Positive Thoughts
After some major panic attacks about a month or so ago, I have been seeing a counsellor and attending a 'worry and anxiety' seminar once a week.
I saw my counsellor today and she told me that I should keep a diary or write down each day my thoughts and in particular my positive thoughts.
I have a book called "You Can't Afford The Luxury Of A Negative Thought' which is a very good book and I remember when I read that a long time ago it had a section about the same thing. Saying to keep a good thoughts diary.
So I've decided to use this blog as my 'good thoughts diary'. So you may read a load of crap some days because I'm just going to type my thoughts or my positive things that happened during the day.
You never know I may even put in some negative things too. Not that anyone wants to read negative things but my counsellor did say that it can be helpful to write those down too.
So my positives for today:
I bought a laptop - I have been waiting and saving for this laptop for so long its not funny. I'm still trying to work out how to use it all, but I've just about had enough for today, so I'm writing this post and then heading off to bed.
The kids have swimming at school this week. My youngest is 5 and just started school this term so this is his first time at swimming lessons. He loved it, he was so confident in the water they moved him up to a higher class - which was the class his older (7 yr old) brother is in. Which worked out good for me since both being in the same class made it easier for me to watch, I didn't have to walk back and forward between two classes.
The school takes them in 2 groups, the younger children first and the older children in the next group. So I was pretty much there all day, I had the youngest 2 in the first lot, then they left and my oldest one came then with the older group (he's 9).
Well that's about it for today, that was pretty much my whole day - laptop and swimming.
Thanks for reading, take care
Sheryl
www.depressiondays.com
Inhuman Stamina
Inhuman Stamina is a book I came across a little while back that I have found really helpful.
Inhuman Stamina is about weight loss, getting fit, achieving more energy and living healthy.
I truly believe having a healthy and fit lifestyle helps dramatically with depression.
This book has really helped me to pull myself together - get more energy and with more energy it is amazing what you can do, and how you feel and think changes.
So although this book is not directly a book about depression, it really can help with depression.
I have spoken to the author of this book and he is fantastic, he answers any questions and gives you support.
My rating of Inhuman Stamina - 10/10
Click Here to visit the Inhuman Stamina website
Take Care
ShezzP
www.depressiondays.com
Are You Having A Panic Attack?
Have you ever had a panic attack? Have you ever felt so scared and panicky but had no idea why?
Panic or anxiety attacks are suffered by a large number of the population and they are very, very scary. Especially the first one, when you have no idea it is coming and no idea what is happening to you.
What are the symptoms of panic attack?
Symptoms include:
A racing heart accompanied with an anxious feeling
General anxiety about every day life
Scary thoughts and feeling like you’re losing control
Dizziness and light headed
Sweating, shaky and even weak
Feelings of unreality and perhaps even disorientated
Feeling like you just want to run away
Can’t relax, feel like you’re ‘on the edge’
Sometimes you feel depressed and anxious for a couple of days leading up to a full blown panic attack and then after the attack you can feel very tired and have a general ‘feeling down’ feeling for a few days following.
When you have a panic attack your body thinks something is happening that it needs to fight against, so you have an adrenalin rush as your body prepares itself for battle. Then however, there is no battle and all that adrenalin is left in your body making you tense. Your body can also feel very tired and run down after the adrenalin rush.
Your mind can’t relax because you are constantly thinking about the attack and absolutely terrified of it happening again.
If you experience panic attacks like these quite often it can really effect your life. You can spend your life scared and depressed.
Try to remain positive and try to distract your mind by keeping busy. Seek treatment for your panic attacks.
Take Care
ShezzP
Click Here to read testimonials on panic away - how to stop having panic attacks
Lazy To Fitness Freak - Can It Be Done?
I was doing a bit of cleaning yesterday (which I hate doing and don't do as often as I should) and I was thinking - is it possible to turn someone that is fairly lazy, messy and unenergetic into someone that is a fitness freak and compulsive cleaner?
Perhaps it doesn't need to go to the full compulsive length but you know what I mean.
I'm lazy - I admit it. I'm messy and usually just don't have the energy to get up and clean so I don't do it as often as I should.
This whole lifestyle however contributes to my depression I'm sure. So I wonder if I tried hard enough if I could convert myself from lazy to fitness/clean freak. I'm sure it would do wonders for the way I feel in general.
I'm sure if I wasn't so messy and was more organised, things would run a lot smoother and be less stressful too.
So, I think I might give it a go. I need to eat better for a start to try and get a bit of energy. I recently bought a treadmill, so will start there with the fitness bit. Clean, clean, clean. Not easy when you've got three young boys either.
How annoying is it when you wash the floors and half an hour later the kids get home from school, then run in and out the house, and your floors are filthy again!!! Makes you wonder why you even bother doing it in the first place.
