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Choice to be depressed...

GabrielContributor05 Aug 2016, 6:29 pm AEST

Choice to be depressed...

In a famous Shakespeare play Hamlet said " To be or not to be -that is the Question!"... Well if we can make the choice to be ( live) or not to be ( die) then can we not make the choice to be not depressed because no matter what reason we give to be depressed we can always find one not to be( even if it is someone else telling us- which is s annoying isn't it?)

We make the choice in so much in our lives... even getting up in the morning can be a real choice... A pattern of thinking is a programmed choice- "I am not worthy"... " I am never going to..." are really opinions that somehow we reinforce- that is choose to reinforce( when it becomes habit we do it unconsciously- we are not aware we do it..)

so isn't it possible we might be able to make the choice to " be"? That is live, live not depressed( living without depression as a pattern of our life...

I made the choice not to be depressed and although it took a long time to rid me of the triggers and energy I invested in these triggers as well as the programmed resulting thoughts... I gradually became aware of these and recorded these and began to change the thoughts( choice of positive or negative thought)! The emotions were harder to change but in awareness of them I was able to observe them.THIS was the trick here because it somewhat removed me from them- and the experience of them!

I have made the choice to be ...as you have - because you have made the choice to be still here .....

Even if you do not agree with my experience and viewpoint YOU are a champion to me... more than many Olympic champions because You do it every day to" be" here... Well done champions.

5 replies

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In response to: Choice to be depressed...

utopiaSenior Contributor05 Aug 2016, 7:51 pm AEST

Re: Choice to be depressed...

Hi @Gabriel. It's wonderful that you had the strength to work through all your issues and feelings and come out successful. That is what I am doing at the moment. The next step. But it is not always easy. And it can be easy to say 'this is too hard, I give up' & stay in that depression cycle.
But each of us has our own experiences. Each of us has to fight our own battle. All we can do os fight the best we can. Offer advice and love and support to those we can.
Let's hope more of us get better. Every day a little bit more

In response to: Re: Choice to be depressed...

GabrielContributor05 Aug 2016, 9:15 pm AEST

Re: Choice to be depressed...

Hi Utopia - yes it can be easy to fall back into depression and it can be difficult stopping it at that moment when you are vulnerable to come back... but if you analyse what repeatedly occurs you have the power to use your own wisdom to change your responses.

You and I know there is no magic fix. It doesn't completely disappear...

It does get less pronounced with continued vigilance...

It does get easier to live life...

what is important is that there is choice- and you and I have had degrees of success in saying " We choose not to be depressed!" ... and yes you have to work at it, but it is easier than staying in depression.

In response to: Choice to be depressed...

Unknown userMember07 Aug 2016, 3:37 pm AEST

Re: Choice to be depressed...

All good & well in theory, and it seems to work for so many, the old 'cognitive therapy' 'fake it 'till you make it' stuff. Whatever works.
Not only are my 'analytical' powers questionable, re "analyse what repeatedly occurs you have the power to use your own wisdom to change your responses" but physical energy is gone, or so it seems.

For me stepping up is believing in something I cannot see (feel, touch, grasp, smell, hear or even imagine), and acting on it. Thanks for reminding me.

In response to: Choice to be depressed...

Unknown userMember08 Aug 2016, 11:11 am AEST

Re: Choice to be depressed...

Hi @Gabriel thanks for sharing. Love the Shakespear quote analogy, I've heard that quote a million times but I'd never thought of it like that before!

Indeed our thoughts can become habitual. The more we meditate on certain maladaptive thoughts (e.g., I am not worthy, I am never going to... etc) the stronger those neural pathways become in our minds, and returning to that thought becomes faster and easier. It is great to hear about the personal responsibility you have taken on in looking objectively at your thoughts, and have clearly made a big effort to examine yourself in this way. That is not an easy thing to do, and can take a lot of effort and courage. Recording your thoughts is a great idea to help you become more of a 'witness' to your thoughts, rather than take them on as a part of you.

Can I ask how long have you struggled with depression, and how long did it take to make this transition with your thought life?

In response to: Re: Choice to be depressed...

GabrielContributor08 Aug 2016, 4:29 pm AEST

Re: Choice to be depressed...

Hi Mosaic- yes recording your thoughts is a very useful tool because it lets you step aside ( even it is just a little) because it relieves the intensity of the emotions which can feel crippling... in some circumstances it might even help from making a choice which might be regretted...

Also it could help them break the pattern of these habitually depressing thoughts leading to recovery by seeing that it is the same thoughts again- and again- and making the choice to start with one ( the first I would suggest) and look at this.

As well recording is a plan and having a plan is positive incentive because in doing so they believe that they might get through this if they know what is going on!

As for how long I experienced horrible depression- nearly 40 years- yes 40 ! It took 4 years to wean myself off medication and clear my body of its effects.

As for the damage it did to my family... my behaviour led to a divorce and all my children ( adults in their 30s )disown me... this guilt and shame has been the hardest to get over and is probably why it took so long to get over it...but at sometime you have to forgive yourself- we all have to forgive ourself-...

Hope this has answered your questions... so glad my forum interested you. Thanks Mosaic!

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