• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
  • Mental Health Resources
    • Depression Resources
  • Blog
    • Coping
    • Medication
    • Self Care
    • Stress and Anxiety
    • Unhelpful thinking
      • Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda
      • Fortune-Telling
      • Guilt and Shame
      • Time Travel
    • Sleep Issues
    • Depression
    • Covid19
    • Suicide & Self-Harm
    • Wellness Tools
      • SMART – Self Management And Recovery Training
      • WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan)
      • Change Triangle
  • Contact
  • SHOP

You are here: Home / Featured Home / My 300th Post Sharing My Life with Depression

My 300th Post Sharing My Life with Depression

May 15, 2020 by Depression Is Not My Boss 1 Comment

Self care is important as I write my 300th blog post about my life with depression

Funny, I do not see my 300th blog post as a time of celebration.

Hitting my 100th and 200th blog posts, I made it into a celebration of life; my life. I was excited to still be alive, to have a better sense of the way forward. With my 100th blog post, I was grateful that I was no longer “Up Against the Wall.” Having received tools, support, and insights, I was able to begin to piece together my life with depression.

At my 200th blog post, I still celebrated my progress.

Although my day to day learning had slowed somewhat, at that point I was at the tail end of my intensive training. I have consumed many books, guides, articles, and resource materials about concealed depression and MDD. This work on myself yielded helpful results.

I find that I can catch myself in unhelpful thinking quickly.

At first, I did not even realize that I was doing this. Setting myself up to time travel, or using all or nothing thinking, catastrophizing events were things I did without knowing it. Learning how these work and addressing these unhelpful thinking styles have been a major step forward in my life with depression.

READ: What is Depression and Why Do I Have It?

I am so grateful to everyone who has had a hand in my recovery.

The list is ever-expanding, and I am blessed that this is happening. I discovered On Our Own, a Peer Support Non-profit that has become my go-to non-judgmental place. From the moment I stepped foot in the door, I felt safe. Being among people facing the same types of challenges gave me hope that I too, could find a way forward. And I always feel each one is a hero just for showing up.

To accelerate my recovery, I flew to Chicago in September of last year and attended the 25th Annual SMART RECOVERY Conference.

Going early, I met Ernie G. and learned about his work with the mental health community. I heard lectures from Doctors and attended two SMART Recovery meetings. The material and concepts I learned about I am still processing.

Liking the organization so much, I ended up taking three of their courses and am certified to facilitate SMART meetings.

My goal in taking the courses was not to lead meetings currently, but to give me a better idea of what tools were in the SMART toolbox. Once I get my own oxygen mask on, I will be able to help others navigate all the tools and resources available. I was approached to start a meeting but turned it down.

I am still finding my own way towards a balanced life.

READ: I’m doing what I can right now

This includes taking WRAP Training. I have a wellness recovery action plan that has helped keep me from circling the drain. It has revealed triggers that can move me towards unhelpful thinking. Listing what I look and feel like when I am well and when I am not quite on my game has been hugely helpful. Struggling with road rage over a slow-moving tractor on a country road, I went back to my WRAP plan.

It turns out, I had listed that as a trigger in my plan.

Seeing that reminded me that it was not the farmer on his tractor, delivering hay to his cows that was making me angry. It was my attitude towards the whole situation. Dissecting it, I realized that there are always places to pass, that the tractor often turns into fields and clears the roads, and that I have always allowed enough time to get to work, even with these distractions.

Changing my attitude towards the farmer gives me peace, and results in my arriving at work relaxed, not amped up and frustrated. So, as I head off towards the next milestone in my recovery from major depressive disorder, I am thankful to be here.

Even the global pandemic and COVID-19 hasn’t brought me to my knees.

So many of the tools I have learned I am applying to the coronavirus. As an essential employee, I am still going to work. I am wearing a face covering and washing my hands all the time. Having a job to go to is a blessing. With so many out of work, I know the pain people are feeling. I have firsthand knowledge of friends and family directly impacted by the job cuts.

