*Update December 7, 2021 As I reread my list, I can see where I have made progress and where I still need to work. The reality is I will always need to work on at least one of the 10 unhelpful thinking styles. Living with depression means first acknowledging that I have it. And then quickly I say, “I have depression, depression does not have me.” And most days now, this … [Read more...] about The 10 Things I Just Cannot Do, Part II*
all or nothing thinking
My Unhelpful Thinking Is at It Again
I can’t believe I’m falling for depression’s unhelpful thinking. My work on this has been extensive. I have looked at each of the ten main unhelpful thinking styles in depth. And I have studied how depression uses these to control my actions very subtly, and worse, to control my thoughts. It is clear to me now that I cannot control events. Hurricanes, taxes, annual … [Read more...] about My Unhelpful Thinking Is at It Again
My Depression Is Sneaking Around With It’s Unhelpful Thinking
I am not circling the drain and the abyss is not on my radar. My daily routine is not a struggle. As I go through my day, I am aware of the most unhelpful thinking that I come up with. In fact, many of the ten unhelpful thinking styles that I learned about, I have not used in months. This includes all or nothing thinking. This has been my go-to attitude when things felt … [Read more...] about My Depression Is Sneaking Around With It’s Unhelpful Thinking
Two Tools That Help Me and Others Navigate Depression
"I have depression, depression does not have me." This has been my mantra for over 15 months. Hospitalized at the end of April last year, I was diagnosed with major depressive disorder. My hospitalization began my journey to learn all I can about depression. Along the way, I have collected tools that I use daily. Some tools for facing my depression are now so ingrained, that … [Read more...] about Two Tools That Help Me and Others Navigate Depression
13 Questions to Challenge Unhelpful Thinking Styles
This tool is immensely powerful, but using it is not easy. Asking questions to challenge unhelpful thinking styles requires a commitment to act. If you do not do the work to think about the questions, your answer will always be unhelpful. I know, I have skirted around unhelpful thinking for years. Even if I thought to ask one of these questions, I was not interested … [Read more...] about 13 Questions to Challenge Unhelpful Thinking Styles