Depression Talk

Depressives have trouble with directions, especailly if they are directions to finding a new place like a doctor’s office, a friend’s house or a job interview. The reasons for the trouble are:

• Trouble concentrating
• Fear of messing up and getting hopelessly lost
• Thoughts that the person/website that gave you the directions was wrong

All of these are normal symptoms of depression. If you’re not sleeping well (common for depressives) than that just compounds the problem.

But, you can’t spend your entire life in your home. And besides, the mental and physical activity will be good for you, besides the self-esteem boost of actually finding the new place. Here are some tips on how to find a new place when you have depression or the symptoms are flaring up.

Double Check Directions When Possible

If you get the directions off of MapQuest or another webiste, actually phone the place or a trusted loved one who has been to the place and ask them their advice on how to get there. And, do the same thing if someone gives you directions. Check it against MapQuest (or wherever). If they are mainly alike, then chances are the directions are good.

Have The Directions Wrtitten Down For Both Ways

Beause you’ll be stressed and nervous, you may be more prone to getting directions like right and left mixed up. For example, in the days before I telecommuted, I was guarenteed to have a migraine start immediately after a job interview — even if I got there in time and the interview went well. It just never failed. Perhaps my body gets tense for so long that when it’s over, it finally falls apart like the car at the end of The Blues Brothers.

So, I have two sheets of paper with directions on how to get to the new place — and then directions on how to get back home. Even if I was desperate or flush enough to get a cab home, the cabbie would never know where I lived and I’d have to give him directions, anyway. It just saved me some stress.

When Driving, Use A Clipboard

In the days when my eyes were good enough to drive, I would write the directions in big block capitals and stick them to a clipboard and lay it on the seat next to me. Sure beats trying to interpert a map.

Hope this helps.