tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839966558511041534.post8048300692495877185..comments2023-04-26T04:56:34.331+10:00Comments on Tropical Snowflake: I admit I've been a crappy friendDamana Maddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00506368430609135921noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839966558511041534.post-64971754926255269922011-03-16T15:01:45.616+11:002011-03-16T15:01:45.616+11:00Wow. So much of what you wrote is familiar. I st...Wow. So much of what you wrote is familiar. I still have days where I have to talk myself out of bed. But thankfully, they're few and far between now. I actually began to enjoy gray rainy days also during my depression (and I think it was probably for just the reason that you gave). I felt safe. No one was going to disturb me in my little cocoon. You were really brave to write this. Keep fighting it. Things will keep getting better every day.Work at Home Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14768088515383202190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839966558511041534.post-4702267131604944382009-11-30T01:15:50.521+11:002009-11-30T01:15:50.521+11:00We've spoken about it since you posted. I want...We've spoken about it since you posted. I wanted to comment here to say that I too am waving a Team Damana flag. Knowing personally what it's like to have gone through some of what you've described, please be assured that I'm sticking around for quite a good while longer yet.<br /><br />Will miss you greatly but understand your reasons for going back to Darwin. Looking forward to seeing you when next our paths cross, whereever that may be. <br /><br />AlisonAlisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02416743782327863053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839966558511041534.post-41695514830666594002009-11-26T17:17:07.465+11:002009-11-26T17:17:07.465+11:00It's courageous and wonderful of you to share ...It's courageous and wonderful of you to share your experience with the rest of the world. I often wish to myself that I could be that brave. In no uncertain terms, you're an inspiration to me. Hugs xSerengetiSunsethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02121165788785361665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839966558511041534.post-70638972445273884462009-11-25T12:32:05.045+11:002009-11-25T12:32:05.045+11:00Dear Mana
What an increadible learning experience ...Dear Mana<br />What an increadible learning experience you've had this year! And as most of these comments indicate, your post reflects a story about a soul with courage, strength, honesty and integrity. <br /><br />Congratulations in all the hard work you've put in to healing yourself over the past few months. <br /><br />Have a great New Year.<br />Christina MoscovisAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06717881077116503970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839966558511041534.post-11887082262326955732009-11-21T02:44:35.047+11:002009-11-21T02:44:35.047+11:00Damana, my son works for ThoughtWorks and forwarde...Damana, my son works for ThoughtWorks and forwarded this to me. I have suffered with depression and anxiety for about ten years but I don't think I have ever read anything that described the experience as completely as you have. My son said, and I concur, that you are incredibly brave! He has been my greatest champion and yet there are times when helping me has tested his patience. I agree with the other posters here who have said you will definitely come out of this stronger and wiser... but I believe because of this experience, we also learn more about who we really are than most people ever understand in their lifetime. The one thing I have found that helps is remembering to celebrate this moment. You should be proud of how far you have come, I know exactly how you feel when you say that others probably don't notice it, but that doesn't really matter... the fact is that you know it and that's all that matters! Just by having the courage to push through the fear and fog to post his truthful, soul-searching blog says you are on the right path! I will keep you and everyone "like us" in my prayers. Take care of yourself, no one else can do it as well.<br /><br />Bless you!<br />DeeAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06148170449936884489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839966558511041534.post-85285042978249435342009-11-19T22:42:35.935+11:002009-11-19T22:42:35.935+11:00Kudos to you for this post. Been there, done that...Kudos to you for this post. Been there, done that, written the suicide note. You are not alone, and there is light at the end of the tunnel, even if it doesn't feel that way.<br /><br />You've done a courageous and strong thing with this blog post.Sleepydumplinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13301673308868272260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839966558511041534.post-84240343591601045602009-11-19T20:55:55.200+11:002009-11-19T20:55:55.200+11:00A brave account. Sorry you had to go through this....A brave account. Sorry you had to go through this. Good luck with the future.Prashant Gandhihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02749227743527936436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839966558511041534.post-14235174485096000662009-11-19T19:30:51.022+11:002009-11-19T19:30:51.022+11:00Good luck to you Damana.
