Beat Back Depression by Doing "One Thing!"
Curly: You know what the secret of life is?
Mitch: No, what?
Curly: This. (Holds up one finger)
Mitch: Your finger?
Curly: One thing. Just one thing. You stick to that and everything else don't mean sh*t.
Mitch: That's great, but what's the one thing?
Curly: That's what you've got to figure out.
Curly, the wisest cowboy that I ever saw! For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about you need to sign into your Netflix account and rent one of my all time favorite films "City Slickers." City Slickers is the story of three friends, all in various stages of a mid-life crisis. Each is dealing with their own emotional problems including depression and anxiety. To break out of their crises they throw themselves into an adventure completely out of their comfort zone.
Not only is this a great movie but also a great example of how to challenge and fight depression.
Mitch, the main character, is my depression fighter superhero! Mitch, who is clearly depressed, agrees to go on his yearly vacation with his buddies, even though he really doesn't feel like it. Often when depression hits, it feels next to impossible to say yes to doing just about anything. By saying yes to his vacation Mitch is also saying yes to challenging his depression even though it feels counter-intuitive. He also opens himself up to new experiences which can further help combat depression.
When he meets Curly the rough old cowboy, his perspective on life takes a major shift. The above mentioned quote is something I think about often. "Just one thing," has gotten me through a few rough patches. In my private practice, I often tell clients struggling with depression to just do one thing, anything when they are plagued with inertia.
By focusing on one thought or action, the body and mind are freed up and can begin to work productively together. Often medication alone is not enough to relieve all the symptoms of depression and it may be essential to add cognitive techniques like this to a treatment plan as well.
People who are open to challenging themselves and depression--especially when it's the last thing they want to do, often do better in the long run. Try to do "one thing" today that is manageable yet a tiny bit challenging. Be your own depression fighting superhero!
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13
It is sometimes hard to do anything, but I am willing to give it a try.
By keeponbelieving July 29, 2008 6:43pm
12
When you are really depressed and fight it everyday, take medication for it and push yourself to focus and struggle on, this sound a bit stupid. You don't know what real depression is unless you really have it.
By pw123 July 28, 2008 4:18am
11
And if you are depressed and have ADD, how do you focus on one thing?
By QuackedUp July 26, 2008 6:40pm
10
I think this is good advice. I know when I'm depressed I have to do one thing at a time and then the depression starts to lift when I realize that I'm accomplishing things.
By margaret0618 July 23, 2008 12:01am
9
thats the stupidest thing i have ever heard
By redrambo677 July 21, 2008 7:40am
8
Thank you. Always looking for ways to fight 'do-nothing-ism'.
By lalalalayla July 20, 2008 7:18pm
7
Thank you
I am going to try Just one thing
adn rent movie
By kellie58 July 19, 2008 8:06pm
6
While I appreciate the intent, this is exactly the kind of sound-bite advice that depresses me. It does help me address the real problems. I have a mound of issues, most interconnected. To pick up " one thing" is to pick it all up like a tangled mound of dead vines. Please, I expect ore from a therapit.
By StayStrong4 July 18, 2008 11:35am
5
I have done this. When I feel so down and the list of "I shoulds" is getting overwhelming. I do one thing. And then I can do another.
I will never accomplish everything that is on my list, as it gets added to all the time, but I can fight the darkness. Maybe one load of laundry at a time ;)
By Saracooks July 17, 2008 3:31pm
4
I really hate that advice. Just do one thing, or just get up an push through it. Like it is that simple. It is not when you are at the bottom of an episode.
By ParagonOpus1 July 16, 2008 11:54pm
3
Great suggestion. I set out my goals for today. Take a shower, brush my teeth, and sit outside for 10 minutes. I made it 20. I feel accomplished. Are those major things? Nah. But I did them. Completely. Enjoyably.
And I got pictures to prove it! hee hee Hugs
By CherieS July 16, 2008 9:52pm
2
This is great advice. "Just one thing" is do-able.
By kiwicsi July 16, 2008 7:20pm
1
It is so refreshing to see you focus on this quote and put it into real life, I have been thinking lots about this quote recently myself.
By Langley July 16, 2008 4:58pm