Samantha, so true so true. Even though I'm out of the bed, back to work, babysitting, and doing things I enjoy. I still have to fight those negative thoughts.
health - if I find myself going to the dr. frequently, I evaluate is it because I'm sick or just "think" I am sick.
intelligence - I do have difficulty remembering things, retrieving words, making decisions, organizing thoughts. I have had to learn to accept these and remember just because these difficulties are there, doesn't mean I'm not intelligent.
Achievement - just because I'm depressed, it doesn't devalue my education, my relationships with friends and family, my work ethic, my accomplishments throughout my career etc.
Popularity. I've always had a few close friends, I still have the same ones - pre and post dx with depression. I've even added a couple. I've been able to enter into a relationship
Attractiveness - this is one I struggled with pre depression and do so now. Intellectually I know I won't be attractive to some people but at the same time I realize I don't find everyone else attractive. However, obviously I am attractive to my "feller".
Strength - I get so mentally exhausted from "keeping it together" and this is the hardest for me to fight. I know I am strong, independent, self-reliant, but that get up and go; got up and went and I have to push, push, push. It's worth it, but I have to take that me time for naps, fun stuff, whatever I WANT to do, to be able to maintain what I need to do. I do NOT think I am weak because I am depressed or that I can just snap out of it. I do realize that this is a process as the sessions indicate and that sometimes I identify new negative thoughts and have to work through them too.
I'm a work in progress just as I was pre-depression; however, I am just progressing in different areas at times.
Maybe too much info here- but it feels good to look at it in writing.