What Crutch do you use to fight Depression?

[mopaul]

i don't use the word crutch in a negative way. everybody needs a crutch at one time or another, either temporarily, or permanently.

is it smoking? drinking? illicit smokables? excersize? meditation? medication? social activities? or are you one of the lucky ones, who doesn't need a crutch right now?

[Burma Jones]

1. Wellbutrin

used to be smoking, drinking, doob, wreckless behavior.......

[hobbit709]

11. Making some wingnut

miserable always improves my outlook. (And it's fun too)

[ihaveaquestion]

2. Exercise and self-talk.

Mostly swing dancing and telling myself that it will pass - it always does.

A down-day, staying home and reading, gardening & dozing, does wonders too.

[Spinzonner]

3. Considering your list

what's the difference between a treatment and something which is not.

[Hugin]

4. Well, formerly it was FDR's "New Deal".

Not sure how to fight Depression this time.

[Theres-a]

5. DU

Seriously,it cheers me up.So does nature.Sometimes when the news is too much,I look out my window at the birds and remember that "with all it's sham,drudgery & broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world".

[_TJ_]

13. Bad idea!

I find DU very depressing to be honest. I try to avoid it... but it's so freaking addictive. Yaaaaaaagh!! :crazy:

[Mr.Green93]

23. Agreed

Well said.

[Just Me]

6. When I'm feeling blue, I cling to precious moments.

Simple things bring me comfort: a hug from my son, my old house cat purring in my lap, bluebirds competing for the perfect birdhouse, children's laughter, a gentle breeze, conversation with my friends, playing with my dogs, an inspiring event (and there have been quite a few of those of late).

[teenagebambam]

7. A vodka martini....

...and a DVD of an MGM musical works wonders.

[Theres-a]

17. Bluebirds!

You are lucky!I can't seem to attract them..but I have many birds to lift my spirits,too.:7

[Just Me]

22. We have quite a crew of those colorful beauties!!!!

Their color edges on flourescent!!! I am quite the bird lover,....the vast majority of my paintings are of birds.

[H2O Man]

8. Happiness. n/t

[madrchsod]

9. i give my dog a big hug,

listen to music, or see what`s happening here at du....

[lala_rawraw]

10. Zoloft

[mikita]

12. margaritas, yoga, and exercise...

and as much music as I can hear live in Asheville, or on CDs....
:hippie:

[calico1]

14. Cuddle with my furkids. They can really

make any day seem brighter than it is.

[lateo]

15. Medication and meditation...and a good book.

Drinking can be harmful to your mental state. Anyone who is depressed should probably avoid alcohol.

[Nordmadr]

16. Going out in the woods, playing my guitar,

listening to traditional Celtic and Scottish music (love the flutes and bagpipes), a pack of cigarettes a day (which I'm trying to quit) and some "illicit smokables" coming from a little forbidden weed (which I'm not trying to quit) :)

Olaf

[Lannes]

18. Playing my favorite sport

Basketball

[Boo Boo]

19. Constant masturbation

Dick Cheney: "Simply stated, there is no doubt that Saddam Hussein now has weapons of mass destruction. There is no doubt he is amassing them to use against our friends, against our allies, and against us. And there is no doubt that his aggressive regional ambitions will lead him into future confrontations with his neighbors -- confrontations that will involve both the weapons he has today, and the ones he will continue to develop with his oil wealth."

Me: "Uh, uh, uhhh... Urrrrmph!"


:shrug:

[shadowknows69]

28. ROFLMAO

:rofl:

thanks I needed that.

[necso]

20. From my point of view,

once you (first) really get over the essential pointlessness, futility, stupidity and ugliness of life, it's never quite so hard again. (A Myth of Sisyphus sort of thing: "If the descent (to fruitlessly push the rock back up the hill again -- just to see it roll down) is thus sometimes performed in sorrow, it can also take place in joy.")

But that's just my point of view... And I don't necessarily recommend it. -- There are more comforting ones.

[havocmom]

32. Got that one!

:toast: to getting to the point of blowing some of it off cuz it's just pointless!

[necso]

39. Well,

the point of the punishment of Sisyphus is that he can't blow it off (his punishment, or, perhaps, his duty). -- He gets to do it forever.

