What do you do when you start to feel yourself sliding into depression over the world?...

[Locut0s]

Last edited Mon Nov 13, 2017, 01:17 AM - Edit history (2)

In my case I've had depression and anxiety most of my life. But I'm not talking about deep medically serious depression in this particular thread, although I've certainly fallen into deep depressive episodes of that type in the past. If you are going to be a harm to yourself or others please seek medical help! There are a lot of people out there who care and you deserve to feel better!

Instead I'm talking about milder but still distressing levels of depression and anxiety. Often times there are many sources for our moods. In my case I've recently had a few things happen that have nothing to do with politics or news that has caused me to struggle. Nothing major but I know the warning signs of a slide very well. And in these moods news and politics at a time like this is often of no help. Indeed the news just in and of itself can be a trigger for depression if you start to drown in it. With the world seemingly falling apart bit by bit daily.

What do you do to combat these feelings. Assuming you are familiar with them?

For me I find it important to seek out friends to hang out with. Just to distract myself. Go play some games together. Immerse yourself in hobbies etc. I still find it difficult though.

[AirmensMom]

1. Exercise

It’s helping me sleep and it’s one thing I can control.

[wryter2000]

21. That's really the best thing

Not everyone depressed can manage it, but if you can, it's the best mood elevator and sleep helper there is.

[Madam45for2923]

48. Walking for a depressed person could be a good start.

[Locut0s]

37. Agreed exercise does wonders...

I really need to get back into shape. My weight has yo-yo'd over the years from a high of 260 to a low of 135 which for my height as a man of 6'2ish is dangerously low. Again my depression, anxiety and perfectionism get in the way of living a balanced and well reasoned life a lot of the time. However when exercise has been a good thing, vs something I overdid it was of amazing benefit to me. I need to get back to regular workouts as I'm putting on too much weight again.

[TheBlackAdder]

65. Find an online copy of THE. BEST. DECADE. EVER. Shits been much worse than what we have it.

It just seems that things are fucked up because news is instant and international. Anyone can report on things, which make it seem like a lot of shit is going on, when in reality, it's the best in terms of life expectancy, feeding the hungry, wars, civilian casualties, disease, etc...

[treestar]

69. +1

And music.

[LuckyCharms]

2. Turn yourself into a badass.

Stress your body instead of your mind.

Toughen your body, but retain your empathy and sensitivity to others.

Take on physical challenges. Do something you previously thought was impossible for you.

Be a badass. Push yourself.

Be kind to all. Lower your voice. Set an example. Smile as often as you can.

PUSH yourself.

It's the only thing that worked for me.

Become the center of your own universe and use your strength to help pull up others.

[onecaliberal]

9. Thanks. I needed to hear that.

[LuckyCharms]

66. You're welcome...hope it helps. n/t

[bdamomma]

55. I like your comment

I sometimes feel like things are unraveling but we need to fight and push forward and never do this

[LuckyCharms]

67. Thank you. n/t

[True Dough]

3. I'll add a couple of suggestions

-Volunteering. Either to help the political cause that can help counter some of the negative events taking place or helping people in need, which can be very rewarding and make you feel better.

-Exercise. Spending 30 to 60 minutes doing some cardio can release endorphins, which give you a natural high. This one is dependent on being healthy enough to engage in vigorous exercise, however.

[hlthe2b]

4. A lot of very long walks with my dog...

I have a playlist of songs that are very emotional and if I need a little catharsis, I go on a trail less traveled and sob while I listen and MOVE. Moving is key. It alone is healing.

And, of course I lavish a lot of love on that pup. Nothing better when you are blue than a very concerned and loving pet.

[peacebuzzard]

8. Same here! me & pup walk at least 2.5 mi. Daily!

Not just walk, but power walks, full steam ahead. It helps with the frustration.

[mopinko]

13. dogs are magic.

my dogs keep me rooted in love.
my sister passed away this week, and it just happened that i got a puppy that i had been looking for for a while.
couldnt be a better coincidence.

lots of volunteer slots where you get to be around animals.