Anyway, enough raving - I'm going to do it.
I am going to try to convert myself from lazy to fit, from messy to clean........
Just as soon as I get the energy :)
Be Good
SherylP
www.depressiondays.com
Tips To Help Beat Depression
Depression can be caused by many different things and one of the first things we need to do to help beat depression is to avoic any circumstances that might make you feel depressed or sad. In knowing the symptoms of depression and being able to tell when depression is 'coming on', then this is the time to use some strategies to help reduce the problem.
If depression is lingering it is very easy for it to become full blown, especially when we are confronted with sad and depressive stories every day. Even if not in our own lives, we still constantly hear sad stories in newspapers and on television. We hear stories of poverty, war, crime, destruction and despair and hearing this things daily will only aggravate depression. If you suffer from depression it is a good idea to try to avoid reading the newspapers or watching news on television. Feeling empathy towards the people involved in these tragic situations will only add to your depression.
Try and assert some positives in your life. I know its hard when you are depressed to see the positive side of things, you tend to be always focused on the negatives. It does help, however, to make a huge effort to see the positives. Write it down at the end of the day, keep a notebook where you right down all the positive things that happened throughout that day and try not to think of the negative moments. When you are with your friends, try and see the positive things about them and tell them.
A healthy body is a healthy mind. Start doing some exercise and get or keep your body in shape. How fit and healthy you are can have a huge impact on your mind, your attitude and the way you think. Start of slowly and gradually increase the amount of exercise and keep going until soon it will become a routine. Change your diet and make sure you have the correct amount of fruit and vegetables each day. You will be amazed how much better you will feel within your mind as well as your body.
Be organised. A cluttered, unorganised house or workplace can also results in a cluttered mind. Being unorganised can make tasks twice as hard. At the beginning of each day, set some goals for the day and write a list of what you need to achieve. Don't be realistic and try to achieve too much. If your goals are unrealistic there's a good chance you wont meet them all, which will seem a failure and make you more depressed. Keep your goals simple and realistic, then once you achieve them you will have a feeling of success and happiness.
Go out and socialise with your friends. Being depressed makes you less sociable and often you will just feel like being alone, staying home and just can't be bothered going out. Although you feel like this, you will often find that if you do go out, it will help to forget some of your worries and make you feel better. Part of depression is the constant thoughts going through your mind, negative thoughts, so the more occupied you are the less thoughts that are likely to invade your mind.
Listen to your favourite music. Listening to your favourite music can always make you feel better and give you a little more energy. Dance around a bit and try and have some fun. Don't let depression keep you down, you need to fight it to stay on top and win.
If you have an argument or a fight with a good friend or loved one, try and work it out, don't hold a grudge. Holding grudges does nothing to help a situation it only makes you feel worse. If you're friend or loved one is really an important person in your life, then you should be able to talk and work it out. If they aren't important enough to work out the problem, then let them go and try to forget about it, but DON'T let an argument keep you feeling down.
Make some time for yourself. This doesn't mean to isolate yourself, but do make a bit of time each week just for you. Do something that you like doing, whether its going for a walk, having a bath, whatever you enjoy doing, find the time to do it.
It is always good to still seek medical help for your depression and perhaps see a counsellor. As much as these tips can help depression, some of these things can be hard to accomplish for someone who is depressed. It can be hard to get out of your 'rut' and begin doing these things. Talking about these problems with a counsellor or even a friend or family member, can motivate you to change the way you deal with these things and help you to overcome your depression.
Don't be ashamed of having depression, it is a disease that a large number of people suffer from. Just like any other illness it needs treated and needs full support from your family members. Always try to be positive and tell yourself that you can beat this. It is very important in overcoming depression to have the positive thought that 'you CAN do it'.
Be Safe, Be Happy
SherylP
www.depressiondays.com
Vitamins To Help With Depression.
Depression is an illness that is suffered by a large percentage of the population. Symptoms of depression include feeling down, unhappy, lack of interest in daily activities, often tired, irritable and more. Depression may result from chemical imbalance or stressful events. Sometimes vitamin deficiencies could contribute to depression so the intake of certain vitamins could in some situations help with depression.
When undergoing treatment to overcome depression, it can also help with your recovery to change your lifestyle for the better. Start exercising, eating a good diet and perhaps taking some vitamins. If you also make these changes there is no reason why your treatment will not be successful.
Studies have shown that deficiency of certain vitamins can have an effect over a persons mood. Certainly if you think that you may have a vitamin deficiency that may be effecting your moods then start taking a vitamin supplement. You should also always try to increase your intake of that vitamin through your diet.
Some vitamins that could help with depression are:
Vitamin B-complex - this vitamin can help to keep us mentally and emotionally balanced. Vitamin B-complex cannot be stored in our bodies so we must have an intake of this vitamin on a daily basis. Substances such as alcohol, caffeine, nicotine and refined sugars can also destroy the B vitamins so try to reduce any intake of these substances.
