How do you guys keep from getting depressed?

[KareBear]

Every day it seems there is something else going wrong with this nation and our world. Something else that could have been prevented if only the public would wake up and learn to think for themselves. Between the national debt devaluing the dollar, the war in Iraq, erosion of civil rights, the brainwashing of the masses, etc., its really becoming hard to even read the news. It seems like there are trends spreading through the world that just horrify me.

Get out your tin foil hat and let me just share some of the things I've thought of over the last several days (though obviously are just my personal hypotheses). After the "mysterious" sub sightings in Japanese waters, I'm very suspicious of China. We all know that they just have such "love" for their neighbor Japan. I wouldn't put it past them to go for Taiwan and keep right on rolling for Japan. Their buddies North Korea could hit from the north while they hit from the south to make for some very interesting times indeed. With the deficit as high as it is, China could SERIOUSLY harm the US economy by pulling out its financial investments and support. I wonder what our troops would do if we couldn't pay them any longer?

I dunno. I know I need to keep reading, keep being involved, keep trying to better the world and make people think, but its getting so hard. I see the little fundie bible thumpers walking around like they just elected the next messiah and its hard to not envy that happiness bought with pure ignorance. There must be such security in being in the flock of sheep surrounded by the wool of your fellows, even if it is on the truck to the slaughterhouse.

All of my friends have the attitude of "let it go" and "why do you read so much if it only brings you down?". I dunno. Pass the model airplane glue, let me drop 50 points in IQ and be happy till the end. Maybe pop out a baby or three.

Its so hard to stay upbeat and motivated when these people seem to WANT to be stupid and ignorant. They seem to WANT to be oppressed and spent as "political currency". I wish they'd all stop taking a piss in the collective gene pool for the good of humanity. But thats right, birth control is a sin. Silly me.

How do you all keep from getting depressed?

[lazarus]

1. I take drugs

Lots of prescription drugs.

But that's for clinical depression. For standard depression, I've turned into a cynical bastard. I just laugh at them all.

[Technowitch]

2. I avoid the news, and I work on that which gives me joy...

...my fiction.

It's a form of escapism, but an utterly necessary one for me.

[RebelYell]

3. Knowing I will be outta here in less than 5 years

Relaxing on an obscure tropical island.

[WindRavenX]

4. Try to make others happy

Try to embrace love.
Sleep a lot.
You know, distraction...

[crispini]

5. seriously, you need to learn to put politics in a box

and try not to let it consume 100% of your life. first try for just 95%. do some very touch feely non political things. pet your cats, listen to a cd, do some yardwork, go for a walk. cook yourself a good meal.

these are the things that keep us sane. pushing away THE BIG WORLD for just a few minutes and working on your own little world.... that'll be a place to start.

[tridim]

6. These two sites cheer me up every time

http://www.sorryeverybody.com
http://www.apologiesaccepted.com

Knowing that the vast majority of the World is on our side is very therapeutic.

[sandnsea]

7. 450 million Europeans

I think the ball is in their court for the next 4 years. Hope they pick it up and run with it.

Other than that, I have taken to fits of uncontrollable laughter. Condi Rice as Secretary of State? Perl recommending Wolfowitz as NSA? Gonzales nominated to the FBI on International Human Rights Day? Seriously, I'm noticing some reporters stifling their laughter at the absurdity of it all.

[rwenos]

8. Change Focus to Family

I think our problem is we got a whiff of what the government COULD be (actually, a reminder of what our parents' generation tried to make it in the 1960's) during the Clinton years.

Unfortunately, as we know now, Bill Clintons don't grow on trees.

Until we find another one, we'll need to pay attention to the little stuff, solidify our families, solidify our bank accounts, raise our children, focus on them.

What an irony! The antidote to Bush-era depression is turning inward, taking care of the intimate and family agenda.

We survived Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan. We can survive this jackass.

[alittlelark]

9. I DO

I DO, I don't sit in a vegetative state of depression (OK, occasionally). I send e-mails and faxes, I talk to grocery clerks, I talk with the parents at my children's school, I have converted almost all relatives, I DO.

Sometimes the weight will drag you down, when it does, rent a really funny movie, or a hotel room. And then get back to DOING.

[shesemsmom]

10. I usually talk it out with a friend of the same mindset I am

and we have decided we cant change every thing but what we can change we will and we usually do a good job of it

[Sannum]

11. The blue pill stops ya from screamin'

:D

[KareBear]

12. LOL! Put me back in the matrix!!!

:D Thanks I needed that

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

13. How I manage it is to remind myself that I am a drop of water

in the ocean...and no matter what happens I will die as will we all...the only thing that matters to take a line from a poem is what we do with the dash.

Nsma

1958 - ?

I read of a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
From the beginning...to the end.
He noted that first came her date of birth
And spoke the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time
That she spent alive on earth...
And now only those who loved her
Know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not, how much we own;
The cars...the house...the cash,
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard...
Are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left,
That can still be rearranged.
If we could just slow down enough
To consider what’s true and real,
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger,
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we’ve never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect,
And more often wear a smile...
Remembering that this special dash
Might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy’s being read
With your life’s actions to rehash...
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent your dash?

[Spera]

14. I visit DU

and realize there ARE intelligent, tolerant, compassionate people left in this country.

[NurseLefty]

25. It's what keeps me from flipping out!

THANKS DU!
:headbang: :yourock:

[Left Is Write]

15. I'm still in denial.

I still cling to my "Kerry will be inaugurated" fantasies. I still cling to the idea of civil liberties, a free society, and the idea of thinking of others and not just my own wallet.