It's so hard to shar...Good luck to you Damana.<br /><br />It's so hard to share, and so easy to hide.<br /><br />I've been hiding too at the very same period, i know what you've been though.<br /><br />One again, good luck to you !ikariushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04396904149629850524noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839966558511041534.post-40263930766240353942009-11-19T18:45:30.703+11:002009-11-19T18:45:30.703+11:00http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=31311138702
...http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=31311138702<br /><br />Hi<br /><br />This found it's way through a friend to a facebook group I am part of, Obedience training for your black dog (see link). Feel free to join us, I think we can all relate to this.<br /><br />SabinaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839966558511041534.post-91166394819838958772009-11-19T16:07:34.609+11:002009-11-19T16:07:34.609+11:00Wow. You don't know me, but as a depression su...Wow. You don't know me, but as a depression sufferer, I am really impressed with how well you've expressed the experience.<br /><br />Others have commented on the courage you have shown here, but what's even better is that you appear to have learned how to be honest with yourself; to recognize and correct the irrational. (Which I guess sounds obvious, but IMO it takes the greatest amount of work to actually achieve.)<br /><br />For this reason I feel very confident that you are healing. :)<br /><br />Best of luck. I'm sure you will re-discover the friendships you feel you have lost.Dewihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10825194372147423210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839966558511041534.post-39128911124834414882009-11-19T15:47:26.435+11:002009-11-19T15:47:26.435+11:00Credit to you for your honesty and openness! Serio...Credit to you for your honesty and openness! Seriously inspiring!<br /><br />Stay strong, all the best for the future!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839966558511041534.post-81061423674408541362009-11-19T12:05:43.712+11:002009-11-19T12:05:43.712+11:00Thanks Damana,
This is really brave and honest. ...Thanks Damana, <br /><br />This is really brave and honest. I hope writing this has helped you and will also help others reading.<br /><br />You deserve the good stuff.<br /><br />Much loveAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839966558511041534.post-65308424958013223822009-11-19T11:34:43.615+11:002009-11-19T11:34:43.615+11:00Someone on twitter linked to this post, and I was ...Someone on twitter linked to this post, and I was stunned reading it. I have many of the anxiety symptoms that you have. I fight against them every day, but I've never fully admitted them. This is very brave, and I understand too well what you experiencing right now.definataliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17816400593874545044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839966558511041534.post-66317173052592972672009-11-19T10:09:46.669+11:002009-11-19T10:09:46.669+11:00Wow
... After reading this I want to forward it to...Wow<br />... After reading this I want to forward it to everyone in my life! I'm going through a pretty ruff patch of depression right now too. Don't answer phones, don't shower or leave the house. Find excuses to miss appointments so I can crawl back into my "nest". So true about it not even being sleep, its just where i feel safe so i hide out there. Therapy and meds are helping.. Slowly. Unless you have been in our shoes no one can truly understand the irrational thoughts and feelings. Good luck to you in your struggle. I have to believe that in time we will get our old lives back.. Or even better ones cuz we will be that much stronger coming out the other side. I like that quote in one of the other replies "friends aren't just friends in the good times" or something close to that. I have lost people too, but I figure if they didn't want to stick around when the chips are down then they were no real friend anyway. Thanks for sharing your story. - Robin xoAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839966558511041534.post-39824896920557108302009-11-17T12:34:40.608+11:002009-11-17T12:34:40.608+11:00This is huge and very brave. It's such hard wo...This is huge and very brave. It's such hard work doing what you're doing. I have nothing but admiration for you and your efforts. You've made a commitment to yourself and that's really the first step in becoming a better person. <br /><br />Keep going with it. We're behind you. <br /><br />*hugs* to you. <br /><br />Linda <br />XLindaGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07130069232485832873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839966558511041534.post-26674313777382320352009-11-17T12:29:49.933+11:002009-11-17T12:29:49.933+11:00Holy crap Damana, I'm sorry to hear it has bee...Holy crap Damana, I'm sorry to hear it has been so awful for you. You've been an inspiration to many people (including me) and I think that when some "friends" throw their hands in the air, then perhaps they weren't the friends you deserve. Either that or they are themselves unable to deal with it, which is unfortunate but again you need people who are supportive. Friends aren't just friends in the fun times.