Trying to ease myself into being happy

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jobrien56
February 10, 2017 - 11:30 am
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jobrien56
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Joined: 02-07-2017
For a long time in my life I've felt nothing but agony. And now I've started getting help seeing a therapist once a week and currently on protiq. And I guess what I'm trying to say is how do become truely happy? How do become someone who doesn't need drugs to make me feel alive?


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jobrien56
jobrien56
February 10, 2017 - 11:30 am
For a long time in my life I've felt nothing but agony. And now I've started getting help seeing a therapist once a week and currently on protiq. And I guess what I'm trying to say is how do become truely happy? How do become someone who doesn't need drugs to make me feel alive?


dana460
March 1, 2017 - 3:11 pm
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dana460
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Joined: 03-01-2017
That's a really hard question to answer, but just know that there are lots of people who know just how you feel.


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dana460
dana460
March 1, 2017 - 3:11 pm
That's a really hard question to answer, but just know that there are lots of people who know just how you feel.


Phlipet
April 12, 2017 - 7:24 am
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Phlipet
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Joined: 03-21-2017
For me, it has been an acceptance. By tracking and journaling, I came to discover that I have "good" days. The next step was to accept the good days. To accept that I was allowed good days. Accept that I sort of wanted good days. I have a LONG way to go - and each of us have our own struggle, and our own path. But for me, I HAD to accept happiness.


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Phlipet
Phlipet
April 12, 2017 - 7:24 am
For me, it has been an acceptance. By tracking and journaling, I came to discover that I have "good" days. The next step was to accept the good days. To accept that I was allowed good days. Accept that I sort of wanted good days. I have a LONG way to go - and each of us have our own struggle, and our own path. But for me, I HAD to accept happiness.


QueenNora52
May 26, 2017 - 9:05 pm
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QueenNora52
Total Posts: 2
Joined: 05-24-2017
Never been happy in my life time


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QueenNora52
QueenNora52
May 26, 2017 - 9:05 pm
Never been happy in my life time


artista
May 28, 2017 - 1:02 pm
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artista
Total Posts: 868
Joined: 06-12-2011
I think following a religion (in my case Christianity) is an important component in feeling your best. Christianity gives me hope. My faith may not immediately relieve pain, but I know I am not alone. Many people that are considered saints endured "the dark night of the soul." Even Mother Theresa.

Depression is an endurance race sometimes. Right now I am almost too depressed to go onto this site. But I know happiness is out there. God wants nothing but happiness for us. But we happen to live in an imperfect world where it is not always easy to find.

When I became psychotic (command hallucinations) my faith helped me from taking my life and that of my husband. I don't know what would have happened otherwise.

I don't think it is that helpful to just live a "spiritual" life. You need some structure, some community. With Christian community, I find acceptance despite my faults. It is a good feeling that helps me be happy.


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artista
artista
May 28, 2017 - 1:02 pm
I think following a religion (in my case Christianity) is an important component in feeling your best. Christianity gives me hope. My faith may not immediately relieve pain, but I know I am not alone. Many people that are considered saints endured "the dark night of the soul." Even Mother Theresa.

Depression is an endurance race sometimes. Right now I am almost too depressed to go onto this site. But I know happiness is out there. God wants nothing but happiness for us. But we happen to live in an imperfect world where it is not always easy to find.

When I became psychotic (command hallucinations) my faith helped me from taking my life and that of my husband. I don't know what would have happened otherwise.

I don't think it is that helpful to just live a "spiritual" life. You need some structure, some community. With Christian community, I find acceptance despite my faults. It is a good feeling that helps me be happy.


persistence
July 5, 2017 - 5:26 am
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persistence
Total Posts: 1532
Joined: 08-11-2012
I don't believe in God, but the Bible has a lot of wisdom.

Most of my friends are Chistian. Their belief that God is taking care of them makes them hopeful, resilient.

My pastor is also a trained therapist, so I get my cognitive-behavior therapy at no cost.


