In his book “Economic Warfare: Secrets of Wealth Creation in the Age of Welfare Politics,” author Ziad K. Abdelnour writes, “One of the hardest decisions you’ll ever face in life is choosing whether to walk away or try harder.”
I face that decision every day.
Twenty times a day.
Several times an hour.
That one line contains the kernel of so much of my struggle, which is why I pray the Serenity Prayer every five minutes or so:
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
The courage to change the things I can,
And the wisdom to know the difference.
We have this conversation often on Group Beyond Blue, the online forum I moderate. Someone asked the other day, “How do you know the difference between being treatment resistant and just not trying hard enough?”
The short answer is that you don’t.
Trish, I love this Article! It speaks to my own pathway except that I wasn’t brave enough to try 50 meds, only 5 that made me worse than I began and I too launched into finding my own way. My path led me to Logotherapy which worked as a brief therapy like no other and I continue to this day after 8 years and teaching it’s principles. I also employ light therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy and meditation. I have days when I almost feel normal then zap….some blip occurs and I am headed back to the abyss. I have come to the conclusion that the neural pathways forged through depression are not easily erased. I simply try to manage it one hour at a time some days, other times weeks at a time.
Sorry, this was meant for Therese.