THE LIBRARY BOOK I have been reading, Madness Explained by Richard P Bentall, outlines four common approaches to dealing with depression.
People sometimes seem to mistake my explanatory style of blogging for my habitual thinking style. Which it is not, at all. Usually when I'm depressed there's no straightforwardly simple change I can effect in the short term that will get me away from the consequences of my problems. So my usual coping style is most definitely number 3 ~ DISTRACTION ~ and this is why I've been known to spend such ridiculous lengths of time pinging about the internet, thinking about anything except that which bothers me when I'm offline!
As I say, people tend to assume that the rather ponderous or analytical way in which I tend to express myself to others reflects my personal cognitive style. A couple of years ago (probably 3 years ago: before the psychotic manic episodes and schizoaffective diagnosis) the mental nurse down at the methadone clinic, on hearing me out for several hours, seemed to assume that anxiety lay at the root of my problems and gave me factsheets on how to deal with obsessively worrysome thoughts that were basically addressed to the person I used to be nearly 20 years ago!
I saw a psychologist when I was 24, who gave me a formal mood test that revealed high levels of depression coupled with low anxiety. By this time I had given up caffeine and the constant anxiety that had plagued my young self had already mercifully vanished...
So Wow! Distraction is good ~ and ~ Wow! For once in my life, I'm actually doing something RIGHT... !!
But Dr Bentall did point out that the Distractional Style that works so well against my depression is one of the very worst possible ways of dealing ~ surprise surprise ~ with bipolar mania! And is likely to make the manic state, marked as it is by extraordinarily high levels of distractability, even worse.
SO NOW IT'S YOUR TURN: CONFESS!
How do you deal with depression? Do you fit neatly into any one of the four coping styles?
1: Ruminating and Brooding
2: Trying to directly solve the perceived cause of your bad feelings and low mood
3: Distraction away from depressive thoughts
4: Engaging in potentially high-risk activities to raise your mood...?
Come on, answers in the comments box:~
PLEASE CONFESS NOW!
PS: 21:30 hrs. I've just realized that just about everyone is going to say they try to solve the root problem first, if they can. So please answer assuming that step has been taken: option 1, 3 or 4...
PPS I also realized that committing suicide could be interpreted as taking option 2.( However misguided that may be...)
anyway... ANSWERS NOW, PLEASE!
Number 2 because I'm type A and can't help myself in wanting to fix/solve every problem including those which aren't even mine. Then number 1 because number 2 didn't work, then number 3 because number 1 didn't work....but never number 4 unless you count risky behavior as eating only the frosting and leaving the cake behind. :-) Which I suppose could also work for number 3, Distraction away from depressive thoughts.
ReplyDeleteTotally one. I'm pretty much brooding ALL THE TIME. If I'm not on methadone I do both one and four. I'll do something risky and go out to live on the razors edge of life, in an attempt to distract myself, but I'm still brooding even while trying to distract myself. It's as if it's impossible for me to get out of my head. In my head it's all about me, me, me.
ReplyDeleteDo you agree? I'm allowing you to make an assumption about me, based on my blog posts.
I'm sorry if I offended you with my comments on the post before this one. I was being a total bitch, writing as if I were an authority on your life and medications.
ReplyDeleteYou and only you knowwhat you're feeling and how medication affects your feelings.
Again I'm truly sorry.
xx
After years of seasonal depressions, finally together with a good psy I found out the reason, from that time on it was finished ! Nobody can help you but yourself. My neighbor suffers enternally from depressions and now she is in a real bad one. So she comes over, complains and complains and tells me the same stories at least 10 times. First I tried to help her, now I let her talk there is nothing to do, I think she likes to be like tha, that's 30 years I hear the same.
ReplyDeleteBTW yes, it's my grandson, but for the moment he doesn't speak Dutch or French he has his personal language.
I've been depressed,and it followed some crappy life choices.In the pursuit of MY desires,i abandoned the people i loved and who loved me,the end result was anxiety and depression,couldn't eat,sleep or function.The depression started to lift after i started caring for others.But nobody could help me.I had to work it out for myself.Sometimes doing things for others can be a lifesaver...maybe that is why you had hamsters and they gave you so much joy?This is a hard one cos its so easy to say the wrong thing.....can you have pets in your new house?
ReplyDeleteI start with number 1 and when I get thoroughly sick of myself, I move to 2 through which I have found some possible causes but alas, no solution as depression still remains although it is lighter so I move on to 3.
ReplyDeleteYears ago, I spent much more time at 1 then later, I'd spend it at 2, now, I flit to 3 fairly quickly if I can. I do not engage in 4 in my view, at all. That doesn't mean I don't take chances ever - but they are calculated risks with control - not hell-bent death dives.
Number 4 must be a pretty rare one. I don't think I've known anyone who does dangerous activities. No you weren't being a bitch Anna. Sorry everyone I have to go... TIME OUT!
ReplyDeleteI don't suffer from depression but like everyone, I get depressed. I'm broody but never use the silent treatment. I think probably distraction is the best one.
ReplyDelete#3 distraction.I go on ebay and make a list of things I would like to buy.I spend to much time looking.I also cook when Im depressed and eating makes me tired so with the meal and the wine Im ready to take it easy.by the time Im happy again I forget the stuff on ebay that i dont have the money for any way.its usually money problems thta get me up in the middle of the night and I stay awake on perpose and go to bed earlier that night.
ReplyDeleteyeah, distraction is king
ReplyDeletespecially in this distractional day and age...
Typically number one, but def number four as well. It Starts with wanting to sleep and never wanting to leave the house (#1) then becomes (#4) out of control girl. Endless partying, drinking to excess, drugs, sex with random strangers. I've gotten myself in a lot of trouble with number 4. Lost everything decent in my life because of untreated depression.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous are you bipolar? I only ask because they seem more likely to engage in the risky behaviours. Especially because that is a feature of mania, and also because bipolar depression is more likely to involve a mixture of mood symptoms from the manic and depressive side...
ReplyDelete... it's interesting that when I was in deepest desperation as to how to solve my drugs problem, I always saw extreme sports as one viable alternative to drugtaking... something that would replace the rush that only drugs could otherwise give...
I find my self brooding but also distraction works well. Then on top of that i'm guessing taking heroin when it gets really bad is engaging in high risk activities, so...all 3??
ReplyDeleteYep, probably!
ReplyDeleteThough heroin doesn't exactly feel "high risk" at the time, does it. It feels as mundane as having a cup of tea!!