Thanks so much maggie, dumpling, casey, Today I am shattered but happy I got through yesterday. Wanted the feeling to last but am a little down today, not too much though. Look at the wreath on the outside of the house and feel good about it. They have invited me to the somme in france for the rememberance at 11 oclock on 11th day of the 11th month. The day 1st world war ended. I thanked them but declined but was delighted to be asked. My thoughts will be with them. Next year they have arranged for a hurricane jet to fly over the house. Hopefully I will be well by then. Thank you for your encouragement. x x

WONDERFUL!!!!!! Good for you!!!!!

oh gabs, I am so happy and proud of you!!! Good work.

Hi have just had my Remeberance service with the R.A.F. and have to say it was definately worth the stress that I have felt for the past couple of days. The people were charming, The uniformed officers georgous, and I got through it with no panic attacks and actually enjoyed it so I feel that this was definately successful home work . I think I was really thinking about cancelling. My Cousin turned up unexpectedly as she knows this happens each year and helped make the tea and serve everyone so less stress for me. Am so pleased with myself. 2 steps forward today and I am going to do nothing else as I dont want this feeling to go just yet. Just proves that this C.B.T thing works.

Hi Gabs, Yes, I couldn't agree more with wildcat, what a wonderful and honourable thing for you to do! Casey ____________________________ The DC Support Team

Hi wildcat, never even thought that people wouldnt know about rememberence day as its such a big thing here. The queen and all the armed forces and veterans march past the senetaph in London and then on to westminster abbey where the service is broadcast nationwide. We have a 2 min silence at 11am. This happens in every store, shopping mall etc. Most people, even the young respect this. The staff in shops do not serve the customers for the 2 mins. A big announcement is made 5 mins before that this will take place to honour all those who have died at all wars including for us the falklands and more recently Iraq. x

hi gabs, This really amazing. Rememberance day is nothing but a photo op here in Montreal. There are none in my surroundings who even know what rememberance day MEANS. I remember my grandfather who did his military service in 1920-1926 in Lithuania and used his brother's sponcership to come to Canada. I remember my great grand mother who immigrated to England in the early 1900's because with that it was easier to come to Canada. The wars touched their lives directly... and without them the world I know today would not be here. So Gabs, your efforts are appreciated by those who gave up so much and for some who still never forget.

Thanks casey, In previous years I have hardly given a second thought of this event but now with the depression it has taken some planning on my part. It is a service with R.A.F VIPs held at my house as a pilot died during the battle of britain. We have a plaque on the wall in remembrance. Usually around 30 or so people come, 1 year closer to 80. Basically i just have to make sure there are no cars in my drive and then after the service everyone comes in and I just supply tea, coffee and cakes etc before they all go to the war museum for Lunch. It really is no big deal when I think of it but I need my house to be spotless and because I have been so bad it is not. Have done bathrooms today and will tackle lounge tomorrow but it is not coming easy. I am a perfectionist in all that I take on. I am also panicking and anxious. Not that anyone of these old veterans would even notice if the house was a bit dusty but i do. I like to make sure they are comfortable and having a good day. The pilots sister who is 98 years old travels from Scotland to London for this to pay tribute to her beloved brother. They are always so thankful for my hospitality and never make any demands. They wouldnt even care if i offered them nothing but I like to do this for them. This year it is just really stressing me out and I hate this feeling, I always promise to put a wreath on the plaque on rememberance Sunday and that also makes me feel good to do that for this very lovely old Lady. My Husband wants me to cancel as he thinks it will be too much for me but he doesnt understand my need to do something positive and to help others. I will let you know how I get on. Thanks again for clarifying the pleasant activities x

Hi gabs, Thanks for this question. Great to hear that you are working through the program. For anyone else who may have similar concerns with this step, I will recap some of the information regarding the scheduling of pleasant activities. According to some experts, depression is caused by a lack of pleasant activities. What are pleasant activities? Pleasant activities are simply things you like to do. The basic idea is that when people are not depressed, their lives are made up of a wide variety of activities, some pleasant and positive, some unpleasant and negative, and some neutral. According to the theory, in order to be “happy” you need to have at least some positive activities in your life. Also, people stay depressed because they have at least the usual share of unpleasant activities but not enough pleasant activities. One of the solutions to overcoming depression is to try to schedule more positive and pleasant events in your life; this will help to get the balance between pleasant and unpleasant activities closer to what it is for people who aren’t depressed. We know from all of the research evidence and all of our experience working with depressed people that attempting to engage in pleasant activities is an important part of the effective treatment of depression. Keep in mind, we’re not asking you to “have fun.” We are simply asking you to do an experiment and see what happens. Try doing something that used to give you pleasure and see what happens to your mood. Some people make a distinction between activities that bring pleasure and activities that give a sense of accomplishment. Some activities are performed for pure pleasure such as going to a movie, taking a bubble bath, wiggling toes in the sand or basking in the sun. Other activities aren’t so pleasant to do but when you finish them you feel good because you get a sense of accomplishment or control over a situation. For example, cleaning the kitchen floor or tidying up a closet may not be exactly “fun,” but you can feel “good” or “better” after having done a small job because you can feel like you have accomplished something. Gabs, as your planned activity makes you feel better afterwards, then you can most definitely use this as a pleasant activity as it pleasure associated with your achievements and accomplishments. Hope this helps to clarify a bit more of the program for you. Remember to take the steps slow and make each of the activities as meaningful as possible to you personally. Keep us posted, Casey ________________________________ The DC Support Team

Hi, Not sure if an activity organised for home work counts as pleasant activity. Its something I want to do and has previously given me joy in helping others but now I am stressing about it so it is also making me anxious and worried. Its something I cant get out of but also dont want to as it means so much to people I dont even know. It has also made me feel good afterwards previously but involves a great deal of work for me just now. Only because of my perfectionist tendencies. Have asked a friend to help me out but she has a hospital appointment that day so I will have to go it alone. So, bottom line is, is this counted as pleasant activity homework? x