Have you ever felt like giving up?

[suninvited]

a friend of mine posted this video on facebook this morning, and I wanted to share it with my friends here, as well.

Warning: you might need to have a box of kleenex handy before watching!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdqjOiTurTw

[LeftyFingerPop]

1. That made my day.

Thank you for posting this. :hug:

[suninvited]

3. you're welcome LFP

I am glad you enjoyed it!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. My dear suninvited...

No, sweetie...

I have never felt like giving up...

A dear friend of mine did, but he didn't either...he got back up and kept going, and everyone who knows him is the richer for his presence in their lives.

This is a beautiful video.

And yes, I did tear up. That man is an inspiration to us all...

Thank you...

:hug:

[suninvited]

4. that is because you are so strong Cal Pag

I have felt like giving up before, and have felt that way very recently. I am not as strong as I would like to be.

After watching this video, I feel shallow, truly shallow. The obstacles I have had to overcome are nothing compared to what this man HAS overcome.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. ...

:hug:

[suninvited]

6. ...

:hug:

[abq e streeter]

7. thank you..I have always been prone to depression, despair, self-pity etc

it's rather pathetic considering how relatively easy most of my life has been....I'm going to save this and try to watch it at least once a day for, well... until its message is so ingrained that it'll be a part of me. Thank you(and your friend) from the bottom of my heart for posting this, and a much much greater thank you to Mr. Vujicic . .........P.S. first time I've ever tried to rec a lounge post, but I guess DU doesn't allow that.

[suninvited]

8. yes, unfortunately recs are not allowed.

we might accidentally rec something BAD

[suninvited]

9. I know what you mean

it sucks how easily i have been swayed ....................

[LeftyFingerPop]

10. To abq and suninvited...

I'm typing this with kindness and good intention, after reading an excellent post by hedgehog that is currently in GD.

I suffer from major depression, and I talk freely about it.

A person who is medically depressed without treatment will view the video in the OP in the following manner...

"That guy has no arms or legs, and he keeps his spirits up...why can't *I* do it"!
Then the guilt that is associated with depression will worsen, and so will the depression itself.

Never feel badly for how YOU feel. Never compare yourself to others.

I don't know if either of you are speaking in this thread of actual depression, but if you are, it is OK to feel the way you do.

You cannot just "cheer up" or "motivate yourself" out of a medical condition.

:hug:

[abq e streeter]

12. thank you for that thoughtful reply, and you certainly make valid points

I wish you the best in dealing with your depression... mine gets much worse when I allow self-pity to creep in, and in my case, and I can only speak for myself, seeing people like Mr.Vujicic and being inspired by his incredible strength almost always is effective in helping me think rationally about my situation and appreciating what I do have, and blunting the despair and self pity that can be so destructive. Perhaps mine is not classical clinical depression, although I believe at one time it was... Again, I wish you nothing but the best in your struggle, Lefty.........abq e streeter

[LeftyFingerPop]

14. Thank you, abq...I wish you the best also...

Please think about this...there is a difference between a "trigger" (ie: your situation), and the illness of depression itself.

Let's assume that you are the following person...a self made billionaire who has given most of his money away to charity, and then volunteered his free time to help the homeless. With his remaining money, he established a comfortable lifestyle for himself...wanting for nothing materially. He has a loving and supportive family, and by all appearances, is "happy".

You could be this person, someone who has done everything "right" with his life, but you could still get depression so bad that it cripples you.

[abq e streeter]

15. Yes , I agree

I have , in the past, been diagnosed with clinical depression, and through many years of both medications and therapy, I believe I no longer suffer from the illness itself. But negative cognitive/etc habits remain, and so yes, it's now a "trigger" situation in my case. That's why this sort of inspirational video is now something that is helpful to me, whereas , for many years, it could have had either no effect or a negative one. I'm glad my situation improved to where with the help of the good therapist I have , I can, as Albert Ellis put it, "stubbornly refuse" to allow the negativity /self pity etc to take over .I'm not always successful in stopping those thoughts and their consequences, but have made great progress towards that goal. Once again, thank you for a thoughtful, caring and intelligent reply.

[LeftyFingerPop]

17. Sounds to me like you have it together...

Keep fighting the good fight! :pals:

[abq e streeter]

19. "having it together" ...in my dreams maybe

it's a struggle, day to day, sometimes minute to minute, but I have gotten better in recent years,and have the tools at my disposal to keep fighting; just gotta remember that I have em, and then have the inner strength to use em...that's why inspirational stories like the guy in this video are helpful in my case. You keep fighting the good fight too, friend. :fistbump:

[suninvited]

20. I understand what you are saying

and I do not suffer from depression, but have been knocked down so to speak. So down that I didn't think I could get back up again.

In 2004, I was engaged to a wonderful man. I had a terrific job, and my life in general was perfect. In June, my boyfriend was diagnosed with cancer. In September, my job was destroyed in Hurricane Ivan. On Christmas day of the same year, the love of my life died.

Talk about falling down!

For me this video was very uplifting.

[TxRider]

11. No, and I hope I never will.

[GirlAfire]

13. I Hate Crying...

...but I did (good tears, of course).

I showed my mom too because she's really scared that she won't be able to have her gastric bypass after all the fighting with the insurance company and after years of trying to lose weight on her own. I think the video may have helped her to feel better.

Thanks to both you and Mr. Vujicic.

[suninvited]

18. I know what you mean

I cried, too.

[Fire Walk With Me]

16. Giving up is extremely important. It cannot be under-rated.