A Beautiful Dawn

Get your day off to a calm, positive, joyful start with this video of "A Beautiful Dawn" by Navajo recording artist Radmilla Cody.

16 Things I've Learned from 16 Years of Dealing with Depression

16 Things I've Learned from 16 Years of Dealing with Depression (Huffington Post)

by Hannah Sentenac, Contributor, writer, journalist, vegan.

16. There's always hope.
15. I can't expect to feel good all the time.
14. Alcohol was not my friend.
13. People who haven't suffered from depression have a tough time understanding it.
12. Self-compassion is key.
11. Lots of other people are fighting similar battles.
10. There's a reason meditation has been around for thousands of years.
9. Social media can exacerbate a sense of alienation.
8. Spending too much time alone is a bad idea.
7. There is no final destination.
6. Exercise is an amazing antidepressant.
5. There's no quick fix.
4. I should always ask for help when I need it.
3. My brain can change.
2. Everyone's journey is different.
1. I can make it out.

Get Help!

 10 Signs It's Time to Get Help for Depression

Hopelessness
An inability to concentrate
Unexplained aches and pains
Apathy concerning things you used to like to do
Alcohol or drug abuse
Changes in sleep habits
Changes in appetite and eating
Irritability, agitation, and moodiness
Feelings of worthlessness and guilt
Thoughts of death, suicide, or self-harm
        - healthcentral.com

Parents – there is help available.

Get help.

“...approximately 2% of children and at least 4% of adolescents suffer from depression at any given time. By the end of high school, approximately one young person in five will have had at least one episode of depression.

“Children and adolescents who are under stress, who experience loss, or who have attentional, learning, conduct, or anxiety disorders are at a higher risk for depression... The good news is that depression is a treatable illness.”

Check out the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry’s online depression resource center.

Winston Churchill

“Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of Great Britain, was one of the “Big Three” (Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin) to lead the world in its defeat of Hitler in WWII. He told in his own writings of suffering from the “black dog,” Churchill's term for severe and serious depression.”

You've Come a Long Way, Baby!

If you've struggled with and still battle depression, take a minnute to acknowledge your accomplishments in that fight.

You understand depression and your own situation better. You're taking steps to get the help you need to the extent that you can -- from simply reading this blog to getting into therapy.

It feels like a never-ending journey.

But look at how far you've come!

November 2, 2021

November is a new month, with new challenges and triumphs to come.

With Halloween behind us, it is also the start of the “winter holiday” season, and that can be fraught with peril regarding depression. Family stress. Less sunlight. No money for presents.

It's time to really pull out the anti-depression resources. Stay consistent on meds. Try to get in some exercise. Eat well and consciously.

Here we go!

November 1, 2021

Get help: Crisis Text Line

“Crisis Text Line is free, 24/7 support for those in crisis. Text 741741 from anywhere in the US to text with a trained Crisis Counselor. Crisis Text Line trains volunteers to support people in crisis. With over 100 million messages processed to date, we’re growing quickly, but so is the need.”

In a crisis?

Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a Crisis Counselor.
Free 24/7 support at your fingertips
US and Canada: text 741741
UK: text 85258 | Ireland: text 50808

Learn more by watching the founder's TED Talk.

October 31, 2021

This Halloween, try something that genuinely scares you.

Apply for that job you really want. Go back to school. Go hang-gliding!

Then take in your accomplishments – you were able to do something you never thought you could. You conquered a major fear.

There's nothing you can't do!