Absolutely unbelievable, Therese. I’m with you, I’d be going ga-ga (and not the lady). Thank God your Whine Whine Whine isn’t Wine Wine Wine. Our external environment is such a big factor in our depression and anxiety, isn’t it? How ’bout this…we had a mild earthquake around 4a today in Chicagoland. A neighbor, who leans toward the anxious, texted me asking if I’d felt it. I hadn’t, by the way. Moments later he texted asking if I’d make sure he closed his garage door when he left for work this morning. Is that a fit, or what? Now, I’m doing E.R. psych crisis today/tomorrow from 4p-4a, and I’m betting that between the earthquake and the 7 or 8 inches of snow we’ve had over the past 36 hours, business will be booming. It’s a wonderful life…

Hi Therese!
Making phone appointments is a great idea. I learned that trick from my daughter’s voice instructor. I haven’t needed it yet, but I fully plan on doing it next time I’m stuck in traffic and late for a session.
“Use the exercise bike while I listen to the soundtrack of “Rocky.””
Haha! By far my favorite in your list.
Hang in there. Apparently, weather isn’t climate and cooling means warming and white is black, etc. So you should be seeing sunny weather soon.
Douglas
http://TheSplinteredMind.blogspot.com

Great blog. Being creative, allowing for downtime and treating ourselves right is what we all strive for and who doesn’t get energized by listening to the theme from Rocky! My friend was just diagnosed with bipolar disorder and I’ve been trying to understand what life is like for her so I picked up a book called “bipolar bare”. It’s the memoir of a man who has lived through the highs and lows but considers the disorder a blessing from God.
http://www.bipolarbarebook.com/about-the-book

(Bill, I live in the Chicagoland area as well, near where the center of the earthquake was. I didn’t feel it either.)
Therese, thank you so much for this post. I can’t even imagine how stir-crazy you’re getting at home! (My aunt and uncle live near the Baltimore area and said they’ve gotten hammered with snow and ice–unbelievable!) I despise snow and cold weather, so I feel your pain. I’m glad that you were able to stop and think of ways to push through it all, though. I’m at a rough spot in my life right now, as well, though more towards relapse. I know that I have plenty of useful tools in my toolbox, but it’s difficult to grab onto them when your mind is clouded by depression. Your video was very encouraging and helpful. I really enjoy listening to your words of wisdom as you reflect on your own experiences. Thank you! I, too, am dealing with physical pain as I’ve been battling migraine-like headaches for some time now. Talking with my counselor, it’s evident that the physical pain is exacerbating the depression. It’s tough trying to deal with depression alone and the emotional pain it causes, let alone adding physical pain to the pile. But, God IS Good. He won’t waste our pain. One thing that’s been really helpful for me is reminding myself of that, as well as holding onto the truth that He is always with me–even when I can’t see him or feel him.

I’m new to you as an author and new to Beliefnet.com, but I’m making up for lost time in leaps and bounds while I’m home on sick leave from my job and trying desperately to avoid the “black hole” that you write and talk about.
I’m 33, female and have been diagnosed with depression and anxiety disorders since around the age of 20. It’s so revealing to think of all that we learn and how far we have come in many instances, but then when certain things happen (as life tends to do…) – minutes feel like lifetimes and my thoughts tend to paralyze me while at the same time I feel my emotions about to erupt in chaos on the inside. I have doctors, therapist, coping tools, animals, journaling, my art… so many things to help me weather some of these rough patches, but when you were talking about the ice storm and trouble with your hip I could totally relate.
This is the first time that I really, really fear falling into the “black hole”. The fear of being “back in certain times” of my disease are crippling. I’m afraid and fearful of what lies ahead but happy that I try. That’s my mantra…. to try (among many, many others…lol) I’m happy that I also talk and write about these things. I hope to gain knowledge and maybe one day help someone that can relate with some of my thoughts – just like I can relate to SO much of what you video blog and blog about!
This is my rambling way of telling you that you are a bright shiny distraction from my obsessive worry thoughts and I’m so incredibly grateful to have stumbled upon your book while aimlessly roaming Barnes & Noble!!
Thanks for your courage to share and please continue to swim and tell us about your journey!!

I’m right there with you on the snow thing as I’m in eastern PA. I am so thankful for my neighbor, Kevin, as he uses his snow blower on my property as we have well over 1/2 block of sidewalk. Not to mention shoveling out the fire hydrant that gets plowed in, God forbid anyone’s house should catch fire. I am so looking forward to 85 and sunny and yoga on my deck again. Hang in there everyone. Oh, this is the first I’m hearing about an earthquake in Chicagoland! Peace to all of you.

