I've had an ongoing battle with depression for 2 years now, I am medicated and still have the odd bad day but all in all I'm feeling a lot like my old self. In the last 2 years I've had friendship breakdowns, a lot of heart ache, issues with my family and daily battles with myself over my worthiness.
I understand that a lot of the negative fall outs that have happened in the last couple of years have been due to my depression. The thing is I've held a lot of anger towards those that ditched me when I was in my darkest time of my life, I've felt massive abandonment. I'm now at the point where I want to move forward and get past the negative energy I have in reliving these moment's. The past is the past, I can't change a dam thing but I can certainly change the future.
I now have a wonderful support network, I feel like I'm strong enough to get through it but I don't know how to let go, how to move forward. I want to be the very best version of myself but I don't know how to change my thought process. When something goes wrong for me, it's like the worst thing in the world. I dwell and dwell, start having negative thoughts and push people away.
Can anyone recommend any self help books or other strategies to become a better version of myself?
Please no negative comments.
This is a place where women from different backgrounds, cultures and beliefs come together to support one another judgement free.
3 Replies
Seek cognitive behaviour therapy, and mindfulness therapy. Worked wonders for me (they are evidence based treatments). It requires you to do homework set by your psychologist but well worth the work.
Rumination is a killer for we girls :/ Try and replace this with affirmations (easier said than done) and allow yourself to feel good enough. It's an old book but a goodie - Try Louise L Hay "You can heal your life"
I can relate to so much of what you have said.
What's helping me is online treatment programs for depression and anxiety. Studies show that they can be every bit as effective as talk therapy. I've used mind spot which is free and you can even elect to have weekly support from a psychologist there. Australian National University has one called Mood Gym and another uni has the e couch. The other thing is there's a current trial at the moment called Mum Mood Booster about the effectiveness of online treatments and it's free. You might want to look in to that.
Also, Brene Browns work on being vulnerable has been fantastic. As has information on acceptance and commitment therapy, and practicing self compassion.
I also commit myself to spending at least 10 minutes per day journaling. But the way that I journal is to find quotes or activities or information that helps me with my depression and write it down. It really helps elevate my mood and helps me to know i have coping strategies in there just for me