Home Featured Discussion Depression Weapons Against the Blues

In this discussion: 9/15/00 We're finishing out the week with Feature Links. 9/14/00 We asked: What part of arthritis is the hardest for you to handle emotionally? Find out what gets us down! And read about our best Weapons Against Depression. 9/13/00 Advice from the "Experts" and Ron Griffin talks about finding a good metal health professional in Good Doc/Bad Doc 9/12/00 Depression Information from the NIMH Wondering if you might need to seek professional help? Take this Self Test from the National Policy and Resource Center on Women and Aging. And the transcript from tonight's Depression & Arthritis Chat with Walt Hanks has been posted. 9/11/00 Color Me Blue and Ron's Story

Weapons Against the Blues

We asked: What is your best tool for dealing with the blues? And of course we had some great responses:

"Chocolate? He he he. No, I think just to have a good cry and talk about what I'm feeling with Ben (my fiance'). Music helps. A hot bath. A warm heating pad where it hurts that smells good. Getting out of the house as soon as I feel better. That is a big part of not letting it eat away at you. Get back on the horse, ya know?" -Kashana

"I put on some of my favorite music, and/or call a friend. Sometimes I give my self a good "talking to" in front of a mirror, telling myself that things could be much worse, and that I had better shape up.Try it. It works for me most of the time" -Marilyn

"I have Arthritis. It effects my life. I deal with it as best I can. Being sad because I have RA is not going to help me feel any better, so I may as well try to be in a good mood. I choose to be happy. Also, a smile from my 2 year old or a hug and kiss from my 4 year old and I am Happy!" -Sue

"A positive mental attitude, counting my blessings and realizing how lucky I really am." -Robin

"Sewing" -Marion

"Not that it is an answer but my drinking has increased fairly dramatically over the course of this year." -Elizabeth

"I am off Effexor now and find that getting involved with other people has helped me with the blues. If I feel I'm helping someone then I'm not focused on my aches and pains." -Barbara

"Taking a walk, dancing, trying to think about wellness (what IS healthy about me) instead of sickness and never getting better. This is not easy to do." -Gaye

"I turn to my Lord in prayer" -Gloria

"Medication, positive self-talk, action vs thinking about it, and communication with other people by giving of myself (sometimes whether they want it or not!)." -Melanie

"Thinking and doing for others. When I start feeling sorry for myself, I think of all my friends on the alt.support.arthritis newsgroup...how some of them are bedridden, several have arthritis at a far more advanced stage than I do, etc. Sometimes that helps me to focus more on what I can do than on what I can't." -DeeTee

"I try to back off of the things that bothers me the most, whethter it is work or whatever. I try to do the best to relax." -Vickie

"read scriptures, exercise, eat chocolate" -Peggy

"Support from others in ASA and the 12 Step program I belong to. Both are good places for me to talk about how I'm feeling, feel the empathy of others and find some peace with myself and my OA" -Raven

"I always try to stop the depression before it flares up. I remind myself of all my blessings. My friend's child was recently in the Cancer & Blood Disorder Ward of Children's Hospital...I remind myself there are other people suffering far worse." -Terri

"Getting out of the house and being around people." -Linda

"I just try to have a positive outlook and I believe strongly in the power of prayer. So I pray alot and I have a wonderful mother whom I live with and she is a wonderful person and my very best friend." -Sharon

"I do something fun like swimming, which I enjoy. I belong to the Y and go there frequently. Or I do something that will make me laugh, like read something comical or watch a video." -Susan

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Page last updated on September 10, 2000