How I understood and then escaped

Hi Vital,

How long using your method you see results in depression? Do you feel like a normal people (who don't have mental ilness)?

Thanks

Hi Lika Li,

You should feel something quickly, within the first day, maybe right away. That's the way it was with me and others who have tried it (others in this thread and patients at a hospital in Boston). I kept doing it and completely dissolved my depression after a couple of months. I feel completely healed now - not depressed at all and not mentally ill. This feels

W O N D E R F U L

by the way . I would look at this too and check for physical/nutritional issues that may be holding you back.

http://forums.psychcentral.com/4262681-post105.html

- vital

Here's edmerch1984's thread where he's trying snap club too:

http://forums.psychcentral.com/depre...epression.html

- vital

Your posting makes great sense to me. I am starting to try it in addition to improving my diet with more healthful foods.

Hi Hopeful,

Thanks. If you haven't seen it already, these notes might help

http://egg.bu.edu/~youssef/SNAP_CLUB...0164151576.pdf

I'm working on my diet too. I tend to like books by Mark Hyman or Andrew Weil for that

http://forums.psychcentral.com/4262681-post105.html

I personally also do long walks and yoga, which I also find to be very helpful.

- vital

the way I escaped was by being hospitalized. it changed my life.

Well first of all let me begin by saying i really enjoyed reading your post and i really like the idea of Snap Club after reading all what you had to say has made me look at alternative treatment for Major Depression from an entirely different perspective thank you

Thanks KB. You can see examples of people trying it in this thread

[ like Ed from a few days ago

http://forums.psychcentral.com/depre...epression.html ]

and it's also been used in "Behavioral Activation" therapy at a hospital in Boston.

Here are some notes from that session

http://egg.bu.edu/~youssef/SNAP_CLUB...0164151576.pdf

- vital

Hi everybody,

I want to save a link to profound_betrayal's thread before I forget about it:

http://forums.psychcentral.com/depre...3191-blah.html

SNAP CLUB still works wonderfully for me and for some patients from B&W hospital that I'm in contact with too. It is still the basic thing I do, but I also keep deciding (SNAP) to add things looking to make my life better and better. Besides long walks, I do yoga many times a week. I am especially impressed with the "Pranayama" (breathing) part of yoga as a powerful way to affect your mood and health. My latest experiment is to try probiotics in the form of....sauerkraut (!?)

Sauerkraut Test Divulges Shocking Probiotic Count | Nourishing Plot

This is something that may, I understand, have a big effect on your health in general including your mental health. If it works for me, I'm going to keep doing it.

In recent months, I have had a chance to find out how my new self reacts to some high stress situations. It hasn't always been pleasant, but I'm really pleased to find that I have much more resilience now and stress has much less ability to drag me down than it used to have.

- vital

Hi everybody. Saving a link to EmmieBlue's thread

http://forums.psychcentral.com/depre...ng-afraid.html

This seems to be really working. The hospital staff have invited me back to present this to a new group of patients.

WOW!!!! I just skimmed thru the original article & This make so much sense! I'm not good at snapping my fingers so I will SLAP (gently) instead. A slap on the thigh, slap on the forehead for a brilliant idea, a slap on upper chest, even a slap on the kitchen counter, steering wheel, grocery cart, etc--whatever works at the moment.
I'm new here and finding this post was amazing! Thank you!

You're most welcome Chickhen! It DOES make sense, doesn't it?

I love your slap stuff too. I think it probably works even better for you if you really make this into your own system as you are doing. I think it helps to do your gesture BOLDLY and to be creative and have fun doing it. You're already doing all of that. Many amazing things can happen for you if you continue.

It seems like a superficial almost silly thing, but I really think it isn't. I chose snapping your fingers because it almost automatically gives you a dose of power, vitality and joy, whether you're male or female, a baby or an old man:

SNAP CLUB

- vital

Vital! I posted on this probably 2 years ago. I have not been actively using the snap technique and still have depression. But I found that when I DO use the snapping, I instantly remind myself that I am here. The reason why the snap technique works is because you're in the PRESENT. I know you've mentioned this before. I find that people with depression constantly have their mind wandering about other things- whether that be worrying about what others are thinking of you, worrying about consequences, thinking about existential questions, thinking about things that are bothering you, constantly finding solutions to fix your mood, etc. People who have depression aren't in the present like those who don't suffer through depression. The sadness is always lingering throughout and we're always thinking about it.
The snapping technique works. I am going to share this with others. Thank you for this again.

Another thing I'd like to add is that focusing so much on unanswered questions, depression, the pain of depression just makes your attention focused on that and only that. So it is best to be active, be productive, keep yourself busy doing things you love because that is also a way of staying in the PRESENT. It's all about staying in the moment and not having the depressive thoughts on your mind.

Great to hear from you Beachlover and thanks for sharing!!

I agree about it bringing present moment awareness and all the benefits that brings. I experience it like a wonderful combination of empowerment plus mindfulness plus a feeling of relief and gratitude all at the same time.

- vital

So I just wanted to say that I joined SNAP club two days ago and the drastic change in my mood for the better is astounding!

