How do I overcome my depression? Hexagram 52 unchanged - stillness

[giraffecloud]

I am diagnosed with bipolar and that means I get depressed a lot. Most of my depressive thoughts are paranoia on how my immediate community perceive me but also listening to my mum on the phone seems to be a trigger as well. It's like my brain is trying to bully me and talk me out of the things I enjoy doing or things I've done that have made me happy.

So I did this reading and I was disappointed that it was unchanging because it makes me think that I will always have this illness to deal with but on the other hand I've been given an answer on what to do about it. I need to become still and strong like a mountain. So probably making a point of doing meditation regularly would maybe be how to cope with it.

It's interesting that Stillness came up because I consulted the I Ching one time with a question that came from my anxiety and got repeating chasms and the only way through the repeating chasms is to be still.

 

[Lola1986]

I am diagnosed with bipolar and that means I get depressed a lot. Most of my depressive thoughts are paranoia on how my immediate community perceive me but also listening to my mum on the phone seems to be a trigger as well. It's like my brain is trying to bully me and talk me out of the things I enjoy doing or things I've done that have made me happy.

So I did this reading and I was disappointed that it was unchanging because it makes me think that I will always have this illness to deal with but on the other hand I've been given an answer on what to do about it. I need to become still and strong like a mountain. So probably making a point of doing meditation regularly would maybe be how to cope with it.

It's interesting that Stillness came up because I consulted the I Ching one time with a question that came from my anxiety and got repeating chasms and the only way through the repeating chasms is to be still.

Yes, I think this is advocating meditation or some activity that promotes stillness. That's how I would read it. So I don't think it's saying you will always have the illness, I think it's saying stilling your mind (esp if you suffer from paranoia) is the key. And meditation which is very hard, but anyway, that is one way. There are others but that is one. Learning how to still those negative thoughts and not engage with them

 

[giraffecloud]

Thanks Lola, I like your idea of finding extra activities to find that inner stillness. I'm sure there are other things out there to help. Today I found that I was aware of the depressing thoughts and remembered this reading about not being influenced externally by people (that deals with the paranoia). The difficult part will be not engaging with the negative thoughts but if I can find a way to still them, that would be a step in the right direction.

Thanks once again.