But he can take such joys in it as he is able.

And what he can "blow off" is much of the misery that he inflicts upon himself.

But I ain't saying that it's easy.

[cprise]

21. Take a step back, and see it all as a fascinating drama.

Works for me. It helps if you read lots of foreign news, like The Guardian, BBC, Toronto Star, The Independent, etc.

Also, participating in climate-related causes cheers me up (see link in my sig). At least I can make a small (but real) contribution.

[tinrobot]

36. Stop watching cable news

I found these shouting pundit-heads did nothing but make me depressed.

You'll be happier without those dysfunctional people in your life.

[movie_girl99]

24. DU and talking to friends

about what's going on in our country. I get mad and bewildered but not really depressed.

[shadowknows69]

25. I have clinical depression

and have been on the precipice of that cliff called suicide. Done the prozac thing but have found since that good ole mary jane keeps me just as balanced and still allows my passions to exist. Prozac seemed to dull some of the good feelings along with the bad. Be nice if I could have it legally as my anti-depressant of choice.

[zanne]

43. I hear ya.

I've also suffered from clinical depression. I tried three different antidepressants. You have to "give them time" to work, so I went through six months of agony. They didn't do anything but give me dizzy spells and diarrhea. So I spent several nights with my good buddy Sam Adams. (Hell, it was better than suicide). Anyway, any port in a storm. I hope you start feeling better soon. Please keep posting.

[shadowknows69]

44. If I committed suicide

my wife would kill me (or have a party) so don't worry about me. I still get pretty bad bouts of it. A lot worse than I did from 92-2000 for some reason that I'm sure has nothing to do with our President (yeah right, you heard it here first folks. GW causes mental illness. Can we get an FDA ban on him?) anyhoo I would never do it just for the fact my dog would have to explain what happened when my wife comes home and I'd never put her through that. ;)


P.S. It's important that I state how much this site has also helped me. I know none of you but I feel like I know many. Thank you.

[CBHagman]

26. Movies.

Going to the theater also works sometimes. When I lived in Buffalo, I used to make an evening of it with a friend -- a play at one of the local theaters and then a meal or coffee later.

I remember seeing "Ed Wood" at a time of great personal sorrow. A friend and I made a point of seeing it. I've also used videocassettes of favorites to see me through.

[southernleftylady]

27. just look at my picture in my siggy :)

[Just Me]

30. Sweet. What a lucky Momma!!!

:bounce:

[southernleftylady]

33. thank you

:*

[G_j]

29. music

good thing, can't afford much else.
I smoke tobacco but that is a depressing habit.

[havocmom]

31. 5-HTP* & some other supplements, walking, music, writing, DU

and the 90 Pound Hound. Also, time spent with young children takes me out of myself, gives me time to NOT think about anything but miracles as I watch the little critters learn and grow each day. Time in the garden/time with nature.

Have battled depression my whole life. Getting it finally officially diagnosed was a MAJOR help! Stopped feeling so defective and started the work on helpful strategies to cope! Went through some different Rx, some helped, some almost killed me.

Made major life changes, gave up trying to do too much to fit in with American society, cuz I finally came to the conclusion it is sicker than I am. A partner change was a tremendous help; someone who understands depression and accepts it is MUCH better than someone who thinks you can just 'snap outta it and be like everybody else'.

In the past I have done work with a group which helps guide peer-support groups. Got good feedback from my work there and that gave my self-esteem a genuine boost. Really started taking care of me cuz I saw the impact I was having with others. Saw I was worth my own care too.

Learning that the black place I slide into at times is not the only place I will every be was a big help. That is the worst, when you can't see and end to the black place. But with time, help, a lot of work and some education about depression, it became manageable. Less and less time in that place simply by remembering there are other places to be.

Manageable is fantastic! Sure, it might be grand to never have to do it, to never have been in the dark place, but I am not sure I wold give up what I have learned from it. Folks lucky enough to not have any first hand experience with that place take things for granted sometimes. I figure it is nice they are OK all the time, but I also see they usually do not appreciate that fact. And I can understand a lot of others in a way non-depressives can't. Maybe I'm a bit elitist about it, but I do think depression can be just as broadening an experience as it can be a limiting one. You just have to keep using things to break out of the dark place til you find the combination which works for you.

