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Depression: 14 Universal Laws for Recovery


The Law of Blue

Just sort of feeling blue, kinda out of it, gets confused with being depressed. We all get the blues from time to time, and they pass.

The Law of Sad

Feeling sad, while not pleasant, makes sense in the context of the situation.

The Law of Clinical

True clinical depression is not just feeling blue or sad. It's both a biological and psychological struggle that's often best treated with a combination of medication and counseling.

The Law of Boot Straps

When you are depressed, some well-meaning people will tell you to just "pull yourself up by your own bootstraps." The problem is when you are clinically depressed, you don't have bootstraps.

The Law of Music, Part 1

Music can either lift you up or keep you down. Listening to certain kinds of music while depressed is like pouring gasoline on a fire and then wondering why it gets worse.

The Law of Music, Part 2

Make your own list of uplifting, positive, energizing music.

The Law of Coping

You need to have a variety of tools in your tool bag to effectively cope with depression. Here's a few suggested tools:

Talk about it. Trying to handle depression on your own is like trying to do your own open-heart surgery.

Write out your feelings. Getting it out on paper can get it out of you.

Take a drive and ease your mind.

Cry if you need to. There's a great line in Pat Conroy's novel Beach Music that goes something like: "Men die younger than women because men have not washed their faces enough with their own tears."

Exercise. If I can get a client that is depressed to exercise regularly, I know we are part of the way home.

The Law of Lifestyle

I've come to believe that there is such a thing as a "depressive lifestyle." Over-working, over-stressing, expectations of perfection, a critical, complaining and cynical spirit, focusing on the negative in life, feeding a sense of hopelessness through what you read and listen to, all these things contribute to a depressing life.

The Law of Discovery

Discovering they are depressed, while frightening for many clients, also gives a name and a beginning understanding of the struggles they have experienced.

The Law of Warning Signs

Many people feel like depression sort of snuck up on them. They did not see it coming. As you work your way out of depression, it's crucial to develop a list of "early warning signs." These allow you to take early action to prevent a reoccurrence.

The Law of "Like Minded People"

If you surround your self with depressed people, you are likely to stay depressed. Or get depressed if you weren't already. And if you surround your self with positive people, it's a lot harder to get and stay depressed.

The Law of Focus

Focusing on everything that is wrong with your life and the world is a great way to stay stuck in depression. By the same token, focusing on everything that is right with your life and the world is a great way to move on out of depression.

The Law of Recovery

The really cool news is that people can and do recover from depression every day. Recovery begins with the decision to recover, and then selecting the best guides and creating the best map for your journey back to the passion of life.

The Law of Getting Stronger

This one comes from a special client of mine who has a wealth of experience in this area. Instead of only praying that circumstances change for the better (which is a good thing to do) pray and work on getting your self stronger to deal with whatever comes your way.

As Chicago, one of my favorite bands still sings:

"I'm feelin' stronger every day............"

Visit SecretsofGreatRelationships.com for tips and tools for creating and growing a great relationship. You can also subscribe to our f*r*e*e 10 day e-program on how to enrich your relationship today, from relationship coach and expert Jeff Herring.



E Canada Now

Depression drug may treat chronic pain
abc7.com, CA - 9 hours ago
Eli Lilly and Co. said its drug Cymbalta, which is commonly used to treat depression, may also reduce chronic lower back pain. In the study, released in a ...
Study Shows Lilly Depression Drugs Helps Fight Back Pain E Canada Now
Eli Lilly's Depression Drug May Cut Chronic Low Back Pain AHN
Depression Treatment Cymbalta Effective as Pain Reliever, Lilly Says Wall Street Journal
Reuters - WebMD
all 36 news articles


Pro-lifers decry APA's denial of link between abortion, depression
BP News, TN - 5 hours ago
"Over 600 post-abortive women asked to meet with the APA about their experiences with abortion and depression," she said. "The APA brushed them off, ...


Inquirer.net

Tropical depression Lawin threatens N. Philippines
Xinhua, China - 19 hours ago
27 (Xinhua) -- Tropical Depression Lawin, which is hovering above the Philippine sea, is expected to land on the northern Philippine island of Luzon late ...
Tropical Depression ‘Lawin’ heads for Central Luzon ABS CBN News
Tropical depression 'Lawin' nears Bicol area GMA news.tv
‘Lawin’ shifts course, to make landfall in Cagayan--PAGASA Inquirer.net
ABS CBN News - ABS CBN News
all 22 news articles


Vancouver Sun

September 2003 story: Depression is a hidden, unrelenting killer
Vancouver Sun,  Canada - 1 hour ago
He suffered from depression. Like a closeted monster, it remained hidden until Kelty was 16. Then it started rattling in its cage and charging down its ...


Distinguishing a Bad Mood from Depression in Teenagers
Newswise (press release) - 6 hours ago
So how do you distinguish normal teenage mood swings and rebellion from actual depression? The September 2008 issue of the Harvard Mental Health Letter ...
Troubled Students Newsweek
all 2 news articles


£1m helpline for depression is launched
Scotsman, United Kingdom - 14 hours ago
Currently around 300000 people every year in Scotland seek help for depression. Tony McLaren, national co-ordinator of mental health organisation Living ...


Space Ref (press release)

NASA MODIS Image of the Day: August 27, 2008 - Tropical Depression Fay
Space Ref (press release) - 8 hours ago
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CTV.ca

Julio weakens to tropical depression in Mexico
The Associated Press - Aug 25, 2008
CABO SAN LUCAS, Mexico (AP) — Forecasters say tropical storm Julio has weakened to a tropical depression after drenching the central section of Mexico's ...
Fay downgraded to tropical depression NECN
Tropical Storm Julio Forms Near Baja California CruiseCritic.co.uk
Around the world Detroit Free Press
United Press International - The Associated Press
all 1,025 news articles


Cyclone Watch: Tropical Depression "Lawin" expected to make ...
ABS CBN News, Philippines - Aug 26, 2008
Central luzon will have to brace for effects of Tropical Depression "Lawin" which continues to push closer to land as it moves west northwest at 17 ...
Philippine Typhoon Watch: LAWIN August 26, 2008 Mindanao Examiner
Signal 1 up in 2 provinces as ‘Lawin’ nears RP areas GMA news.tv
'Lawin' heads to Bicol; Signal no. 1 up in Catanduanes, N. Samar ABS CBN News
all 5 news articles


Times Online

Asif Ali Zardari was ‘crippled by depression
Times Online, UK - Aug 26, 2008
Mr Zardari, who chairs the Pakistan People’s Party jointly with his son Bilal, 19, experienced dementia, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. ...
Doubts over Zardari’s mental health First Post
Bhutto's widower has mental-illness history, records say Seattle Times
Pakistan's next likely leader claimed mental illness Minneapolis Star Tribune
IBNLive.com - The Nation, Pakistan
all 70 news articles

Depression - Google News

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