Posted by Cynthia on July 26, 1999, at 22:49:47
In reply to Re: Affirmations, Visualizations and Postive Thinking, posted by anna on July 26, 1999, at 5:56:55
> > I've just finished a self-help course, which I took to help clarify what I want to be doing with my career. The instructors talked alot about saying affirmations to yourself, spending a few minutes each day visualizing how you would like your life to be, and the power of positive thinking. Now, I'm bipolar and have, pretty much, treatment resistant depression that comes and goes like clockwork (sometimes worse or better than other times). Does anyone think that affirmations, visualizations and positive thinking could work for treatment resistant depression, or know of anyone who this has helped or worked for. To me, it seems like so many factors are involved in depression, and that simply doing these simple exercises would not be able to change much. The instructors likened the subconscious mind to a blank slate and that it can be told almost anything.
> >
> > Any experiences with this, or any ideas about it?
> > Thanks in advance
> > Cynthia
>
> Hi Cynthia,
> I think there can be a lot of benefit from affirmations and positive thinking. I Dont think it can cure depression but it can certainly take the 'edge' off it so perhaps you dont go into such a dark hole. I know that when i wake up in the morning and think oh god another day, I can improve how I feel by some positive thinking. I,ve also had success with affirmations ie I am Calm, Happy, Enthusiastic and Confident.
> Relaxation techniques are also beneficial. I learnt all these techniques before I started medications and they definitely helped but, I also did need to go on anti depressants. I must admit if I am in a deep depression, I am too down to even attempt any of these. Some people think that you should be able to only use positive thinking, affirmations and visualisation to get out of depression. I,d say they only have a transitory depression or maybe its not caused by a chemical imbalance or whatever. Each to their own- you can only try but i'd say definitely try cos it certainly doesnt do any harm. Good Luck.
> AnnaThanks Anna,
You articulated what I was feeling (on some level) about these things, but I've had no experience with them. I'm going to give them a try to see if, as you say, they could be one factor of many that could help. Meditation, Yoga, a book called Biorhytms, light therapy and basically taking really good physical care of myself are the only things, outside of medication of course, that I have this far found helpful.I'm hoping maybe one day psychology could help me. God, if only it were as easy as saying affirmations!
thanks for your reply,
Cynthia
poster:Cynthia
thread:9202
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19990726/msgs/9247.html