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How to win the fight against depression April 7, 2008

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“For waging war you need guidance” states an old saying. Skill, not just good intentions, is needed to win a battle. Certainly, if depressed, you do not want inadvertently to cause yourself to feel worse. For instance, a recent study of depressed persons found that some tried to cope with their depression by ‘taking anger out on other people, reducing tension by drinking more, eating more, and taking more tranquilizing drugs.’ The result: “more depression and physical symptoms.”Some depressed persons fail to seek skillful direction because of their fear of being viewed as mentally weak. Yet, major depression is not a sign of mental weakness. (more…)

How to maintain good friendship April 4, 2008

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It has been said that “the only way to have a friend is to be one”. Many, though, have chosen the route of solitude. Rather than reaching out and being a friend, they cut others off. The result? “People who spend a lot of time by themselves tend to feel ‘very passive, unhappy, left out of the world,’” a Brazilian newspaper quoted a researcher as saying. He continued: “When there’s nothing else to do, when there’s no one to talk to, you turn inwards. It’s much easier to get caught up in your problems.”
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Negative Emotions - Can you overcome them? March 15, 2008

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“Of course not! Negative emotions are too powerful. I have no choice but to endure them until they pass.”That is how many respond to the idea of overcoming emotions such as anxiety, fear, anger, frustration, guilt, self-pity, and depression. But those emotions can be overcome. Rather than surrender to them whenever they arise, you can learn to lessen their intensity, perhaps even eliminate them. (more…)

Loneliness - Are you determined to fight it and win? March 4, 2008

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ARE you lonely? There are occasions in life when it is natural to feel lonely, whether you are married or single, whether you are a man or a woman, whether you are old or young. Realize also that being alone does not necessarily cause loneliness. A lone scholar absorbed in his research does not feel lonely. A lone artist creating a painting has no room to feel lonely. They welcome a solitary moment, and solitude is then their best friend.

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