[hlthe2b]

16. I'm so sorry to hear about your sister, mopinko...

I can appreciate that pain. But, I am SOOOO pleased to hear you have a sweet little puppy to help heal your heart.

[mopinko]

47. thanks.

yup, perfect time for that puppy to land. i knew a pup would find me, and at the right time.

[Hortensis]

41. I'm so sorry about your sister, Mopinko.

And glad you have your puppy to cuddle.

When my husband was at a very uncharacteristic bad point and was spending all day in a recliner during bad weather, I brought home a complete surprise -- a kitten to join him and play all over him in the recliner (too much of a baby to jump down to the floor). A kitten demanding to be played with and finding a favorite nap spot on his shoulder forced him out of his funk. But then this wasn't grief and it wasn't clinical depression.

Take care.

[mopinko]

46. thanks honey.

kittens work, too.

[bdamomma]

57. so sorry for your loss

pets are wonderful for support, they love you unconditionally. They do feel your pain.

[mopinko]

58. thanks much.

i have no earthly idea how people live w/o dogs.

[bdamomma]

60. Pets are wonderful.

I am partial to cats..........just petting them calms you down.

[sharedvalues]

5. Exercise. Yoga. Do something concrete.

Exercise and mindfulness are very important - the only long term way of beating depression.
You can get mindfulness standalone, or as part of meditation, or as part of yoga. Google “Mindfulness in plain English “.

And you can volunteer : with let America vote. Or local Democratic Party. Or a local protest or march.


Good luck!

[enough]

6. Get outside.

I fully agree with the importance of movement and mindfulness. I find even with attention to both of these, still just getting outside can help a lot in the moment. And it's in the moment, every moment, that we need to take care of ourselves.

A couple of other things. Drink water, doesn't have to be large amounts, but drink a bit of water whenever you feel out of sorts. You will be amazed the subtle difference it makes. Make sure you are warm enough, don't get cold for long periods of time. And of course, eat and sleep.

[Grammy23]

7. Do something creative.

I have quite a stash of collage materials and I drag out the boxes, paper and assorted bits and pieces and start creating. There are really NO rules and the things I make are for me. I work with my design until I get it like I want it. It is fun, relaxing and keeps me away from news that distresses me or makes me anxious.

A break from TV or whatever your source of news is seems to be a common strategy to deal with feeling depression/anxiety. I know a number of people who do this from time to time. Self preservation.

[NightWatcher]

10. I used to hit the heavy bag until I couldn't lift my arms anymore.

Now I smoke a bowl and put on some tunes or a peaceful podcast until I fall asleep.

I had a bad medical thing happen and since being told I might die in a few months (that was 6 years ago) and I didn't, it's hard to get me too down. My kidneys recovered and so did my mindset.

[roamer65]

11. Take up a hobby that interests you.

Lots of times I tune out of the bad news and focus on something that truly interests me.

[ProudLib72]

12. Make future plans

Not big ones, just what you would like to do over the weekend. Plans should involve getting out and doing something, not sitting on the sofa watching TV. This is what I find helps. It's like having a fun goal. You want to see the new exhibit at the museum? Ok, make plans and do your damnedest to stick to them. You want to have lunch with your old friend? Make it happen. It adds structure and diversity. The worst possible thing for depression is getting stuck in a rut and not having the momentum to get out. Even the slight depression you speak of can lead to a boring routine that feeds the depression.

[Locut0s]

39. I agree!...

Having lived with depression most of my life I thankfully now know the beast better than I used to. Heading it off at the pass is always key. If you start to feel yourself slipping put in place plans to head it off. Make plans. Force yourself out to do things. The other day I was in a bad mood so I forced myself to clean my apartment top to bottom. Even took the bathroom sink out and resealed it and cleaned it top to bottom. I didn't necessarily HAVE to do these things and they bordered on the obsessive a bit but it helped my mood a lot. So did forcing myself out to a trivia night with friends at a local bar.

