Escapism

[Michaellarsen]

When an individual suffers from depression, they are forced to act in 1 of 3 ways.

1. They can give up and let depressions grip pull them into complete desolation,

2. They can seek out help and take steps in order to loosen depressions grip,

3. Or they can escape from reality whether it be through drugs, books, tv, oversleep, etc.. They put up a smokescreen between themselves and depression. As it is, things aren’t so scary or daunting when you can’t see them.

As someone with depression, in the past I resorted to drugs as an escape from reality. Recently I’ve taken up reading for what I thought was an acceptable reason but I’ve noticed that I’ll often blow off things that have to be done in the real world so that I can read for a little longer. I’ll spend upwards of 6-8 hours a day reading just so I can go on imaginary adventures in impossible realities. While #1 of the aforementioned list is not an option and #3 has become somewhat of an addiction, I still can’t find the motivation or the will to lay down my dignity and ask for help within my family or from a therapist. I’m not asking for anyone’s pity or anything, I just thought it might be valuable to show people that escapism is like putting a bandaid on a gunshot wound, you can’t see the wound anymore but it’s not going to fix the problem.

[gerg]

That’s the truth!

Now you need some skills to help you get to where you want to be. I started to read everything I could about my anxiety and depression issues. Using an asset to address a problem. Educating myself gave me the chance to change. I first had to learn what emotion was, that is how hopeless I was. You can’t fix sad if you’re trying to fix mad, that type of thing. I took information from a lot of books and applied it in my own way, the “experts” got their information from these books too. Change of perspective is the most powerful tool l learned. I dispute the irrational things and edit the story to serve myself.

I hope that this helps, it sounds like mumble jumble to most, but it works for me and it surprises the “experts”.

[Starrlight in reply to gerg]

Working on changing my perspective, any tips? I try to find beauty in people and nature and events in each day and be grateful for what doesn’t seem like it’s falling apart.

[BabygirlCynt in reply to Starrlight]

Don't sit in the dark if the sun is shining. Open curtains, blinds, let the world in just a little. Plus I hear sunshine is good for you

[Michaellarsen in reply to BabygirlCynt]

At a standstill with how bad I feel

I think I need to smell fresh air

So I stepped out the back door and fell down the stairs

The sunlight hit me dead in the eye

Like it's mad that I gave half the day to last night

My bad sight made me trip on my ass, right into that patch of grass like that's life

All of a sudden, I realize something

The weather is amazing, even the birds are bumpin

Stood up and took a look and a breath

And there's that bike that I forgot that I possessed

Never really seen exercise as friendly

But I think something's telling me to ride that 10 speed

The brakes are broken, it's alright

The tires got air and the chain seems tight

Hopped on and felt the summertime

It reminds me of one of them Musab lines like

Sunshine, sunshine, it's fine

I feel it in my skin, warming up my mind

Sometimes you gotta give in to win

I love the days when it shines, whoah let it shine

Sunshine, sunshine, it's fine

I feel it in my skin, warming up my mind

Sometimes you gotta give in to win

I love the days when it shines, whoah let it shine

[BabygirlCynt in reply to Michaellarsen]

Thank you for sharing. Nice poem 😁

[Michaellarsen in reply to BabygirlCynt]

It’s part of a song by atmosphere

[BabygirlCynt in reply to Michaellarsen]

Geez. I'm that out of touch it seems. Seems like music I'd listen to. But I've never even heard of Atmosphere

[Michaellarsen in reply to BabygirlCynt]

He’s not very well known; part of the underground hip hop scene.

[BabygirlCynt in reply to Michaellarsen]

I used to listen to a lot of underground but mostly local stuff. Not so much anymore

[gerg]

Perspectives are how we view things.

If I lose a game “I always lose” to “I’ll get them next time, I know I can win”.

That’s a pretty basic example, but the same can be done for all of our negative thoughts. One thought at a time, not a general philosophy.

More later