What has helped you most?

[mdmc]

In recovering from mental illness, what has helped you the most? Is it something unique to your situation or is it something that can be replicated to help others?

[mdmc]

1. Two things stand out in my mind...

1. Working on improving my relationship with my father. He always made me feel like shit growing up and has always made me feel like I will always be a failure. I am not sure how I improved this relationship, or if it is as good as it gets. But that was one thing that has helped.

2. I once tried pure LSD. At one time during the trip I was laughing so hard with some friends that something just clicked. It was as if the world was in love with me, and that the cosmos was saying everythings gonna be alright. I think part of my depression stems from my knowledge that everything becomes sick, pained, and eventually dies. This LSD trip countered that - true all life will be pain and death. But there can be happiness thrown in there as well. Cherish (the cabin - from Seinfeld) life and the happy times.

[Forkboy]

2. Music

No doubt about it to me. It's been part of my life since I started using my allowance at 6 years old to buy Kiss records. No matter what has gone down in my life the one constant has been music. People have come and gone, but the music is always there. I have music for any mood I'm in, be it happy, sad, angry, or just feeling nothing at all (some cool stoner doom always works for those times...something about the heaviness and 'shoegaze' aspect of it just clicks).

I rarely go a day without playing at least one thing, and usually it's music for a few hours, at least. I'm listening to some right now even! :)

[mopinko]

3. my ipod saved my from the bush administration.

i was a big music fan as a kid, but as an adult, not so much. but getting an ipod, with real headphones, just really helped my to turn off the constant anger and angst that this world full of bad news was causing.

[Forkboy]

10. I listen to a lot of aggressive stuff.

And there's no doubt that it works as a total release for my own anger, what little is left now that I'm older. Before I got into that kind of stuff I was always fighting and sticking my nose into trouble. I think most people expect that to go the other way around, that listening to aggressive music would make me more aggressive, not less. I listen to some of the most hateful stuff out there, but I don't actually hate anyone, even Bush and people like that (I pity them more than anything).

Music is a great release or escape from all kinds of things.

[spiritual_gunfighter]

13. Definitely music

Music is a great release and I am like you I listen to really heavy stuff. Death metal, Black metal, hardcore etc. But it always makes me feel good, never hateful.

[Forkboy]

14. I'm not sure what this says about people like us.

I'm not sure listening to Carcass is supposed to make us smile. :)

[spiritual_gunfighter]

16. Reek of Putrification definitely makes me smile

[amyrose2712]

4. YES! Music has gotten me through..

just about every rough time in my life. If I think back to ANY part of my life(good and bad), there was and always is a soundtrack behind it. Also, my family has been a huge support.

[mdmc]

6. I once received the lp Hotter then Hell in my Easter egg basket

back in the day. From my parents. I was a big KISS fan in second, seventh, and eighth grades.

[Forkboy]

9. Hotter Than Hell was the first album I bought on my own.

My Aunt was going to get it for me until she saw the half naked woman on the back cover. :)

[qb]

5. Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy...

and a therapist willing to push me to do the work rather than ask me how I feel about everything.

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

7. Two things

1) My religion. It reminds me that at least one person out there doesn't think I'm a sack of crap.

2) My writing. If I didn't write I think I would have lost whatever grasp on reality I have.

[redqueen]

8. Finding one supportive friend whom I feel I can trust.

I had that trust shaken a while back and it's been pretty rough going since then.

[Forkboy]

15. That can be a tall order.

I'm lucky that I have a couple of people that I feel I can trust, but it's still not easy, and I still never tell either of them everything. It's hard trusting people. Hell, I don't even trust myself. :)

[redqueen]

17. I never even knew what trust was before.

I just hadn't ever experienced it... I never trusted anyone before. And since that one incident, I don't quite trust him anymore, but I do trust him more than anyone else in the world... and that is still something like a life preserver.

And no, I don't trust myself either... don't consider myself worthy of it.

[Forkboy]

18. I think we're both worthy of trusting ourselves.

It's not a matter of being worthy, it's matter of knowing, at least in my case, that my bipolar disorder can lead to perceptions that aren't necessarily based in truth. When I'm depressed on top of that (which thankfully hasn't been lately) my judgment and perceptions are even worse. I feel I'm worthy of trusting myself, I just can't bring myself to do it.

[redqueen]

19. Well I flat-out hate msyelf.

So I don't see it that way.

[Forkboy]

24. I'm sorry.

I can only go by what I see of you here on DU, and I don't see a bad person.

[blue neen]

11. Plain and simple. Good medication.

All the therapy in the world wasn't going to help me until the brain chemicals got what they truly needed.

Just like a diabetic needs insulin, I needed the right anti-depressant...and after MANY tries, we finally got it right. Thank God.

[spiritual_gunfighter]

12. Both

Intensive therapy and medication. Only when I accepted that both are equally important did my chronic symptoms improve. I wouldnt trade either of them for anything.

[MrMonk]

20. Laying back and listening to classical music gets me through rough patches

Cognitive therapy over the long term and medication to keep me level enough to get benefit from it.

[EFerrari]

21. Hey, MrMonk. Music sure does seem to cut through the cr@P

sometimes. I love classical music and Cuban music. For some reason, the world gets a little better for me when I'm listening.

And :thumbsup: on your list. :)

[Lorien]

22. This:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=276&topic_id=1649&mesg_id=1649

[Versailles]

23. What works for me...

Writing. Poetry has always been my outlet, but just writing anything can help keep the mind occupied.

The other savior for me was World of Warcraft. Escapism from reality for a few hours at a time. :)

[no name no slogan]

25. Changing my lifestyle

I quit drinking. I am not an alcoholic in the DSM IV way, but I like to drink-- a lot. Especially when I'm heading toward manic or rapid cycling.

I also started exercising. Not a whole lot, just 1/2 hour a day on the bike seems to do it. I have more energy and don't have to rely on drugs (prescription or otherwise) for energy.

I changed my diet. I try to eat healthier and stay away from processed and fried foods.

I also changed my social situation. I moved away from bad influences, and stopped seeing people who were bad for my mental health.

I'm still not completely recovered from my misadventures of the past few years (two hospitalizations in 2007), but things are very slowly getting better.

[fizzgig]

26. my meds and my family and friends

it's not pretty when i'm not on my meds. last time i went off them i wound up in the psych ward for three days. after that i've been vigilant about staying on my meds, but i don't know that it would be as effective if i didn't have such a fantastic support network.

[martymar64]

27. Nothing

I've tried medication and therapy and nothing has helped. My only emotions left are anger and despair and loneliness.

I give up on ever being happy or even something in that direction. I've lost this game and I'm ready to throw in the towel.

[Odin2005]

28. Music, Meditation, Meds.

Music: Classical and Jazz

Meditation: 30 minutes of Mindfulness and Loving-Kindness meditations twice a day

Meds: 30mg Paxil, 36mg Concerta.

[Mnemosyne]

29. Friends, weed and repeatedly telling myself; it's only

chemicals fucking with my brain. Meds almost killed me, literally, now take only Cymbalta.

mixed severe bipolar, misdiagnosed until age 41.

:hi:

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

30. Meds, talk therapy and journaling.