YOU ARE NOT ALONE - A companion online community discussion board for The Mental Illness Happy Hour podcast with Paul Gilmartin

I figured I shouldn't ask other people to introduce themselves if I'm not going to. So here I go. I started this podcast and site because I believe it will not only help me, but help others. I am living a beautiful life and feel very content. It was a long haul to get here. I always thought my misery was the fault of other people. I see now that I was the common denominator in all my problems. And before I could even begin to deal with my personality flaws I had to deal with my depression. I take meds, exercise eat healty, try to help others and share my feelings. If don't do these five things I'm fucked. I have tried cutting back on each of these and I eventually pay for it by feeling sad, tired and uninspired. I don't like having to take meds, but I haven't found anything that works as well. I tried supplements, herbs, etc. They just didn't cut it. I SO wanted them to. I'm afraid of possible side-effects from meds down the road, but I'd rather possibly risk my future health than definitely throw away my present health.

Welcome Paul! (Well I thought you might get a little forlorn that yours is the only posting without a welcoming response)

I like your five things, and whilst I guess they're pretty obvious (?) the "helping others" is one that might not always spring to our minds. It was a strong point of a recent campaign here in Australia - Act, Belong Commit. http://actbelongcommit.org.au and what I really like about it , apart from all the other benefits of helping others, is that you can start to realise you're not that bad off yourself.

Thanks! I took me so many years of thinking only about my own pleasure to realize that it is spirit-killing. I truly believe the spirit has to come first, and when it doesn't it withers and takes the body and mind down with it. But when the spirit leads, the body and mind are energized. That's been my experience.

Paul

Greetings Paul! Mike Schmidt tweeted about this podcast yesterday and now I'm on board as well! It's instantly now one of my all time favorites, an essential part of my regular listening! Thank you very much for creating it!

Thanks for doing this podcast. It's really helped me confront what I'm doing and not doing about my mental illness. Something you said that made a lot of sense is the five pronged approach (I take meds, exercise, eat healty, try to help others and share my feelings.). I actually don't do any of these things except eat healthy (I went vegan two weeks ago). Another way you put it which I liked as well is, paraphrasing, "body, mind and soul".

Thanks for doing this show Paul! I'm so glad to have a place where I can hear other people who have problems like mine, and with this forum, a place to open up and discuss those problems!

Quick question though; when you say "lead with the spirit," what specifically are you describing?

Eternally Learning,

What I meant was that when we lead a spiritually-fulfilling life; considering others and how they are affected in our decisions, working to make the world a better place, and practicing love and tolerance towards others, our mind relaxes and our body feels better. When we act out of fear, and step on other people's toes, our minds cannot relax and our bodies become filled with anger and tension. In a nutshell we have to make sure that money, power or recognition aren't our God. They are of the ego, which is negative and destroys the spirit. Thus the stereotype of the unhappy rich person. Money in and of itself is not bad, but the pursuit of it for the sole purpose of "being rich" will ultimately never be completely fulfilling. Temporarily it might feel great, but the Ego will always need more. The Ego cannot get enough, but the spirit is fed by connecting to our fellow man and nature in simple easy ways we can do every day. I highly recommend "A New Earth" by Eckhart Tolle. (I might have misspelled his first name) If there is an underlying addiction, 12 step programs are also excellent ways for people to put this kind of spiritual structure into their lives. Your therapist can help decide what is right for you. I hope all of this makes sense.

Paul

Well said Paul. I completely agree. Recently I told some that I was spiritual but not religious and was asked what the difference was. You did a much better job at describing spirituality than I did.

Thanks Paul, that makes sense. I just think of "Spirit" in the more literal sense and when others use it metaphorically, I find it hard to distinguish between the two. I'm not religious or a dualist, and while I don't begrudge anyone their beliefs I do like to know what we're talking about.

BTW, if I wasn't clear enough before; I am really excited about what you're doing here and hope it gets the attention it deserves.

Paul,
Thank you so much for starting up this site & podcast. it helps a lot and really DOES make me feel less alone. Job well done!!