Attention, DEPRESSED alcoholics!

Hi all!  I'm actually posting something in an attempt to help others instead of myself for once... what a concept. ;)

So out of the blue, someone asked me to meet with him.  I had no idea what it was about, but since he was late I started making a list that I'd been thinking of doing regarding my beliefs about my depression.  I had been reading a book about challenging your beliefs and putting new ones in their place.

When he finally got there, and we were talking, I discovered that he had the exact same problem as I did and he identified with every single thing on my list.  It occurred to me that in the same way we alcoholics are helped when we help other alcoholics, I might be helped with my own depression by helping another depressed person.

So anyway, here's my list of limiting beliefs about depression, followed by a new set of beliefs to try out.  I'll start off by just reading them to myself every morning and see where it leads.  Feel free to try 'em yourself or add your own!

LIMITING BELIEFS ABOUT DEPRESSION:

I can stay sober without solving my problem with depression.

I am powerless to solve my problem with depression.

God / my Higher Power can't or won't help me with depression.

A.A. can't help me with my depression.

Affirmations don't work.

Books won't / don't help me.

A gratitude list won't help me -- maybe short term, but not long term.

I've tried and failed.  I'll always fail so why try.

Depression is just a part of my personality.

I have A.D.D. which makes it impossible for me to focus.  This means my life will always be somewhat chaotic and disorganized.

The world is too overwhelming for me.

I have Seasonal Affective Disorder and can't afford treatment.

I can't maintain a healthy diet and exercise program for very long.

If I am not depressed, I won't be myself anymore -- I'll be someone else.

People won't trust me if I change.

I will not be able to handle the reactions from people if I change.

I will lose friends if I change my way of thinking.

I'll look weak or less manly if I change my negative personality.

I don't want to be like those overly optimistic people who annoy me.

Optimistic people are unrealistic.

I like being a grumpy / pessimistic person. People like my personality.

I'll have to be more open which will make me vulnerable.

I'll just be setting myself up for a fall and I'll fall harder since I'm up higher.  Something very bad will inevitably happen, possibly something that I could have prevented by thinking pessimistically.

Life isn't worth living anyway.

I am not qualified to sponsor other people, they don't stay sober, and it won't / doesn't keep me sober or help with my depression.

(Whew, what a list!)

Ok, here are the NEW BELIEFS TO TRY OUT:

Long-term sobriety is incompatible with depression.  If I want to stay sober, I must conquer depression.

It may be possible for me to conquer depression.

If depression stands in the way of my usefulness to God or my Higher Power, He will remove this defect if I pray for it to be removed.

Many A.A. members suffer or have suffered from depression.  If I reach out to them, I may learn things that can help me conquer my depression.

Affirmations might work if I keep an open mind and try them for an extended period of time.

Books might be able to help me, and I have nothing to lose by reading them.

A gratitude list might help me, both short and long term, and I have nothing to lose by trying it.

If I keep trying different things, there's a chance that I will eventually succeed.

Depression is a mental disorder, not a personality trait.

Although I may never be completely normal, I can research and experiment with coping strategies for my A.D.D. which can greatly improve my life.

My world can be more comfortably manageable based on daily choices I make, including the choice to turn things over to a Higher Power.

I may be able to try low-cost solutions that can help me get through the winter months with less depression.

It may be possible for me to maintain a healthier diet and exercise program with the help and support of other people.

Conquering depression will not change who I am.  It will only change what I do.

The people who matter in my life will be happy that I have become a happier person, and it will not affect their trust in me.

Quitting drinking was a major change and I was able to handle the reactions from people.  It may be possible for me to handle other people's reactions if I change my depression habit.

Positive people attract positive people.  I may be able to keep my existing friends, but if some of them go away, they will be replaced with others who will be less likely to reinforce my depression.

I can be more positive and still be strong.

If I become more optimistic, I may find that other optimistic people don't annoy me as much.

I can be optimistic without being unrealistic.

I might like being a cheerful person more than being a grumpy person.  Other people might like it too.

Trusting people are happier, and studies have shown that they are not taken advantage of any more frequently than guarded people.

Optimistic people have more friends who can help them through hard times.  I can think realistically without being pessimistic, and recognize that pessimistic thinking often creates negative results for me.  Bad things will happen less frequently if I'm thinking positively.

My life may have value that I don't even realize.

I may not be the greatest person to ever work an A.A. program, but I am qualified to sponsor others with the help of my own sponsor and I'll keep getting better and more confident the more I do it.  I should keep an open mind about the possible benefits to me and others, and sponsor as many people as I can.

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Well that's it for now... good luck to me and to all the rest of you diseased-thinking nut jobs out there!