I'd rather have a frontal lobotomy than a bottle in front of me.
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persistence
persistence
July 5, 2017 - 5:26 am
I don't believe in God, but the Bible has a lot of wisdom.

Most of my friends are Chistian. Their belief that God is taking care of them makes them hopeful, resilient.

My pastor is also a trained therapist, so I get my cognitive-behavior therapy at no cost.


I'd rather have a frontal lobotomy than a bottle in front of me.
oliver
July 12, 2017 - 3:03 pm
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oliver
Total Posts: 377
Joined: 03-07-2013
You do believe in God. The bible and wisdom are God. Sounds like believing to me. The life in your Christian friends sounds like God's help being given to you.


keep calm and sing on angels
my grace is sufficient for you, my power shows itself through weakness...
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oliver
oliver
July 12, 2017 - 3:03 pm
You do believe in God. The bible and wisdom are God. Sounds like believing to me. The life in your Christian friends sounds like God's help being given to you.


keep calm and sing on angels
my grace is sufficient for you, my power shows itself through weakness...
persistence
July 12, 2017 - 5:51 pm
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persistence
Total Posts: 1532
Joined: 08-11-2012
Hi, Jobrien56,

I never realized I lived in "agony" until I sought psychiatric care in France and the asked me, for purposes of evaluating my dangerousness to self, whether I felt "angoise" (anguish).

That word had never been part of my vocabulary in English in discussing what I felt. When I learned what it meant in French, I realized I felt anguish in English, too.

For me, the only way to makethat go away is medication that helps me sleep (nothing causes anguish like sleepnessness) and an antidepressant.

Since I Escitalopram 50mg of Escitalopram (Effexor?) per day, in the morning, I weep less, feel less need to urgently call others for help, I go to the beach and swim more often and I enjoy the beach.

I think others will understand when I say there is the objective world around me, including nature, people, circumstances.

Then, there is my subjective experience of and feelings about the objective world.

Bipolar disorder (and unipolar depression) are particularly frustrating because we can do everything in our power to create objective conditions for happiness, but still feel anguish because the illness controls our feeling states and our levels of anguish.

I have accepted that the right combination and amounts of medicines (in addition to objective circumstances) are essential to get out of and stay out of anguish.


I'd rather have a frontal lobotomy than a bottle in front of me.
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persistence
persistence
July 12, 2017 - 5:51 pm
Hi, Jobrien56,

I never realized I lived in "agony" until I sought psychiatric care in France and the asked me, for purposes of evaluating my dangerousness to self, whether I felt "angoise" (anguish).

That word had never been part of my vocabulary in English in discussing what I felt. When I learned what it meant in French, I realized I felt anguish in English, too.

For me, the only way to makethat go away is medication that helps me sleep (nothing causes anguish like sleepnessness) and an antidepressant.

Since I Escitalopram 50mg of Escitalopram (Effexor?) per day, in the morning, I weep less, feel less need to urgently call others for help, I go to the beach and swim more often and I enjoy the beach.

I think others will understand when I say there is the objective world around me, including nature, people, circumstances.

Then, there is my subjective experience of and feelings about the objective world.

Bipolar disorder (and unipolar depression) are particularly frustrating because we can do everything in our power to create objective conditions for happiness, but still feel anguish because the illness controls our feeling states and our levels of anguish.

I have accepted that the right combination and amounts of medicines (in addition to objective circumstances) are essential to get out of and stay out of anguish.


I'd rather have a frontal lobotomy than a bottle in front of me.
persistence
July 12, 2017 - 6:09 pm
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persistence
Total Posts: 1532
Joined: 08-11-2012
Oliver,

I'm grateful that you have found a belief system (Christianity) that gives you hope, patience and endurance.

Depression really is an endurance race sometimes, yet one symptom of depression is the inability to believe that the future will be bright.

MANY people whom I know believe the future will be bright because they believe God is helping them. That is an effective form of treatment for depression, as well as a prophilactic (sp?).

I am a Christianist. I believe in the ideas in the Bible about how to treat others and the values to which we should aspire, especially as expressed in the Gospels of the New Testament, Proverbs and Psalms.

