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Post by Script on Jun 12, 2009 6:53:50 GMT -5
I took a book out of my library: Get it done when you're depressedby Julie Fast and John Preston. She is a successful award-winning writer on mood disorders; he is an equally illustrious doctor. Julie's books are available in many places; here is a link to Abebooks (used: very reasonable) www.abebooks.comJulie also has a website on bipolar & depressive issues. She is immensely talented, but has suffered all her adult life with serious bipolar disorder etc. www.juliefast.com/I was immensely impressed with this book which I came upon 'by accident'......especially since the authors repeatedly mention how to motivate yourself to DO HOUSEWORK even when feeling down. Gettting things done: once again, here is some helpful and COMFORTING material for those of us who don't always 'feel' like doing anything. Very easy to read: this material is arranged in a way that is totally accessible to everyone, even those of us who are easily distracted and/or unable to concentrate. endorsed by Script (I know a thing or two about depression and writing......) |
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Post by bigtimetroubles on Jun 12, 2009 7:39:18 GMT -5
thanks script...I am not big on reading...but this might be one of those I would like to read. I just am not one who enjoyed reading ever. I read very well as I have a MA in media comm....and I am a certified teacher who has a specialty of remedial reading that is now expired thanks to the laws they installed when I was in college that kept this one from being lifetime like my other three certificates.... I do like some audiobooks an awfull lot these days and I have loads of time behind the wheel in car to "READ" them....I enjoy Westerns and Indian books in this pursuit....just did one this week....Mon-Tues at work...I forgot the name of the book already and the author escapes me.... I do also like to read some Yes SOME self help books....this one might have to be checked out of seeing if it is in the free library of my town or the county library of STL......hugs thanks for this...hugs bigtimetroubles   |
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Blackswan
Banned
Joined: October 2008
Posts: 6,388
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Post by Blackswan on Jun 12, 2009 14:47:07 GMT -5
Can you share a few of their tips?
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Post by Meme on Jun 13, 2009 2:16:37 GMT -5
yes- this book sounds very interesting- I know that I have learned to do some things when I am down and out.
I have a list of a 100 things that I could do at these times. It has things on it that make me feel good about doing them- some days I have to just make myself take something off the list and go do it-. I do feel better- it is not a cure- but it does help change my focus for a few moments-. It is not easy being depressed and sometimes folks think that is all we are-sigh.
I tend to ignore me when I crash so I have things on the list like: wash face and put on lipstick-- another one is to clean of the table by my chair so I can sit and have my favorite tea and be able to set the cup down with out fear of spilling it on something important.
There is nothing on the list that I hate doing- and I do not do the whole list and the list is not in order.
I am going to see if I can find that book at the library.
Please note: this is not a cure of the depression but a way for me to cope until I can recover and move on up.
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Post by tinasabrina on Jun 13, 2009 3:08:37 GMT -5
Sounds like a good book. The thing about being depressed is that you have to practically kick yourself in the behind to make yourself accomplish things but once you do, you feel so proud of yourself and so relieved.
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Post by Script on Jun 13, 2009 7:35:57 GMT -5
Can you share a few of their tips? There are 50 (fifty) 'strategies for keeping your life on track'. Each one is discussed in a separate SHORT chapter which includes *presentation of the idea *real-life story from someone *real-life story from the author (Julie) *exercises for the reader to do *questions and answers to/from Dr. Preston (co-author) *final summary and helpful hints. Here are just SOME of the strategies: *Don't wait until you WANT to do something. *Be your own drill sergeant. *Think like an athlete. *Eliminate distractions. *Set time limits *Break projects into steps. *Learn to say no. *See a therapist. *Get help for anxiety. *Be realistic about the hours in a week. *Praise yourself all day. |
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Post by eagle on Jun 13, 2009 9:14:27 GMT -5
Can you share a few of their tips? There are 50 (fifty) 'strategies for keeping your life on track'. Each one is discussed in a separate SHORT chapter which includes *presentation of the idea *real-life story from someone *real-life story from the author (Julie) *exercises for the reader to do *questions and answers to/from Dr. Preston (co-author) *final summary and helpful hints. Here are just SOME of the strategies: *Don't wait until you WANT to do something. *Be your own drill sergeant. *Think like an athlete. *Eliminate distractions. *Set time limits *Break projects into steps. *Learn to say no. *See a therapist. *Get help for anxiety. *Be realistic about the hours in a week. *Praise yourself all day. These are fabulous strategies. I suffered major depression for several years and was in therapy for said diagnosis for 7 years. My mother before me was in therapy for a few years and I'm not sure how long her depressions lasted. When I was young, I thought my mom was just naturally neat and tidy and cleaned on a daily basis. I didn't give much thought to it until one day she told me that she cleaned to help her out of depression. Or words to that effect. Yes, she attacked her depression by tackling the dirt and dust. At the time, it made no sense to me, because I always felt immobilized by depression. But later I learned that using a timer (my adjunct to the drill sargent idea) and doing ANYTHING especially when I didn't want to, and giving myself praise for doing it, I always felt better. Eliminating distractions was important, but for many years these were not he external distractions we think of for children doing their homework, like tv, but the internal distractions, like my mind and thinking. So tv, although often a distraction, actually helped eliminate the internal distractions by distracting my mind from the thoughts that plagued it. So I used the tv being on all day while sorting through boxes and boxes of stuff many many times. Breaking projects into small, easy to accomplish steps is still very important for me to see the successes I achieve. Gratefully, I learned how to do this in Nursing School. Maybe my parents taught me about this as a child, but I seemed to have not been paying close attention. Self praise as opposed to negative self talk was something I had to learn to do and it took some time, I have to admit. But counting each and every task completed and praising myself for it helped with that. Looking at the positive things about myself helped with that. Writing a gratitude list everyday helped with that. Yes, being grateful for things, even things I wasn't responsible for, helped me be more positive and see more of the positives within me. And the time management thing, better said as 'be realistic about the hours in a week' was really crucial. Say 'no' helped with that, too, actually. Giving my time away to others when I needed to be focusing on myself or my home, was just an unrealistic use of the limited number of hours available. I was amazed one day when my Hubby (then bf) wrote out a schedule one day with tasks that needed to be accomplished to prepare for a get-together. It included running around to various places and picking up various things. He included time estimates for each of these tasks. What amazed me was that he actually was so accurate in his estimates of how long each task would take. I am not so well aware of the time it takes to do things. Thinking like an athlete, I'm not so sure I do that, though. Worth looking into. This is what the book should look like if I go looking for it, I think. |
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Post by annieblue on Jun 14, 2009 3:04:01 GMT -5
Hey Script  I am really thrilled to realize our society has advanced as far as to have not only better understandings of & treatments for depression, but also now BOOKS about something other than just 'living through' depression! Being depressed AND getting stuff done? A book? Wow! Thank you for sharing your find, & also for giving us a good peek between the covers!  
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