Clean out the Cobwebs

Mind

As I search for information on depression and negative thinking, I find way too many headlines saying "help yourself"...Now I know that the mind is a powerful thing and that people with depression have more power than they think they do. HOWEVER when you're in the depths of despair, the last thing you want is someone telling you, "come on, just pull yourself up by the bootstraps." Let me tell you, this does not help!

If I had the ability to just up and feel better, I would. Some days I pray to just feel "normal" (whatever that is).

What's my point here? I am really looking for a way to combat negative thinking-- something effective beyond the methods I already know. So far my search has come up short. Let me share with you the methods that I have learned from various sources in the past:

*Opposite action-- even if you don't feel like doing something, do it anyway (take that walk, get out of bed, do the dishes)-- you'll feel better in the long run.

*Concentrate on one of your senses-- listen to loud music, take a hot bath, look at a pretty flower, smell a lemon, eat a bowl of icecream or some hot salsa.

*Concentrate on an affirmation that will take your mind off the negative thoughts.

These are just a few suggestions, but they don't always work. For instance, I'm having a very hard time today and just writing this almost seems like a joke to me, but I know these methods do help me sometimes, so I want to share them.