Vitamin B1 or Thiamine - our brain needs this to convert glucose or blood sugar into fuel for the brain to function at its best. Without enough of this vitamin we can become depressed, irritable, anxious, tired and be prone to negative thinking. Insufficient amounts of this vitamin can also result in memory problems, insomnia, lack of appetite, and constipation.
Vitamin B3 or Niacin - some deficiencies in this vitamin may produce anxiety, agitation, mental and physical slowness.
Vitamin B5 or Pyridoxine helps to process amino acids, which is the building blocks of proteins and other hormones. It is essential in the manufacture of serotonin, melatonin, and dopamine. Deficiencies can result in impaired immunity, skin wounds, and mental confusion.
Vitamin B12 is essential for the formation of red blood cells. Insufficient amounts of vitamin B12 will lead to an oxygen-transport problem, known as pernicious anemia. This condition can possibly cause mood swings, paranoia, dementia, hallucination, irritability, confusion, or mania and eventually followed by loss of appetite, weakness, dizziness, shortage of breath, palpitation, and more.
Folic acid is needed for DNA synthesis and for the production of Sadenosyl Methionine. Usually this is taken together with vitamin B12.
Vitamin C is needed, especially if you are pregnant or lactating, or under a lot of stress.
Along with vitamins it is also important to make sure you are not deficient in minerals. Insufficient intake of minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese and zinc can lead to depression, so make sure to also take supplements for these minerals.
Take Care
Sherylp
www.depressiondays.com
What Could The Cause Of Your Depression Be?
The way we think can be a big influence on whether we are likely to develop depression. There are many articles available about how positive and negative thinking affects the body. A person who generally is a positive thinker is more likely to be a happy, carefree individual, while a person who generally thinks negatively would be an unhappy person and much more likely to develop depression.
For someone who is a naturally positive thinker, they wouldn't think twice about 'how they think' because they don't need to. They are happy, they are doing everything right, there's no need for change so no need to think about it. However, for someone who is habitually a negative thinker, it can be very hard to change to the positive thinking attitude. Even when you try your hardest, you may succeed for a while but often that negative thinking gradually works itself back into your mind, it is very, very easy to fall back into the negative pattern.
There are many aspects of daily life that cause you to start thinking negatively in the first place. Things like finances and whether you will have enough money for your future. It can bring you down if you can't afford the nice luxury items that your friends may all have, if you don't have nice clothes and a nice big house, these things you are reminded of every day so it is hard to think positively about them.
Some people get very stressed about something they may have done and later feel bad about it. A positive thinker would probably just brush it off and forget about it, but a negative thinker is likely to dwell on it for quite a while.
Unable to break habits like smoking, drinking, eating, all of these are hard habits for anyone to break, but for the negative person, the longer you continue with the habit and not being able to break it, the more negative you feel about yourself.
The type of diet a person has can ultimately cause depression. The foods you eat has such a major effect on your health. Eating the wrong types of food over a long period can lead to diseases like heart disease, obesity and diabetes, these conditions can be a major cause of depression and stress.
People are faced with difficult situations throughout their lives and some people deal with them better than others. The way we deal with these situations may cause depression. Stress is something that everyone deals with from time to time and for the negative person, stress can really effect your mind and body. The longer you go through life not being able to deal with stress the more effect it will have on your body and depression is quite likely to develop.
Everyone should learn coping techniques and ways to deal with stress. Stress can sometimes be avoided but unfortunately it cannot always be avoided, we will all encounter stressful situations and so it is vital that we learn to cope with them. We need to be able to deal with it, then forget about it. We need to learn to 'let go'.
If you do suffer from depression it can help to sit down and reflect on your day or week and pick out moments that could be contributing to the way you feel, and see if there is a way that you could deal with it differently.
For the negative thinking person, it helps to keep a notebook or diary and on a daily basis write down all the positive things that happened throughout that day. By writing it down it helps to focus on the positive and not on the negative.
Take Care
SherylP
www.depressiondays.com
Lifting Depression
I just had to do an update on my last entry about panic away. I am so stoked with the outcome I am having as a result of this ebook. I haven't had any panic attacks at all since reading this book and using the methods in it. My general anxiety level has improved also, I don't want to count my chickens before they hatch, I know its still early days and I need to keep trying to get on top of it.
I am very happy with the way I'm feeling so far though.
So Far So Good!I am also pretty happy today as I haven't been online for about 4 days, and today I came on and noticed my depression website has gone from a zero page ranking in google up to a 2 page ranking - thanks to anyone that visits my website.I'll keep you updated on my progress with the panic away methods. For anyone interested in the ebook
click here to go to the panic away website.
Take care
SherylP
www.depressiondays.com