I've also matured a huge amount in recent years and know my own mind much better. I've always been a fairly introspective person but in recent years I've worked on diving deeper into my psyche to pull things apart to understand things better. To understand what has lead to my years, decades, of unhappiness, low self esteem, and even self destructive behaviour. Awareness of the roots of these things has helped me greatly. I won't for a second deny that I have a long ways yet to go, but I've made a lot of progress. Most days I try to live in the moment now and it doesn't take long after I start to feel triggered by something for me to tell myself "woah now step back my friend and analyze this for a second, why are you feeling this way. You don't have to. It's a choice." You start to become aware of the negative voices in your head and the choices you make that make your world shittier than it has to be. It's not a cure all but it really helps a LOT!

[dawnie51]

14. I better find something soon....

my blood pressure is thru the roof. Added another med, and so far, it's not helping. This idiot is going to kill me.

[Hortensis]

42. Don't let him! Seriously, you're aware. You don't need

the daily trollings and sensationalizings the venal media giants serve up to know how you need to vote.

[UTUSN]

15. DU

[theaocp]

17. Smoke weed with friends and laugh. n/t

[Locut0s]

38. I've found weed to be both wonderful and a struggle for me...

Wonderful in that it helped me gain a sense of peace and perspective over my life I never know I could have. A struggle in that with time I found I would kind of lose touch with reality and get a little too detached, even when smoking relatively small amounts. The first time I used weed I was not as careful and I both smoked and used edibles. It's the edibles that eventually did me in that first time. I still had 3 wonderful months of experiences. But over time I did notice the paranoia and other aspects of anxiety start to creep in. I finally had one brownie that set off a panic attack that set off 6 months of pretty daily constant anxiety and panic. That did eventually subside but I stayed away from weed for a number of years after that.

Just recently I tried to go back to vaporizing and smoking only with no edibles. I was able to for a number of weeks very well. But again the anxiety and sense of paranoia would slowly start to creep up on me over the weeks. This time because I wasn't using any edibles I did't have any terrible experience. The last time I smoked wasn't exactly fun and the next day I was still anxious but nothing more than that. I stopped again and haven't gone back for a month or more.

I'm not sure if it's just the way by body reacts or not. I was careful to only try indica strains and I know sativas tend to amp up anxiety even more, but that didn't seem to make much of a difference.

[RobinA]

40. I've Long Believed

that the anxiety producing properties of pot are much overlooked. With legalization I keep reading how it helps relaxation and serenity. I have never found this to be the case. People who are prone to anxiety and not experienced with cannabis need to proceed a bit carefully. Which is not to say they should avoid, but they need to understand that pot use may not put you on cloud 9 like is so often touted these days. I don't know where this came from, as it's not something I remember hearing back in the day.

In my opinion, a generally anxious person who uses pot to fight anxiety is going to be in for an uncomfortable couple of hours.

[Locut0s]

50. There are also dangers for younger people as well..

The link between weed and the development of schizophrenia is not very well established but there is reason to believe that it needs better study in younger individuals. Schizophrenia tends to develop in those in their early 20s and there is definitely some correlation between its development and weed usage rates. That doesn't imply causation though and studies have been mixed. Indeed many believe that it's not at all a cause but may be a trigger for those prone to likely develop it anyway. It's likely that any kind of dissociative drug like weed may have some dangers for those prone to psychosis and other related mental illnesses. The drug naturally alters your perception of reality which can be a terrifying experience if you are not prepared for it.

Even if you are one has to proceed with some caution if one is prone to anxiety as you mentioned. I'm not saying, just like you weren't, that people should not try it. Indeed I'm very much for full legalization. But the image of it as some wonder drug with no negative side effects is silly. It's certainly light years ahead of alcohol in terms of long term safety and damage to your body. And that's available everywhere.

[hunter]

18. My television plays movies. That's all it does. DVD, VCR, and Netfilix.

DVDs and video cassettes from thrift stores. My wife has a similar opinion of TV, so that's good. No cable, no satellite, no broadcast. Our only electronic connection to the outside world is medium speed DSL. We've got full control.