I take my cellphone to church with me and multi-task. This helps me to pay no attention to Christian strictures that would otherwise leave me feeling alienated from people and doctrine.

Finding a church community that fits me and where I fit in is like finding a good psychiatrist. I might have to see how 20 operate before I find ONE where I can get what I need.

The pastoress of my church is a psychologist. Instead of paying to see a psychologist twice per week, I spend afternoons and evenings at my pastors' house with her family.

When I have a concern about myself, there is a moment or an hour or two when I can discuss it with the pastoress/psychologist or with her husband, who is trained in listening to people and guiding them.


I'd rather have a frontal lobotomy than a bottle in front of me.
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persistence
persistence
July 12, 2017 - 6:09 pm
Oliver,

I'm grateful that you have found a belief system (Christianity) that gives you hope, patience and endurance.

Depression really is an endurance race sometimes, yet one symptom of depression is the inability to believe that the future will be bright.

MANY people whom I know believe the future will be bright because they believe God is helping them. That is an effective form of treatment for depression, as well as a prophilactic (sp?).

I am a Christianist. I believe in the ideas in the Bible about how to treat others and the values to which we should aspire, especially as expressed in the Gospels of the New Testament, Proverbs and Psalms.

I take my cellphone to church with me and multi-task. This helps me to pay no attention to Christian strictures that would otherwise leave me feeling alienated from people and doctrine.

Finding a church community that fits me and where I fit in is like finding a good psychiatrist. I might have to see how 20 operate before I find ONE where I can get what I need.

The pastoress of my church is a psychologist. Instead of paying to see a psychologist twice per week, I spend afternoons and evenings at my pastors' house with her family.

When I have a concern about myself, there is a moment or an hour or two when I can discuss it with the pastoress/psychologist or with her husband, who is trained in listening to people and guiding them.


I'd rather have a frontal lobotomy than a bottle in front of me.
persistence
July 12, 2017 - 6:40 pm
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persistence
Total Posts: 1532
Joined: 08-11-2012
Oliver,

My pastoress/psychologist introduced me to a psychiatrist who is two hours closer to me and costs 20% less than the other psychiatrist in the capital.

I pay $40.00 per session to meet the psychiatrist and he gave me prescriptions for four months of medication when I last saw him.

I can buy all my medications for a total of $100.00 per month, which I am able to pay from my own income. By being outside of the USA with quite modest income, I haven't had to talk with an insurance company since 2004.

My biggest insurance hastle since Y2K was canceling my Medicare Part B and getting a retroactive refund. I had to get my congressman involved to get that worked out.

Medicare Part B is useless to me overseas, but fortunately medical costs are so relatively cheap or free overseas that I don't need insurance or Medicaid.



I'd rather have a frontal lobotomy than a bottle in front of me.
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persistence
persistence
July 12, 2017 - 6:40 pm
Oliver,

My pastoress/psychologist introduced me to a psychiatrist who is two hours closer to me and costs 20% less than the other psychiatrist in the capital.

I pay $40.00 per session to meet the psychiatrist and he gave me prescriptions for four months of medication when I last saw him.

I can buy all my medications for a total of $100.00 per month, which I am able to pay from my own income. By being outside of the USA with quite modest income, I haven't had to talk with an insurance company since 2004.

My biggest insurance hastle since Y2K was canceling my Medicare Part B and getting a retroactive refund. I had to get my congressman involved to get that worked out.

Medicare Part B is useless to me overseas, but fortunately medical costs are so relatively cheap or free overseas that I don't need insurance or Medicaid.



I'd rather have a frontal lobotomy than a bottle in front of me.
MadelinePend
September 11, 2017 - 6:41 am
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MadelinePend
Total Posts: 3
Joined: 09-11-2017
Yes, of course, we should keep positive thoughts always with us. As it is well said, find a place inside you where there's joy, and the joy will burn out the pain and stress within yourself. One cannot have positive life with a negative mind. If anyone facing the problem, to turn their state of mind into positive way, I think once they should consult a voyance direct, so that they provide a right direction to you. Just once check it out here http://www.martine-voyance.com.... And keep your mind occupied with the things that makes you happy. Make a fresh start of your life, set new goals. Keep yourself busy to achieve your goal.


