I purposely chose that title to wrongfully draw in you deadheads but I mean it in literal terms. Being grateful is something that we say (at least I hope most people do) often and without much thought. Over the past few years of come to realize the most important times to be grateful are the most trying periods of life. Times when you want to scream and be bitter and curse God (or whatever you believe in) are the most crystal and important times to take a step back and count your blessings. I have been feeling really terrible the past few days, really low and depressed, panic attacks, just cyclical thoughts. And I know that there is a reason for struggle along the journey. Not torture though, haha, that's why I'm seeking some help, but yeah.. What are YOU grateful for in times of struggle? Times of mourning? Times of pain? I'm truly grateful for being depressed and anxious because it makes my music so much more intense and powerful. Words and rhythm flow effortless when I am hurting And on the flipside, I am thankful for music, providing the much needed relief from depression and teaching me to refocus my mind after periods of depersonlization. I'm grateful to have anxiety because it makes me seek out happiness at an aggressive pace haha. Through anxiety, I not only "found God" but developed a relationship with God, know God, feel God. I'm grateful for depression because in the periods of wellness I feel, I am allowed an unclouded view of the world, almost childlike in wonderment because things just appear so much more vividly when not in a depressive cloud. And even at the times in which I am depressed, I am grateful to be able to cry and experience the full lower-range of human emotions. I am incredibly grateful for my mother. A woman who has her own fair share of mental illness, she is HUMAN. I'm just starting to accept that she is human and she struggles. She loves me tremendously and is my only source of relative comfort these days.
Very nice, Bailey! You made me realize that anxiety and depression doesn't have to be all that bad. I have been a bit depressed lately and I have been so pissed about it and most times I wish I didn't have it, but you're right. When I'm not depressed I feel amazing, and like everything is brand new and right again.
I am grateful for second chances. And third chances. And fourth chances. Because sometimes I am stupid, and not ready for the lesson that I should be learning. I am grateful for my family, for supporting each other and being there, through the shit and yelling and hate and other human behaviours and byproducts. I am grateful for my health, such as it is, with my insecurities and malfunctioning GI system and mental hiccups. I am grateful for my mind and heart, for they are the last thing I may cling to when I don't know where I am or where I'm going. When my attitudes, beliefs, goals, plans, aspirations, and realities all stink of shit and disgust me, and I don't know what to do . . . it's time to wipe it clean and just listen to what they have to say. I am grateful to this thread for letting me write this.
A conversation I had recently that really pulled me out of a hole was I was talking to my boyfriend about my anxiety and telling him that I was really upset mainly because I was feeling the way I was again after feeling so good for so long, and that it seemed like I had no control over my emotions and he is a really straightforward and cut and dry type of guy and just told me " If you beat yourself up over something out of your control, you will never be happy" And that's true. You can't really control your depression and anxiety all the time. Sometimes, it just happens. It's a part of you. And getting upset about it exponentially makes the problem worse. So just by saying "Meh, I feel like shit but it's ok, I'll feel better soon", I typically start to feel better faster
Totally. Anytime I feel depressed I just think "well we've been here before, you know the drill. get through this shit and you'll come out even better on the other side than you went in!" and sure enough it works. it's just how life tends to work
Thanks guys! I've never really thought of that before. When I get depressed I just hate everything and especially hate the depression for ruining my life. I'm gonna try and think of those things yins said and hopefully I'll start feeling better.
You need to show compassion for yourself first and foremost. Like, say if your friend came to you and was depressed, I'm sure there is now way you'd go "Oh god.. c'mon. Again?! Really? God, this depression just keeps coming back with you. Wow, just suck it up!!!" Hopefully, you'd great your friend with open arms and love and compassion, you wouldn't question their feelings, you would nurture their feelings. But when dealing with ourselves we tend to feel shameful about our emotions, resentful, angry at ourselves for things out of our control. It's really helpful (for me atleast) to talking and treat myself in the third person, as if I were an old friend.
Right now I am grateful for my boyfriend. He's going to pick me up tomorrow to take me away from this house that is making me totally depressed. I'm going to be staying with him for a couple days until I'm not so depressed anymore. And I'm also grateful for the advice of Bailey and Mr. Writer!
It is so strange, I thought of making a very similar post. I am grateful for passion, happiness, laughing and the people in my life.
I am grateful for my uncle.. He has helped me in more ways that i could imagine. I can talk to him, he can comfort me, we get along.. He has been the only person in my family that i could ever really rely on. I am grateful that i moved to Louisiana. If i didn't then i would have never met the people that i met and i would have never experienced the things i did. I am grateful about depression also because i learned about life and about happiness. Good thread. I would + rep you but i have to spread some first.
Depression is unfocused Anger and Anxiety is our natural Fear Threat Reaction to unwanted stimulus. I too suffer from these problems on a regular basis. I am going though a rough period of this myself due to the fact that I hate where I work and I don't feel productive. I also feel that I am not getting enough me time. That and I can't smoke because all I do is cough due to the cold I am getting over. I do try. I can't say I am grateful because this sucks but I should be at least happy that I do have a job. It's been hard trying to find another one and that has also depressed me a bit. The market is tough right now and I have to sitck it out, but going into work everyday is a struggle. Head up and move along, something else will come along some day I am sure.
when i'm going through rough times, i feel grateful for music, my therapist, and the strength i find in nature
