Crafting Your Way Out of Depression

Hello, Upscale Party Readers!

As I explained in my profile, I want to use this blog, not only to talk about crafting beautiful things and planning upscale events, but also to share my experience living with major depressive disorder. Entertaining and creating beautiful things has probably been the one constant in my life, other than the presence of mental illness.

TRIGGER WARNING (depression)

My childhood ...

My mother was always entertaining and she did so in truly upscale style! Throughout my childhood, our beautiful home was always elaborately decorated for parties and holidays! These are the memories that I cherish. These are the times when my family was together and life seemed happy.

In between the picture perfect holidays and behind the beautiful facade, however, my family was in constant turmoil. I always knew that something just wasn't right; I always felt that somehow I was not normal. But it wasn't until long after I became an adult that I understood how unhealthy my upbringing had been and that it was still affecting my life. 

 



http://www.jinbiban.com

Both of my parents suffered from undiagnosed and untreated mental illnesses. My father was a suicidal manic-depressive, obsessive compulsive alcoholic. And yet he was high functioning and able to succeed in his career as a prominent attorney. My mother, among other things, was codependent, depressed, had attention deficit disorder and narcissistic personality disorder. And yet she was also a gracious hostess, able to welcome guests from all walks of life and make them feel comfortable at any occasion.

More about my tumultuous childhood later. In the meantime, if you are interested in learning more about adult children of alcoholics (ACA) here are some resources:

http://www.adultchildren.org/lit-Laundry_List

http://www.thefix.com/content/5-characteristics-adult-children-alcoholics

This little glimpse into my childhood was intended to put my depression in c0ntext. Growing up in a home environment where the parents are unpredictable and often abusive

http://www.iechar.org

is no easy task. I still suffer from feelings of anger, abandonment and shame, and feelings of great sadness and loss, all of which basically come down to severe depression.

 

Through a series of unfortunate events, I do not have the affluence of my childhood, but I have my mother's legacy of sophisticated taste and appreciation for elegance. I began crafting and doing DIY projects because I wanted beautiful things that I could not afford to buy.

Recently, I realized that my obsession with crafting has been a way of coping with my depression. Crafting produces a calm state similar to the idea of Zen.

When one mindfully dwells in the present moment, one completely dissolves into whatever activity manifests.  One becomes the activity.  Most people have had peak experiences, which all involve being so totally involved with life that one’s sense of separateness dissolves into the experience.  Very Zen.

 http://www2.bc.cc.ca.us/resperic/what_is_the_meaning_of_zen.htm

 

To read more about the benefits of crafting for those of us who suffer from anxiety, depression or chronic pain, see this recent article by Jacque Wilson, of CNN:

http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/25/health/brain-crafting-benefits/index.html

 

More about living with depression to come.

 

Next up: My first Craft Tutorial!