Free Time

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It’s is day 9 of WEGO Health’s Health Activist Writer’s Month Challenge.  Today’s writing prompt is:

Health  Activist Choice!  Write about what ever you want today.

 

I thought that this would be a great time to express how much I have enjoyed participating in the Health Activist Writer’s Month Challenge.  It has been the inspiration that I have been lacking in writing for several months now.  My personal life has been so dramatic  for several months that it has been difficult to concentrate on writing blog posts.  I do not think I was experiencing any kind of burnout, I just think I was feeling overwhelmed with everything going on -especially dad passing away.

 

The inspiration provided by this challenge has given me  the shot in the arm that I needed.  Not only has it been very inspiring working with the prompts, it has also stretched my writing skills and imagination more than they have been a long while.  The prompts have also made it so I’ve been able to refocus my brain, and get back to enjoying my blog  the way I used to.

 

My plan is to stay this inspired, and attempt to get a little more creative with my writing.

My Voice Mail To Depression

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For day seven of the WEGO Health’s Health Activist Writer’s Month Challenge the prompt is:

Leave your condition a text or voice mail. Check in with your health by pretending you are leaving a quick note. Bonus points if you find a way to record it in audio form too!

Below you will see the audio file that contains the recording of my voice mail, underneath that is a written copy of what I said.

depression voice mail

Hey depression,

I thought I would check in with you real quick and see how things were going. I know it has been a difficult few months for us, but I wanted you to know save draft how much I really appreciate you letting me be the one in control -most days. Let’s keep up the good work and I’ll check in again with you soon.

Power Of Positive Words- S

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I am now on my third set of positive words – going in alphabetical order.  I get just as much out of them now as I did when I began this series.

 

Before I began depression treatment the words I used out loud, and in my mind were peppered with negativity.  At that time, I did not realize the power that words could have on a person’s mood, attitude, and outlook on life.  Depression treatment has taught me to be mindful of the words I use.  Creating this list of positive words for each letter of the alphabet has been a terrific way for me to build up a positive word bank.  My life is very different now.  I see a future laid out before me that will be filled with what much joy. I know there will be sorrows, however, I think the joy will outweigh those.

 

Feel free to use anything you see on this list on your blog – or even create your own list of positive words.

 

Strong – This word makes me positively happy because I am strong.  I honestly thought dad’s death would just undo me.  While some days have been extremely difficult, I have noticed I am stronger than I gave myself credit for.  I miss dad every day – and I think I always will- however, I believe he would be proud to see me coming through this OK.

Power Of Positive Words-R

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I am now on my third set of positive words -going in alphabetical order.  I get just as much out of them now as I if did when I began this series.

 

Before I began depression treatment the words I used out loud, and in my mind were peppered with negativity.  At that time, I did not realize the power that words could have on a person’s mood, attitude, and outlook on life.  Depression treatment has taught me to be mindful of the words I use.  Creating this list of positive words for each letter of the alphabet has been a terrific way for me to build up a positive word bank.  My life is very different now.  I see a future laid out before me that will be filled with much joy.  I know there will be sorrows, however, I think the joy will outweigh those.

 

Feel free to use anything you see on this list on your blog – or even create your own list of positive words.

 

Remarkable -This  word makes me feel positively positive because when I look at my mother I can see how remarkable she is.  It has been very difficult for her since my dad died, but she has handled everything with grace, and done a wonderful job.  She has had to make an awful lot of phone calls that started with ” My husband recently died… “, and as hard as it has been she’s done it.  Although there have been times when she’s been very, very sad, she has shown  a great deal of strength during this difficult time.  She is a remarkable woman and I’m blessed that she is my mother.

Trying Something New

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With my computer I got some very cool voice recognition software.  So I thought I would try it out and see how easy it was to use.  It is actually fun software to use, but it is not as easy as I thought it would be to put my thoughts down on paper without writing them first.  However, I think if I practice enough I might end up dictating most of my blog posts.

 

One thing I like about dictating my  blog posts, is that it seems to be a more natural process of putting my thoughts down on paper the original way I thought of them.  Then later if I decide I want to change anything it is a very simple process to go back and edit them.  Maybe my posts will come out quicker if it seems more like an natural process to me.