Over the past 10 months, I've been hospitalized twice (my first times in the hospital) and my mental illness (whatever it is) has literally taken over my life. I took off work for as much time as I possibly could before being forced to return or lose it. I was out of energy, dragging myself to work everyday knowing deep down that this was just not sustainable. It hurt to breathe - it really did. Trying to get out of bed, trying to take a shower....like being in cement or quicksand. Wondering how in the world did I end up this way where every little thing I do feels too much? I said to myself it's like I'm barely going through the motions. On autopilot. Everyday is the same cruel, painful fate that I have to suffer through. Each minute I have to push past. It's heavy.

And then I tried to google my feelings again. Maybe someone would relate. Or something.... And I found this thread. SNAP club. Hmmmmm.....I'm desperate. I will try ANYTHING at this point. So why not? What have I got to lose? It took a little effort at first, it did I will be honest. The first snap I made was when I decided to go into the coffee shop and buy a hot chocolate. I snapped. And I felt a bit lighter. I smiled. It didn't feel like going through the motions but more like a choice that I was not negative about at least. And I've kept on snapping. For little things like staying in bed, getting up, putting my shoes on, lighting some candles, turning on the radio, changing the channel, cloudwatching even lol walking in the leaves, picking up leaves as I go, etc. etc. And how quickly this has worked is amazing and almost frightening. Will it continue to work? Man, I hope so I've even noticed myself changing my thoughts. I have never been able to get CBT to work for me mainly because my anxiety gets in the way I think. But this snap game seems to work for my thoughts too. I literally snap them away if need be and the relief is immediate.

Only now I'm starting to get a little scared. I have been diagnosed with bipolar in the past (this diagnosis crap is ever changing for me) but if I do have bipolar could the snapping thing trigger me into mania? Is that even possible? I know that antidepressants can trigger mania.....ok, I hope I don't sound completely out there lol

But I can't really find much beyond this forum about the snapping thing and my depressive mind is trying desperately to prove it wrong while I'm in turn fighting the depression because I need hope. Please reassure me that this works long term and won't trigger mania, or if it does, that there's some other trick I can use at that point.

Thank you thank you thank you!

Hi Freewilled,

Wow, I'm so happy to hear how well you're doing!!

I think that sudden drastic improvements like yours sometimes happen because SNAP club really is getting at the true core of depression and if you can get at that directly, the rest of the symptoms sometimes just melt away.

As to whether it will last, I've been doing it for more than a year now myself and it really does keep working, at least for me. As for being worried about mania, remember, you just went from needing hospitalization to feeling great in two days! I think that anyone would feel giddy just from that huge contrast. I remember when I first realized that I didn't have to suffer any more and the incredible relief I felt at that moment. I felt a little giddy too. You may also find that you have lots of extra physical energy. That happened for me. I didn't realize it, but being depressed was a constant, constant physical drain on me, even if I wasn't actively being stressed.

If you're worried about mania, I would just watch out for racing thoughts or anything like that, notice them and just decide (SNAP) to calm down if you want to do that. I don't think that this can be bad for you, it's just re-connecting you with your own true inner power. You haven't felt that in a long time perhaps . SNAPs also bring present moment awareness and being calmly aware can help if you ever feel like you are getting uncomfortable.

As for not finding it elsewhere on the internet, lots of people are downloading the notes, but this is still very new. I'm not a medical professional, but the real professionals at Brigham and Women's hospital (a very prestigious hospital here in Boston) thought this was interesting enough to let me show it to about 15 of their depression patients a few months ago and they have invited me back to do the same for a new group of patients. Doing this with people in person has also given me more confidence that it really works. You can see it in people's reactions even as you explain it. People suddenly realize that this is really it.

- vital

Hi vital,

I just wanted to share that it has now been six days and I feel better than ever. I continue to use the snapping and have a respite, especially when alone. I didn't have that before because my depression had gotten so severe that even when I had the conditions for rest around me, I still felt the severe symptoms of the depression. I had no rest. That was one of the worst parts of it - not being able to escape it anywhere or at anytime. It was ever present . Now I still struggle in social situations but I can see more of the thoughts as they bombard me. These thoughts are almost like they are layered, there are so many at once. I'm hoping over time the snapping will help me overcome the social anxiety aspect of what I'm dealing with.

That's what makes this solution so amazing to me. The stark contrast between right now and six days ago is too much for coincidence.

Anyway, if I can keep checking in here I think that would be good.

Thank you,
Freewilled

Hi Freewilled,

I also found that my social anxiety only faded gradually even after I was essentially free of depression otherwise. I didn't even care much about that because it was such a HUGE relief just not to be constantly suffering. I still remember the moment when I realized that I could free myself from suffering any time I wanted to. What a moment. Like a spell being broken or like unchaining yourself after having noticed that you've been dragging around a boulder with you your whole life.

I'm looking forward to hearing from you anytime you want.

- vital

Wow! This sounds really good and so simple an explanation about what is happening. Even better there is a simple solution to implement! But there are some things I am wondering about. This thread has been here a long time is there are a reason why the depressed members here have not embraced this on mass? And why doesn't the American Psychological Association know about this and implement it? www dot apa dot org/about