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MadelinePend
MadelinePend
September 11, 2017 - 6:41 am
Yes, of course, we should keep positive thoughts always with us. As it is well said, find a place inside you where there's joy, and the joy will burn out the pain and stress within yourself. One cannot have positive life with a negative mind. If anyone facing the problem, to turn their state of mind into positive way, I think once they should consult a voyance direct, so that they provide a right direction to you. Just once check it out here http://www.martine-voyance.com.... And keep your mind occupied with the things that makes you happy. Make a fresh start of your life, set new goals. Keep yourself busy to achieve your goal.


Wenona
November 2, 2017 - 7:59 pm
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Wenona
Total Posts: 6
Joined: 10-07-2017
Depression is an awful thing. Yet, though I have experienced and continue to struggle with it, I find value in knowing that Joy, the polar opposite of depression can be found to the equal amount of pain and despair that I have felt. I am a Christian. I believe God lives. I believe He created my soul, the world and universe we live in specifically designed for His children(mankind) to be born, live grow and one day die. I study the words of God because the records other people on Earth who witness God's miracles, matters to me. I go to church to renew sacred covenants I have made with God. I promised God things and He promised me things. It does not cure me. I know God could cure me 100% but that would cheat me of this struggle and the character I am becoming through these adversities. My physical and mental ailments are only ONE drop in the stress and calamity I deal with. It is how I choose to live each day that counts. Each day I choose life over suicide is a success. Each day my brain allows me the ability to smile and show love to my kids and family, is a successful day. Yes, I've been consumed by terror, fear, anguish of soul and loud unrelenting thoughts of negativity. These do pass. There is always some glimmer of hope, a small knowledge that somewhere, someone loves me. Someone gave me life, someone thought about me today. I do yet breathe. At times I am discouraged. Keeping a journal helps me to recall the good times. I have a bad day journal to discuss the hard times. I've found solace in a kind spouse who bolsters me, cares for me, loves me.


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Wenona
Wenona
November 2, 2017 - 7:59 pm
Depression is an awful thing. Yet, though I have experienced and continue to struggle with it, I find value in knowing that Joy, the polar opposite of depression can be found to the equal amount of pain and despair that I have felt. I am a Christian. I believe God lives. I believe He created my soul, the world and universe we live in specifically designed for His children(mankind) to be born, live grow and one day die. I study the words of God because the records other people on Earth who witness God's miracles, matters to me. I go to church to renew sacred covenants I have made with God. I promised God things and He promised me things. It does not cure me. I know God could cure me 100% but that would cheat me of this struggle and the character I am becoming through these adversities. My physical and mental ailments are only ONE drop in the stress and calamity I deal with. It is how I choose to live each day that counts. Each day I choose life over suicide is a success. Each day my brain allows me the ability to smile and show love to my kids and family, is a successful day. Yes, I've been consumed by terror, fear, anguish of soul and loud unrelenting thoughts of negativity. These do pass. There is always some glimmer of hope, a small knowledge that somewhere, someone loves me. Someone gave me life, someone thought about me today. I do yet breathe. At times I am discouraged. Keeping a journal helps me to recall the good times. I have a bad day journal to discuss the hard times. I've found solace in a kind spouse who bolsters me, cares for me, loves me.


persistence
November 5, 2017 - 9:00 am
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persistence
Total Posts: 1532
Joined: 08-11-2012
Wenona: Nice.


I'd rather have a frontal lobotomy than a bottle in front of me.
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persistence
persistence
November 5, 2017 - 9:00 am
Wenona: Nice.


I'd rather have a frontal lobotomy than a bottle in front of me.
Wenona
November 9, 2017 - 8:51 am
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Wenona
Total Posts: 6
Joined: 10-07-2017
Persistence: Thank you. I like your choice of name. With mental health, persistence is VERY handy, useful and necessary. I am grateful to have this forum to learn and grow with others who struggle like me. Life is hard, it can be painful, it great to find a way to eradicate some degree of loneliness. I hope you have a wonderful day, persistence.