And my crazy meds. Those keep me out of the psych ward. Otherwise I stay up all night thinking, and thinking, and thinking... when all the less rational people are asleep. Dead people speaking to me.

Dia de los Muertos

Dr. Who:

And it ain't so bad. We should listen to dead people.

2016 my meds faded and I landed in the locked psych ward. Got meds that work better for me, met lots of interesting people along the way. My own version of "networking." Watching nature channels with homeless people, in warm places, did that just a few days ago. Look here on TV, a snapping turtle, just like me!

[The_jackalope]

19. As an atheist I developed a spiritual practice.

Having grokked the imminent, unavoidable fracture of global civilization due to physical, political, psychological and systemic pressures converging and escalating on all sides, I had no way to escape the knowledge. It was destroying me. So I figured out a personal response that involves Buddhism and Taoism. I can now keep the knowledge intact, and at the same time let the emotional reactions go.

[RandomAccess]

25. Oh, very good

[uponit7771]

20. Focus on the larger areas of good and do some more of it

[wryter2000]

22. Music

There are few moments when Tower of Power can't bring a smile to my lips and get my body moving.

[safeinOhio]

23. I shut off the tv and

Tidy up.

[fierywoman]

24. Read the Martha Graham quote once again:

"There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique, and if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium, and be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is, not how it compares with other expression. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open."
Martha Graham

[samnsara]

26. i smoke a little pot...do some physical work and hug my dogs..

..also I try to escape the 21st century and watch old b/w westerns..Gunsmoke...Bonanza..Wagon Train. I hated these until just recently when I just COULDNT watch any more news. Now I have something to look forward to. I actually LIKE these old shows..so simple and so clean. Then I smoke a little pot and hug my dogs...

[RandomAccess]

27. I'm not sure I fully understand your situation

but I do have my very, very somber moments (hours and days),

The suggestions above are great.

I also remind myself and try to marinate myself in the knowledge that however imperfecrly, however slowly, our institutions ARE working. And so are "We the People," as evidenced by Tuesday's triumph. We've had Congress shut Trump down on Russia with their sanctions bill, and we've had multiple courts shut him down. Many cities have declared themselves sanctuary cities, states and other entities have signed on to the Paris Accord, and people are resisting and mobilizing everywhere. And then there's Mueller.

And so on.

Will all this be enough to save us? It very well could be. I choose to believe that it will -- even if I have to force the issue a bit some days.

But in my heart I truly do believe we'll come out of this era without the whole planet destroyed.

[cilla4progress]

28. Love these.

The common themes - nature, movement, pets, a little weed- all speak to me, as well.

[Doreen]

29. I was barely keeping my head above water with all of the crap going on

in our political world. I was making plans for my personal life and that was yanked out from under me within seconds. I no longer have anything that relieves my depression and the world scares me more than it ever has. The most happiness I get is talking to all of you.

[Snackshack]

34. 🙂

Try to stay strong and take things one day...or even just one breath at a time.

/hug. 🙂

[Doreen]

35. Right now it is one breath at a time.

Thanks for the encouragement.

[bdamomma]

59. DU helps

being with like minded people helps. I try to keep away from the TV on the weekends. And of course come here just to see what is going on. Exercise helps too. I usually have a glass of wine and try to wind down.

And breathe deep....................and let it out slowly.

[Doreen]

62. I avoid news on the weekend also. Most of the time they are just rehashing.

DU helps a lot.

[GreenEyedLefty]

30. Turn off the news, for starters.

I have a few ways to "escape."

Time with my dog - walk around the neighborhood, trip to the woods, dog park, etc.
Good books
Music - classical, especially
Cleaning
Videos about topics that DU calls "woo" but I call interesting

[Hortensis]

44. Absolutely. The biggest bias in news is toward degrading

and sensationalizing to sell newspapers. The political version of "if it bleeds it leads." Everything is presented as bleeding.

