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For Those Moments When the Sunrise Doesn't Make You Feel Like Dancing

It took me several years to finally admit it, but I struggle with depression from time to time. This was a frightening realization for me because I didn't quite understand the difference between my mother's bipolar cycles of depression and the everyday, run-of-the-mill variety. In fact, depression is considered the "common cold" of psychology/psychiatry. No one is completely immune to it, but some of us are more susceptible than others.

I can't say that I've figured out the perfect solution yet. Just this morning I had one of those "just-want-to-crawl-under-the-covers-and-stay-in-bed-all-day" feelings wash over me with the first rays of the sun. Fortunately, I suspected this was coming, and last night I tool some 5-HTP before I went to bed.

Here's my little pitch for this wonder product. 5-HTP helps balance the seratonin in your brain. When seratonin gets too low (like with depression), you don't sleep well. If you suffer from depression, you know exactly what I'm talking about. For me, anyway, taking this stuff when I feel my mood sinking helps stave it off. Of course, I still have to work through my emotions and thoughts, but I can deal with that when my physical body is working.

Now that I woke up rested for a change, I just might be able to get some things crossed off my to-do list. I put it together at 1:00 a.m., and it's quite lengthy. But if scheduling my time doesn't seem to do anything for my, have a stinkin' list seems to keep everything in perspective. Something about it brings out the divide and conquer instinct within me.

(Fingers crossed that I finish my niece's quilt in the next few days.)
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