Trying to avoid depression

Hi all,

As I explained in tittle I am trying very hard with my mental state. Every day I try to go out of bed and do as many things as I can to distrack me from continuos crying or illness thinking.

The other day I thought about do something diferent. I was thinking about go to ammusement park just for a gentle walk and maybe ride a soft roller coaster. But, I ask you all, does this sound stupid? I mean, do you think is bad idea?

I have Bart, and I struggle with pains and neuropathy that come and go.

Thank you all for reading. Sorry if anyone gets anoyed by my stupid question I just struggle not to go on a very deep depressive hole

Bee.

Agree with Rainy - Keeping your mind somewhere else, other than on problems, is hard to do with this, but going to an amusement park is a great idea. Would you have someone to go with you? That might make it even better and then you'd have someone there if you had a "moment."

It's hard to think positive dealing with all the Lyme problems. I used to be much better at it, but now my mind grips me with it. The thought you have of trying something new is positive in itself.

Thank you both rainy and runnig, fortunately yes I have boyfriend and family to come with me.

Rainy- I have become fan of autocinema, there is one where I live and I enjoy taking shoes out and more confortable in my car

I try very hard everyday, I play with pets, go to the park and look at trees, try to smile, stay at de sun, watch only comedies…. but lately I have fallen into a bad mind state, cry almost for nothing and somedays dont want to get out of bed… My mind state is going downhill.

Dont know what else to try or do, trying to avoid antidepressants as they interact almost with everyting.

Thanks so much for reading

Bee

saraeli, Little B,

Neurofeedback involves a technician or specialist puts wires on certain parts of you head and monitors the brain process as you watch a show on a screen. It helped me many years and, and I know the Biologics Center in Cool Springs, TN uses it. I'm sure you are already aware of it and probably what saraeli is eluding to.

It helped me nay years ago and when I went to Biologics a few years ago. I can't explain exactly how it works, but there is plenty of information online about it. Cost may make in prohibitive, though. "It ain't cheap."

LB - It has always confused me on how a neurofeedback specialist knows how to program the system to help as you watch something (like a television show) on a screen. But, I think, it works on the neural system. It was amazing to me how the technician would know when I wasn't focusing enough.

I would test the system by letting my mind wander to see if he caught it, and he always did. If I became sleep, he would tell me "I'm seeing you get sleepy, need you to bring it back." And I knew it was real because he was 8 feet behind me looking at his monitor.

Best bet would be to look online, as there is a lot of information on neurofeedback. It did a lot for me before - my depression and anxiety were better. It is well known to help with ADHD.

It took a number of sessions, but little by little, I started to feel a difference. Again, I don't know what the cost is now, and it wasn't real cheap before. The first time I used it was years before they diagnosed me with Lyme and no one knew what was wrong.

loski - If I remember correctly, the qeeg tells a story about your brain (providing a map to follow to determine treatment with neurofeedback). I did that and, of course, the neurofeedback followed.

It really helped me, after a number of sessions, an improvement in anxiety and depression. At the Biologics Center, it helped a little, but I wasn't there but two weeks, compared to a number of months every week or so with neurofeedback.

its hard to really fully grasp your situation, but while I of course encourage you to put your mind into different topics and places of interest you might want to be careful with stuff like roller coast riding.

i dont know how well you feel physically but i do have the fear that you might push yourself beyond your own current limits just for the sake of putting your mind at rest - does that make any sense?

by any means i dont mean to discourage you in your actions and adventures, when your depressed its crucial to do things that bring joy to your heart, but i just want to make sure your careful.

it may sound a bit off, but have you thought about serotonin raising supplements like 5-htp or similar ones? i mean they can build a bridge from your current situation - over your treatment - to the goal of remission.

i was severly depressed and suicidal aswell. i am however recovering of these bad thoughts and also of my heavy physical illness. it is possible, dont give up my man.

I agree with Blazer but I have ME / CFS and I know Blazer was diagnosed with it too, if you have ME / CFS I would be cautious of going to an amusement park but if not then disregard this information! Also if you have CCI then I would avoid but if you don't have that then disregard that too!

Have you tried anything else to help with mood / depression little bee? like supplements, medications, therapies etc? It might be possible to find a medication which doesn't interact with your other ones. Also many people benefit from microdosing psilocybin to help alleviate low mood and / or depression

It's never a stupid question!

Running Wild - It's great to hear about your experiences with Neurofeedback!

Sara - it's also great to hear about your experiences with primal trust!

Not stupid at all. Been there. Done that. Still do it. It keeps my sanity. Now, I am much more functional and physically able to do stuff, so I keep myself busy doing yard work, gardening, home maintenance projects. I used to go places a lot more, but now I don’t have a safe, reliable vehicle, so I don’t go far from home unless necessary. Thankfully, there are lots of businesses just up the road.

Being outside in the yard, going for walks through the neighborhood, and now going to the swimming pool are my favorite things to do when the weather is not extreme. This is the first year I have been able to enjoy the pool. I am hoping to go tomorrow.

WalkingbyFaith: I'm so glad to hear you're much more functional and physically able to do stuff! That's so awesome!

lots of good advice on the thread already

a life changing chronic illness like Lyme is a huge challenge to anyone's mental health - their life changes out of all recognition, they cannot do most of the things they used to enjoy, often they cannot work, their friends and society at large rarely understand what they are going through and as a result they typically drop away - leaving the person socially isolated, and medical doctors often deny their condition and treatment - leaving them feeling even more isolated and lost. so, its enough to drive anyone to a dark place.

i was just going to add - that rather than just trying to tough it out on your own

getting help with your struggles with mood issues from a professional who can help you resolve them is often the most effective solution in the long run.

in fact, everyone i know who has mood issues or mental health issues and takes supplements or medication for it is still on medication and still stuck having mood issues years later.

whereas those that went into therapy, found the right therapist for them, and stuck with it have moved on and are having much happier lives.

this is what the research says also -
neurotransmitter based mental health medications are known to be only partially effective - and were not intended to be (or approved for) long term use - yet that is exactly how they end up being used by the majority of doctors and patients.

so, even though the inflammation in the brain from infections and the imbalances in metabolism that causes along with the huge challenge of chronic illness may be at the root of a persons depression - these things are always multifactorial.
there is always the biological element of the condition - eg inflammation
but also the mental thinking patterns / habits / story / interpretation elements involved in how the condition manifests itself in that person.

typically both elements need to be addressed to get back to living a happy life - since we know addressing the infections is a long process - so it makes sense to be working on the other angle as well.

doing good daily practices and taking steps to find some enjoyment in life as you are already doing is absolutely a good idea - something we should all be doing - but if its impacting your life to the degree you describe - i think it would help you immensely to speak to someone professionally

finding someone suitable used to be a challenge - but there are even apps for it these days - "betterhelp" is one such app that i hear advertised on podcasts from the BBC to the Tim Ferris -

i hope is of some help

all the best!