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.

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 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

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 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!

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 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.

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 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.”

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 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

In order to complete most tasks you have to accept imperfection. Letting go of perfectionism is a challenge, but one that pays off when you have a tendency to depression.

Because not finishing anything is much more depressing than making a mistake here and there.

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 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

Get help.

Erika's Lighthouse is an organization that provides resources for teens and their teachers to combat depression.

It's a vibrant, active organization with a bold mission to help depressed teens find a way out of the darkness.

Check out THIS great video.

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 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

A new month is a great time for a fresh start!

Forget everything telling you depression is here to stay, and choose a new reality. Start to heal! Practice the fundamentals: take your meds, talk to someone, get plenty of sleep, eat healthy, move your body.

Let's have a terrific August!

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 

July 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

“A doctor came to set and talked to me for about 30 minutes or 45 minutes and said: 'Jared, I think you’re clinically depressed. I think I should write you a note – we can shut down production for five days and then we can take it from there.' And it kind of hit me like a sack of bricks. I mean, I was 25 years old. I had my own TV show. I had dogs that I loved and tons of friends and I was getting adoration from fans and I was happy with my work, but I couldn’t figure out what it was; it doesn’t always make sense is my point. It’s not just people who can’t find a job, or can’t fit in in society that struggle with depression sometimes.”

That's Jared Padalecki talking, one of the two stars of the mega-hit TV show Supernatural.

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