the world as well. Small means small the top of the desk not the whole room. I may then move to another small cornor, but sometimes I just move on...

Subject: RE: BS: Black room is getting me
From: Cluin
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 01:45 PM

Is it SAD-related? Get some sunlight when you can. Maybe a vacation.

Subject: RE: BS: Black room is getting me
From: Kim C
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 01:45 PM

I try to apply logic. For instance, if I start thinking "why do I bother" (which is where it always starts with me), then I engage my brain instead of my feelings and tell myself why I really do bother. If I start wondering who would miss me if I disappeared, then I logically answer that question as well.

I have to ask myself, is this justified despair, or just depression talking? If it is just depression talking (which it usually is), then I tell it to shut the hell up. Take a hot bath, watch a favorite movie, take a nap, just get my mind away from it. Sometimes it is a struggle. But I also have to remind myself, this too will pass.

Subject: RE: BS: Black room is getting me
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 01:39 PM

been there...a total indulgence book (something read sheerly for pleasure) or a "no-brainer- entertainment only" movie will frequently give me enough of a mental "kick-start" to get me out of the black room.

Subject: BS: Black room is getting me
From: Walking Eagle
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 01:33 PM

I could use a little help. I've been fighting off my black room of depression for a few days now, but my energy level for doing that is getting low. Good proper eating helps and so do my meds, but sometimes the 'world is too much with me' and I have a hard time. Encouraging words anyone?