Comments on: We Can’t Change The Cards We Are Dealt, Just How We Play The Hand

By: Erica OGrady

Erica OGrady — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 04:52:13 +0000

Hey Jess – have you ever tried Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy or looked into Adrenal Fatigue. I completely agree that there can be a powerful biological component to all of this. I know I've been there. But I also know that the mind is much more powerful then we could ever imagine. My friend Laura Fitton (@pistachio) always tells me – to "Find Better Beliefs". And you'd be amazed at how much that has changed my life.

If you're interested in BHRT let me know and I'll refer you to my awesome Doctor – @drshel

By: Erica OGrady

Erica OGrady — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 04:41:22 +0000

The truth is when it comes to Matt – I dodged a bullet. I was lucky enough to come to my senses before I let him ruin my life the way he ruined his. In that respect – I'm so lucky and grateful. Life is funny that way – sometimes the things we are most afraid of – are the very best things that have ever happened to us.

Now I just wonder why it took me so long!

By: Don

Don — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 03:32:41 +0000

Glad all is well with you. What's the story with Matt? What happened to him?

By: Jess

Jess — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 13:18:11 +0000

Depression also has a lot to do with chemicals in your body also. I was diagnosed with a thyroid disease over 7 years ago and it is that disease which causes my severe depression and anxiety, panic attacks(the whole kit and caboodle). No matter how many books I read, and I have read A LOT, or therapy sessions I go to, I will not be able to get myself out of bed without my medication. It's not that I don't have the will to do it, my body just won't let me. I am glad these methods have worked for you and you are finding some excitment back in your life.

Hugs
Jess

By: Tagg Romney

Tagg Romney — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 18:10:54 +0000

How interesting. Could you tell me more about that? What in Atlas Shrugged helped you the most? Did you find your place in the never-ending war against society's 'parasites' and 'looters'? Or was it the blind faith that laissez-faire capitalism will kill off the 'moochers' of the world? Do you fantasize about the 'creative' class packing off to form their own utopia, with the shiftless socialists and egalitarian time-wasters left to eat each other alive? Because I think that could lift me out of any funk. Just tell me where to start.

By: Erica OGrady

Erica OGrady — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 23:32:59 +0000

@Tagg – It's interesting that you mention Atlas Shrugged – that's another book that has helped lift me from melancholy to exaltation. While I agree with Nathan that not every person suffering from depression can be cured by tough love – I know it works for some.

@Nathan – I was diagnosed with Clinical Depression (Major Depressive Disorder) at 19 and have been suffering bouts of depression on and off since then. I agree that what I'm suggesting here might not work for every person with depression. Most people will need to mix these philosophies with medication and/or traditional therapy. I think the reason this works so well for me is that these belief patterns and coping strategies are very similar to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. My depression is directly related to my self-esteem and feelings of self-efficacy. And while people are often genetically predisposed to depression (for instance depression runs in my family), that's only one part of the equation. The rest is determined by life circumstances, our ability to cope with stress and setbacks, and to a large degree our beliefs about how much control we can exert over our own lives. Just like everyone is born with a setpoint for Happiness – similarly – people are born with a setpoint for depression. But like Happiness, while depression is genetically influenced it is not fixed or set in stone.

By: Tagg Romney

Tagg Romney — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 19:51:54 +0000

Good post. But it could've been a lot shorter. Let me suggest the following:

'Erica's Outreach to the Sick, Tired and Dispossesed:

SMACK YOURSELVES IN THE FACE. GROW UP.'

The next time I'm feeling blue, I'll read Atlas Shrugged. Thanks, Erica.

By: nathan

nathan — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 00:46:27 +0000

I congratulate you on turning your life around and I'm glad to see that you were able to find creative strategies that allowed you to unlock your creative potential and move past obstacles. That being said, I'd like to say as well — speaking as a person who's struggled with depression for over twenty-five years and who's seen depression's devastating, and sometimes lethal, effects on people I care about — that whatever your experience may have been, depressed people are not "wallowing in self-pity." Depression is not going through painful or unhappy experiences. Depression is an illness that if untreated is often fatal. I do not mean to detract from your achievement or your personal transformation by saying this, but believe me, if what you suffer from can be cured by reading a book by Dr. Phil or Dale Carnegie, then what you have isn't depression.

By: Meegs

Meegs — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 19:44:25 +0000

Thank you (again!) for your honest, open and thoughtful writing, Erica. Your post is quite possibly the perfect kick-start to a new phase in my life as well. Funny have the universe tailor-makes terrifying/exhilarating paradigm shifts… Especially love your quotes & literary references – if you have a moment & haven’t cracked the Jung tomes yet, I’d highly recommend ‘Modern Man In Search Of A Soul’ & ‘Undiscovered Self.’ Big hugs from Toronto!

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 14:28:12 +0000

Great post! I like #10 work with passion & enthusiasm – rest peacefully, although sometimes when I'm really excited about work, I wake up in the middle of the night and can't stop thinking about everything I want to do! But it's a good thing, not like waking up from stress and worry.

And that Julia Allison quote – sometimes we do have to go thru painful or unhappy things to find out what we can do, how high we can reach.