I have struggled a lot with depression in my life. It catches up with me sometimes, but overall I handle it pretty well. Especially in the five years since my stroke, not giving in has been a primary mission.

It's not easy. I'm permanently disabled. Mobility is severely limited. Pain is constant and intense. Sleep is very hard to come by. Most of my old "friends" abandoned me after the stroke, and making new ones has been hard for me my whole life.

But when I'm at my worst, I take stock of things I'm grateful for. (I keep a running list in my head, but it needs updating, and at times I forget.) I call it my "Five-Minute Depression Treatment".

I think of the hundreds of millions around the world who are lacking food, water, shelter, clothing, health, freedom, peace, family, money, security, etc. etc. Things that I have and take for granted.

It makes me feel two things:
1. Depression is a luxury.
2. Depression is often suppressed anger. Where is the hidden anger inside me?

This doesn't always work. But more often than not, it helps. It at least gets me out of bed.

Now this is just me. Every situation is different, of course.

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