[Idealist]

I was reading an article at the doctor's office the other day about how the brain stores memories, and then retrieves them in the right order when it needs them. It also talked about how random thoughts form in the brain whenever we're not thinking of anything specific, because the brain works all the time.

It seems when the brain stores memories it has an affinity for the positive ones, so they are ingrained more deeply. Therefore during random thinking we tend to remember the better things that we've experienced in life. As a general rule, that is.

As I was reading this article it occurred to me that whenever I suffer a bad bout of depression, it seems that my random thinking shifts to the opposite direction. I begin remembering every bad thing that's happened in life, and begin to feel that my life has always been dark. Not only that, but after a bit I begin to automatically apply that process to the future. I begin to think that all I have to expect is more bad things. So sitting there at the doctor's office I decided to try a test. I began to consciously recall some good parts of my past. One after the other.

I'd like to say that the experiment was a great success, but that would be an exaggeration. However, I can't deny that by the time I left the building, I was in better spirits than when I entered. I know there is a name for this, and it's probably part of some kind of self-control technique. I was just wondering if anyone here would know which technique that was, so maybe I can find a little bit more about it? I am always happy to find something that works and doesn't involve any meds.

Anyway, if you do know then I'd be very appreciative of the info. Thank you very much in advance.

Best wishes,
Idealist

[wishfulthinking]

The word you are looking for is Affirmations. Making a positive statement to feel better about yourself is basically all you are doing. I've done this for a while and it does work, but if you are like me and have a chemical inbalance then it's harder to control the depression because it is also a physical depression as well. But it is possible to cure it with working hard and being positive. Good luck to you.
Wish

[JD3#2]

Yeh, Idealist when I'm depressed I can go back to my very first memories and put a negative spin on my life. I agree with Wistfulthinking abour both the usefulness of affirmations and the chemicl imbalance. The trick is depression sneaks up. So affirmations and other positive actions have to be practiced early on