WHat do you do when you feel depressed?

For friends who are feeling down, I always try to at least give them an ear if they want to talk. Maybe they want company, maybe not; maybe they want to talk, maybe not. I don't think it's a good idea to force someone's black mood out of them, but I do think you should at least be around to help if and as they want it. But the type of clinical depression I've learned and heard about is something...something so, I admit, alien to me that I almost feel paralyzed with indecision and unsureness about what to do. What can you do to help someone when you can't truly say that you know how they feel? I'm sure I've said and done some foolish things as a result. At the very least, you have to assure them that you're there and you still think highly of them -- after all, that's why you were a friend of theirs to begin with. :-)

For light depressions, interpersonal communication always helps. I mean, if it's really bad, I can't stand to be around anyone, and don't want to inflict my mood on them. But if it's a mild depression, or a case of wormeating, the best thing for it is to call or write my friends, try and go out for drinks or some sort of thing that I enjoy- integration into a support system of friends is a very important thing to fighting depression.

For long-term depression, the best thing for me is creativity. I draw in my sketchbook, which is kind of like a cartoon diary. (I've got acres and acres of this stuff online, from my darkest days) I write my little stories. I play guitar, and try to work on songs. Long term depression is often about self esteem problems, or feeling useless or helpless. Accomplishing creative things of which I am proud, really helps with this. And again, sometimes it's just a case of distracting yourself from your own depression, breaking the thoughtworm patterns that spiral you downwards.

Sorry, I could write books on this...

My cures for depression, going for long walks (8-9 miles), listening to sad songs, convincing myself that life could always be worse.

The worst feeling is hopelessness, and I only ever feel that way very occasionally.

All of these things are about balance. Serotonin is a mood regulator. Too little of it results in depression, anxiety, bipolar disorders, etc. I'm sure that too *much* of it probably results in psychotic or anti-social behaviour.

All that I'm saying is that exercise does promote serotonin. If you're experiencing a chemically based depression, a little serotonin goes a long way towards helping to even it. My experience is that maintaining the Big Three Things (eating properly, sleeping at least 8 hours a night, and exercising regularly) stabilises about 75% or (my, at least) neurochemical depression and mania problems. That's *my* experience, I'm sure other people may vary.

Otherwise exercise. Inflict as much non-destructive physical pain as you can manage, it overrides any mental pain... at least for a time. plus you get great abs and pecs.

No sex? Man, that's depressing.

Incidentally, did you study gender? Specifically 'The Circumcision That Went Wrong'? Still gives me nightmares!

Hi Kate, you're probably thinking of the neurotransmitter "dopamine". Serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine are all "monoamine neurotransmitters"; they start out as a single amino acid being acted upon by various enzymes. Dopamine gets converted by an enzyme called 'DBH' to become norepinephrine.

As an aside, nowadays, theories of schizophrenia are getting more complicated, and focus more on a dysregulation of dopamine throughout the brain, rather than simply more or less (i.e., for people with schizophrenia, some brain areas have too much dopamine, but other areas have not enough...)

Apart from these, do something that *you really like* (the emphasis being *you*), or identify things that you've always wanted to do but for whatever reason never started or never did well. Then start doing 'em. :)

I've been going to bed really late, and I haven't been doing my best at school (but I don't think that part's very noticeable yet). My guidance counselor/parents think it's because I'm taking on too much, and they've convinced me to drop a class.

I'm supposed to be writing/creating a film right now...finishing the script in early Oct., finishing filming on Jan. 1, finishing editing by mid-Feb. I'm nowhere right now...just a bunch of random ideas from the past, and I'm finding it hard to be creative...easy to steal ideas from literature. This film was supposed to be my ticket out of college, but at the rate it's going at, it'll probably just lead to more depression.

And to answer the question: lay on the ground, listen to the same songs over and over, post on message boards, sleep.

you should make a movie out of that

exercise

Science makes me depressed. The idea that we are all just biological entities and our moods are the result of chemical reactions is crushing, but part of the human condition, we have been able to analyse our existence to such a degree that some aspect of being human has been lost...(no offence is intended here).
-- james e l, Thursday, July 19, 2001 12:00 AM (6 years ago) Bookmark Link

:'(

i thought this was a reason to hope to feel affection at least

I usually listen to a instrumental music and sometimes watching a cartoon comedy!
-- Rein aguilar, Monday, August 27, 2001 12:00 AM (6 years ago) Bookmark Link

I usually listen to a instrumental music and watch a cartoon comedy!
-- Rein aguilar, Monday, August 27, 2001 12:00 AM (6 years ago) Bookmark Link

I am never depressed. I use Chant-o-matics. Also, I engage in no depressing behavior.

-- Nude Spock, Thursday, July 19, 2001 12:00 AM (7 years ago) Bookmark Link

wtf does this guy mean? (I mean, what did he ever mean, but this in particular)

What is this Ronco Popiel product I have never heard of that staves it all off? wtf?

depressing behaviors: being ugly, running over your dog, posting to ILX, etc.

I hope I didn't just zing an ILXor who ran over his/her dog

Chant-o-matics sounds like depressing (behavior? kitchen appliance?) to me.

