Depression On My Mind

Coping with Depression Articles

Making sense of my depression

Monday, March 8th, 2010
Four years ago when I was diagnosed with depression and then bipolar disorder, the clouds parted and my life finally made sense. I did a timeline of my life with my therapist and bingo, there it was -- my alcoholism, depression and mania had been singing in perfect harmony as I plowed through the chaos that I had called my life. The amazing thing is how far back we were able to trace the illnesses. I started swimming competitively when I was 7. I swam hard and fast. I liked the way it made me feel. My coach and parents and teammates cheered me on. Swimming made me feel part of something -- and I finally fit in with the other kids. At 14-years-old, I had had enough of swimming back and forth, staring at a black line on the bottom of the pool. I slid into a teenage wasteland and the endorphins stopped working.

Depression, bipolar and trying to stay sober for richer or poorer

Monday, March 1st, 2010
I think I would like to go to rehab. I didn't go to rehab when I got sober in 1998. I went to the local AA clubhouse, which was a former Shriner's clubhouse with a spiffy wood bar (promptly converted to a coffee shop) and a meeting room that seemed large  enough to drive around in little cars. I love my AA clubhouse and have had some wonderful times there. It had a major overhaul a couple of years ago and now features a nice pool table, a flat, large screen television above a fireplace, pin ball machines, a public access computer, and a lovely little cafe. Did I mention the coffee? We have cappuccino, too. Still, I think it might be kind of nice to go to rehab. I don't need it but I hear other recovering alcoholics talk about their rehabs like they're sororities or  spas and I think I could use 30 days to "work on myself" ... and my tan. I got the idea while trying to plan a vacation. I wanted to find a resort or spa for recovered alcoholics. A place where we could go and continue and expand our programs with lectures and seminars and yoga and massages and pedicures and really great healthy food. Meetings morning, noon and night. Movies. Tennis. Group meditations and long walks on the beach. Wouldn't that be great?

Suicide: Why I will never again try to kill myself again

Wednesday, February 17th, 2010
I sat down and talked with several suicide survivors last night. By "survivor" I do not mean they had attempted to take their own lives. By "survivor" I mean they have survived the suicide of a loved one. After listening for a couple of hours, I realized that the word "survivor" has never been been more aptly applied to a group of people. And after listening to these people for a couple of hours I can unequivocally say that I will never, ever try to kill myself again. Ever. I felt uncomfortable among them, not just because their stories were terrible. It was the visceral carnage every suicide leaves behind and how it affects even the most routine, mundane tasks we all perform in our daily lives.

Men and depression: Can we help you, please?

Saturday, January 30th, 2010
We had another murder here last week. Actually, it was three murders and an attempted suicide. According to news reports: What ...

Depression: The view from here

Wednesday, January 27th, 2010
I have trained my dog, "Dog" to run in front of my bicycle on a retractable leash. He loves it. I love it. Every morning we ride down to the park, about 1/2 mile from ...

Depression: What’s humility got to do with it?

Monday, January 18th, 2010
humility: \hyü-ˈmi-lə-tē, yü-\ 1 : the quality or state of being humble humble: \həm-bəl\ 1 : not proud or haughty : not arrogant or assertive 2 : reflecting, expressing, or ...

What could a slightly liberal, dual-diagnosed journalist possibly have in common with Larry Kudlow?

Friday, January 15th, 2010
I interviewed conservative talk show host Larry Kudlow on Tuesday night, about 10 minutes after he finished his prime time show, The Kudlow Report, on CNBC. Kudlow is speaking in Palm Beach on Saturday ...

Depression and the God thing

Monday, January 11th, 2010
I was brought up to believe in a God with flowing robes and a beard. He looked to be in his sixties - maybe seventies but he was a in good shape. He was white ...

My depression: Give me sleep or give me death

Sunday, January 3rd, 2010
I went to bed last night at 1:30 this afternoon. I spent the night doggin' a Miami man charged with gunning down four people - including his twin sisters and a sleeping 6-year-old - at ...

Women, work and depression: I am woman, hear me roar myself to death

Tuesday, December 29th, 2009
It is Day 2 of my vacation and I have decided I would like to be a stay-at-home mom even though my only child turned 18 last week. I took the career path instead of ...
Hoping for a Happy Ending
Check out Christine's book!
Hope for a Happy Ending: A Journalist's
Story of Depression, Bipolar and Alcoholism
Christine Stapleton

Recent Comments
  • Gayle: O.M.G. We’ve pretty much led parallel (sp?) lives! Seriously, it’s uncanny. You just left off the...
  • M: I really appreciate your postings. Through your lessons learned, I really see a lot of my own life reflected back...
  • Sara D: Oh I see what you mean on alcohol. I agree alcohol is a drug.
  • Amanda Walton: Hats off to you for finding your way. I too am Bipolar, I too live with bouts of depression and I too...
  • Christine Stapleton: Alcohol is a drug. Pot, hash, cocaine, opium but no needles or psychedelics. I hate needles and...
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