Mental Health?

Question

Okay don't get me wrong, I'm not mental, or else i probably wouldn't be here, but I think i need a change in mental attitude. I tend to think negatively, a while ago I was really depressed for a while. It's getting better now, but that was my biggest downtime yet, and how can i prevent that from happening again? My mother always tells me,"your happiness comes from within. If you don't make happiness for yourself, no one else is." How can i make her words true? Any mental exercises or tips? websites will also be helpful.

Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

Maybe try challenging your negative thoughts. Write them down and make positive arguments against them-- so you can consider the positive perspective of whatever you're thinking about. Perhaps if you did this daily you would become more likely to think positively than negatively.

Answer 2

Sounds to me like your mom is not really taking you seriously. You should tell her that you do have episodes of depression and want to see a counselor. Some people really do suffer from depression caused by a chemical imbalance. if this is the case, you cannot fix it with "trying to make your own happiness" it just doesn't work. I suffer from depression several times a year and it will last for 1-2 months at a time. During this time, I take 20 mg of prozac. For me it was like all of a sudden I felt like a big black cloud was just hanging over my head. Nothing was right, I was tired all the time, etc. Now that I have been going through this for years, I can kind of figure out when it will hit seasonally, however, even when I am not taking the prozac, I see a counselor weekly just to work on ways to destress and improve upon myself. Someone to vent to without predjudice, etc.
Good luck and get some real help.

Answer 3

Your mother is right. When you tend to dwell on negative things for a long period of time you become consumed by those negative thoughts. Next time your feeling down talk it out with your mother or whomever you trust. A tip that I would suggest is to get a notebook and write down all of the positive things you've done in your life and look at that when you are depressed. I hope that works for you. Take care!

Answer 4

Your mother is very wise.
First I'd like to say that some depression needs meds. It's chemical & your attitude is not going to change if your brain chemistry is off.
Next, I have several books to suggest:
Living in Love with youself, by Barry Ellsworth
Happiness is a Choice by Barry Kaufman
Manifest your Destiny by Wayne Dyer
Ask & It's given by Esther & Jerry Hicks
Conversations with God by Neale Walsh

Everything starts with a question & you are seeking which is good
Bless you

Answer 5

Well I guess intellegent people get depressed..cuz they want answers for life meaning.

I think the bigesst problem is cuz probably you want big things to make you happy. But the art of happiness is to find happiness in every corner of you life, while chatting with your mother, watching the sunset, doing small things to help the others. You will be surprised how good you will feel.

But don't forget...trust yourelf, love yourself....and everything you will get in other perspective. Don't give up!

How to do that...hmmm...I wish I knew ...cuz I'm like you. so you are not alone....

Keep searching your inner true happiness like I do.

Answer 6

Your mother is right...HAPPINESS COMES FROM WITHIN AND IN THIS MOMENT.

I used to think very negatively. Then I read Richard Carlson's book "You Can Be Happy No Matter What." Richard Carlson also wrote "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff."

According to Carlson, most people think happiness is conditional and outside of themselves or expect that it is a fleeting feeling based on the events in their lives or their circumstances. They don't realize that their happiness is inside of them IN THE MOMENT.

According to Carlson, most people are unhappy because most of their thinking is negative. Negative thinking IN THE MOMENT leads to a negative feeling IN THE MOMENT which leads to a negative mood. Then the negative mood leads to a negative feeling in the moment which leads to more negative thinking in the moment. It becomes a viscous circle.

The reverse is also true. Positive thinking in the moment leads to positive feelings in the moment which leads to a positive mood.

The trick is not to try to feel better or think positively, the trick is to think positive thoughts. When I feel down, I don't try to change what I'm thinking/feeling, I just DELIBERATELY start thinking positive thoughts about things I like.

When you start to think or feel negative, STOP THINKING ABOUT WHATEVER YOU ARE THINKING and DELIBERATELY start thinking about things that make you happy. You have to make a deliberate effort. I just say things to myself like "I like the song Forever Young by Rod Stewart, I like chocolate chip cookies, I like the movie French Kiss" By changing my focus I immediately change my feelings and then my thoughts automatically go back to positive. You might want to make a "Happy" list and carry it with you for those times when negative thoughts/feelings get the best of you.

Or, if you're able, DO something that makes you feel good (like listening to your favorite CD or watch a movie that makes you LAUGH).

In her book The Secret, Rhonda Byrne recommends starting your day (before you even get out of bed) by saying to yourself THANK YOU for all the things in your life you are grateful for. This is a great way to start your day in a positive mood. Like, "thank you for my warm bed, thank you for the roof over my head, thank you for ...whatever you are grateful for)

Answer 7

If you are truely depressed you probably need medication, maybe just for a short time but go to a doctor and see what they recommend.

Answer 8

HAVE A COKE AND A SMOKE.
you will feel a good feeling !