All of us go through times of depression. When we were overeating, we may have felt depressed almost continually. We find that abstinence and the OA program lift us out of depression. The outward circumstances of life may not change radically, but by means of our program we experience more inner joy and contentment and less gloom and despair.
#####ROSIE....i think it USED to be despair...if that is depression, than ok....but mine was just *mental* hoplessness about life EVER being bareable.....now??? the program has shown me that it IS hopeful, i mean i CAN at least *modify* my karma...with my ATTITUDE to me..to god..to life.....i ate to fill my empyness..lonliness....i didn't have a relationship with me/ hp, so i was EMTY!!!!! now it is grief!!!...just pain from my losses....one thing about recovery.....DISCOVERY!!!! and what i discovered made me sick/ heart broken...that my own flesh could do this to me without so much as a HINT of remourse.....so i had to work out THAT outrage/grief, before i could get to the most important business at hand!!! ME and the SOLUTION!!!!! sometimes i get sad bcuz i got here so late....i could had this pretty much dealt with, living a decent life by now, but whatever...i cannot look on it that way...cuz i WILL get depressed......so i do TODAY what i can to help me TODAY....in the hopes that tomorow IS better.....i am happier about being in my own skin.....i DO take way better care of me......i DO eat healthy 3 squares meals and thats it.....i AM doing WAY better about taking care of my needs/ wants.....laying down a better foundation on which i CAN build a life......
When we do feel depressed, we can take positive action. We can work on a specific step. We can make a phone call. We can offer to help someone else. Focusing our attention on someone or something outside of ourselves is an effective means of combating depression.Maintaining abstinence does not ensure that we will never again feel depressed. In general, however, our spirits do not sink as low as they did before and they do not stay down as long. As we improve our contact with our Higher Power, we find ourselves less and less despondent. We have new hope, faith, and love - all-powerful antidotes to depression.Thank You for lifting me out of depression.
#######ROSIE.....well in my grief cycle here, i rescued a unwanted old/ 12 year old labrador retreiver that my friends at the animal shelter were going to put to sleep....she is a very special doggie....everyone at the pound just loved her....this guy takes her in and dumps her cuz hes moving and doesn't want this old doggie anymore who gave him her love for 12-13 years....it was a heart breaking story.....a cute little chocolate lab who did NOTHING to anyone to deserve this.....i rescue labs, and of course i had no need for a dog so old, but after meeting her i , too, agreed with my shelter officer friends that this "girl" deserved a chance...she is just FULL of hugs and kisses....so i tried to network her to no avail....finally yesterday when her time ran out, they had her in the euthanasia room to be "taken care of" and debbie at the shelter callled me and said "if you can help her NOW is the time"......i jumped in my truck and i got her out of there...took her home...made her a nest in her crate outside when the weather is good (when it is bad, she will come in and *learn* to be housebroken) anway, she is happy at her new home and it lifted my spirits greately.........i did something good for a harmless and loving creature, and my own dogs (all labs) seemed to understand that she was special and they welcomed her....she just fit in!!!!!!! i do agree when i am in grief cycles i CAN put one foot in front of the other...i CAN do somethign positive and make good karma....i CAN do stuff to make me feel better......i don't think my spirit will ever be so low as it was 21 months ago when i was going to commit suicide....i have improved relationship with my HP, and i am better with me and life......i am not despondent....there IS a chance for me having a better life....there IS a chance.....that little doggie to ANY bookmaker had NO chance.....and i came along and saved her....so there is NO such thing as *no chance*.......i am developing hope.....building faith......open to love......so yeah, things CAN get better DONE
Being an alcoholic, one who suffers from a depressive disorder, and a mental health professional I thought I would add a few things.
First. 'Depression' properly diagnosed is an illness rather than a feeling. It has many unpleasant feelings that accompany it to be sure but it is not caused by 'anger turned inward' or any other purely psychogenic factors. To be counted as an illness however, it must last over 30 days. Things like grief can certainly bring it on through the stress of the grieving process itself and medical intervention may be temporarily required and be very effective.
Depression is also very common when people are newly sober. It is often too soon to tell whether this has been caused soley by drinking/drugging or by an actual underlying depressive disorder so a year or more of sobriety may be required before an accurate diagnosis can be made. Nonetheless treatment is available in the meantime.
Fully half of people with a depressive disorder (which includes bipolar disorder) also have a substance abuse problem so any depression lasting more than 30 days should alert you to the need to seek professional help. Many of us (like me) drank to escape our depression without being aware of it, or aware that we had a treatable disorder underlying our drinking.
Anti-depressant medication is not 'mood altering' in the way that tranquillizers and sleeping medications are, and in no way affects our sobriety. With the newer medications available in fact you may experience few if any side effects at all. Most take several weeks to become effective but the difference is sometimes dramatic.
