beating depression

[Guest guest]

Thanks so much Gretchen,

After getting this from you and a good 'kick in the pants', from Sue...

I feel really good today. I laughed and let go. Having this since I was

a child, and then being considered a 'freak' by some small town doctors'

because I wasn't like the 'one other' patient they had with CMT, who was

72 and just had hammer toes

I also think being alone, 3000 miles away from my family, I feel SO good

to finally have a place to ask questions and potentially help others.

Thank you all so much, now I could cry - a 'happy cry'

Peace & love to you all

Judy g.

Gretchen Glick wrote:

> Hello Judy,

>

> In my experience with a lifetime of CMT (since childhood) I have had

> periods of situational depression, but considering that I have CMT and

>

> live with such uncertainty, this just seems 'normal' to me.

>

> Living with a disease that no one has heard about, no one knows, and

> where it is even difficult to get a complete diagnosis, you bet, bring

>

> on doubt, despair, and depression! Not to mention all the other stuff

> we

> go through with CMT.

>

> What truly has helped me the most with my situationaal depression are

> the principles of love, life, gratitude and the number one of

> acceptance. These did not come easy or

> fast. I earned them the hard way through a beautiful 12 step program I

>

> continue to participate in. I had to drink my way into the abyss for

> about 9 years and lived in chaos before someone told me there really

> IS

> light at the end of the tunnel. And proved it!

>

> The sun shines; then some days are cloudy - best describes my life

> now.

> If there's too many 'clouds', I do more art work or watch very funny

> movies/videos to help bring me back into a sunny attitude. Or I rassle

>

> with my dogs and pretend I am one of them, to 'let loose'! (they love

> this!) I am able to stay mostly upbeat on a daily basis.

>

> My CMT REALLY is affected by my attitude. The better my attitude, the

> more in control of my CMT symptoms and ability to manage whatever is

> in

> front of me. I also keep a journal which helps me in dealing with my

> wide range of thoughts and emotions, both negative and most important

> positive. I also study my dreams because over the years I have

> reoccurring symbols in my dreams that I have noticed preceed a bout

> of depression. If I pay attention, I can turn this 'hit' around, fast!

>

> If I get too hungry, angry, lonely, or tired, I can feel depression

> bubbling up. So I take the steps I need to in order to change and get

> that attitude of gratitude restored. This is one reason my garden is

> so

> important to me, I get the peace I need to be calm and even just

> sitting

> among a few weeds and observing them I can see and feel the beauty of

> creation - then I know all is well. If I can see those weeds as

> creation's beauty, I can kick that incoming depression.

>

> And most of all, the One Day at a Time motto is always in my 'pocket'.

>

> If I am having a particularly bad time, I'll break that idea down into

>

> One Hour At a Time or One Minute At a Time. This all has worked well

> for

> me with the depression issue, plus no alcohol (a depressant itself!)

> for

> 22 years now.

>

> ~ Gretchen

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hello Judy,

In my experience with a lifetime of CMT (since childhood) I have had

periods of situational depression, but considering that I have CMT and

live with such uncertainty, this just seems 'normal' to me.

Living with a disease that no one has heard about, no one knows, and

where it is even difficult to get a complete diagnosis, you bet, bring

on doubt, despair, and depression! Not to mention all the other stuff we

go through with CMT.

What truly has helped me the most with my situationaal depression are

the principles of love, life, gratitude and the number one of

acceptance. These did not come easy or

fast. I earned them the hard way through a beautiful 12 step program I

continue to participate in. I had to drink my way into the abyss for

about 9 years and lived in chaos before someone told me there really IS

light at the end of the tunnel. And proved it!

The sun shines; then some days are cloudy - best describes my life now.

If there's too many 'clouds', I do more art work or watch very funny

movies/videos to help bring me back into a sunny attitude. Or I rassle

with my dogs and pretend I am one of them, to 'let loose'! (they love

this!) I am able to stay mostly upbeat on a daily basis.

My CMT REALLY is affected by my attitude. The better my attitude, the

more in control of my CMT symptoms and ability to manage whatever is in

front of me. I also keep a journal which helps me in dealing with my

wide range of thoughts and emotions, both negative and most important

positive. I also study my dreams because over the years I have

reoccurring symbols in my dreams that I have noticed preceed a bout

of depression. If I pay attention, I can turn this 'hit' around, fast!

If I get too hungry, angry, lonely, or tired, I can feel depression

bubbling up. So I take the steps I need to in order to change and get

that attitude of gratitude restored. This is one reason my garden is so

important to me, I get the peace I need to be calm and even just sitting

among a few weeds and observing them I can see and feel the beauty of

creation - then I know all is well. If I can see those weeds as

creation's beauty, I can kick that incoming depression.

And most of all, the One Day at a Time motto is always in my 'pocket'.

If I am having a particularly bad time, I'll break that idea down into

One Hour At a Time or One Minute At a Time. This all has worked well for

me with the depression issue, plus no alcohol (a depressant itself!) for

22 years now.

~ Gretchen