Passion is the biggest enemy of depression

[coffeedude22]

Thanks for the post and quote Rafterman, as for so many others that get one in a positive state of mind. I've often realized during DBT that it's hardest to really get that passion going in the wintertime months without having a routine and a small set of goals. "Keep it simple, silly" and cultivating the willingness to engage your passions always seems so important.

[Naomi]

Thanks RM. I'm really hoping to get better at mindfulness. I do most anything to avoid being in the moment with my thoughts and feelings, so being forced to is difficult. I know it will be good for me to overcome that aversion. Thank you for your continued support!

[Rafterman]

Thanks RM. I'm really hoping to get better at mindfulness. I do most anything to avoid being in the moment with my thoughts and feelings, so being forced to is difficult. I know it will be good for me to overcome that aversion. Thank you for your continued support!

You are very welcome, Naomi. I hope that you will keep me/us up to date on your progress. I remain excited for you and very hopeful. I am so glad that you are doing it.  RM

[Naomi]

FF - I'm so glad you have the March trip to look forward to. I find that having something like that to look forward to helps me get through life in the mean time. It's not a permanent solution of course, but it's great in the short term.

[Rafterman]

Naomi, You are correct that having something to look forward to makes the work-days more productive and go by faster as you day-dream about your next adventure. At the new farm he pays me well and I told him that one week of paid vacation does not work for me and I will need to take some un-paid leave as the Holidays do not provide enough time with family and friends making memories which I believe constitute the only true wealth in the world. Take Care-FF

So true, and so well stated, my good friend.

[Naomi]

Naomi, You are correct that having something to look forward to makes the work-days more productive and go by faster as you day-dream about your next adventure. At the new farm he pays me well and I told him that one week of paid vacation does not work for me and I will need to take some un-paid leave as the Holidays do not provide enough time with family and friends making memories which I believe constitute the only true wealth in the world. Take Care-FF

One week is definitely not enough time to have a healthy work/life balance. I'm glad you have friends and family to spend time with and make memories with. That's something special that not everyone has. Stay well!

[Furyan66]

What are you passionate about? What is it that you wake up for every day? Every one of us has something that drives our lives. We may not even be aware of what it is, or we may be very aware. There is something that gives each of us a sense of purpose and makes us want to be alive. It is different for everyone. We should all try to focus in on, and identify, our passions. Scrutinize each one of them. Are they constructive in nature? Are they harmful to us? Weed out the bad ones and keep the good.  Then embrace, exploit, and expand the ones which you are left with. Know that a sense of purpose (and passion) is the enemy of depression. A person of passion is on a mission. Keep your eyes on your passions and enjoy satisfying them. Don't be afraid to let others know what you are passionate about. Sharing those details make others more likely to embrace their own passions. And nothing is too "unusual". There are no right or wrong answers. Its about feeling. Its about personal preference.

Allow me to go first. I must say that my passions are fairly pedestrian, but they are what keep me going. I'll list three, of many.

1. My wife. I have been with my wife for 40 years now. I can't even imagine what we would do without each other. We are as one. I am completely emotionally over-invested in her and loving every minute of it.

2. Animals. I am an extreme animal lover. I mean completely over the top. I love animals at a higher level than most people love people. Their loyalty, goodness, beauty, and selflessness. Everything about them. I could not live in this world if animals did not exist in it.

3. Music. Music has been my companion, my confidant and my counselor since childhood. It has the distinction of being both a diversion from the rigors of life, while simultaneously being an indulgence in life itself. Nothing else quite like it.


Does anyone care to go next? What is it that keeps you going?  Thanks, everyone.

Greetings All..

RM great thread. Without my passions my PTSD would have probably put me in the grave already...

#1 - My Family especially my daughter even though I am divorced and she lives about 350 miles from me. She just turned 19 and is the main thing I wake up for every day..

#2 - My Girlfriend and helping her out with the difficult times she is having after her son passed away last October.

#3 - MUSIC, for without I would not be able to keep my PTSD in check. Nothing better than getting in my car when feeling stressed, crank up the tunes and take a cruze down LSD...

Peace All

Fury

[thegreaseman]

I'm very happy to have stumbled upon this thread. I struggle greatly with this. Many suicidal thoughts actually begin when I start ruminating on the sort of aimless existence that I carry out. I ended up in a psych ward and talked to maybe 20something different nurses, doctors, and social workers, and specialists. Every single one of them asked me what I do as a hobby. I literally couldn't give them answers. I don't do anything most days. I go to work, come home, stare at walls, walk around my house, go on the internet, go to bed. I think that I used to have passions but at the same time I don't know if they were real. Just lately I've been trying to discover new things but it takes a serious amount of effort, and most of the time I'm just not into it. Yes passion is the greatest enemy of depression and my depression definitely defeated my passion, if there was any there at all in the first place.

[Charon]

thank u for sharing. i don't think every person realizes that our being depressed and not focused, can often lead to serious depression and thoughts of suicide.

so, greaseman, what do u have planned for tomorrow? even today. I was wealthy. Had a home or two. Family. Now i am permanently disabled with illnesses that have no hope of recovery. But i won't try suicide, again. I felt a clear and concise message inside me that i could try, but God would guarantee that i would live and be much worse for the wear. (many many many yrs ago.)
And, i believe that.

You can start so small. Make a post to someone whom is very depressed today. Or visit a neighbor to see if he or she needs groceries. Little mercies.

You have time and if encouraged, u can deal with this with more clarity. One feels much better about their own life when one spends their time helping others whenever possible.

Make yourself anew. Decide whom u want to be now. Reach out to grab a new passion.

But, never give up. You were put on earth for a reason. Only you can stumble thru the dark and grey and find your purpose of being here.

My son was driven to succeed in the work place. Was very depressed he was alone. All his friends and cousins were marrying. He met her at his workplace. His new wife.

You like thinking. That is a hobby. And, maybe u can write. Or play music. Or take opera lessons as me parents did when they hit their sixties.

One can also do animal rescue. One signs up with a group whom pays the pet food and vet bills. You provide the love and help to an animal so he can be adopted out to help another.

I think there is far more to you than u r letting on. You are here for a purpose. You will find it.

[blandy]

What an excellent post it's so easy to forget this when wrapped up in all the unimportant things in life here's Mine.

1. My 2yo Son everyday he amazes me a little more as he sees things new in the world for the first time
2. My Wife equally as much as my son without her I don't think id be here today
3. Music listening to and playing composing etc..
4. trying to make others smile by small acts of kindness a great feeling when you can help someone out with a small gesture.

I will be thinking about this thread more now I've read it and rediscover My other passions

Thankyou