I understand.  Really, depression is the coping mechanism we've used for years.  One needs to find other mechanisms that work. 

I once had dinner with a woman I didn't know, at a restaurant neither of us had ever been to.    There was a sign that cars of people not patronizing the restaurant were subject to having their cars towed, but of course, we were patrons. While we ate dinner, her car was towed away .The tow lot was close enough to walk to, so we walked.  And found her car in a locked lot with dobermans. And the tow truck driver.  She adopted the technique of the broken record.  Not anger, not diverting to unrelated issues, just "I want my car."  Yes, we explained the situation to the tow truck driver, but he was illiterate (really, really, in this day&age). And fearful he would lose his job.  But she kept repeating "I want my car."  Along come the lot owner, my friend persisted in her broken record..... and got her car. 

I learned the broken record technique = keep it simple, don't involve extraneous issues, don't beg, don't threaten.  Just keep stating what it is you want.  And I've used it successfully any number of times.  Wonderful, no angst, no rage, no gloating, nor vengeance.

You can't do a makeover instantaneously.  But you can learn other  ways of succeeding at what you want.

Liz
---------- Original Message ----------
From: "Heather Walker" <h.walker07@...>
To: dysthymia@...
Subject: [dysthymia] 'Liking' depression?
Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 18:27:25 -0000