Oscar K

Old Man Depression (Name it / Tame it) does lie to us bigly. We all have a vast metaphorical cave within. The trick is to put the emptiness to use and not get lost and trapped inside ourselves. My approach is to invoke clever and powerful metaphors to counteract the debilitating effects of depression. Clever and powerful metaphors become: CLEVERFUL MEDaphors. We are never helpless confronting Old Man Depression. Oscar

Welcome new friend. Many members here have similar problems. Many people climb Mt. Everest. Depression does play some awful tricks on our psyches. My approach is to counteract the debilitating effects of depression with clever metaphors. Are you in charge of your hygiene or is Old Man Depression? You can pretend you're the greatest mountain climber/ shower taker the world has ever seen. Chances are you will probably and maybe feel better after your heroic trip up and down Mt. . Keep posting your concerns and you will find it to be very cathartic. Oscar

Okay the time has come to understand metaphors. Your circular train ride is...... you guessed it : METAPHORICAL. Metaphors only exist when we imagine, pretend and make believe them into existence. I have found depression to be a natural formation / resource. You can metaphorically dismantle your train and pull up all the tracks to nowhere. You can metaphorically anchor yourself outside a depression "cave". The point is we are never helpless confronting Old Man Depression. We can play the most clever and powerful tricks with our unlimited supply of MEDaphors. By the way I believe the only possible way to understand impossible quantum physics is with metaphors. Oscar

I whole heartedly agree we should snatch joy every chance we can. No need for anyone to be perpetually miserable. We are all potentially empty and depression prone. The trick is to not wallow in the hollow.

Don't give up on yourself. I have found the best way to help myself is to try to help others. We are here for you and anyone who needs encouragement. Chin up!

Maybe we can't think positive all the time but we can apply the brakes to excessive negativity. Sometimes we need to declare a temporary truce with ourselves with the goal of an eventual peace treaty. Our troubled pasts are gone and should be consigned to secure storage. Old Man Depression plays the most awful duping tricks on our psyches so my feeling is we should play some clever duping tricks right back. MEDaphors change the brain chemistry ever so slightly. Maybe it's time for you to become a "SUPER DUPER" to Old Man Depression. I'm positive you can do it. Oscar

I am happy to help if I can. I think you will find it is very cathartic to post your concerns here. The important thing to understand about metaphors is that they only exist when we imagine, pretend and make believe them into existence. Obviously depression isn't a cave but metaphorically it sure does seem like it. The cave metaphor has been helpful for me because of the useful implications. In nature a cave is formed by erosion, stress and upheaval. (Sound familiar?) Every cave is unique but the safety precautions aren't. I must remind myself to never go too deep and lose sight of the EXIT/ENTRANCE. I give myself permission to take temporary shelter but I must avoid long term residence. My depression cave has deep pits which I find useful to bury harmful and useless thoughts and memories. Sometimes I need to drop metaphorical boulders on bad thoughts till they stop intruding. Always remember that your leaky boat is metaphorical and you are the captain who can make your boat ship shape with the power of clever metaphors. Clever and powerful metaphors for me become: CLEVERFUL MEDaphors. Don't let Old Man Depression ruin your future. Keep posting and check out other posts. You are not alone here. Oscar

Welcome friend. I won't pretend to understand your private hell but I do recognize your distress and your need for help. We are not professionals here but we do try to help each other as best we can. My experience with the hell of depression revealed to me that it is a natural formation / resource. We all have a vast metaphorical "cave" within. When we get lost and trapped inside this cave, Old Man Depression takes over. The cave we always be there but we can "anchor" ourselves outside and keep our back turned away from the ENTRANCE / EXIT . We are never helpless confronting Old Man Depression. My motto: Despair not / Repair a lot. Please stick with us and yourself. Oscar

I would just make a comment about your "head fog". In nature fog will lift when sunshine burns thru it. Perhaps you are telling yourself the metaphorical head fog needs metaphorical fog burning . We are never helpless confronting Old Man Depression. Maybe this can help a little.

Very sorry to read about your situation. I can't comment on the antidepressants but I will say that we are never helpless confronting Old Man Depression. If there is a way into that funk then there must be a way out and I don't mean the self harm way. Old Man Depression plays the most awful tricks on our psyches so my feeling is we should play a few clever tricks right back. That funk might be always there but you really could metaphorically turn your back on it and face the light with a sly smile on your beautiful face. Anyway maybe this could help a little. Oscar

You are very welcome. This forum is a great resource for support and meaningful insights. Make yourself at home.

Welcome N.J. lady to our forum family. We are here to help. Our goal is to not leave anyone behind in their depression "cave" . We are never helpless confronting depression and anxiety issues. Post your concerns when you feel comfortable. Oscar

Very sorry to read about your misery. Somehow there is a part of you that knows you are not helpless confronting Old Man Depression. Your "disgusting depression hole" is of course metaphorical. Therefore I recommend counteracting metaphors to help you find the way out of that disgusting depression hole. If there is a way into that "hole" then there must be a way out . Personally I prefer the "cave" metaphor to describe my depression because a cave is a natural formation /resource. Maybe this can help a little. Oscar

First of all we are not losers here. Problems have solutions and we are here to help each other find those elusive solutions. Small changes in our behavior and attitudes can bring big improvement to our troubled lives. Declare a temporary truce with yourself with the eventual goal of a peace treaty. We are never helpless confronting our issues. Please stick with us and yourself. Oscar

Welcome new friend to our forum family. Our goal is to not leave anyone trapped in their depression "cave" . We are all here for each other. My motto: Despair not / Repair a lot. Please make yourself at home and keep posting your concerns. Problems really do have solutions.