Posts

Patterns in Depression: Have you Noticed Any in Yours?

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  Tracking moods seems almost as tedious as enduring moods. But there is a great benefit to it. There are mood tracking charts available online, just look up 'mood tracking charts'. Choose one that would be easy for you to use. Why track moods? Because there is valuable information in that. Not only can you notice the day of the week or the time of the day when your mood dips, you can find out what foods or what kinds of social situations affect your mood in a positive or negative way. And then you can make some changes in your life around that. Managing depression is so much more than the right medication and a few visits with a good therapist. Just as managing other illnesses, diabetes or Parkinson's for example. They too require more than medication to manage the illness. I know this sounds like a lot of work, but it is worth the effort. And YOU are worth the effort. Let me give you an example from my own life. On Sunday we usually go to church if I'm not too tire...
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Some New Depression Getaways that are 'Winterproof'!

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  Hello Friends! This has been quite a wintery winter where I live in Ontario, Canada. So much snow and cold temperatures. But...I've added some new depression getaways to help me through. I thought I would share them with you. 1. Bird feeder , like the one in the photo above. It has brought new joy and something to look forward to and a reason to look out the window. 2. House plants . They have brought the colour green into my little yellow apartment, plus they need my care and give me something to look forward to and watch grow. 3. Facebook videoing.  This has been fun and personal. I share some stories and some depression getaway strategies and some of my life. I am getting a lot of good response and hundreds of 'views'. Check me out on my facebook page 'Wendy Love Clark'. You don't have to be a 'friend', it is open to the public. I am posting personal videos with lots of ideas for depression getaways. It's like your own personal pep talk every d...
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Merry Christmas!

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  Merry Christmas dear friends, Does your house look like this? Not likely. When I was a young mother I made an effort to make our house Christmassy for my kids. And when I was a kid, my mother made that effort for me and my sister.  Sometimes our glowing memories of what we call 'Christmas' are simply something our dear mothers pulled off, no work on our part. And that's if we were lucky enough to have a devoted mother. But there lies the problem. Our first impressions of Christmas stay with us as the normal Christmas and all Christmasses pale in comparison. Christmas expectations are what can lead to disappointment. Be warned.  And this is not just for people who deal with depression and anxiety but for everyone! Many people get depressed at this time of year. I understand that too well. You are not alone. So, what can we do about it? Here's some tips: 1. Lower our expectations. 2. Make a plan, write it out. If it's too busy, eliminate something. If it's not b...
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How to DO SOMETHING when you can't DO ANYTHING!

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Did you read that right? "How to do something when you can't do anything"?   Depression, I know what it is like. When you are in a low mood, not only do you not feel like doing anything, you can't do anything...at least that's what it feels like. But did you know that resting is doing something? It is!
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Don't Let "Fall" cause your mood to 'Fall'.

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  As I write this it is the late August and after a long hot summer we have had our first dull rainy weather. The days are getting shorter. The sun sets earlier and rises later and we are all very much aware of fall just ahead of us. And then winter comes after that. Mmm....not a fan of winter. I've written about the 'change of seasons' before. You may want to do a review. I've written about the'  lack of light ' and how it affects mood. All that to say:  Heads up everyone!                                           C hange of seasons can be tough                                                                   on anyone                        ...
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Breaking Through the Excuses

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Avoiding Getting Help? Many people avoid getting help for mental illness—and they usually have reasons. Real reasons. But are they true reasons? In this post, I share some of the most common excuses I’ve heard from real conversations. If you’ve ever talked yourself out of seeking help, maybe it’s time to listen to a different voice—the one that says there’s hope. But the truth is, many people are determined not to get help. In my last post, I mentioned that I would share some of the excuses I’ve heard people give for avoiding help for mental illness . These aren’t from a formal survey—these are real responses I’ve heard in conversations.
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Depression is Real - But So Is HOPE

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Depression is real but so is hope for those walking through it. What do I mean by that? Let me give you a bit of background.   Why I Keep Writing About Depression How many years have I been writing about depression ? Let’s see… oh my goodness — over 17 years! Over that time, I’ve written articles about journaling , therapy , diagnosis , and medication — all in an effort to teach, inform, and shed light on this complex illness.
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