There are some tricks for getting through the bad times I have picked up over the years and many I have taught to others. One of the first things I do when asked to help someone else is tell them to start journaling. It is a biggie. Helps sort out patterns and those are something we can address and work with to start seeing bits of light.

After a bit of that, I recommend making a short list: Five things the person enjoys doing. Now, that is easy for most, but can take a depressive a very long time and much effort. But it does finally make them remember there are times when they enjoy something.

Then I tell them to start DOING THE THINGS ON THE LIST! After some time, they have to make a longer list. It is a great exercise on so many levels.

Music is my drug of choice. I use it for getting up when I have to be around people and my energy for it is low (only other depressives know what I mean by that) and for calming down. I use it for times I need to reflect and go inward but not to get trapped there. I use it to celebrate the weather cuz being in touch with my natural environment is VERY helpful to me. I use it to help get to sleep when that is difficult (Andes native flute music is my sleep aid).

My, what a long winded gas bag I am! You might see that I care deeply about the issue and want to help others as I have been helped. There's a great crutch for depression: Find little rays of light and then refract them into bright colors to shine as a beacon for others lost in the dark place. We are all tossed about in a capricious sea. We can be each other's light house and safe harbor.

Be well, all. Love yourselves and know you are worth working on. There is light out there.

hm

* 5-HTP, read about it. PM me if you want a book title

[Bluerthanblue]

35. Really inspiring...

and helpful-

thank you for your post.

[havocmom]

37. Thank you

Your comment made me feel better! ;) See how that works? We are stronger when we reach out and acknowledge.

[tinrobot]

34. As someone who was clinically depressed....

I beat it through a combination of talk therapy, self-examination and antidepressants (Celexa / Paxil.) It took almost 10 years.

Now, when I find myself slipping towards depression, I do a number of things... exercise, get outside, eat plenty of Omega-3's, talk to friends often. I also find Sam-e and St. Johns Wort can help a bit.

[Protagoras]

38. Roman Stoicism...

When that doesn't work I get involved in politics :D

[Catherine Vincent]

40. I like dreaming.

[Ivan Sputnik]

41. St. John's Wort

300 mg (standarized extract) three times daily. Effective for mild depression. Like anything, YMMV.

[Bluerthanblue]

42. laughter- even in the

bleakest times, i've been able to crack jokes- and laughter is contagious-.... drugs, my kids, my dog&cats- knowing through posts such as this, that i'm not alone-

realizing that depression is the NORMAL response to 'bad times'- and in our 'personal lives' we all go through it at some time or other-
also knowing that our 'brains' are 'organs' just like our heart, lungs, etc. and sometimes they have problems- temporary or permenant, and there is NO SHAME in that- nor should there be-

The only 'shame' in depression is denying it- or ignoring it- because depression can kill, and hurt other people (especially those you least want to hurt) if allowed to go on for lengthy periods, without treatment or acknowledgement.

If we look at the situation we are in as a nation, (or beyond that really, a WORLD) there is much to be troubled about- ALLOWING those feelings to happen, and living 'authenticlly'- (crying when you need to, feeling anger when you are angry- without exploding all over others- feeling afraid,) allowing yourself to experience the emotions we ALL have, and have for a REASON- rather than 'holding them in' or burying them, so that they fester, rot and grow- would be my best ....-tip-.... for others-

Being honest with ourselves and others as often, and clearly as we can while being aware of 'how' what we do and say also impacts others, and is something we need to remember, helps everyone-

BREATHE- remembering to BREATHE - and take time out 'for yourself'- with the kind of gentle, loving care you usually reserve for others, but deny or pretend 'you' don't need or deserve-

Depression really sucks, but so does pain, - however they also play a very necessiary role in 'life'- pain alerts us harm or danger- shows us a part of ourselves that needs attention- so does depression-

being numb or in denial is deadly- avoiding 'uncomfortable' things only allows them to continue, or get worse-

wishing everyone comfort and peace

[Bouncy Ball]

45. Mmm, probably knowing when to take total media blackouts.

And that includes the internet.

When it's time to just curl up with a good book (that has nothing to do with politics) or a good old movie.

Spending time with my family and friends.