Forget
Being Free of Depression -
Start Living Now!
A friend
once remarked I was a wonderful role model for how to live a great life despite
suffering from depression. At the time, I was unable to see the value in
that since, the ultimate goal is to be depression free - isn't it? Suffering
from depression means we're flawed, right? It means there's something wrong
with my life in which case, what is there to be proud of?
After several trips out of depression
and then descending into the pit of despair over and over again I began to
wonder whether or not I'd ever be completely free of depression and, more
importantly, whether or not it really matters.
Nowadays I'm able to see
that:
~ SUFFERING/NOT SUFFERING FROM
DEPRESSION IS NOT WHAT'S IMPORTANT but
~ HOW I RESPOND TO WHAT OCCURS
IN MY LIFE (INCLUDING DEPRESSION) IS
Given that 75% of depression sufferers
cycle back into depression at some point, it makes more sense to learn to
enjoy your life despite depression rather than endlessly waiting for this
wonderful time when you will never be depressed again.
The common model of depression
and cure is based on an overly simplistic 2 phase model where:
~ Phase I - You're Depressed -
or - ~ Phase II - You're Not Depressed
The ultimate aim is to get from
I to II and stay there. Then you can live happily ever after.
There's a major flaw with this
type of thinking however:
~ How do you know when it is time
to live happily ever after?
~ How do you know for certain
you are completely free of depression?
THE REALITY IS WE CAN NEVER GUARANTEE
THAT WE ARE OR WILL BE DEPRESSION FREE.
Given this, I've devised a new
strategy based on the following 3 phase model.
~ Phase I - Depressed ~ Phase
II - Period of Remission ~ Phase III - Depression Free
At first sight this might appear
discouraging. The thought of living your whole life with the spectre of
depression is not a happy one. But I believe that the 3 phase model actually
increases your chances of becoming Depression free.
Notice how Phase II and Phase
III look the same.
Even, if you never get to Phase
III, you can still have a wonderful life.
Finding yourself at phase I is
a backward experience if you're living according to the 2 stage model. While
you are depression free you feel successful and positive. Slipping back into
depression makes you feel you've failed again and thus adds to your
depression.
However, finding yourself at Phase
I in the 3 stage model is a positive experience. You have an opportunity
to learn some more and move another step closer to being depression free
in phase III. All you need to do is learn to handle the depression differently.
(See resource box).
Model 1 is Outcome driven. Model
2 is Process driven. And that difference is important.
THE KEY is to enjoy the process
of your life as you work towards the outcome of being depression free - instead
of waiting for the outcome before you can enjoy the process!
Gillian is a Personal and Business
Coach and creator of the '7 Steps to a Depression Free Life' Coaching Programme.
This article is taken from her Self Help Guide. For more information visit:
http://www.depression-recovery-life.com/bin/ap.pl?ebook3
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