What do you do to help yourself when in the grips of depression?

[momto3]

Just curious what others do. Maybe I will get tips on other things to try.

When I am depressed, I tend to over eat and isolate myself - all of which makes my depression worse.

Exercise has been effective for me, when I can make myself do it. Also gardening, but of course this is not helpful in the middle of winter.

[xfundy]

1. A couple of things that have occasionally worked for me

-- though not always, are:

• walking, exploring my surroundings

• taking a different way home for a change of view

• calling and asking a friend to cheer me up by being silly

• funny movies/websites

• doing something creative (have to be careful about judging it, though--do it for the process, period)

• trying to look at familiar things from a different perspective

• looking at great art on the web or in person


I'll try to think of a few more.

[momto3]

4. I think that getting up and doing something is the key.

It is hard when you are depressed. I do not have a great support system for me to reach out to, so often I feel very alone.

One other thing I like to do is to get out on my motorcycle. This really clears my head. But, I have to be careful that I am not so far gone that I could get hurt. I have never been suicidal.

[mdmc]

2. read funny comics

watch comedies
hang out with my nephew and nieces..

medicate

[momto3]

5. I like to play video games with my kids.

Right now my 5 year old are playing plants vs zombies. It is pretty fun killing zombies and refreshing in its own silly way. Thanks.

[Neoma]

3. I read childrens books.

Or draw.

[momto3]

6. What kind of children books do you read?

I try to read all of the teen fiction that my daughter is reading. One, to keep an eye on the content and two, because some of the authors are quite talented. It is good to read a book that is easy but still interesting.

[Neoma]

7. Mainly books from my childhood.

Harry Potter, The Indian in the Cupboard series, The Barrowers, Artemis Fowl, Henry Reed Inc, Lord of the Rings, Dune. That sort of stuff.

[fizzgig]

9. have you read the his dark materials trilogy?

if not, you should check it out. fantastic.

[fizzgig]

8. bubble baths

take a good book with you and close the door.

futz around on the icanhazcheezburger network

listen to my favorite goofy songs on youtube

nothing wrong with a bit of junk food therapy, i like chocolate malts

i know that it's hard to get up and get out of the house, but do it. go to a coffee shop or the park with a book, watch the sun set, listen to the birds.

[hunter]

10. I used to force myself out of the house and run long distances...

... for that "runners high."

Usually in the middle of the night because I'd be in bed and my mind wouldn't stop, or when I did go to sleep I'd have terrible, terrible nightmares.

These days my knees and hips won't let me forget that. They always hurt.

[BrendaBrick]

11. For me,

when it gets really bad and I feel as if I am about to actually lose my mind and hanging on by a mere thread...I have to just stop and honestly ask myself...OK. Time out. What feelings/events etc am I avoiding and trying to push aside and not deal with? I find that if I ask myself this in an open and uncensored enough manner and allow for a pause...the answers typically surface on their own.

To just honestly ask myself.. what's really going on here that is making me so miserable that I have yet to acknowledge? (A morbid curiosity, if you will ~)

For me, I think the greatest obstacle(s) most times are those things (feelings) which I suppress...only, you don't really know that you are suppressing it in the first place until you feel really cornered, trapped and utterly hopeless - enough to finally ask (and answer) your own self just what the heck is going on here????

9 times out of 10 (for me) it has to do with profound, unprocessed disappointment about a particular situation/person from my past. About not processing a particular loss in my life. Not easy nor pretty to actually...go there. But I have found (overall) that it is almost always worth the effort and I come out of it knowing a little more about myself, and the depression just naturally kinds of shifts/lessens as a by-product result.

Kind of, sort of like removing a long buried thorn from my soul...and somewhat ironically I find (in retrospect) that I was making a big deal out of nothing (surface stuff)...when (in essence) there was a much bigger deal in which I was doing nothing about...(by not acknowledging or 'going there'.)

For me, my biggest hang-up is not so much about depression per se - but on the incredible confusion, mostly...which feeds into the depression...if that makes sense? And the main thing that comes with that is a level of personal embarrassment to myself - about myself that (evidently) I didn't/don't know enough about how the whole world really "works" because my emotional growth was stunted ('deer-in-headlights' kind of existence) at such a young age and I have to all of a sudden attempt to make up for all of this lost time...is probably my biggest obstacle to try and tackle...Oy - at my age already!

Aside from that, music (and dancing) really helps me to instantly change my mood and allows a well-needed outlet.

Also, it really helps to have a few supportive non-judgmental friends in my corner who are not put off my sporadic neurotic ways!

[BrendaBrick]

12. Awww....

Somebody gave me a valentine heart tonight. Thank you - whoever you are!

[Neoma]

13. I go on DU to get pummeled.

I draw and isolated, and read, watch depressing documentaries, play mindless videogames when I think about death. Or I stay in bed all day without hygiene or eating. I used to play sad songs when I was depressed as a teenager, but I stopped that.

And then I drink tea.

[fujiyama]

14. I have tended to drink in the past

which never particularly helped. I've cut that down though because I have little interest in even drinking.

I went on a hike last weekend with some friends. I felt great that day and even maybe a day or two later. But the depression is like a stalking horse (it reminds me of those horse in the Lord of the Rings). By Friday it had kicked me down. I think physical activity is likely one of the most effective ways of feeling better, but I understand how difficult it can be to get the motivation, especially when you feel like there is little point in doing it in the first place...