Posted by mist on January 8, 2002, at 13:14:18
In reply to fear of depression, posted by pedr on January 8, 2002, at 9:06:53
pedr,
Those conditions you mentioned (boredom, especially) might exacerbate your depression. I don't see your fear that they will as necessarily unrealistic. I think the key is to resolve the depression (easier said than done in many cases, of course). In the meantime, I think it's wise to get out and do things when you're fearing you'll be too bored. Even walking or going to a store or seeing a movie. This is sometimes easier said than done, too, for a depressed person. But I've found it has more often than not (although not in every instance) made a difference for me. -mist
> I hold irrational distorted beliefs about becoming severely depressed which my psychologist believes are a fundamental obstruction to me getting better. I often believe that should I be tired, hungover, hungry, bored or have nothing planned to do, I will get severe, life-threatening depression.
>
> This is a bit of a catch-66 situation because I already have severe depression which I struggle with daily. My psychologist calls these convictions regarding sinking into a worse depression a "double depression" or "depression about depression" and maintains that challenging these irrational convictions is key to me getting better.
>
> I fanatically obeyed these beliefs [e.g. made sure I was never ever hungry, always went to bed early, desperately attempted to avoid boredom] for 5 years before seeking help and beginning to challenge them over the last 3 years. Successful challenging still eludes me and I got even more depressed this Christmas due to fear of boredom during all the free time that goes with it.
>
> Does anyone else hold similar irrational fears about situations/activities that exacerbate depression? Does anyone have any advice regarding challenging beliefs like these? I currently am doing REBT [a form of psychotherapy] and take reboxetine.
>
> Many thanks in advance,
> pete.
poster:mist
thread:16440
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20020102/msgs/16465.html