EVERYBODY HURTS - THE SONG REDONE BY THE CORRS

I really love the way the Corrs did this song by REM. Hopefully most of you can relate to it.- 'Everybody Hurts'

INTRODUCE YOURSELF (OPTIONAL)

Welcome to the BAD MOOD CLUB, a place for people with psychological disorders to connect, share, and exchange information with each other. Participation is not mandatory, but the more you put into getting better, the further you will go. Share as much (or as little) information that you'd like. this is a no pressure environment! Above all else, enjoy your vist here. It's an opportunity to learn, laugh, and listen with others while remaining anonymous. Please avoid subjects such as religion or politics as there'll be a broad spectrum of opinions on this forum. However, expressing your ability to rely on a hire power for strength is fine. So.... Introduce yourself   :)

TELL US YOUR SUCCESS STORY

Fighting our mental illness(s) and trying to be a healthier - happier person can be a life long goal and it takes a lot of practice managing our symptoms. More often than not, it'll also require additional help from a doctor and / or councelor. If you've made tremendous progress, share your story here. It may encourage (or show others) how to accomplish their goals as well.

A GROUP IN YOUR AREA?

Would you like to start a group about mental illness in your area? There's so many options and ways to start a group in your area. You can define it by a specific type of mental illness, or welcome all. It can be an indoor sit down type of group, or you can plan various activities such as hiking, bowling, photography, or anything else that people would enjoy. If you plan to work on internal dialog and cognitive behaviors, here's some forms that may help get the group started...

The COGNITIVE DISTORTIONS LIST is a list identifying various distortions and negative thoughts we tend to tell ourselves. 

The GOALS AND OBSTACLES WORKSHEET gives people a way to set long and short to goals to achieve a healthier internal dialog (and hopefully a happier life)

The SUBJECTIVE UNITS OF DISTRESS WORKSHEET (SUDS) is a way for people to measure their own level of anxiety. The SUDS ratings ranges from 1 to 100 and is self defined. These ratings can be used to practice exposure therapy and monitor progress. For people with AVOIDANCE BEHAVIORS, this is a way to practice being in stores, parks, schools, or other public places in order to gradually work their way back into society. NOTE that it's probably best to consult with your doctor or therapist first to see if you're ready to take on the challenge of being in public places or around crowds. Safety first.

The THOUGHTS AND EMOTIONS RECORD is an easy way to track your thoughts and how they effect you.

The THOUGHTS RECORD is a little more elaborate and focuses on changing negative dialog into a healthier way of processing your thoughts and emotions.

The THOUGHTS RECORD WITH EVIDENCE is similar to the one above, but also requires you to provide yourself proof regarding negative thoughts or fears. It's a chance to evaluate your thoughts and ask yourself whether or not the thoughts or fears are valid.

Hopefully more will be posted in the near future, but here's a little bit of help getting started with a group about retraining negative self dialog into heathier thoughts.

DO YOU HAVE A FUNNY STORY ABOUT YOUR MENTAL ILLNESS?

We've probably all had a moment where we've actually laughed about our mental illness. Have you done something goofy or silly because of your mental illness? Sometimes laughter really is the best medicine. If you can laugh at yourself, you can accept yourself. So do tell!!!

THE TOP TEN THINGS THAT SUCK ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS

Anybody with a mental illness know that MENTAL ILLNESS SUCKS! Here's your change to pipe in with your thoughts / experiences regarding mental illness. You can be funny or serious here, so what do you hate most about mental illness?

SUGGESTED BOOK READING, TEA LEAVES OR PALM READING?

Have you found a book you feel would help a lot of people? If you've had a great read, here's a chance to share the book with others. If possible, try to post the title, author, and ISBN code of the book. (The ISBN is usually in the very front or very back of the book) Good articles, magazines, handouts ect... are welcome as well.

HAVE YOU TRIED GROUP THERAPY?

People seem to have a wide range of experiences with group therapy. For some people, group therapy has been a positive experience and a chance to make friends. Other people have had a negative experience with group therapy. How about you? If you had a negative experience, would you be willing to try group therapy again?

ARE YOU OVERCOME WITH GUILT BECAUSE OF YOUR MENTAL ILLNESS

Are you overcome with guilt because of your mental illness. Sometimes we tend to isolate our selves from friends and family, ever react to conversations, or put our loved ones through difficult times. This is generally the mental illness talking, but we tend to blame ourselves for everything. Have you managed to get past the feelings of guilt and hyper critical thinking? What worked for you?

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE COGNITIVE DISTORTION?

Being mentally ill, we seem to be hyper critical of ourselves. (and sometimes others) We often only see the bad in certain situations, but overlook the positive aspects of that situation. Some of us are often our own worst enemy and tend to focus on the negative side of things. They are usually in the form of negative self dialog. Have you tried something such as cognitive therapy to redirect these thoughts? Has it helped you?