CWD Daily

February 1, 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

Sniffing citrus – whether in the form of an actual lemon or a jar of Satsuma body polish – is a major stress reducer, according to science.

When participants in a recent study, LINKED HERE, spent as little as ten minutes inhaling yuzu (the super-tart, Japanese citrus fruit), they saw a significant decrease in their overall mood disturbance, a global measure that looks at tension, anxiety, depression, confusion, fatigue and anger. Whoa.

So, eat a grapefruit, light a citrus candle or spend a few minutes mixing up a batch of real lemonade. Just be sure to inhale…annnnnd…exhale while you do it.

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

January 31, 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 old, no longer available, article in Psych Central online listed “10 Excuses for Avoiding Psychotherapy.” The first was a doozy: “If I go into therapy it means I'm a loser and I'm weak and can't stand on my own feet. It's better to work on myself without a crutch so that I keep strong.”

There is actually not a smidgen of truth to that.

Just like you would if your car needed fixed, or your heart needed surgery, or you needed legal assistance, get professional help. You deserve to feel better.

HERE is an article from WebMD: What's Stopping You From Seeing a Doctor About Depression?

Contact: witchhazel2020@gmail.com

January 30, 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

One element of coping with depression is getting the proper nutrition, and one way to eat well is to cut out the crap you know is not good for you.

Potato chips are a common culprit. You can eat a snack-size bag (or two) every day, telling yourself that if they're “sun chips” or baked or low-salt they're okay.

Fine, anything is okay once in a while, but every single day? Nope.

If you are what you eat, don't be junk. Don't be fried. Don't have unpronounceable ingredients.

Contact: witchhazel2020@gmail.com

January 29, 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 may come and go in waves. One minute you're feeling hopeful and positive, like you've made progress and today (or the rest of today) is going to be good. The next minute you're feeling defeated and like you will never rise above the tar-like ooze of depression.

That's the insidious, tenacious, sneaky nature of depression.

You have to stay on your toes if you want to get ahead of it!

Contact: witchhazel2020@gmail.com

January 28, 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

From Daily Calm on the website calm.com, this easy 10-minute Mindfulness Meditation – Be Present, HERE, is a great way to try meditation if you aren't sure what it's about.

Contact: witchhazel2020@gmail.com

January 27, 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 one of the best articles you'll read on depression.

7 Big, Stupid, Destructive Lies Depression Tells You. It begins with “Depression is a beast. It's an illness so insidious that sometimes you don't realize the scope of its life-threatening power until you're drowning under its waves.”

You will recognize some of these lies. Such as “You're not trying hard enough.” You may tell yourself these lies all the time, and not even realize it's the depression talking!

Metabolism may play a role in recurrent major depression

"Researchers have found that certain metabolites -- small molecules produced by the process of metabolism -- may be predictive indicators for persons at risk for recurrent major depressive disorder...

"Recurrent major depressive disorder (in lay terms, clinical depression) is a mood disorder characterized by multiple symptoms in combination: feelings of sadness or hopelessness, anger or frustration, loss of interest, sleep disturbances, anxiety, slowed or difficulty thinking, suicidal thoughts and unexplained physical problems, such as back pain or headaches.

"Major depressive disorder (MDD) is among the most common mental illnesses in the United States, with an estimated lifetime prevalence of 20.6 percent, meaning one in five Americans will suffer at least one episode during their lives. For patients who have recurrent MDD (rMDD), the five-year recurrence risk is up to 80 percent."

HERE is an article on metabolism's effect on depression. It's technical, but fascinating, and underscores the connection between physical health and mental health.

Contact: witchhazel2020@gmail.com

January 26, 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

What others think about you does not have to be your reality.

Try to remember that the faith or lack thereof that people place in you is a reflection of their experience, beliefs and thoughts, not a reflection of reality.

Do Suicide Interventions Work?

An ARTICLE from FSU is inconclusive about suicide interventions. Well, isn't that special?

"Florida State University researchers, in collaboration with colleagues from the University of Denver and Columbia University, conducted a meta-analysis of nearly 600 studies regarding treatments and interventions for suicidal and non-suicidal SITBs, or self-injurious thoughts and behaviors.

"The aim of this research was to analyze the effectiveness of treatment interventions among studies that include randomized control trials (RTCs), post-treatment outcome reports and interventions.

"According to the study, while treatment interventions were significantly effective when comparing control and treatment groups, they were only modestly effective on average. This meant that interventions only helped 9% of subjects who sought treatment across all the studies analyzed. Because of this, researchers question whether the lack of significant results could be because the treatments only effectively target one, or a few, causes for harmful self-injurious thoughts..."

Contact: witchhazel2020@gmail.com

January 25, 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 Army is a great blog and website – and although it may not be updated anymore, it is still up. The entries are written by numerous contributors who suffer from depression themselves.

Some article titles have been I Don't Want Your Help, Social Anxiety, and Why I Hugged Rock Bottom.

Surge of Student Suicides Pushes Las Vegas Schools to Reopen

"The reminders of pandemic-driven suffering among students in Clark County, Nev., have come in droves.

"Since schools shut their doors in March, an early-warning system that monitors students' mental health episodes has sent more than 3,100 alerts to district officials, raising alarms about suicidal thoughts, possible self-harm or cries for care. By December, 18 students had taken their own lives.

"The spate of student suicides in and around Las Vegas has pushed the Clark County district, the nation's fifth largest, toward bringing students back as quickly as possible. This month, the school board gave the green light to phase in the return of some elementary school grades and groups of struggling students even as greater Las Vegas continues to post huge numbers of coronavirus cases and deaths."

- nyt.com

Contact: witchhazel2020@gmail.com

January 24, 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

Schools closed or hours reduced? Get help.

“Student anxiety, depression increasing during school closures, survey finds...

“More than half the students who responded to the survey said they’re in need of mental health support since the school closures began in mid-March [2020]...

“'We were calling this a mental health crisis before the pandemic. Now it’s a state of emergency,' said Amir Whitaker, policy counsel of the ACLU of Southern California. 'Our youth are really struggling... When schools reopen, we’re going to have to re-tool them significantly to address this.'”

CLICK HERE for the full article.

CLICK HERE for School Counseling and School Reentry During COVID-19.

Contact: witchhazel2020@gmail.com