 

There are many times when I’m writing a blog post that I get distracted and I lose a really next line good thought that I wanted to put down.  At least this way if I think of something I can go ahead and say it even if I don’t like how it looks. I then have the opportunity to go back and fix it before it before I forget about it.

 

Either way, at least it’s something new and exciting I can try out on the blog.

The Depression Question Poem

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Today is day 7 of WEGO’s Health Activist Writer’s Month Challenge. I think today’s prompt is unusual, but at the same time it has been fun. Today’s prompt is:

Write a poem (5-­‐15 lines) where every line is a health question.

 

Why did depression rule me in every way, every single day?

Is there something in my brain, that has come to stay?

Or was I born this way?

Is there any way to know, what caused my tears to flow, several years ago.

Is depression part of God’s plan, for a wo-man?

What is the lesson I can learn from all the pain in my brain?

Do you think it will go away someday?

Is there any way to know, what caused my tears to flow, several years ago.

What can I do to help myself put my depression on the shelf?

Or should I embrace it and learn from it?

Maybe I should show it who is boss, and give it a toss?

Is there any way to know, what caused my tears to flow, several years ago.

Most likely no, but at least now they are a no go…

I Write About Depression…

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I am on day 6 of WEGO Health’s Health Activist Writer’s Month Challenge and this is today’s prompt:

“I write about my health because…”Reflect on why you write, in writing.Meta!

 

Why do I write about my depression? Because it helps me.

In September of 2009 I experienced a short stay in a state run psychiatric hospital. Unfortunately, when I was allowed to leave I still felt like I was filled with out of control emotions  – the strongest was a feeling of rage. I knew that unless I found a healthy way to manage those out of control emotions I would most likely find myself back in that hospital. So, I came up with the idea of writing – blogging – about the stuff in my head. My thinking was if I could get those emotions out of me – through writing – then I might stand a chance at getting them under control. For the most part, it has worked out that way.

To this day, I am not completely sure why I chose a public forum – blogging – to do my journaling. Most likely it had something to do with accountability, and hoping to find support.

What started off as an experiment in journaling has grown into something much more. Writing has allowed me to look at my issues from a different perspective – giving me an opportunity to understand myself better, and make different choices for myself. My writing has become a valuable tool in my depression treatment. It has also helped me create a wonderful online support system, and made it possible for me to meet some people who have become very special to me. The thing that has surprised me the most is how much I enjoy writing. It is something I never thought I had any talent for, and when I was younger I disliked it intensely.

Somehow, all this journaling about my depression, and connecting with other people who have mental health issues has turned me into a Mental Health Activist. The more I have gotten to know other people with mental health diagnosises, heard their stories, and learned how the world treats people like me, the more passionate I have become about being one of the voices that speaks out against stigmatizing people with mental health issues.

I write about my depression because it helps me. It helps me learn about myself, and encourages me to grow. I write because it is an outlet for my emotions. Writing has helped me make friends, and find my voice. It has allowed me to share my story, and add my voice to the growing number of voices that speak out against the stigma that surrounds people with mental health issues.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Power Of Positive Words – Q

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I am now on my third set of Positive Words – going in alphabetical order. I get just as much out of them now as I did when I began this series.

Before I began depression treatment the words I used out loud, and in my mind, were peppered with negativity. At the time, I did not realize the power that words could have on a person’s mood, attitude, and outlook on life. Depression treatment has taught me to be mindful of the words I use. Creating this list of positive words for each letter of the alphabet has been a terrific way for me to build up a positive word bank. My life is very different now. I see a future laid out before me that will be filled with much joy. I know there will be sorrows, however, I think the joy will outweigh those.

Feel free to use anything you see on this list on your own blog – or even create your own list of positive words.

Question – This word makes me feel positively happy because I have learned to question mine – and other people’s – preconceived ideas about me. I am not what other people say, or think I am. I am not who I used to think I was. I am me – warts and all.

 

Wise Words

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A friend of dad’s brought by several boxes full of things that were in dad’s office. As I was bringing them in, I noticed a little plaque. The words on it caught my attention for a couple of reasons.

Basically, the words on the plaque embodied dad’s approach to life, and they represent a way of life I am striving towards. I took a picture of it so I could share it with you.