Jokingly, I said on Twitter a few days ago that maybe international travel is the cure for depression.
Well, I have to say that I think there’s an element of truth to that. Not that I’m suggesting that anyone with depression book themselves a ticket and fly out tomorrow. But the thing about holidays is that it is, well, a holiday. You’re free of the responsibility, free of the pressure, free of cooking and housework and can relax. Generally, you’re doing things that you enjoy, that interest you.
I wonder if, as part of the diagnosis and treatment of depression, there shouldn’t be built in a period of leave from work – although there’s also benefit to having things to do and making achievements at a time when it’s hard to think. Maybe going part time for a while is the way to go?
Maybe the government should send everyone who’s diagnosed with depression on holiday 
It’s not just the holiday, of course. Getting some things straight in my head from the counselling session worked, and I’ve done some more with the ANU Mood Gym which has helped me to pinpoint some of the twisted thinking that got me into a position where my balloon was overinflated and able to to be easily popped.
And everything’s gone well on the holidays (although there’s been times when I’ve not felt one hundred percent safe) and so I’ve not really been tested.
Luckily, there was a moment in early March (before I went down) where I was bored on day, so I sat down and worked out my schedule for this holiday. Every morning, I’ve woken up knowing what I’m going to do, when I’m going to do it and I think that’s helped as well – maybe if I had freedom, had to make decisions, it wouldn’t be going so well.
Tomorrow I go to the RT Convention. I’ll have a roomate and there will be hundreds, maybe even thousands of people there. That’s going to test me, but hopefully I’ve already returned to an emotional equilibrium that will see me through it.
