It’s Lisa, who posts at Granades. Just joined LinkedIn and saw you (& Stephen and Misty) so, of course, I followed the links to your blogs.

First off… Congratulations! For recognizing the problem and tackling it! And for celebrating feeling better and sharing! I know the feeling & I’m rooting for you!

When I read your posts, I debated on whether or not to intrude, but decided encouragement couldn’t hurt and shared struggle can be encouraging. So many of the things you said resonated!

I’ve battled depression off and on (currently on). I’m a complete believer in better living through chemistry. Right now it’s time to hie myself to the doctor to adjust my meds up because I’m falling into the “up too late” & “can’t get up” cycle again… I, too, have used the alarm in the bathroom, on a brass tray, on top of the commode method for rising!

When I read about your bed making being an indicator of improvement, I had to concur. Routines (making the bed, firing up a load of laundry before I go to work and drying it when I get home, etc.) do help in the battle. A lot. Not only is the house being in decent shape a mood lifter, routines can be a great gauge on where the depression really stands. I’ve been in denial at times, but the fact that the routines weren’t getting done was enough to break through.

I was lucky enough to find my routines just before I recognized the depression… or rather a friend shoved the phone in my hand in the middle of a crying jag and said, “You need counseling. I’m standing here until you call Pastor Randy.”

I was sobbing because the house was a wreck and I just couldn’t understand why a relatively intelligent person couldn’t motivate herself to take care of the basics of everyday life. I’d joined a board on home organization and tried the routines. They were simple and I just couldn’t do them consistently. While work wasn’t in bad shape (I understand that’s usually the last to go), the fact that the home routines were not getting done plus Jan shoving the phone in my hand cracked the last vestiges of resistance. Counseling and meds later, I knew I was getting better because the routines were, well, routine!

The ceiling does lift! My depression seems to be situational so I experience ups and downs. At least now I recognize the downs and can take some action. Every time I wonder, all I’ve got to do is look at the state of the house. I can feel quite low but if stuff is getting done, I’m pretty sure it will pass. Weight is another battle of mine… and, yes, I think it’s also related to depression and what food does to stimulate the pleasure centers in the brain.

And speaking of routines, my witching hour approaches. If I don’t get my 7 hrs, it shows! So I’ll sign off now.

Good luck and don’t be discouraged if you experience cycles! You are on the right track! And fingers crossed on the weight - keep visualizing that healthy dude!

Per my psychiatrist, I’m now in partial remission of my chronic major depression, which I’ve been treated for over the last ten weeks. [Yeah, I’m one of those people who looks at the DSM-IV codes written on my chart after every session, m…

Honestly, I really don’t crave the independence so much—I’ve lived away from home almost half of my life, and by myself for a couple years now. I’d like a partner in crime.

I took some time at lunch and watched/listened to Clay Shirky’s talk about the cognitive surplus, which I’d seen linked a lot of places, but today by Jeremy Zawodny.

I was reminded of a pledge to use time-shifting for awesome. I then sent…

A few things have been going on behind the scenes:

I’ve been categorizing the As-Yet Unfiled Entries over the last month. I’ll finish next week. I finally made it happen by just putting a recurring task in Tasks Pro to do 15 a day. I st…