My wife keeps expanding and adding variety to the gardens at our house. For her, they’re a labor of love, rewarding and fulfilling for the work they require. But growing hundreds of different plants calls for constant attention. The basics demand hard labor. There are the piles of plant remains to be turned and sifted. […]
Recovery
Helen: A Great Film on Depression
Helen is the most accurate and moving portrayal of depression and its impact that you’re ever likely to see in a dramatic film. It may have slipped by you when released a few years ago since there was limited distribution. If you haven’t done so, see it now. If you’ve been struggling with depression, you’ll […]
Trying to Heal after the Final Break with Your Depressed Partner
Depressed partners walk out and leave behind a lot of emotional wreckage. Whether the ending is explosive, grieving or compassionate, its impact is life-changing. As the abandoned partner, you have to put your life back together, and it can take years to do it. There are a lot of obstacles to get around, however, before […]
Tony Giordano’s Story of Depression and Recovery
Every person who has lived with depression has a unique story to tell, and I’ve read or listened to dozens of them since starting this blog. Rarely, though, have I found a narrative that so closely parallels my own experience as Tony Giordano’s does. It’s Not All In Your Head: Unearthing the Deep Roots of […]
Do You Tell Your Therapist the Whole Truth or … Anything But the Truth?
I don’t know how open and honest you may be with the therapist(s) you’ve seen, but I’ve often had a lot of problems. Last year I wrote here about one constraint that often held me back – the fear of expressing strong emotions. A few days ago, I realized, when answering a question at Health […]
Can You Accept Support When You’re Depressed?
There are two sides to the problem of finding support from friends and loved ones when in the midst of depression. I discussed the risk of encountering prejudice and stigma in this post, but what happens if someone tries to offer support during a severe episode? Can you accept and appreciate it? Can you even […]
