"... I always talk about me last. I have been diagnosed with chemical depression and A.D.H.D. I take medication, see a counselor and do yoga. With these, I'm finally getting some control and balance.
I've always thought that eating was the love of/in my life. I've weighed over 250 lbs at times and as low as 140 lbs as an adult. I've been put on diets since I was about eight years old.... Now in the past 4 to 6 months I've gone from 247 lbs to 215 lbs a slow reasonable weight loss, without much diet change.
I'm still trying to find myself and who I want to be when I grow
up but I'm a lot more self-confident finally and I don't hate myself anymore.
Thanks for listening."
JB in CA
"I am writing to you looking for any information you may have about Postpartum Depression.
I would like to get a support group started for women going through PPD. in my community. I want to help others and to get more information out to the public. Mothers need to know it isn't something to feel ashamed of nor is it their fault and the sooner they get help the faster they will be on their way to feeling better. Maybe if we had more info. out so many wouldn't suffer alone. And more info. to the dr.s always helps.
I hope you can help me in any way with either information or other organizations
to talk to, or any advice you may have."
JR in IA
[This is from a posting to the Internet Newsgroup: alt.support.depression,
in response to a letter "re: hubby needs me...."]
"I have had great concern of my Significant Other, who reacted just
like you to my depression: He did not know how to help. Only thing I can
say is: stay in there. We cannot always show it, but we appreciate that
our loved ones care. Just love. It will be noticed. We can hear though
those black walls... We may not always be able to answer, able to tell
about our feelings. We may be aggressive, we may be cruel. I was deliberately
bitching to my S.O. because I wanted him to leave me and not feel bad about
me destroying myself. He did not leave me, though. Which was good. I admit
I couldn't have blamed him for not staying. It was such a hell I put him
through.
This is what I wanted him to do then and now: TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF!!!
I need you. DO NOT LET ME USE YOU AS A MENTAL HELP. You cannot be my doctor,
you are my love. DO NOT TAKE ALL THE CRAP I SAY PERSONALLY. It is depression
talking. TAKE TIME OF YOUR OWN. Try to have some fun (do not feel guilt
over it - I would have fun if I could. I just can't. But you can. so have
fun for me too.) DO NOT FEEL GUILT! Easier said than done. You cannot take
responsibility of my feelings. It is not your fault. You love me enough,
you give me enough attention, you are enough. I am ill. It is not you.
You are not letting me down. You are light of my life. TALK TO SOMEBODY!
Living with a depressed person is tough. It may harm you. You may feel
frustrated, you have right to feel anger. You need to vent. FEEL. You have
right to your feelings what ever they are. You have right to express them.
(Unfortunately I tend to take everything personally -and that is not your
fault. But it still would be better if you could wait that I have one of
those better days before you get painfully honest with me.)"
Anon., Internet
We are always in need of encouraging stories to share with others.
Send to:
NAFDI - RS
P.O. Box 2257
New York, NY 10116 USA