Depression Prevention Kit by Red Eft

Yesterday, as we ambled along a rail trail next to a mossy cliff
dripping with melting ice, I told my son, "I need to be someplace I’ve
never been about once a week, or eventually I get into a funk."

Winter is long.  Here’s what I do to beat the blues.

1.  As per above, go somewhere you’ve never been, once a week.  At least.

2.  Take a good Vitamin B complex.  Surprisingly effective.

3.
Don’t ingest news outside of a context that allows you to spit
something back, or disempowerment is always battering at you. I like to
get news from Progressive Secretary letters; all I do is click SEND and I’m complaining to my senators.

4.  Aerobic exercise three times a week, some light yoga a couple of times.

5.  Meditate daily, even if only for 10 minutes.

6.  Get outside every day.

7.  Don’t eat wheat or dairy.  Keep alcohol & caffeine to a minimum. And sugar.

8.  Do something nice for somebody else at least three times/week.

9.  Get lots of sleep.

10.  Don’t go more than a couple of days without writing, drawing, making music, pretending, whatever.

12.  Don’t watch TV.  At.  All.  A movie once in a while is OK, but see that it isn’t a non-redemptive bummer movie like House of Sand and Fog.

13.  In the stressful years since 9/11, I have found these healing modalities to be extremely powerful: Energy work with a Barbara Brennan practitioner, Maitri Breathwork, Craniosacral Therapy.

14.  Keep a little statue of Ganesh.  Powerful fellow!

15.
Listen to dreams, (you knew red eft would say that!) Here’s a good
blues-fighting idea from a dream I had (a woman was speaking to me):

"Imagine
a necklace of fireflies around your neck, each able to transform your
utterances. They remind you that you are light, divine. They protect
you from thinking negative thoughts, saying negative things."

Finally,
if someone is clinically depressed, try not to give them advice or come
up with silly lists of things they can do to turn things around, it’s
very annoy