Posted by Mark H. on May 4, 2000, at 0:02:11
In reply to Re: Does Not Depressed = Happy?, posted by Janice on May 3, 2000, at 22:34:06
Happiness requires making it your priority and really working at it. Happiness is not just the absence of suffering, and it is not the by-product of pleasant circumstances or something that just happens "by itself." It's more like a choice, a firm decision, a willingness to change the habits of thinking that depression has deeply engraved on your mind.
As corny as it sounds, a simple affirmation such as "I have everything I need to be happy right now" repeated with conviction 500 times will have a positive influence on your affect. It seems strange, because it is so artificial; but your depressive thinking and unconscious repetition of self-damaging thoughts were just as artificial. Lots of people will hear this advice -- not one in 50 will actually DO IT to see whether it works or not. Is happiness worth 45 minutes of your time and concentration? You can even take a walk while you're repeating the phrase, as long as you stay with the repetitions.
I believe that depression CAUSES mental illness, not the other way around. I wasn't sad until I had been depressed for years. Only when the misery of depression day in and day out had worn me down did I finally give in to despair. Once I found a helpful balance of effective medications, THEN I had to start rebuilding what depression had taken from me, including the ability to create my own happiness without relying on external circumstances or events.
Our minds are amazingly programmable. Please try this experiment and tell me whether it works for you. What have you got to lose?
Very best wishes,
Mark H.
poster:Mark H.
thread:32150
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000429/msgs/32189.html