Last week, I had an interesting discussion with Eric Zimmer of “The One You Feed.” They produced a 55-minute podcast of the interview that includes the following points:
- The One You Feed parable.
- Battling treatment resistant depression.
- Turning struggle into service.
- Her long battles with depression.
- Treating depression holistically.
- Combining traditional medicine with alternative medicine.
- How positive thinking is of no use during extreme depression.
- How there are no easy answers to depression.
- Not having important conversations when we are hungry, angry, lonely and tired.
- How it is possible to be depressed and grateful at the same time.
- How diet is important but is not enough to solve depression.
- How there is rarely a simple fix for depression.
- How tiring faking that we are happy can be.
- The importance of connecting with others who share the same challenges.
- Why there are not more depression support groups?
- The difference between mental health and 12 step culture.
- Learning to accept our limitations.
Click here to hear the interview. And tune into other fascinating podcasts produced by Eric! I love his quote: “It takes conscious, constant and creative effort to make a life worth living. This podcast is about how other people keep themselves moving in the right direction – how they feed their good wolf.”
Hi therese
I need your advice. I am driving people out of my life due to my depression and obsessive thoughts and feelings over my ex. We share a kid and I have made some bad choices that have really messed up my life. Any ideas of how to not drive people out.
Sent from my iPhone
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I’m no expert. I’m in the same sandbox as you are, but this is what I’ve learned. The average person cannot process or help with the needs of a person suffering from depression or other mental health issues. Please find a therapist. At minimum a therapist will give you an outlet for your thoughts and rants and general displeasure with life. Hopefully a therapist will also guide you to some resources that will be helpful to you and ask some questions that will help you re-frame your thoughts. Once you have a professional to discuss your problems with, you will not be so tempted to overwhelm your friends/family with them. People who do not know how to respond will shy away. Hopefully if you can talk about usual things with your friends (the game, work, etc.) and family (your kids, their kids, etc.) you will not continue to isolate yourself. Best. Mary
There absolutely is a twelve step program for depression or any other mental disorder. It is emotions anonymous. I have been attending meetings for over 20 years! Claire
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