My Concealed Depression

My thoughts on my lifetime of Major Depressive Disorder with suicidal ideation.

unhelpful thinking styles

My Depression Has Me Falling in and Out of Love

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I don’t like it, but I cannot seem to stop depression from doing it. Despite my depression, there are parts of most days where I am in love. I am especially in love when I am thinking about her. And there are moments when we are together that are special. We play board games together on the back deck and take walks around the property with our dog. These are the times I … [Read more...] about My Depression Has Me Falling in and Out of Love

Straight Talk About My Journey with Depression

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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?

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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

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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

I Should Ask Better Questions So I’m Not a Fortune-Teller

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In fact, I should be asking questions especially if I am sure of the answer. My recent experiences have led me to believe that taking people at face value is not always helpful. Over the years, I have always initially treated someone the way I would like to be treated. Some people would say I respect you. I expect you to do the right thing until you don’t. Then my … [Read more...] about I Should Ask Better Questions So I’m Not a Fortune-Teller