Posted by dj on June 23, 2000, at 7:48:47
In reply to dj, posted by harry b. on June 22, 2000, at 22:54:46
Name: hb
E-mail address: (not given, or invalid)
Language: English> dj-
> Just want to say I'm glad you are back, however
> long that may be... I like your style and your informative posts. I will
> get The (New) Manual For Life.
>
> Thanks
> hb
Thank you hb for that kind acknowledgment. I'm just sharing some of what I've learned from my own experience, and continue to learn as I integrate it all which this helps me do. Having had some time to reflect I can put it into a better persepective now, than when I was in the midst of working through a lot of it.This a.m. I am going to have coffee with a counsellor, and his wife, who I enlisted to help me out last year for a couple of my more challenging months. Both he and my subsequent PD encouraged me to pursue further studies in counselling at the Haven, which is offers a Diploma in Counselling because of my obvious interest in the issues and affinity for it and my love of what they do and who they are there.
Don't know that I will pursue that option, as I am exploring some other interests, however you never know. If you are open to all, all is open to you. Some of us just have to work a bit harder at it at times.
As Richard O'Connor wrote in "Undoing Depression":
"Depressed people work harder at living than anyone else, although there is little payoff for our effort. But in the course of our hard work, we become very good at certain skills. We are like weight lifters who concentrate
exclusively on upper body strength - massive muscles in the arms and trunk but little spindly legs underneath - easy to knock down.Depression permeates every aspect of ourselves, but we can free ourselves by consciously deciding to do things differently. People get good at
depression - they overadapt and develop skills that, at best, just keep them going, and often make things worse". (page 72)I've been working at changing that unbalance for myself to create more balance in my life and outlook and the Haven has helped me considerably as have the discussions here at PB. I only hope and trust that others will have similar experiences through whatever approach works best for them. The challenge is to stay curious and keep learning and adapting and to not just rely on one resource or approach.
It's been said that if you have only a hammer everything looks like a nail, as is how I see dependance purely on AntiDepressants. They have their place but so do alternative and other mainstream approachs. Good luck in finding the balance for yourself.
How long I will linger this time I'm uncertain but I'm happy to share what I've learned and continue to learn while I'm here. The Manual for Life will give you much more food for thought from a couple of truly personal professionals who've been researching and exploring the roots of health and dis-ease much longer and more thoroughly than I. And if you can afford it, at some time, a session with them or someone of their calibre is time and money well invested in yourself.
Last year I did the 5 day "Come Alive" workshop with them twice, and it has made a world of difference in my outlook, though it took a while to integrate. And once I get some money and other issues sorted out I may be back to do their Phase program, which allows one to more deeply explore one's own algorithms for life.
Sante!
dj
poster:dj
thread:37856
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000619/msgs/38203.html