October 14, 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 2020, an ARTICLE in Medical News Today reported progress has been made on diagnosing and treating depression through monitoring a patient’s heart rate.

“In the past, researchers had shown that depressed patients had consistently higher heart rates and lower heart rate variability, but because of the time it takes to treat depression, it had been difficult to follow up and relate any improvement to heart rate. But when we realized that ketamine leads to a rapid improvement in mood, we knew that we might be able to use it to understand the link between depression and heart rate.”

    – Carmen Schiweck, Ph.D.

“A new pilot study has found that depression can be predicted with a 90% accuracy by analyzing a person’s heart rate over 24 hours.

“The research, presented virtually at the 33rd European College of Neuropsychopharmacology Congress, may be valuable in diagnosing depression and determining the most effective types of treatment.”

Stay tuned!

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  

October 13, 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 you're depressed you may not even want to get out of bed, let alone do your laundry or get a haircut.

Be disciplined about self-care. Wash your face and brush your teeth every day. Take a shower at least every few days. Change your underwear once in a while.

Believe it or not these small steps are essential for managing depression.

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  

October 12, 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

“Goalcast empowers millions of people to live life with purpose. More than a content production powerhouse, Goalcast connects human beings seeking truth and authenticity.”

This website and YouTube channel are a treasure trove of inspiration. A dose of Goalcast is one prescription to help ease depression.

HERE is one moving and inspiring video – a tribute to the late John Lewis.

HERE is the Goalcast website.

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  

October 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

Get help.

You may be exhausted and think that's why you're feeling down.

But when you are depressed, you're possibly not the best person to judge why you're depressed.

Seek help from a qualified professional if you're feeling particularly stressed or shaky.

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  

October 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

THIS five-step exercise can be very helpful during periods of anxiety or panic by helping to ground you in the present when your mind is bouncing around between various anxious thoughts.

Before starting this exercise, pay attention to your breathing. Slow, deep, long breaths can help you maintain a sense of calm or help you return to a calmer state. Once you find your breath, go through the following steps to help ground yourself:

5: Acknowledge FIVE things you see around you.

4: Acknowledge FOUR things you can touch around you.

3: Acknowledge THREE things you hear.

2: Acknowledge TWO things you can smell.

1: Acknowledge ONE thing you can taste.

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  

October 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

There are some songs that lift you up instantaneously. Make a mix tape of your favorites.

Petula Clark – Downtown
This is a fantastically cheesy video – sure to make you smile.

Bruno Mars – Uptown Funk

Three Dog Night – Shambala

Here's a whole playlist: 20 Happy Songs to Play When You Just Want to Feel Good

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  

October 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

Consider coffee and depression.

Numerous studies have been done, but they contradict each other. Some say caffeine is a great anti-depressant, while others say it's a placebo and others say it sends you crashing after the lift.

Split the difference. Limit your caffeine to 1 – 2 cups/servings a day. That's coffee, tea, chocolate and most sodas. When in doubt, moderation is usually the best way to go!

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  

October 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

What does minimum basic income have to do with depression? It turns out, a lot! Poverty sucks. (By the way, THIS VIDEO on the link between poverty and depression is from a U.S. mid-term election year [2018] which is why he's talking about voting.)

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  

October 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

“Standing naked under running warm water can be extremely healing and can help to clear away not just germs but also stagnant energy.

“Shower Meditation #1 – As you soap yourself, repeat the following mantra – “I cleanse myself so I may feel light, peaceful and at ease.” Keep repeating this mantra as you scrub your body all over. As you rinse off the soap, imagine all of the negative energy or energy that is no longer yours to keep going down the drain.

“Next, take your hand and make a flicking motion around the entire outside of your body, cleansing away any final lingering energy.

“Stand under the water one more time, close your eyes and visualize the water forming a protective golden white light all around your body. See the white light in your mind’s eye and take three deep breaths before opening your eyes.”

Click HERE for 3 shower meditations.

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