I live in Hunt Valley, MD and we can top this! We HAD three feet of snow before this past storm, now we clearly have five or more feet of snow on the ground. My husband, son and I live at the bottom of a 250 foot driveway, and we are blessed that a service does come to plow us out when it snows automatically, so there is no need to track down someone and get them to come. We have been in the house since last Thursday… a week. I got out once to go to Wegman’s for a few things… but doubt I will be out again before Saturday, if then. My blessings are the joy of sharing my life with two of the people I love most, and the true BEAUTY of nature. My most important task is to shovel a path from the kitchen door to my bird feeder, the birdies are so dependent on my feeder since I’ve fed them all winter… and looking at how many beautiful birds come to my window, from brilliantly red cardinals to stunning blue jays, and all sizes in between. I find some sanity in having everyone ‘accounted for’ and safe here in the four walls of my home. Hang in there if you are struggling, and listen to music to lift your mood, look at comedies on tv and cable, for heaven’s sake, EAT if you want to, just don’t go overboard, and try to see the good in all of this. People do not know how to be in their own skin, sometimes it’s good to be forced to slow down and be mindful…

Hi Therese — I have been in a cozy hotel room in D.C. for days during this crazy snow event, and have been reading your new book on my Kindle and journaling about my own mental health. Being snowed in has been an opportunity to do research I’ve been wanting to do for a long time — my meds don’t seem to control my symptoms and I’m wondering if I need a new diagnosis. I want a better quality to my days! Reading “Beyond Blue” has been so supportive for me. It has helped give a good direction to my journaling as I am trying to formulate my own plan to move ahead and figure out how to get some top notch medical care.
Thanks for writing so frankly because it is LIBERATING to this reader. I don’t have to be so worried about what my diagnosis may be called for fear it will mean I’m more crazy (you know, “just depressed” doesn’t sound as nutty as “bipolar” for example). I just want to feel better, and finding a good diagnostician is what I need to do now in order to try meds which may be more appropriate for me.
Thanks for keeping me company during the Blizzard of 2010!

Good luck! Remind me not to move anywhere it snows like that!
And I LOVE that you plan holidays! I find it’s both something soothing, and really indicative of my moods when I do that. The amount of times my partner has come home to me saying ‘I want to go to Fiji/the beach/London/Sydney and here are the flights we could leave on TOMORROW!’ Even though those big plans won’t pan out for our budget, I’m making the effort for more weekend and day trips, and I like having those ideas in my head. That I have to stay upbeat and work hard so I can make it to Istanbul, to Florence, to New York. Someday

I agree with you whole heartly, and can add some other poorer tips for those of us who can not work, earn a living, and still need a check list of things to get our moods up. Like I do every day that is raiy.
First: Knowing my financial statis ahead, of what I can create out of nothing is a start.
second: Doing breathing Exercises while on the Computer, answering e-mails, and waiding through endless e-mails that need shortening. Pressing Delete is my favorite Task in the first place.
Third: Using some form of Yoga, stretches, disguised as a normal task all day long, helps the mood. Since I have no more knees because I am overweight, and over 56 years, and considered a senior citezen. I do stretches while picking things off the floor, and exadureate the stretch as I do it.
Fouth: Using Music, or Games to lift my moods. Have fun!

I have lived in VA for more than 40 years (escaping the Chicago winds/snow), only to find myself with cabin fever after 3 BIG snows!! There has NEVER been a winter like this one here. But – I have my “angel” stories. I stupidly tried to go UP an unplowed short-cut near my home, and got hopelessly stuck. I spun my wheels for 10 minutes ALONE, when a middle-aged neighbor saw my predicament. He soon reappeared with a snow shovel; by that time, two young men drove by at the top of the short road, and they had shovels, too. Well, to make a long story short (it took 45 minutes!), by rocking back and forth with the car, and by shoveling 3 feet of a snow bank that I had slid into, I was suddenly FREED!! These three “angels” wouldn’t accept any money, and wished me well on my way. Without the help of our fellow man – even WITHOUT a “Snowmageddon,” no man is an island. These three men reinforced my faith in my fellow man (as well as in God!), and I made it in time for my appointment. I just have to remember that not ALL streets are cleared after a hellacious snowstorm!! Keep the faith, Therese; better days are coming – and this too, shall pass…

Yes I’m near Frederick MD and have about 5ft of snow after yesterday. I need an Rx that I have to pick up from my Dr due to the nature of it and they have been CLOSED! ack!
Only got out of the house Tues after they plowed our road one time the whole time it had snowed (about 3 feet). Then it snowed again and didn’t get plowed until yesterday.
I’m from western Canada and have never seen snow like this since I lived in the Northern part of BC. Don’t get snow in Vancouver or rarely. Even when we do get snow in the parts that do get snow, they have lots of snow removal equipment. I tried to find a snow blower to buy but of course everyone is sold out. No wonder I feel like this.
Tried to go walk but the stuff is waist high on me!
Sunny out now so I hope this stuff melts fast!

Therese I loved the video you posted here. It really hits home. Its never easy what we go through and only those whoexperience it can understand. Thank you for the good work that you do.