Depression and ECT 36: Strange longings and new books

I've suffered from depression since I was a pre-teen. In 2012 I got very sick, becoming suicidal. In 2013 I decided to try ElectroConvulsive Therapy. The "Depression" series of blog posts chronicles that process.

To start the Depression series at the beginning, click here: http://ittybittycrazy.squarespace.com/imported-data/2013/12/29/depression-1.html
#depression
#ECT

It feels weird not to have ECT for so long. It won't be two weeks for another two days but still, when it was such a huge part of my life having treatments three times a week, it feels strange to taper off like this. I got to know the nursing staff, we knew where we liked to park in the parking garage, it was a routine. And now it's gone.

I sound like a nutter, I know.

Missing a medical treatment where a needle got stuck in my arm and anesthetic that burned got pumped into me. Ridiculous.

In other news, I'm reading an interesting book called The Antidote - Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking. I'm not that far into it, but there's already been an interesting premise put forward that I have put into practice today.

The book talks about the Stoics, who contend that events simply are what they are, and we cause ourselves pain by conflating our emotional response to the event with the event itself.

Hang on, I have to look up Conflating and make sure it means what I think it means.

Yes, it does.

Anyway.

Are the other drivers on the roads idiots, the book asked, or is it that you THINK they are?

And so today I tried not to detest every other driver I encountered on my way home. "Everyone is just trying their best," I told myself. I'm not saying that I believed it throughout the journey (one woman really was a total dolt), but it did reduce my stress levels.

The book is a very interesting read. As I get into it more, I'll blog more about it.