What would I do? How would I think? What would I spend my time doing? Firstly, I need to factor in my diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder with suicidal ideation. Figuring out how to manage it has been my #1 focus for 4 ½ years. I still learn things every day about tools that will continue to give me an edge. And in that time, I have, with help, navigated different … [Read more...] about What Would Make Me the Happiest?
concealed depression
Why I Say That I Am No Longer Evergreen
Photo by Kayla Warner on Unsplash Another post about my lifelong struggle to face major depressive disorder (concealed depression) They say you always remember your first time. Well with my `depression, that is not true. For me, major moments stand out, including what I came to call “my lost year.” But most of my depression, up until 4 years ago, is one big blur. In … [Read more...] about Why I Say That I Am No Longer Evergreen
Straight Talk About My Journey with Depression
Photo by LOGAN WEAVER | @LGNWVR on Unsplash In case you are new to my blog, my name is Joel and I live in Charlottesville Virginia. I am a middle-class male, and I have worked since I was 10 years old. My career spans over 50 years in retail management and along with my wife, I have raised 3 remarkable children. Recently, I finally said out loud that I have lived with … [Read more...] about Straight Talk About My Journey with Depression
It’s Just a Hike, Why Am I Using All or Nothing Thinking?
Why would I turn a 4 ½ hour trek in Shenandoah National Park into an all-or-nothing scenario? After all, this was just a warmup to trekking the Inca Trail this October in Peru. A chance to test out gear and remember what worked and what did not when we climbed Kilimanjaro in January. And maybe it was hotter than any recent hike I have undertaken. But why should that trigger … [Read more...] about It’s Just a Hike, Why Am I Using All or Nothing Thinking?
How Using the Change Triangle Helps Me Cope with Depression
Is the Change Triangle my tool for moving forward with my depression? I first wrote "moving forward FROM my depression." What was I thinking? My depression and I are together until the end. Two peas in a pod, Ying and yang. And to think that I am moving away from depression is not a realistic outlook. Now there are times when I feel it is possible. And over the years, I have … [Read more...] about How Using the Change Triangle Helps Me Cope with Depression