I am in serious denial about the wannabe fascists and the fundies who think they own Christianity.

I might even be in denial about exactly how MUCH denial I am in.

[purduejake]

16. Ugh, I hear you.

Well, 450mg of Wellbutrin and .5mg of Xanax works pretty well for the depression and anxiety... just kidding. Anyway, I'm just avoiding the cable news and newspapers and sticking to the true "liberal media." I do check the facts on google and research the stuff I hear from the liberal sources and then decide for myself. It's just so much easier than hearing dems whine about how they're going to try to win the next elections that most of us know are manipulated by the reepers. I think it's insanity to think you can beat the election machines, but that's for a different thread.

Hang in there and know we're all out there with you. As a gay person, I am really afraid right now. I just take comfort by surrounding myself with like-minded people who are all in the same boat with me. Join a community group if you can. Hang out with friends. Or, just talk on here. It helps me!

[elperromagico]

17. Whip-its.

30 seconds of pure canned joy. ;)

[alittlelark]

35. Damn, I remember that from, like, 20 years ago!

Great fun, but I have come to appreciate the brain cells I have left.

[NAO]

37. Just Say N2O

It's a gas!

[edsdesk]

18. Subject: That's easy...

Message:
3 buck Chuck's helps while away the hours. In truth, you must find patience, not effort or strength, because this congress will do nothing to prevent catastrophe, and bushi will endeavor to further damage everything he can see. Truth is useless for now, save it up.

You must wait until the term of office is over, vote harder. Keep track of the body count. Keep links of each outrage, and remember them chronologically...otherwise you may become lost in the tide of them; the big swirly. The cumulative evidence will, in time, find this to be America's most corrupt and treasonous presidencial administration ever. Be there.


Meanwhile, Charles Shaw is my hero.

[RPM]

19. alcohol....

oh wait, thats a depressant - must be why its not working

[ReadTomPaine]

20. The best way to get revenge on your enemies is to live well.

[Ramsey]

21. Danced my ass off

I went to a party this weekend, and danced my ass off to a bunch of silly 80's tunes, and I feel totally revived and ready to kick some Repuke ass!

It may sound really dumb, but I shit you not, I am ready to rumble after a little restorative physical venting!

[KareBear]

27. Maybe we need a DU dating service

To help us find those fun like minded individuals to go out dancing with like that :)

[Ramsey]

22. Danced my ass off

I went to a party this weekend, and danced my ass off to a bunch of silly 80's tunes, and I feel totally revived and ready to kick some Repuke ass!

It may sound really dumb, but I shit you not, I am ready to rumble after a little restorative physical venting!

[GingerSnaps]

23. I asked the same question early this morning

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x2010313

We have a crises center at my College and I am recieving help.

I wanted to die the night of the election but I am not suicidal. I couldn't find a reason to live that night.

You need to talk to someone on a one to one basis and meds help.


:hug:

[CelticWinter]

24. I do things that I enjoy

play with my cats, read, sketch, take a walk in the woods. And sometimes I think of the world around me and start to chuckle realizing that if our country's economy hits the toilet how will these "repukes" with their big cars, suv's, large mortages and credit card bill make it. I know I can make it on very little, they on the other hand wont. At this point in the game I dont think * is gonna be booted out and all I can do is look to 08 and hope we can find someone whos got 'guts' and the stamina to take on a very big job of getting this country back on track and gain the respect of the world.
Its like being a one legged man in an ass kicking contest, its rough but with determination it can be done.
Blessings
~~Celtic

[NurseLefty]

26. The Muppets

Rent the Muppet Movie, or the Muppet Show (three episodes per DVD). It's hard to be sad about anything if you immerse yourself in Muppets!

[marlakay]

28. don't watch news anymore, spend more time at the gym

reading some fiction, going to the movies, renting comedy videos, got a job where no one talks politics and we joke all day.

At first I felt like I was living on another planet after being so involved but I realized if I am to get reenergized to fight again I need some emotional down time. I come on here about a hour a day to see whats happening but thats it.

If we surround ourselves with all the depressing news it will just bog us down. It is not head in the sand to read and know whats going on by checking in here, but to spend more time doing other things to get a handle on our emotions to build up strength again.

I went and treated myself to a massage after work tonight. It is a time to be good to ourselves.

[Dookus]

29. I have a puppy

that helps. Hard to be sad when a puppy's snuffling ya.

[Karenca]

30. me too

my new puppy helps.

[HEyHEY]

31. Whack-off and binge drink

[Dookus]

32. must be nice

to be ambidextrous.

[Neoma]

33. not sure how i do it.

i just know my limit

[Malebolgia]

34. Quarter taps, a bottle of tequila...

and some classic rock.

[Nordic]

36. avoid depressants like alcohol

seriously

[The Backlash Cometh]

38. It's a serious question.

I still find myself having trouble dealing with what's coming up next. It's hard being around so many people who don't see the tidal wave that's about to descend. They only think about their immediate needs and feel only "liberals" will be affected by the changes. Meanwhile, they grow more and more corrupt because no one is really watching or regulating their activities -- which I refer to as Repub sanctioned crimes. (white collar crime, torts.)

So, I try to do creative things where I can to distract me, I find I'm more patient with my children and support them as much as I can because I know that they're the ones that are going to be hurting the most living in this new world of fascism.

And most of all I pray. I pray that we can move away from this, I pray for God's protection; but most of all, I pray that the Democrats start reaching out to each other and create a new subculture to form the foundation for a new society.