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Wenona
Wenona
November 9, 2017 - 8:51 am
Persistence: Thank you. I like your choice of name. With mental health, persistence is VERY handy, useful and necessary. I am grateful to have this forum to learn and grow with others who struggle like me. Life is hard, it can be painful, it great to find a way to eradicate some degree of loneliness. I hope you have a wonderful day, persistence.


persistence
November 9, 2017 - 11:01 pm
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persistence
Total Posts: 1532
Joined: 08-11-2012
Question: When can I give up medication for Bipolar Disorder?

Answer: I can give up medication for Bipolar Disorder as soon as I am no longer Bipolar.

Question: Isn't Bipolar Disorder a chronic illness that can be treated, but that never can be cured?

Answer: Yes, just like schizophrenia.

Question: Does that mean I can never give up medication for Bipolar Disorder?

Answer: You can give up *any* medication that has been prescribed for you and then wait an hour, a day, a week or a year and find out what will occur.

For example, if you are diabetic you *can* give up your medication today. It is with your powerto do so. However, you might enter into a diabetic coma and be found dead on your kitchen floor, like my father.

If you are Bipolar and commit a crime while unmedicated, and/or become "a danger to yourself and/or others, you might end up in prison or involuntarily committed to a mental institution until others no longer consider you a danger.

By way of analogy, if you have been drinking heavily for years, can you stop cold turkey? Of course you can try, without medical advice, but it might cause you to see snakes and ants crawling on your body and then you might start hearing voices coming out of your breadbox, telling you to kill yourself.

Question: If you are an alcoholic and have stopped drinking, when can you start again?

Answer: You can start drinking again as soon as you want to experience the consequences again that made you stop drinking last time, and maybe worse.

Question: So, can I really stop taking medication for Bipolar Disorder?

Answer: You can do whatever the he** you want, whenever you want to do it. You *can* run across the Belt Parkway naked, until the consequences hit you.

Question: So, should I stop taking all of my medication and see if I no longer need it?

Answer: You can remove the steering wheel from you car and see if you no longer need it.


I'd rather have a frontal lobotomy than a bottle in front of me.
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persistence
persistence
November 9, 2017 - 11:01 pm
Question: When can I give up medication for Bipolar Disorder?

Answer: I can give up medication for Bipolar Disorder as soon as I am no longer Bipolar.

Question: Isn't Bipolar Disorder a chronic illness that can be treated, but that never can be cured?

Answer: Yes, just like schizophrenia.

Question: Does that mean I can never give up medication for Bipolar Disorder?

Answer: You can give up *any* medication that has been prescribed for you and then wait an hour, a day, a week or a year and find out what will occur.

For example, if you are diabetic you *can* give up your medication today. It is with your powerto do so. However, you might enter into a diabetic coma and be found dead on your kitchen floor, like my father.

If you are Bipolar and commit a crime while unmedicated, and/or become "a danger to yourself and/or others, you might end up in prison or involuntarily committed to a mental institution until others no longer consider you a danger.

By way of analogy, if you have been drinking heavily for years, can you stop cold turkey? Of course you can try, without medical advice, but it might cause you to see snakes and ants crawling on your body and then you might start hearing voices coming out of your breadbox, telling you to kill yourself.

Question: If you are an alcoholic and have stopped drinking, when can you start again?

Answer: You can start drinking again as soon as you want to experience the consequences again that made you stop drinking last time, and maybe worse.

Question: So, can I really stop taking medication for Bipolar Disorder?

Answer: You can do whatever the he** you want, whenever you want to do it. You *can* run across the Belt Parkway naked, until the consequences hit you.

Question: So, should I stop taking all of my medication and see if I no longer need it?

Answer: You can remove the steering wheel from you car and see if you no longer need it.


I'd rather have a frontal lobotomy than a bottle in front of me.

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