[Locut0s]

64. The News has always been a business. But I feel there is no longer a divide...

I feel there really is no longer a divide anymore between the editorial staff and the marketing staff in most establishments, no mater what the media. There is very little of the detached cold rationalism left in news media these days. Instead most sources know their audience and their trigger points and play them like a fine tuned instrument. Even news sources that tend to tell the truth instead of just lie all the time like Fox News will still write their stories in a disturbingly opinionated fashion at times. And there is always the drive to market to the lowest common denominator. To simply stories so as not to confuse too many people. It mustn't read like you need a post secondary education to understand it or we might lose readership. Well I'm sorry but the real world is complex and multifaceted and it's not at all black and white a lot of the time. Sure sensationalism sells, but a diet of it 24/7 gets people like Trump elected.

[Hortensis]

68. Agree, Locut0s. The corruption of journalistic integrity

seems to have gone well beyond mere pursuit of profits, though.

A scary sign of deep-seated corruption is the almost nonexistent coverage of both the enormously powerful wannabe kleptocrats, who are behind the bizarre actions of congress, and religious extremists. The former are now occasionally mentioned a bit, the latter almost never. And there's a great deal of overlap in people and purpose between the two conspiring types. Too powerful, too deeply infiltrated, for individual media to care to take on, much less individual journalists? The silence is deeply disturbing.

"Even news sources that tend to tell the truth instead of just lie all the time like Fox News will still write their stories in a disturbingly opinionated fashion at times." Yes. Coverage of Hillary Clinton is proven by studies to be intensely biased in even the prestigious media, notably the NYT. The role of many major media in turning the nation over to the Banana Republicans really needs to be investigated and actions taken so it can't happen again. But won't. Not without big regime change.

You've certainly described screen media in shallowness, but let's admit that there are still popular print media that make the eyes of people who don't read cross. They are written for those who do, too much for anyone to keep up with, the links in every in-depth several-page New Yorker or Atlantic article leading to dozens of others in various good journals. But, still, far too much silence on certain subjects.

[qwlauren35]

31. Music

I find that upbeat, fun, funky music helps get me through a lot of things.

Next, hugs. I am bipolar and can experience deep depression. Being in my husband's arms is the most comforting place in the world. If you can, find someone you can give hugs to and get hugs from. Sex is nice, but hugs are special.

Next - letting my dog lick my face. Just sitting and petting my dog is a very peaceful experience and I recommend it. Some people might find that same peace from holding babies, but babies can cry, so I'll take a dog. Much less complicated. Stroking a cat and listening to it purr can also be very fulfilling. On top of everything else about it, you know that you are making someone else happy by doing something very simple. It's a rush, to be able to make someone else happy.

I have thought of re-subscribing to an SGI Buddhist newspaper, The World Tribune, just because almost every single story is about how someone turned his or her life around. I'm not an SGI Buddhist any more, but my memories of the paper are very fond.

I am a diarist and have kept journals for over 30 years. Pouring my soul out in words helps me sometimes.

Call someone out of the blue and rekindle a friendship. Focus on listening so that you don't pull them down. Or be prepared to tell them everything good you can think of in your life. In fact, it's good to have a list that you keep of everything good in your life, so that you remember.

Those are my ideas...

[rainy]

32. Read Undoctored, stop eating all sugar and grains and processed foods

Heal your adrenal glands and go out into nature and connect with our oneness

[Snackshack]

33. I understand...

Completely.

I like to stay informed on current world events. However finding that information on the net or by watching the news. However I generally feel worse as opposed to better after reading the latest news (especially after this last year).

When that happens I (try to) shrink the world down to that which I can control vs. what I can’t control. It does not always work 💯% but it helps. 🙂

[Calculating]

36. To be real weed, music, and enjoying the little things

If the world ever seems completely overwhelming or despair inducing it helps to just smoke some of the good stuff and get lost in some good music. It also helps to just enjoy the little things in life that you DO have control over. Work out and get in shape so you can feel good about your own health and body. Work on the yard or some home improvement project. Go out to a movie, binge watch some netflix, etc. No sense in letting the madness in D.C. get me down when there's nothing I can do about it.

