Hi
Ms. Curtiss,
I
purchased your book, “Depression Is a Choice” when it first came out and found
it a breath of fresh air. Lately,
however, I have not been completely convinced about the choice part because I
am feeling that my current depression is bigger than I am.
A
few months ago, my husband of 35 years died of throat cancer. He is a man who is irreplaceable, especially
at my ripe old age of 68. I have been
going to a grief group, dealing with my depression over this with a therapist,
but do not seem to be able to pull myself out of this one. What is your take of the grief process and
how it relates to depression? The
general wisdom is you have to go through it, and everyone has their own time
table. However, this happened over 4
months ago, and I feel worse now, so I am questioning my handling of things.
Anything
you could offer me would be greatly appreciated as I find you very well spoken
and very well thought out. BTW, I just
purchased your 2nd book from Amazon, and looking forward to more of your wisdom
within its covers.
Thank
you,
Dear Friend
Mourning
is one of the sacred ceremonies of life. But we must not let the ceremony of
honoring what we have lost slide into the mere chemical imbalance of depression
wherein we merely suffer and have lost sight of what we have lost and are
mourning. Remember that we don't live our lives by the year, or even by the day. We live life by the instant.
Look for what can uplift you in nature, a small flower, a friendly tree, a
beautiful cloud. In connecting with your fellow man, even just a friendly
remark to the person ahead of you in the grocery line is reconnecting with
life.. Instant by instant we must find something to love, to honor or respect
for in that instant we are connected with all life and bit by bit we string
together these precious moments to find peace. May God bless you. A. B. Curtiss
Dear
Ms. Curtiss
Thank
you for your lovely words and being so generous with your time. I will hold those words close and abide by
them. I will definitely use the tools in
your second depression book, when I receive it, as I see I have let grief slip
me into the depression abyss. My goal is
to find a way to live “around” the grief, and am sure your book will help.
A
thousand thank you’s,
