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Does anyone have good coping skills to help fibromayliga/depression

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Posted 10/29/2010 7:04 PM (GMT -5)
  

       This story is long, but i will try to make it short as possible! I was diagnosed with both these diseases in mid 2004 and have only went downhill from there.  I had to leave a job of twelve years which 6 yrs of the twelve i was sexaully harrassed and i had to fight against him and turn him in! I told the other partner in the business and came to terms through lawyers.  I then began to slowly fall down hill i was unemployed for 6 to 8 months after this, then i gained employment for about 2 1/2 yrs and that was it i was out again for missing to many days, mistakes on computer could no long concentrate.  I became disabled that day.  I now recieve disability payments my life took a wrong turn for a while, pain pill addiction etc. but now i am back on track all to the thanks to my son who is now 20 months old and i owe my sobrirety to him, i had to be clean from all meds and i learned to deal with my pain in a whole new light since going throug the birthing process. I was in labor for over 49 hrs with my son and all worth every second.  I would appreciate any advice anyone can offer! Thanks for listening!!

Posted 10/29/2010 8:30 PM (GMT -5)
Hi,
(It is good to hear from a new mom on here because I have been thinking about getting pregnant and am in the process of weening myself off all my drugs. It's really not easy! So I commend you for being able to do it!)
Anyway, dealing with depression...you can go the pharmaceuticals and therapist route which helps alot but you can also do some things like meditate, yoga, go to a church, surround yourself with positive people, keep busy with some sort of routine and my favorite, helping someone less fortunate than yourself (believe me there are people out there!) I do all of the above to fight my depression and believe me it is a fight! Plus I take Omega-3 vitamins which are supposed to help with many things but also serotonin stuff.
Its not easy but if you fight...you can beat this depression!
Good luck and keep writing here, it helps!!
Posted 10/31/2010 1:34 AM (GMT -5)
Hello,

The one thing that has helped me most with depression is to be thankful.  I call it an attitude of gratitude because it helps me remember. I try to notice little things to be thankful for and to say it out loud.  You can say, "I  am grateful for the rain," or "Thank you God for the grass," or whatever.  Trying not to stress about the pain helps (in the way that stressing makes the pain worse).  I also take depression medication and joined a 12-step group for codependents, and try to get fresh air as much as possible.

Hope you feel better soon. 

Sue

Posted 10/31/2010 12:56 PM (GMT -5)
Hi, and welcome!  I don't think we have met yet.  I'm glad you found us and joined the family.

 

Be sure to check out Fibro 101...the first thread on the forum.  There are links to good info about fibro there and you will learn a lot.

 

I don't suffer from depression, generally, but when my husband died I did suffer from depression and it sure is horrible.  I found that light really helped me.  I moved to Florida from up north and the sun "perked" me up.  If you don't live in a sunny climate, then you can get light boxes that help.  It helps raise the serotonin levels.  Here is a link explaining them.  I think there are various manufacturers but it might be something to consider. 

 

http://www.lightbox4therapy.com/lightbox-therapy-SAD.html

 

As others have said, count your blessings.  You have a little bundle of blessings already!  Maybe make a list of all the positive things in your life.  You can make a list of the negative things too, but I just bet the positive list is a lot longer!  We seem to dwell on negative things and it affects depression and also the pain of fibro.  Here is a great link from Fibro 101 about positive thinking.

 

http://www.fmaware.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=5340

Lastly, don't dwell on how you feel.  Make plans for each day.  I look forward to each new day with anticipation because we don't know what wonderful things it may hold!  Your son will give you plenty to plan around and look forward to.  As you focus on other things, your depression should ease and your pain should be better. 

 

I hope some of these suggestions that the members and I have posted help you out.  Have a great day and I'm looking forward to getting to know you better.  Hope to hear more from you soon.

Sherrine 

Posted 10/31/2010 5:04 PM (GMT -5)
Hi there,

I have found that the best way to deal with fibromyalgia and depression is to take life one day at a time. Try not to worry about things. It isn't easy for most but for me it was because I know that I can't make long term plans with this. So I allow myself to take each day as it comes, and it seems to help.

I hope that you feel better soon, and if the depression gets to be too much, visit us on the depression forum. You will find a lot of support there. I hope that this has helped in some small way.

Yesterday is history
Tomorrow but a mystery
Today is a gift,
That is why it is the present.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 10/31/2010 5:32 PM (GMT -5)
Hello, Hope your day is going well :)

about 40 years ago, I discovered this quote on a plaque that I bought...it
still rings true to me today.

"Yesterday is already a dream and tomorrow is only a vision, but today well
lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a
vision of hope." ....a quote from the sanskrit.

I try to cope with hope, try to live only one day at a time and have some fun each
day. Wishing you the best!!!

Hugs, Robin
Posted 11/1/2010 1:29 AM (GMT -5)
That is beautiful, Robin.
Posted 11/1/2010 9:24 AM (GMT -5)
Helo Sherrine, Karen & Robin:

Thank you so much for welcome and all the encourging words this has helped me to be able to express myself more with others! I also do talk thearpy every week and that also helps alot with the depression! I enjoy any advise anyone has to give have a great day all!!

Thanks and God Bless!
Carrie
Posted 11/1/2010 5:32 PM (GMT -5)
fibrodepressionmom

So sorry to hear about your dive into depression. I was there before fibro. You're brave and you have a baby, well done! Words of encouragement ... well, how about "Courage equals fear plus action", and"... "Nothing in the world takes the place of persistence ..." Calvin Coolidge.

My daughter went into deep post viral depression after mono when she was 16 (now 26), and she said, what can I do Mum (yes, we're from Oz, we say Mum), and I said, well it helped me, and you're similar to me, so I found exercise. I know, I know, how can you exercise with fibro. Small movements (you'll find stuff on the web, Sherrine will help), walking, sunshine (seratonin!). Small steps, it will get better.

Lots of love from downunder
Oxygene
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