I basically ignore everything NS every posted. Curt1s, why is posting to ILX depressing? I find the opposite - although starting a thread only to have it dissolve into a shitestorm isn't nice.

when I am depressed I go food shopping, I don't know why but it's very cathartic...I don't buy meat pies or tubs of ice cream either really, I just plan out the weeks ahead with meals and then I feel a bit better, like stocking up for the bad times.

Ronan, I think that's so smart and useful. It's only a small gesture in the face of I dunno, everything that's wrong in the world, but that's the only stuff we have control of anyway, I feel; it seems smart to apply one little patch at a time on the parts of reality that are our own.

yeah it's kinda failsafe, also I'm sure this is their plan but the supermarket I go to is big and spacious and a nice temperature. I'm sure I spend a little more but I mostly just buy good food and stuff and you always know it'll save stress and money worries down the line...

weird, ronan, i do the same thing. i also like to go someplace i've never been before, which takes my mind off of myself and into the world.

for me, the best things to do when feeling depressed: 1) keep myself busy 2) do something nice for someone

kill myself

I feel sad today :(

i am going to get up and go get coffee, maybe the cute girl who flirts with me will be there.

i hope you feel better, man.

i just had an unpleasant episode involving someone in my life who has been engaging in very self-destructive behavior. anyhow i am trying to remember that i can't control other people's behavior. it's upsetting, though.

I'm sure i'll feel fine. I think this is all the hangover talking.

hope you'll feel better ian seems like u have a pretty dope life

xp - my hangovers say similar things.

You have a cute girl who flirts with you, a great reason not to be sad!

i think about killing myself

when someone says "get help" it feels like "get lost forever"

When I am depressed I like to smoke a joint and listen to Coil. And then maybe sit an a hot bath until the water goes coled.

Coled like my coled, coled heart.

I meant "cold" fwiw.

I bought my best friend this book and she didn't even read it:

http://brog.engrish.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/Goodbye-depression1.jpg

I'm currently in a week of sitting alone, not doing anything, maybe checking ilx or facebook. I'm not even thinking about the shit that depresses me, my mind is just kind of turned off. I need to do things like apply for jobs. There are things I want to do, like my blogs or hang out with friends or whatever. But no, I just sit here. Occasionally scratch myself. I can't even sit through the Arsenal.

have too many cigarettes and too much caffeine

when someone says "get help" it feels like "get lost forever"

― dead flies on a chain (CaptainLorax), Sunday, February 20, 2011 4:02 PM (1 hour ago)

You need to read it as "I wish you well, but you need more help than I know how to give."

I'm not even thinking about the shit that depresses me, my mind is just kind of turned off.

Sometimes your mind knows what it's doing, and needs a little sabbatical. I've learnt to trust my non-productive days, gathering the energy to do something I really want to do.

yeah problem is more that i think i could just stay here rotting forever

ian ian ian

that happens. it's easy to get down on yourself for having sat there for a while, making it harder and harder to break the cycle. but if you just get up and walk away, that cycle is broken, and i think you'd feel better immediately.

anyway, just one possible thought. i hope you feel better.

i tend to drink, start an old videogame and play until I really screw up (usually takes about 30 minutes), halfass an animation and get pissed when no one on tumblr likes it, put off doing dishes, and then make an awful dinner that tastes like shit. that's pretty much what i've done for the last two or three weeks, actually (mixed in with a little going to work and getting nothing done ever)!

i guess i need to constrict my anus EVEN MORE!

NNGH

NNNNNGGGH

--

NNNNNGGGGGGHHHHHH

u gonna break a loin

I guess it's malarkey ;_;

NNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGHHHH-

http://i54.tinypic.com/2qscj8y.jpg

fantasize about being cool, rich, handsome and ten years younger.

i think about killing myself

― bamcquern, Sunday, February 20, 2011 9:59 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark

(... until he went crazy)

i am teaching myself to write poems that make me feel better. often the depression is the result of knotted-up words and ideas in my brain whose untangling can be wholesome and pleasurable

or sometimes i play a song

and mild substance abuse of course

Lots of sex.

oh yoko!

Often try to msg/get in touch with people to talk to/hang with, thus making me feel worse when none of them have the time.

Then get drunk and pretend nothing's wrong.

http://i53.tinypic.com/2mm6368.jpg

http://i53.tinypic.com/2mm6368.jpg
http://i53.tinypic.com/2mm6368.jpg

feels like this will never end
adapting rather than changing

http://deadon.files.wordpress.com/2007/04/waiting.jpg

My life, all the time.

fake it til you make it

it works ime

actually, one motivation to try to make things better is that if i don't, i'll just keep posting "nnnngggh!" out of weird habit, and after the original reference disappears into the fold no one will have any clue what i'm talking about (if they even do now, that is). and if i did explain, i'd have to say that it's about making the "nnggggghh" noise while constricting the anus muscles, so...

And then u will have haemmoroids.

i had a nice long chat about the rroids a few days ago in a coffee shop. this guy told me all about him. turns out that he really has to watch what he puts into his body, because 18 hours later, buddy, it's coming back out. also got some the conversational equivalent of an extreme close-up of the swollen veins - it was actually impressive how well he described it...by the time my vanilla latte was ready, i felt that i, too, had hemorrhoids.

Theyre not fun, sayin. ;_;