Depression and Some Hard Questions:Part Two

In an attempt to encourage you to develop some of your very own personal coping strategies for depression, I am asking some hard questions. Your answers to these questions will be the basis for your strategy. The last set of questions had to do with your social self, they were questions about people.

Today's questions have to do with your physical self. How well do you know what you need and what you don't need?

Do you like touching? Do you get enough touching?

What kind of touching do you like? A quick hug? A good rub? Constant physical connection with something living? Lots of touching? Sexual interaction?

Are you a little touchy about your touching? Are you only able to touch and be touched at certain times? Are your touch boundaries being respected by your loved ones?

Are you able to communicate with your loved one(s) the truth about your need or lack of need of touching?

What about exercise? Do you enjoy doing physical things? Do you feel better after engaging in physcial activity?

What about food? Everyone enjoys food? What kinds of food do you enjoy? Do you take care of your food needs? Does what you do or do not eat affect your moods? Is there some way you could change the way you eat in order to feel even better?

Is there something that makes you feel good when you touch it? For instance, a cat's fur, a teddy bear, holding a child's hand, rubbing a smooth stone? Does touch matter to you? Do you get enough touch therapy?

Take some time with these questions. I hope they can get you closer to creating some physcial strategies that are helpful to your depression recovery.

Let me share just a wee bit of my own physical strategy (without embarrassing you or me). I am not an overly touchy person. Sure I will give you a hug when you visit, I can easily reach out to pat someone on the back, but I don't need to do this all the time. The touch that means the most to me is my husband's hand. I love holding his hand. Friends have commented that we look so cute because we are often holding hands... if they only knew... the handholding is sometimes, on certain days, my only link to life. When we are out in public, and I am feeling vulnerable and fragile, holding his hand is a lifeboat to me. I do get a professional massage sometimes. But one time, when I was not well, not only did it not help me, I couldn't wait for it to be over. There are times when I simply would prefer not to be touched. Knowing these things about myself helps a lot.

How about you? Are you learning anything new about yourself by asking these questions? Can you put together a physical strategy plan for yourself?

We have talked about your social and your physical life preferences. Next time we will ask some hard questions about your emotional/intellectual life.

For a dose of laughter medicine click here.

May Dipsy Doodling Around Depression be better than a therapy session!

Don't give up, I'm praying for you!

Wendy Love