No sympathy, please.

[mudmucker]

Apology accepted. Thank you.

But your raise some interesting points worth discussing, and maybe some misconceptions about therapy. I don't think you need to be acutely depressed or suffering from a discernible mental defect or disorder to benefit form talking to a therapist. I think it's important to see therapy not as a "coping skill" in and of itself but as a tool. A tool for understanding yourself better, for communicating better, for learning how to let go of thought patterns or behaviors that don't serve you very well and for practicing or learning better patterns of thought and behavior. Most of the "creative, non-professional ways of coping" that I've learned, I learned precisely because I was working with a therapist.

I'm not saying everybody needs to go to a therapist to get out a funk, but it can be a very useful way to approach any number of problems from the very minor to the incredibly serious. In the end, I simply don't really have a problem with the frequency with which some of us encourage others to seek counseling. It's pretty benign advice as advice goes. The simple truth is that there's a lot within the human condition for which professional counseling can prove helpful. It's no different than the host of medical issues that we can potentially face. Again, I ask whether you would encourage someone with a physical ailment to find a more "creative" solution than seeking the advice of a medical professional?

I do appreciate that you have no personal experience with depression. A sad mood--the "blues" so to speak--is not the same as depression. While things like exercise can help alleviate the symptoms of depression, it's rarely enough to handle anything but very mild depression. And maybe that's all the OP has, but given what she has on her plate, it's probably a good idea for her to get evaluated, in the very least, by a professional.

That is very well put.

Guilty of drifting. We should get back on to topic.

[indysteel]

Thanks. Sorry for the thread jack by the way. I just felt the need to address the issue. Thanks for listening.

To the OP, please apply what I've said to your own situation. To the extent I mentioned "patterns of thinking," think about what your telling yourself about yourself right now. Given what you're dealing with, now would be a good time to treat yourself like you would want your best friend or most loving family member to treat you. If you're finding it hard not to beat yourself up, then I truly would encourage you to talk to a professional.

At times like this, I often find myself rereading my own TE signature. It may sound rather pithy, but I think there are some good reminders there, not the least of which is to "practice wellness." For me, practicing wellness has required a concerted effort to be kind and gentle with myself. I'm all too prone to be very, very hard on myself, to the point that it becomes extremely counterproductive to my health and happiness. If that resonates with you, then you'll need to take some steps to change your inner voice. You are worth that kindness, but if you're having trouble believing that, then again, I would encourage you to work with a professional in that regard.

I wish you the best.