I can’t count the number of times I heard, or read: « I really don’t know why I am so depressed / anxious / in pain ; I was raised by a loving, ordinary family and nothing terrible ever happened to me; the problem is just me”. Or another slightly different version “ I really don’t know why I am so depressed / anxious / in pain; I know my father had quite a temper (read he was physically abusive), or people in my family really knew how to party (read I was brought up in an alcoholic environment),...
Posts Tagged ‘ Self Help ’
Gratitude works
Do you tend to see events in your life on the dark side? If your friend did not call, it’s because he hates you (and not because he plans to call tomorrow). If you have no job, it’s because your skills are not good enough (and not because we are in the middle of an economic crisis). If you don’t speak a second language, it’s because you are stupid (and not because you never actually learned another language). This type of unverified, negative interpretation of events is a hallmark of depression. It’s sad, because it is a consequence of being unwell,...
Good self help books do help
Pretty early, I realized I was not feeling well. Something was wrong with me, but I had no clue what it was. I had this fantasy that things would sort themselves out (and by things, I mean me), when I would have a good partner, a good job, friends, some money, and interesting adventures. I worded hard to obtain all these things, and being the obstinate person that I am, I did. Problem was: I was not feeling any better. In fact, I remember feeling life was being painful and difficult, even though everything was ok from the outside. ...