Dear Ellie,
I donīt know what to do. I was prescribed antidepressants for depression and anxiety (Effexor xr) but never took them. Then I came across your article and decided to give it a try. But it is really, really hard to feel the anger. I tried the letters to my parents and the pounding on the bed, but I feel Iīm pretending. Yet, I insisted. After a few lukewarm, forced tantrums, I entered this apathic, sleepy stage in which I am now. I have only one exam left to finish my studies (Industrial Engineering) but I am totally unable to sit down and get the books. I have no job, I havenīt had a boyfriend in the last 10 years. I eat all kinds of junk foods and I am clueless about how to quit them. Maybe you have a piece of advice for me?
Thanks for listening (reading :-)
A.

 

Hi, You are doing it right. That sleepy apathetic stage is just a down cycle, and will be temporary. Your mood swings will intenisfy for a while.

Keep it up the way you are doing it. Put a sign on the refrig, "It will lift" to remind you when you feel down.  Don't worry about getting a boyfriend right now. And try to do the studying, not when you are depressed, but after doing some redirecting, or in the early AM

Do some redirecting when you crave the junk food. If you go ahead and have it, and feel guilty, do some more redirecting.

Stay well,

Ellie