Depression – Good advice from Mary Schmich that I have largely ignored of late… Wear sunscreen

Some good advice I remember listening too in my youth and largely ignoring of late... Ladies and Gentlemen of the class of '97. Wear sunscreen. If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest ofContinue reading "Depression – Good advice from Mary Schmich that I have largely ignored of late… Wear sunscreen"

Depression – useful organisations, websites and phone numbers

Check out the new directory of useful organisations, websites and phone numbers who can help when we feel alone and in need of support. Don't suffer in silence... Let someone know. Often a stranger with no preconceptions is the best listener. Directory of useful organisations... Know of any useful groups, organisations, websites or numbers weContinue reading "Depression – useful organisations, websites and phone numbers"

#depression – Does self-tracking have an important role to play in the fight against depression?

Over the past few years there has been a minor explosion in the ability of your every day Jo to track all sorts of things that previously were difficult to track. I have done it. I expect if you have a smart phone or tablet you may well have done it too. Even if notContinue reading "#depression – Does self-tracking have an important role to play in the fight against depression?"

#depression – Immediate Action Drill 4 – Suppress the negative mood

So now we have identified the negative thoughts and started to locate the resources we need to fight the depressive episode. Next we need to suppress the negative mood When I am feeling a depressive episode beginning and have reacted by taking steps to start fending it off through communicating. I also seek to suppressContinue reading "#depression – Immediate Action Drill 4 – Suppress the negative mood"

#depression – Immediate Action Drill 3 – Locating the resources to fight

Once we have Reacted to the onset of a depressive episode we need to Locate the resources we need to fight it. These are often closer than you think. The resources you need are likely to be all around you. To access them you must be brave. When I am feeling the dark clouds gatheringContinue reading "#depression – Immediate Action Drill 3 – Locating the resources to fight"

#depression – Immediate Action Drill 2 – Reaction to the onset of a depressive period

We have  started to assemble our toolbox to deal with depressive periods/episodes. Today we take the first constructive step and pop the first tool in... Reaction to the onset of a depressive period The first thing we need to do is recognise that a potentially depressive period is starting. This is very important, as weContinue reading "#depression – Immediate Action Drill 2 – Reaction to the onset of a depressive period"