CWD Daily

August 12

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

WHO's tips on looking after your mental health during COVID-19:

Keep informed.
Have a routine.
Minimize newsfeeds.
Social contact is important.
Alcohol and drug use.
Screen time.
Video games.
Social media.
Help others.
Support healthcare workers.

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

August 11, 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

HERE is a wonderful essay on the apparent link between writers and depression, with insights for anyone who is depressed.

A couple of excerpts:

“Writers suffer from depression for all the usual reasons (innate biochemical susceptibility, early life experiences, etc.) but they also live lives full of contributing factors. Isolation, introspection, lack of physical exercise, irregular hours, less than perfect diet, and lack of exposure to sunlight – all may cause a depression, or worsen one. So also do financial and professional uncertainty – the lack of control of events which writers experience in every aspect of their work. To these, some writers add alcohol or drug addiction (yup, these do contribute to depression)…”

“When you're depressed, everything seems futile – you are sure the book will be lousy even if you do write it. When you're depressed, you have less courage, less resilience, less ability to handle ordinary stressors.”

Contact: witchhazel2020@gmail.com

August 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

Haunting, rich and calming, Native American flute and drum music and chants are wonderful relaxation music.

Choose a piece and close your eyes, focus on breathing deeply. Feel yourself one with nature, the earth, the air, the fire, the water.

Your favorite radio app or YouTube will have a wide selection. Here are two:

Native American Sleep Music: canyon flute & nocturnal canyon sounds.

Rain and Native American Flutes (with thunder).

Contact: witchhazel2020@gmail.com

August 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

Get help.

The television show LOST had a metaphor for practically every human condition, including the need to get help. The characters in LOST pretty much deny their issues and insist they're just fine, no – better than fine, they are really doing well alone, thank you very much. But of course they are totally messed up, one and all.

And only by opening up and letting people in and letting people help them do they survive and ultimately thrive, in ways they never expected. (If by survive you mean mostly die, but that's another discussion about physical death vs. spiritual death and we're not going there.)

Not to beat a dead metaphor, but you don't have to go it alone. Get help when you need it. And when you're miserable a lot of the time you probably need it.

Contact: witchhazel2020@gmail.com

August 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

For some, depression feels like nothingness. When you're depressed you're not down, necessarily, or up. You just are.

You may display what is called a “flat affect,” which means your facial expression is blank. Smiles are forced and fake, but you don't necessarily look sad, either.

Your energy may be low. You may not get moving very easily or quickly, and you may not get excited much.

You may not be very assertive and you may not be interested in things you used to enjoy.

Sometimes you may be a little confused because you're not focusing. You may be forgetful.

You can have head and body aches.

You may be a little clumsier than normal.

Or you may not have any of these symptoms. Depression is sneaky.

Contact: witchhazel2020@gmail.com

August 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

THIS is a wonderful website for calming and centering, with lots of tips for conquering depression.

One QUOTE from an article on the website:

“You don’t have to be brave all of the time. You are not damaged or defeated. Have patience. Give yourself permission to grieve, to cry, and to heal. Allow a bit of compassion, you’re doing the best you can. We all are.” ~Unknown

Contact: witchhazel2020@gmail.com

August 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

Black cherries are full of antioxidants, fiber, Vitamin C, and natural melatonin, among other healthy nutrients. They promote healthy sleep and reduce inflammation, and that's just for a start.

All in all, black cherries are delicious and nutritious and fantastic for fighting depression (as part of a balanced diet, not as medicine, of course)!

And they're coming into season, so yum!

Contact: witchhazel2020@gmail.com

August 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

Yes, he talks really fast. If that's all you know about John Green, learn more. He and his brother are amazing, brilliant authors, philanthropists and Internet pioneers, and coined the phrase “Don't forget to be awesome.”

I find THIS video by this guy who is uber-successful extremely comforting and inspiring. And chock full of perspective.

Contact: witchhazel2020@gmail.com

August 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

Depression is not sadness. It is not the blues. It is an overpowering, all-consuming, ever-present inability to think clearly. Most people who have never been clinically depressed don't believe in it, I think.

Here is one great paragraph about depression, from an incredible blog, Hyperbole and a Half:

“I spent months shut in my house, surfing the internet on top of a pile of my own dirty laundry which I set on the couch for ‘just a second’ because I experienced a sudden moment of apathy on my way to the washer and couldn't continue. And then, two weeks later, I still hadn't completed that journey. But who cares – it wasn't like I had been showering regularly and sitting on a pile of clothes isn't necessarily uncomfortable. But even if it was, I couldn't feel anything through the self hatred anyway, so it didn't matter. JUST LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE.”

Contact: witchhazel2020@gmail.com