Oscar K

Welcome new friend to our forum family. Your situation is unique just like everyone else here. I truly believe we are never helpless confronting our mental issues. I am a big believer in the power of clever metaphors. Your downward "spiral" can be reversed upwards and the "light" you don't see is always available if we can metaphorically ignite it. Problems have solutions and that is why we are here for each other. Please stick with yourself and with us. Oscar

Welcome new friend to our forum family. We are not professionals but we do try to help each other. My feeling is that we are never helpless confronting Old Man Depression. My motto: Despair not / Repair a lot. Keep posting and check out other posts for insights. Oscar

If you're not confused and not feeling empty then you're not paying attention. We are all metaphorically EMPTY. The trick is to not WALLOW in the HOLLOW. We are not helpless confronting all our mental issues. I'm not a fan of religion but I'm not smart enough to be an atheist. I can pretend God exists along with many other things in this crazy mixed up world. Hang in there.

I read your post and you have my sympathy. That big fat empty void is a quintessential symptom of depression. The trick is to see the "abyss" as a natural formation / resource. My approach is to metaphorically anchor myself outside my deep, dark, dangerous depression "cave". Throw all your well earned sorrow and regrets into that depression hole. Time to move on. My motto: Despair not / Repair a lot. Oscar

Old Man Depression plays this "empty" trick on our psyches continuously. Every one of us is METAPHORICALLY empty. Obviously not everyone gets lost and trapped within. My approach is to metaphorically anchor myself outside my deep, dark depression "cave". My depression cave ain't going away anytime soon so I may as well put it to use. I always need to remind myself that I'm not helpless confronting mental issues. My motto: Despair not / Repair a lot.

Welcome Darlene. We are here to help. When you are comfortable, tell us about your concerns. We are not professionals but we do care.

Many years ago I came to a realization that depression is a natural formation / resource. I was in a deep, dark place and needed a metaphor to help me. Then it just dawned on me that a cave seemed to be the metaphor that might work. Recently I became aware of the idea that if you can name it then you can tame it. I see metaphors as a way to compare and declare something to be something else when obviously it isn't. Metaphors work by imagining, pretending and make believing. Obviously depression isn't a "cave" but metaphorically it sure is. In nature caves are created by erosion, stress and upheaval. (Sound familiar?) There are more implications of the cave metaphor that I find useful. I give myself permission to take temporary shelter near the ENTRANCE/EXIT of my depression cave but I must avoid long-term residency. A cave is a great place for storage of unwanted, unneeded and even dangerous thoughts. Sometimes I need to drop metaphorical boulders on intrusive memories til they go away. Trying to figure out how a cave was formed doesn't change the cave. My depression ain't going away any time soon so I may as well put it to use. Anyway, I'm always here to discuss the the power of metaphors or as I like to call them: MEDaphors. Oscar

I can only tell you what I have found helpful. I am not a professional in any way. Classic signs of depression are finding yourself metaphorically lost and trapped within. I believe we can metaphorically counteract the debilitating effects of depression. Invoking a metaphor will change brain chemistry ever so slightly. Personally I must keep myself metaphorically anchored outside my depression "cave". Old Man Depression plays the most insidious tricks on our psyches. My thought is to play a few clever tricks right back. My motto: Despair not / Repair a lot. Maybe this can help a little. Oscar

Things may or may not get worse as we age. It all depends on our attitude. We are not helpless confronting mental issues. My motto: Despair not / Repair a lot. Please don't give up on yourself and we won't give up on you. Keep posting and try to smile even if it is a forced one.

Welcome and hey right back. When you are comfortable tell us about your concerns.

Welcome. One trick I try to employ is to drop metaphorical boulders on intrusive thoughts and memories. My motto: Despair not / Repair a lot. Keep posting your concerns and we will try to help.

Welcome new friend to our forum family. We are here to help each other as best we can. I can give you my insight into the nature of depression. I tend to experience depression as a natural formation / resource. When we find ourselves lost and trapped within then Old Man Depression takes over. We all have a vast, dark, empty abyss. The trick is to metaphorically anchor oneself outside the depression "cave". I believe we are never helpless confronting Old Man Depression. My motto: Despair not / Repair a lot. Oscar

Anyone reading my posts know how much I advocate the use of metaphors. A metaphor compares and declares one thing to be something that it really isn't. Every time a metaphor is invoked our imagination is engaged. Our imagination changes brain chemistry ever so slightly. Personally I must somehow keep myself metaphorically anchored outside of my deep, dark metaphorical cave. I experience depression as a natural formation / resource. The ongoing, perpetual tension between our inner secret landscape and the oppressive obligations of the "real" world is the exciting and scary adventure of our lifetimes. We try here to remind each other to stay positive and keep that chin up. Oscar

There is never a need to torture yourself. You invoked the "dark place" metaphor so my approach is to counteract the metaphorical darkness with metaphorical light. Perhaps it is time to declare a temporary truce with yourself with the goal of a permanent peace treaty. Invoking a metaphor changes our brain chemistry ever so slightly. We all have unlimited access to clever and powerful metaphors or as I like to call them: CLEVERFUL MEDaphors. Maybe this can help a little.

Welcome new friend to our forum family. This is a great place to vent your concerns here. We really try to help each other as best we can. Keep posting and check out other posts for helpful advice and insights. We are never helpless confronting Old Man Depression.