DAE get frustrated with vague platitudes and advice such as "happiness comes from within"

ok. i won't claim to be 'certifiable,' but i'm definitely on the wacko spectrum.

3 things help me:

1) i take my paxil every day (30mg). i tried to stop, but i ended up trying to crawl out of my skin. probably would've ended up over at the George Washington Bridge...if i hadn't decided to start taking the damn pills again.

2) daily, vigorous activity. for me, this means AT LEAST single time through the Bikram yoga series, which i do on my own at Planet Fitness. if i'm not depressed and lazy, i try to do each pose twice...but i have to admit that i rarely make it thru twice these days...and when i do, it knocks me out, but i feel great afterwards.

3) i try to do things for others, in order to just take myself out of my head. the thing i do now is work with a guy at my gym who is a stroke victim. i've taught him the basic yoga series, but i'll work with him on trying to improve his balance and flexibility. i don't charge him any money, because i'm lucky enough to have my small pension, but i couldn't really charge him anyway...because the yoga sort of saved my life.

NOW, these three things enable me to say that happiness can be influenced greatly by the chemicals washing through our brain on a constant basis. the daily physical activity can help with repairing the wiring and the chemical balances...which means that it is much easier to be able to say that 'happiness is a choice.' i realize that still sounds like bullshit, but it has helped me.

lastly, getting out into nature can help. i know this sounds pathetic, but i feed the sparrows over in my park (just rice)...and they know my whistle and they will come flying to meet me. they're still scared of me, but they will come to me, which makes me happy.

also, i love seeing the other animals...like skunks, raccoons, rabbits, groundhogs (huge suckers!) and their babies, and even the times when a hawk will go after a pigeon for lunch...a bit scary!

ok. take this for what it's worth.

/r/DAE Thread