<br /><br />Stay strong, stay focused on what helps, and it'd be great to catch up again sometime when I'm in Sydney or when you're in Canberra. Depression is not something to be taken lightly, and although I don't suffer it to this degree, I see first hand the debilitating and paralysing affect it has on a person. Jeff compares it to his arthritis:<br /><br />"Every now and then, my body stops working properly, and I can’t walk; every now and then, my brain stops working properly, and I can’t… do or feel much of anything at all."<br /><br />Much hugs,<br />PiaPia Waughhttp://pipka.org/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839966558511041534.post-65309873251652868882009-11-17T12:08:46.353+11:002009-11-17T12:08:46.353+11:00it's great that you're on track for improv...it's great that you're on track for improvement. having the 'fixes' steps & being able to write all of your experiences proves that. good luck with it. I'm sure you will succeed.kath / AliaKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12872165221893598728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839966558511041534.post-15999159477287608782009-11-17T12:03:27.726+11:002009-11-17T12:03:27.726+11:00Damana, you are a beautiful, amazing, inspiring, a...Damana, you are a beautiful, amazing, inspiring, and brave woman.<br /><br />I look up to you.<br /><br />Hang in there, we're all behind you on this.<br /><br />LAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04441639648185651632noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839966558511041534.post-21962855818946041582009-11-17T11:39:01.396+11:002009-11-17T11:39:01.396+11:00You can do it!! good luck Damana!You can do it!! good luck Damana!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839966558511041534.post-4518224056195778332009-11-17T09:30:00.187+11:002009-11-17T09:30:00.187+11:00I can't think of the right words to say how mu...I can't think of the right words to say how much this moved me. Thank you so much for your honesty and courage.<br /><br />Damana, you were there for me when I desperately needed someone to be. There's nothing that will change that. Keep taking care of yourself, beautiful girl. I miss you.Alicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12691486045831361021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839966558511041534.post-30915482638212887632009-11-17T09:22:08.895+11:002009-11-17T09:22:08.895+11:00That was an amazing and honest post. And so glad t...That was an amazing and honest post. And so glad things are improving. VioletLilyTheFragrantElfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10358855058217563745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839966558511041534.post-16427799748135069052009-11-17T08:55:21.731+11:002009-11-17T08:55:21.731+11:00I'm in absolute awe that U can put yourself ou...I'm in absolute awe that U can put yourself out there. I couldn't do it, as much as I would like to. I sure wish U were in the States. I would love to meet you!weannienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839966558511041534.post-45401856986789471232009-11-17T08:53:23.830+11:002009-11-17T08:53:23.830+11:00Thank you xxxThank you xxxbrookehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12909225551977480820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839966558511041534.post-59152114153673806752009-11-17T08:44:20.237+11:002009-11-17T08:44:20.237+11:00thank you. thank you. thank you so much for being ...thank you. thank you. thank you so much for being brave and sharing this, I needed to read it this morning. Best wishes on your journey.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3839966558511041534.post-46426149673102126802009-11-17T08:44:19.999+11:002009-11-17T08:44:19.999+11:00The fact that you're striving to be a better f...The fact that you're striving to be a better friend while in the midst of all this wretchedness perhaps makes you a better friend than you realise.<br />I, for one, feel privileged to have met you. <br /><br />All will be well, lovely, one step at a time...<br />onwards and upwards!<br />C xCathienoreply@blogger.com