Hello @azsandy

I am so glad that you posted on Mayo Connect. Welcome! Yes, pain can take many forms, can't it? Pain can be physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. Often, the emotional pain of depression can also lead to physical forms of pain as well. I would encourage you to look at some of our Members' post in the Mental Health discussion group. We hav a discussion group on long term depression, https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/long-term-depression-1/. Also, https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/doing-things-to-relieve-depression-motivation-and-ideas/ As you read these posts you will undoubtedly identify some thoughts that are similar to yours.

I see that you are currently working with "neurofeedback brain training." Could you tell us something about that?

If you are comfortable sharing more, please do so in one of these groups. Have you been diagnosed with a certain type of depression? Have you tried any medications?

I look forward to hearing from you again.

Teresa

@azsandy I am so very happy you decided to join us here on Connect. Please continue to share with us. I was unavailable to answer you right away and asked my teammate Teresa also known as hopeful33250, to initially welcome and guide you.

You stated that walking and yoga help you. Azsandy, does excercise help your mood and your pain?

Military duty stations-- there is such a love/hate relationship! I'm glad I could make you smile. I look forward to getting to know you

Jen

Hello, so sorry I've been so long in getting back to you. I'm not a big user of social media, or the internet.....Have avoided technology for a long time and do regret not getting on board a long time ago! I did want to respond to your inquiries about the neurofeedback that I mentioned in my initial post. I had a session today which involves being hooked up to little electrodes, attached to the head. Then viewing a computer screen at two different times, concentrating and waiting for feedback on how my concentration is doing. It is hard to explain in a concise way, but I'm beginning to sense a "shift"----- my "bad" days aren't as bad, and I do seem to have better endurance on both good and bad days. My cycles of good and bad days had been a very predictable every other day rotation. I would look ahead to see if I wanted to plan something for a good day. Then sometimes I'd have two bad days in a row and I'd be thrown off ....Now I'm having days that seem to be good or a combo of good and bad, not the severe bad days I once had every other day.

The recommendations to get daily , 40 minute aerobic exercise ( I walk fast at a nearby park ) and to try Yoga, I think are helping....The technician said the same thing today.......that what I'm doing, all together, makes the neurofeedback more productive. I also work hard at eating healthy, even when I don't feel like eating at all.

I will try hard to respond sooner in the future. We just had family visit for a week, and the weeks before that I was getting ready for the big visit. Thanks for the warm welcome !

Hi and thanks for your welcome......I just responded to "sandytoes" and touched on some of your questions. I'm not very adept on the computer, and hope it's not too much trouble for you to find what I wrote......I look forward to being in touch !