June 10, 2021

CWD Daily

Tips for Coping with Depression

If you are in a suicide crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 
1-800-273-8255.

Tip of the Day

WebMD.com has a comprehensive section on depression, HERE:

CWD Daily is written by Julie Aiken, a layperson whose only authority lies in 40 years of coping with depression. Nothing in the newsletter should be taken as medical advice. Please do no self-diagnose or self-prescribe. Above all, please get help if you need it. 

Contact: witchhazel2020@gmail.com  

June 9, 2021

CWD Daily

Tips for Coping with Depression

If you are in a suicide crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 
1-800-273-8255.

Tip of the Day

Why don't more doctors first test for nutritional deficiencies before dispensing Zoloft or Prozac, and especially anti-psychotics like Seroquel and Zyprexa?

Competent doctors will send you to get lab work done before upping your meds or adjusting anything. Sometimes we do need antidepressants. But other times we need spinach.

HERE is a list of nutritional deficiencies that present as or contribute to depression.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Vitamin D
Magnesium
Vitamin B Complex
Folate
Amino Acids
Iron
Zinc
Iodine
Selenium

CWD Daily is written by Julie Aiken, a layperson whose only authority lies in 40 years of coping with depression. Nothing in the newsletter should be taken as medical advice. Please do no self-diagnose or self-prescribe. Above all, please get help if you need it. 

Contact: witchhazel2020@gmail.com 

June 8, 2021

CWD Daily

Tips for Coping with Depression

If you are in a suicide crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 
1-800-273-8255.

Tip of the Day

When it’s time to intervene, from the great healthline.com article, "How to Help a Depressed Friend":

Depression can increase a person’s risk for suicide or self-injury, so it’s helpful to know how to recognize the signs.

Some signs that might indicate your friend is having serious suicidal thoughts include:

Frequent mood swings or personality changes
Talking about death or dying
Purchasing a weapon
Increased substance use
Risky or dangerous behavior
Getting rid of belongings or giving away treasured possessions
Talking about feeling trapped or wanting a way out
Pushing people away or saying they want to be left alone
Saying goodbye with more feeling than usual

CWD Daily is written by Julie Aiken, a layperson whose only authority lies in 40 years of coping with depression. Nothing in the newsletter should be taken as medical advice. Please do no self-diagnose or self-prescribe. Above all, please get help if you need it. 

Contact: witchhazel2020@gmail.com 

June 7, 2021

CWD Daily

Tips for Coping with Depression

If you are in a suicide crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 
1-800-273-8255.

Tip of the Day

Get help.

An EAP is an Employee Assistance Program that offers confidential help with any issue you're having. So if you are feeling depressed, you can see a therapist for 3 visits at no cost. And often 3 visits is enough to get you on the path to improved mental health.

If your employer participates in the program, there should be a poster in the break room or other public area. Call the number posted and your employer never knows you have used the service.

EAPs are a fantastic way to get some professional help for free!

CWD Daily is written by Julie Aiken, a layperson whose only authority lies in 40 years of coping with depression. Nothing in the newsletter should be taken as medical advice. Please do no self-diagnose or self-prescribe. Above all, please get help if you need it. 

Contact: witchhazel2020@gmail.com 

June 6, 2021

CWD Daily

Tips for Coping with Depression

If you are in a suicide crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 
1-800-273-8255.

Tip of the Day

If your friend or loved one seems depressed, healthline.com has great tips on How to Help a Depressed Friend:

Listen to them
Help them find support
Support them in continuing therapy
Take care of yourself
        Set boundaries
        Practice self-care
Learn about depression on your own
Offer to help with everyday tasks
Extend loose invitations
Be patient
Stay in touch

Things not to do:

Don’t take things personally
Don’t try to fix them
Don’t give advice
Don’t minimize or compare their experience
Don’t take a stance on medication

CWD Daily is written by Julie Aiken, a layperson whose only authority lies in 40 years of coping with depression. Nothing in the newsletter should be taken as medical advice. Please do no self-diagnose or self-prescribe. Above all, please get help if you need it. 

Contact: witchhazel2020@gmail.com 

June 5, 2021

CWD Daily

Tips for Coping with Depression

If you are in a suicide crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 
1-800-273-8255.

Tip of the Day

According to healthline.com, if a friend or family member is experiencing depression they may:

Seem sad or tearful
Appear more pessimistic than usual or hopeless about the future
Talk about feeling guilty, empty, or worthless
Seem less interested in spending time together or communicate less frequently than they normally would
Get upset easily or be unusually irritable
Have less energy, move slowly, or seem generally listless
Have less interest in their appearance than usual or neglect basic hygiene, such as showering and brushing their teeth
Have trouble sleeping or sleep much more than usual
Care less about their usual activities and interests
Seem forgetful or have trouble concentrating or deciding on things
Eat more or less than usual
Talk about death or suicide

CWD Daily is written by Julie Aiken, a layperson whose only authority lies in 40 years of coping with depression. Nothing in the newsletter should be taken as medical advice. Please do no self-diagnose or self-prescribe. Above all, please get help if you need it. 

Contact: witchhazel2020@gmail.com 

June 4, 2021

CWD Daily

Tips for Coping with Depression

If you are in a suicide crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 
1-800-273-8255.

Tip of the Day

19%, 1 in 5, adults in the United States suffer from some form mental illness. HERE is a simple, clear graphic about the prevalence of common mental illnesses, from the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

According to Blue Cross Blue Shield over 9 million people suffer Major Depressive Disorder. Who knew?

Those folks are 2 times more likely to suffer from one or more chronic diseases, 3 times more likely to suffer from a pain related disorder, and 7 times more likely to suffer from alcohol or substance use disorders.

CWD Daily is written by Julie Aiken, a layperson whose only authority lies in 40 years of coping with depression. Nothing in the newsletter should be taken as medical advice. Please do no self-diagnose or self-prescribe. Above all, please get help if you need it. 

Contact: witchhazel2020@gmail.com 

June 3, 2021

CWD Daily

Tips for Coping with Depression

If you are in a suicide crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 
1-800-273-8255.

Tip of the Day

Beth in Show – How to be Happy.

Love her!

CWD Daily is written by Julie Aiken, a layperson whose only authority lies in 40 years of coping with depression. Nothing in the newsletter should be taken as medical advice. Please do no self-diagnose or self-prescribe. Above all, please get help if you need it. 

Contact: witchhazel2020@gmail.com     

June 2, 2021

CWD Daily

Tips for Coping with Depression

If you are in a suicide crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 
1-800-273-8255.

Tip of the Day

The distorted thinking of depression masks clear thinking. You feel paralyzed, unable to make a decision or pick a direction to go. It makes it hard to move forward.

As the riots in Los Angeles in 1992 were winding down, a reporter asked the actor and L.A. resident Edward James Olmos what people could do to fix things, what they could do now. He replied quite profoundly: “Pick up a broom.”

“Sweep the floor” is a classic dictum across many spiritual and religious teachings, both eastern and western. It means do the task in front of you.

So, pick up a broom. Take a positive step in some direction; it doesn't really matter what direction. Do something. Pick up a broom.

Wax on, wax off.

CWD Daily is written by Julie Aiken, a layperson whose only authority lies in 40 years of coping with depression. Nothing in the newsletter should be taken as medical advice. Please do no self-diagnose or self-prescribe. Above all, please get help if you need it. 

Contact: witchhazel2020@gmail.com