Researching stigma as it relates to mental health, I came across Kevin Breel presenting a TED Talk, Confessions of a depressed comic. Paraphrasing Kevin, he said,” “Break a bone, and you get all kinds of sympathy, offers to help, and friends who want to sign your cast. Admit you have depression, and you hear crickets in the background as people shuffle to the back of the … [Read more...] about What Makes Depression Create Stigma, Unlike a Broken Arm?
Unhelpful thinking
Why Can’t I Pick Strawberries With My High-Functioning Depression?
I know they are ripe; I can see them through the chicken wire protection I built. Yet I am not motivated at all to pick them. I picked a few when they first started to ripen. I had some on my Honey Nut Cheerios. And they were tasty, having just come out of the garden. Now some of the larger strawberries are ripe. Yet here I sit at 6:47 AM writing, instead of picking … [Read more...] about Why Can’t I Pick Strawberries With My High-Functioning Depression?
Will Depression Let Me Make Money?
As I approach five hundred blog posts over the past 3 years, I am thinking about the future. When I started writing, it was therapy. And it still is. There are many issues that I face living with depression. Many of these are subtle and have taken me time to identify. And then I mull them over, write about them, and then mull over those thoughts. And then I often write more … [Read more...] about Will Depression Let Me Make Money?
If I Did Not Have Depression, Would I Have Already Written 500 Blog Posts About My Depression? (This is only post #489)
Getting stuck in my depression happens a lot. Things on the surface appear to be going well, but underneath the surface, there is a mish-mosh of stuff going on. Oh, the miracle of concealed, high-functioning depression. Of course, the easy way out is to blame my lack of forward momentum on my depression. I can say “If I didn’t have depression, then I would …” But this … [Read more...] about If I Did Not Have Depression, Would I Have Already Written 500 Blog Posts About My Depression? (This is only post #489)
Why Am I Alone Again While My Depression is Winning?
From the 20,000-foot view, I can see patterns. As I move away from the abyss, I reach out to friends, family, and passers-by. I am more comfortable speaking with others and garnering opinions about this or that. I am much more able to seek out others as I work on projects. While not gregarious, I am more open and talkative. But as depression works its magic, I begin … [Read more...] about Why Am I Alone Again While My Depression is Winning?