Tips for Avoiding the Void?

lydia_the_tattooed_lady

So I'm sure I'm not the only one on here with this issue...I've had depression since I was a child. This has always been a problem for me, not only psychologically but also physically. Sometimes I just suddenly lose all motivation to do ANYTHING. It's like something creeped up on me and zapped all my energy away! I also tend to eat really badly and crave junk food when this happens. Anybody else experience this? Anybody have any advice on how to keep from getting sucked into the void? (And yes, I have seen psychologists and therapists about this.)

Percyjs

You may not want to hear this, but here's what I did to get rid of my "void".....

For several years after I miscarried, I was depressed and eventually became an alcoholic. I tried all the different types of meds for it and nothing seemed to help. alcohol didnt make it any easier, either. I eventually just stopped. I stopped trying to cover up my saddness. I stopped trying to cover up my grief. I quit pretending I was ok. And my life fell apart. Literally.

BUT, when I was at my lowest, that is when I turned to the only one that I could think of.....GOD. I just gave it all to him. I literally forced myself to stop thinking of my problems all the time and instead, I read my bible, joined church and became a community outreach volunteer, etc. I prayed myself through the days when I didn't even want to get out of bed, much less have to face people....It wasn't easy. Relying on God was the hardest thing I have ever done. But today (several years later) I am completely medicine free, alcohol free and even 30 lbs lighter!! I can't explain it....I don't know how He does it..but I know that He is exceedingly, abundantly ABLE to transform us from the inside out.

I'm not saying that you should ditch your doctors. That would be silly. But maybe....just maybe....if you give God a chance....He may just start to turn everything around for you...maybe not overnight.....but oh boy, did He make me NEW.....
God bless ---xoxxoxoxo percy

zcyuri

I have the same issue. Those cravings are the worst for me. I've always made excuses to justify why i ate after feeling down and drained. Might not the best advice but admitting there's a issue there and finding someone one who you can feel open with can help a bunch. I'm still on a bumpy road, but staying as positive as i can! Sometimes you just have to fight the urge to just stop. Its hard work but when you beat it once, it will get a lot easier. Stay positive!



c:

haleydself

You may not want to hear this, but here's what I did to get rid of my "void".....

For several years after I miscarried, I was depressed and eventually became an alcoholic. I tried all the different types of meds for it and nothing seemed to help. alcohol didnt make it any easier, either. I eventually just stopped. I stopped trying to cover up my saddness. I stopped trying to cover up my grief. I quit pretending I was ok. And my life fell apart. Literally.

BUT, when I was at my lowest, that is when I turned to the only one that I could think of.....GOD. I just gave it all to him. I literally forced myself to stop thinking of my problems all the time and instead, I read my bible, joined church and became a community outreach volunteer, etc. I prayed myself through the days when I didn't even want to get out of bed, much less have to face people....It wasn't easy. Relying on God was the hardest thing I have ever done. But today (several years later) I am completely medicine free, alcohol free and even 30 lbs lighter!! I can't explain it....I don't know how He does it..but I know that He is exceedingly, abundantly ABLE to transform us from the inside out.

I'm not saying that you should ditch your doctors. That would be silly. But maybe....just maybe....if you give God a chance....He may just start to turn everything around for you...maybe not overnight.....but oh boy, did He make me NEW.....
God bless ---xoxxoxoxo percy

Amen to that. I did the same thing!! God is good, and He will take your problems and turn them into blessings. He knows you more than you know yourself! He has helped me through SO MUCH these past few years.. I can't thank Him enough. He is my rock and my comfortor, and as long as I put Him first, everything I need will be given to me.

Drop_it_Like_Its_Hawt

Yeah, I had that issue too. I went to some group therapy for people with eating disorders (which often boiled down to depression at its base), and was prescribed a mild antidepressant to keep me from going too far down into it. The therapy seemed to help a lot more than the medicine did, but that's just my experience. Also, I learned how to meditate when I'm at my most anxious/craving sweets the worst. A fifteen minute sit down and breathing someplace quiet surprisingly managed to quell even my strongest urges, once I finally got the hang of it.

flyingpurplemonkey

I finally realized that for me, it tended to be seasonal. Winters have always been the hardest. Possibly SAD (I never really talked to a professional since realizing the cycle, so I don't know if this is accurate). So I make sure I always take vitamin D, especially in the winter, which seems to help. It is also easier to cope with if I know that it is only temporary and that it will mostly pass in a couple of months at most.

I have no idea if this helps you at all, but this has been what has helped me.

LouiseRose92

You may not want to hear this, but here's what I did to get rid of my "void".....

For several years after I miscarried, I was depressed and eventually became an alcoholic. I tried all the different types of meds for it and nothing seemed to help. alcohol didnt make it any easier, either. I eventually just stopped. I stopped trying to cover up my saddness. I stopped trying to cover up my grief. I quit pretending I was ok. And my life fell apart. Literally.

BUT, when I was at my lowest, that is when I turned to the only one that I could think of.....GOD. I just gave it all to him. I literally forced myself to stop thinking of my problems all the time and instead, I read my bible, joined church and became a community outreach volunteer, etc. I prayed myself through the days when I didn't even want to get out of bed, much less have to face people....It wasn't easy. Relying on God was the hardest thing I have ever done. But today (several years later) I am completely medicine free, alcohol free and even 30 lbs lighter!! I can't explain it....I don't know how He does it..but I know that He is exceedingly, abundantly ABLE to transform us from the inside out.

