Jumping the Loop

By Peta Price

Taking a unique approach this book looks at literary characters who are depressed. Linking this with recent research, it helps the reader to understand depression and to explore solutions to aid recovery. It is likely to help those people whose lives are compromised by ongoing depression: people who live and work with depressed mood and feel as if they are living lives of quiet desperation.
Praise for Jumping the Loop
Very clear, straight talking, giving a solid framework for obtaining a meaningful life. Jan Schlunke, Clinical Psychologist.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Apr 14, 2014
• ISBN: 9781496975928

Book preview

AuthorHouse™ UK Ltd.

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Bloomington, IN 47403 USA

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© 2014 Peta Price. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 04/07/2014

ISBN: 978-1-4969-7591-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4969-7592-8 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014906264

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Prologue    The Seven Commandments

Chapter 1    Understanding Depression

Chapter 2    Anna, Levin, Eeyore and Marvin

Chapter 3    What underpins Depression?

Chapter 4    Partners to depression

Chapter 5    Bi-polar Disorder

Chapter 6    Giving Depression marching orders

Chapter 7    Defying the Seven Commandments

Epilogue    Eeyore Jumps the Loop

Appendix    Exercises

Useful Resources

What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.

Henry David Thoreau.

Acknowledgments

Putting an idea into writing can be tricky and the writer wants to know that it is working. This book could not have reached its final form without:

Dr. Pieter Rossouw, who read and commented on Chapter 3. The chapter also reflects his valued teaching.

Andrew Tasker who was prepared to read and to comment on Chapter 5. He also gave permission to include his invaluable comments. I do hope that readers find his insights helpful.

Dr. Alice Mills who gave her time and skills to editing and also provided much appreciated criticism and observation.

Jan Schlunke, friend, colleague and fellow writer who read, affirmed and engaged in useful conversation about translating therapeutic ideas into writing.

And finally, thank you to all the people who have courageously shared their stories with me and, in doing so, have taught me so much.

Introduction

This book is about Depression, how it traps one and how to climb out of the trap and then to avoid it. It is likely to help those people whose lives are compromised by ongoing depression: people who live and work with depressed mood and feel as if they are living lives of quiet desperation.

There is unfortunately, no quick fix. Successful people do not have achievements drop in on them: they decide what they want, set goals and work at them, finding solutions to set-backs. As progress is made, the achievements become more evident and easier to attain. It is not a smooth ride. There are times when everything seems to be slipping into place and other times when nothing seems to be working. Success comes out of persistence.

There is a point when climbing a mountain that the climber is tempted to turn back, somewhere about two thirds of the way up. The peak appears so far away at this point, the gradient so steep and energy so low. But it is always a surprise, when the peak is reached more easily than thought at the moment of deciding to continue climbing.

It is difficult seeing a problem when it is very close to you. Examples from Anna Karenina¹, The House at Pooh Corner² and The Hitch-hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy³ are used to assist the reader to stand back and look through a window at Depression, its language and its effects.

Prologue

The Seven Commandments

Depression is a dictator. He sets rules according to seven commandments. These commandments are:

1.   Give me all your attention.

   There is no room for friends, family, interests—the things that you enjoy are to be denied.

2.   Do not benefit from sleep.

3.   Believe all the information I give you.

   Depression tricks the mind. It misinterprets information, makes mountains out of molehills and makes you feel ineffective and hopeless.

4.   Do not think positively.

   Depression loves global statements that put a negative spin on yourself and the world around you. Global statements include words and phrases such as Everybody… , No one… , I/you always… , I/you never…

5.   Limit possibilities.

   Depression draws the curtain on possibilities and therefore on Hope, the last spirit left in Pandora’s box.

6.   Live an insular life.

   Depression creates a prison which cuts you off from the rest of the world.

7.   Lose your sense of humour.

Chapter 1

Understanding Depression

A family gathering, or is it? There are people; some people are present but unseen. The dogs are there as well as a stranger. One dog is less loved than the other. The person who looks after the dog unenthusiastically is the woman although it belongs to the man who is there but not seen. A stranger is hovering, moving things about, pouring liquids. Nobody takes notice of him. The dog that is not favoured starts rolling in the grass. She starts whimpering and her whimpers become more strident. The woman runs to her and sees that the dog is in agony; her skin is melting. The stranger shouts to her to stop the dog from rolling there because he has poured acid onto the grass. The woman calls to the man who is there but can’t be seen. She wants to shield the child who is playing in the distance. She tries to stop the dog from rolling. She tries to move the dog. She is ineffective and the man who is there but can’t be seen does not respond to her cries. Then the dog is still. She looks at the dog, lying there, as if asleep. She knows that it is dead.

The woman who dreamt this dream described it as distressing and haunting. She did not know what it meant but she said that she had been remembering a pet dog that she had not loved and she was regretting that, when the dog had become old and incontinent, she had become impatient and had asked her husband, whose dog it was, to have it put down. She thought that she could have been more sympathetic to both the dog and to her husband. She said she had found herself reviewing her life and regretting her unkindnesses. She was becoming increasingly depressed as she went