*marks for later*

[kyburg]

If you find that your life is nothing but sorrow, misery, anger, angst and joylessness; if you feel that other human beings are fundamentally bad and cannot be trusted and that life is a cruelty to be endured, this is a sign that what you're giving the world nothing but sorrow, anger, misery and angst. You are reaping your own harvest.

She's delightful, and worth reading often.

Also - if you're inclined to notice, any belief system that works ambitiously to convert people to its mode of thinking - has this at its core. (They also often shroud themselves in protections, threats and 'shun the unbeliever' in attempts to define themselves as separate from others. The last laugh is that just about all of them are more alike than not, even down to the denials to the contrary.)

So - instead of being threatened with retribution in the afterlife, you might just try this out because it makes sense. ^_^

And no...it's not easy, fun or provides immediate relief.

Comments

[n6vfp.livejournal.com]

Ah, the afterlife. My brief peek at this realm was so pleasant that I fear not.

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

Most of the people who have had NDE's relate much the same. Cliff had his, was much the same...and then a pharmaceutical accident after the last amputation (starting having seizures because Dilantin levels were too low. Attending mistook it for a narcotic overdose and Narcan'ed a post-op AKA patient. I don't talk about it often), he was afraid dying was going to be that painful.

When I found out that nobody had told him...and told him more than once if it hadn't sunk it (stroke patients are like that)...I was less than amused.

And I got to tell him what happened. I did that more often than I like to admit.

I can only hope the real thing was all it was promised to be in his NDE.

3 Rules

[grammom.livejournal.com]

Thank you for pointing me to her. Most certainly we all need to be reminded. I am 71 years old and have tried to live these rules ever since I can remember. My Gramma Adeline passed them to me before she left when I was almost 4. There are still times when I hear her voice reminding me.

I appreciate your efforts to keep us on our toes. Thank you.

June

[feyandstrange.livejournal.com]

...those are good rules for folks who are otherwise doing okay. But handing that (excerpt especially) to a clinically depressed person is asking for a suicide note in return.

[bigbigtruck.livejournal.com]

Or to anyone with an "I am never good enough" complex.

[rhicat.livejournal.com]

Agreed.

I heard a commercial for some religous group that went something like this:
"What's the difference between religon and psychiatry? Psychiatry tells you that you are free to do anything. You're free to throw yourself off a bridge. Religion tells you that there will be consequences".

Then it went on to something similar like the in the OP. That if all you think about is negativity then that is all you'll get in life and try thinking positive (and of course, praying).

I flipped my lid and wrote a polite letter of outrage to the radio station since there was not usual disclaimer of "this message does not represent the views of this station yadda yadda".

Now while I agree that trying to think about things a little more cheerful sometimes is a good idea, thinking everything is sunshine and lollipops 24/7 is not going to solve all your problems.

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

*raises hand* First diagnosis at age 8. Second one at age 18. Third at age 27. Each time, I was coddled, cosseted, sent to therapy once a week until symptoms abated...and I was back on the couch in crisis within ten years.

Until someone handed me much the same as above...and made me responsible for my own happiness.

It was the only thing that worked - and proof, I think today that my depression was never chemical in origin. Well, not chemical enough, I guess.

I was offered everything new thing in the book - you can well imagine how the choices have differed over the years. ^_^

Looking at things and realizing I really WAS in charge was an incredible day. Wow - I'm 46, coming up on 47. That's almost twenty years without symptoms of any kind -

It's the only thing that's worked. *shrug* All I gotta say is your mileage may vary.

[feyandstrange.livejournal.com]

I'm all for taking charge of one's life, believe me. But for me? Solidly chemical. I got more sticks than carrots and coddling, but nothing worked. I had a dream job, a wonderful partner, everything was coming together, and I really thought I had control of my life and a reasonable amount of happiness.

Which didn't explain why I was on the express train tracks during rush hour. I'd been able to blame circumstances for most of my life, so it wasn't until I was nearly thirty that I really cooperated with treatment - but more importantly, I got meds. And suddenly, I really was driving, and not constantly wrestling the wheel back from the stuff in my head that wouldn't let me be happy. You know diabetics - no amount of therapy and cajolery will fix a mood swing problem caused by blood sugar. Mine was like that.

And for people who really can't take the wheel of their own lives because chemical imbalances are driving, being told that they're responsible for the child the car ran over when they are, so far from being in the driver's seat, stuffed in the trunk...

Yeah, lots of people do just need to take some damn responsibility, it's true. But I've seen a lot of people try their damndest and fail because an invisible health issue or brain deficit was crippling them. Handing them a Protestant work ethic that says they're evil for failing is just wrong - and makes depression worse.

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

You know, I'd be satisfied if the people making themselves miserable (and everyone around them) would realize that was wrong and walk themselves into a trained professional's office, and if they needed meds - they got them, used them properly and took responsibility for their own care. That's all the 'work ethic' I'd ask for.

And if they didn't get what they needed there, another one. *raises hand* Done that too.