I'm not saying that you should ditch your doctors. That would be silly. But maybe....just maybe....if you give God a chance....He may just start to turn everything around for you...maybe not overnight.....but oh boy, did He make me NEW.....
God bless ---xoxxoxoxo percy

Amen to that. I did the same thing!! God is good, and He will take your problems and turn them into blessings. He knows you more than you know yourself! He has helped me through SO MUCH these past few years.. I can't thank Him enough. He is my rock and my comfortor, and as long as I put Him first, everything I need will be given to me.

I did the same found myself in a long stay in hospital because of my problems and a couple of the girls were going to Church. I thought, I could give that a try... turned my life around. Haven't been in a while and my problems have been getting worse. Need to get back to Him!

Percyjs

You may not want to hear this, but here's what I did to get rid of my "void".....

For several years after I miscarried, I was depressed and eventually became an alcoholic. I tried all the different types of meds for it and nothing seemed to help. alcohol didnt make it any easier, either. I eventually just stopped. I stopped trying to cover up my saddness. I stopped trying to cover up my grief. I quit pretending I was ok. And my life fell apart. Literally.

BUT, when I was at my lowest, that is when I turned to the only one that I could think of.....GOD. I just gave it all to him. I literally forced myself to stop thinking of my problems all the time and instead, I read my bible, joined church and became a community outreach volunteer, etc. I prayed myself through the days when I didn't even want to get out of bed, much less have to face people....It wasn't easy. Relying on God was the hardest thing I have ever done. But today (several years later) I am completely medicine free, alcohol free and even 30 lbs lighter!! I can't explain it....I don't know how He does it..but I know that He is exceedingly, abundantly ABLE to transform us from the inside out.

I'm not saying that you should ditch your doctors. That would be silly. But maybe....just maybe....if you give God a chance....He may just start to turn everything around for you...maybe not overnight.....but oh boy, did He make me NEW.....
God bless ---xoxxoxoxo percy

Amen to that. I did the same thing!! God is good, and He will take your problems and turn them into blessings. He knows you more than you know yourself! He has helped me through SO MUCH these past few years.. I can't thank Him enough. He is my rock and my comfortor, and as long as I put Him first, everything I need will be given to me.

I did the same found myself in a long stay in hospital because of my problems and a couple of the girls were going to Church. I thought, I could give that a try... turned my life around. Haven't been in a while and my problems have been getting worse. Need to get back to Him!

He is just one breath away. He loves you. He wants you to be whole. You are so very important. You matter so much.

Joethebull

I am currently going in and out of depression at the moment also. Meditation usually helps me when I manage to get myself to do it:laugh: . My depression has been getting a bit worst since I turned thirty.

lydia_the_tattooed_lady

Thanks everybody I have also been thinking about meditation---going to start pilates today! It's been a battle for most of my life...I'm 24 now and I've been wrestling these demons since I was 9. My relationship with God has been complicated (whose isn't?) but I first became a Christian when I was 10 and at a very, very low point. I think at this point in my life, I would like to go to church. However, I need to find a church that fits my views--I am a pretty Liberal-minded person. I am tired of seeing people get excommunicated for being gay, having affairs, and other things. I suppose I really ought to start seeing my psychologist again to start with.

Percyjs

Thanks everybody I have also been thinking about meditation---going to start pilates today! It's been a battle for most of my life...I'm 24 now and I've been wrestling these demons since I was 9. My relationship with God has been complicated (whose isn't?) but I first became a Christian when I was 10 and at a very, very low point. I think at this point in my life, I would like to go to church. However, I need to find a church that fits my views--I am a pretty Liberal-minded person. I am tired of seeing people get excommunicated for being gay, having affairs, and other things. I suppose I really ought to start seeing my psychologist again to start with.

baby, find a church that fits JESUS. read your bible...get to know Him for yourself. You don't have to take other ppl's word for it........then you will be able to find where you fit. xoxoxo --percy

dovek11

Depression is a chemical imbalance. The medical community says so. They give meds to try to alter that imbalance. For some, it works. (for me it did not)

What causes the imbalance in our body to start with? That was always my question. How did my body get so far out of whack that this happened to me.

Yes, I had suffered depression all my life. Even nearly suicidal a couple of times. Most times in my life, I couldn't have mustered the energy or care to even kill myself. I just couldn't have cared less whether I lived or died.
On the 'good' times (which were never that good) I thought, what is WRONG with me? Life isn't THAT bad. Why can't I find joy in it?

I found my answer, by accident, in another illness. As crazy as this sounds, gluten in my diet was what caused the depression. I found I am Celiac so I stopped gluten. The depression lifted and has not made another appearance. I have had some pretty bad things happen in my life since then, and amaze myself that they haven't sent me in a spiral. I can handle what life throws at me, and most importantly, I have found living to be a joy.

Gluten does not just cause this in Celiacs. Do a search and go read a forum of people who know they have a gluten intolerance, and how their depression has ceased from going gluten free. It is almost unbelievable. But when you read 100's of people saying the same things, believe they are not all lying. Its true! Maybe you can believe I am telling you the truth.

I used to say my entire life was like peeking through the crack of a mini blind. Suddenly, the blind was yanked up and I can see out the entire window. My life is now illuminated! Its like night and day! Not a day goes by I do not feel blessed to have finally found the answer. I feel like a new person! Wow... this is what joy is!

Chemical imbalance? Oh yeah! When I stopped eating what was causing the imbalance, things got into balance without drugs. What would you have to lose to try eating gluten free? You might just gain the life you always dreamed of!

lydia_the_tattooed_lady

I'll definitely give it a try!! I have always believed mine was partly caused by circumstances/experiences, partly caused by a chemical imbalance. But I will give a gluten free diet a try