[eShirl]

43. Immerse myself in some complicated multi-volume epic science fiction or fantasy series.

Asimov's "Foundation" series or Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire," for example.

Also, gaming.

[Hortensis]

45. 43 posts and I'm the first to mention cutting out alcohol?

What does that say about me?

Seriously, alcohol can be a depressant, although that's supposed to be in larger amounts. But I'm petite? Whatever. That nicely substantial evening cocktail with my husband never bothered me before, and it never caused me to wake up like the reported 4 hours later before, though I read alcohol can do that. But I've been having trouble with sleep in general again lately and feeling sick and depressed all over again at the news, like in the weeks after the election, and I think subbing V8 and soda water on its own has helped. Or maybe it's just having taken some action at all.

[Madam45for2923]

49. I'd like to bookmark this whole thread!

[Eliot Rosewater]

51. Pretend for a minute you live in a shack in a 3rd world country with no running water

and very little food.

But you cant really do that, can you...None of us can, we can try but it wont work.

I am NOT making light of clinical depression, I am saying that it is all a matter of perspective.

I dont know what happens to a person with clinical depression when faced with either they act or they starve, but most dont have clinical depression either, I dont think.

I am just real pissed right now, I could be depressed but I dont think I can afford it, nor can my family...Trump, Ryan etal are actually for real trying to kill us, so we have to act.

Turn that frown into RAGE. And pass it on!

[Locut0s]

61. One of the problems I've always had with advise from people to compare ourselves is that...

From an emotional point of view relativism is really the only thing that matters. Which is not to take a cold hearted approach and say not to think about those in the 3rd world and how good we have things here by comparison. Indeed I feel it's essential that we DO keep this in mind so that we build compassion into our daily lives, our foreign policy, so that we strive to help the needy of the world. And yes in moments of more minor depression and anxiety it's possible to remind ourselves that our first world problems can't compare to 3rd world ones.

However to claim that it's possible to actually snap out of depression and anxiety by making such comparisons is to never have experienced serious emotional struggles. If material wealth and standard of living actually made one happy then Robin Williams would never have committed suicide. That may be a bit of a dark example to use but I think it's a perfect one. Short of actually starving to death, material possessions make a difference up to a point. But relative and perceived happiness is actually MUCH more important to ones actual happiness. In fact studies have shown that rates of happiness in many slums are higher than you might think. Which isn't to say terrible injustices aren't carried out on the people there, they are. Nor is it to argue that they don't need help, nor that the income disparity in our world isn't fucking criminal it is!

[FM123]

52. I have a little notebook...

I too have had issues with mild anxiety and depression from time to time in my life, it's gotten worse since Trump took office. My solution is I have a made a little notebook. Over the years, I have compiled lists of things that perk me up and I have lists of things that calm me down. You know yourself best, so make your lists (on your good days when your thinking is clear) and don't hesitate to open it up when you need it. I think of it as my cookbook with recipes for inner peace.

[FloridaBlues]

54. Listen to great dance songs and watch more comedy

[Gabi Hayes]

56. You are one of myriad others, including me. Ive stayed away from the news

For long stretches, even Colbert etal, because it’s too gut wrenching to see what they’ve done to our country.....and the world

You’re not alone; don’t worry too much

So.....here. This is what I do, for starters:

[Generic Brad]

63. It's the little random unexpected things that help

Yesterday I was driving and "Hooked On a Feeling" by Blue Suede came through on my massive streaming playlist. It made me smile and forget my cares for a brief moment.

Ooga-cha-cha. Ooga-ooga. Ooga-cha-cha. Ooga-ooga.

[hamsterjill]

70. Your post made me smile.

I remembered the video that went with this song, and the cape that the lead singer wore. I smiled.

Thanks.