Starting the count down to my 400th blog post, I am more focused than ever on learning how to live a balanced life with depression.

My thanks go out to everyone who has helped make my journey towards a balanced life possible. It only took me 64 years to see that I am important, too. I still struggle with guilt and shame for having the disease. Having help seeing that I am OK, just as I am, is making this journey possible.

Thanks again to everyone and I look forward to seeing you at my 400th post.

My concealed depression is written under the alias “Depression is not my boss.” I have certifications in SMART Recovery and am a Global Career Development Facilitator.

Diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder last year, I am sharing what I learn. If you know someone who might benefit from reading this, please share. 

I always appreciate your comments.

Filed Under: Coping Statements for Depression, Covid19, Featured Home, My life goes on, Self Care, SMART - Self Management And Recovery Training, Some days I feel like myself, Unhelpful thinking, WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan) Tagged With: anti depressants, Covid 19, depression, depression and anxiety, depression is not my boss, On Our Own, OOO, Psychiatrist, Region 10 Wellness Recovery Center, SMART Recovery, therapist, Unhelpful thinking, unhelpful thinking styles, wellness recovery action plan, WRAP, WRAP Plus

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Joel Natl Career Fair Bio Pic he's using for my concealed depressionHello, I am Joel Quas 

In April 2019, I was diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder with suicidal ideation. By writing things out, I am learning more about my relationship with depression. 

Joel’s Next Book

The US has a a new 988 system that grabs location, not just area code.
https://myconcealeddepression.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/my-concealed-depression-intro.mp4
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest

More to See

The startling truth about coping statements for anxiety and depression

The Startling Truth About Coping Statements For Anxiety and Depression

October 28, 2020 By Depression Is Not My Boss

My 101 Coping Strategies for Anxiety

My 101 Best Coping Statements For Anxiety and Depression

October 18, 2020 By Depression Is Not My Boss

Is the Question What Comes Next?

June 23, 2025 By Depression Is Not My Boss

Why I Am Unpacking the Rules Behind My Perfectly Concealed Depression

June 21, 2025 By Depression Is Not My Boss

You Never Pay More, Yet Clicking These Links And Making a Purchase Helps Fund My Blog

PureFormulas.com-Pure Healthy Goodness, Highest-Grade Natural Supplements! Fast, Free Shipping!
Mosaic 250x250
Blog Meets Brand
Best Self Improvement & Personal Development Blogs - OnToplist.com
RSS Search

All my posts – Be careful, some of my older posts could be triggers

  • June 2025
  • May 2025
  • April 2025
  • March 2025
  • February 2025
  • January 2025
  • December 2024
  • November 2024
  • October 2024
  • September 2024
  • August 2024
  • July 2024
  • June 2024
  • May 2024
  • April 2024
  • March 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019

Footer

Contact

Email:  my.concealed.depression@gmail.com

Privacy Policy

Recent

  • My Life Is Going Sideways, Part Two
  • Is the Question What Comes Next?
  • Why I Am Unpacking the Rules Behind My Perfectly Concealed Depression
  • Why My Life Is Going Sideways
  • The Time When I Was Jack Strawcastle, Master Chimney Sweep

Search

Products

  • Evergreen is the story of my life with major depressive disorder. I write to learn more about my mental health Share The Journey As I Write My Next Book - draft "Evergreen"
  • The Six Second Cover Letter™ The Six Second Cover Letter™ $19.99 Original price was: $19.99.$0.00Current price is: $0.00.
  • 10 Page Gratitude Coloring Pages 10 Page Gratitude Coloring Pages $14.99
  • 5 gratitude coloring pages from my concealed depression to help reduce anxiety and depression Five - Gratitude Coloring Pages $9.99
  • The One Secret That Lands Your Dream Job[Course] The One Secret That Lands Your Dream Job[Course]

© Copyright 2020 · My Concealed Depression · All Rights Reserved · Designed by The Marketing Momma