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How do you deal with depression?

14 replies

momiamarichman · 05/12/2021 18:06

I'm taking my medicine, sleeping (way too much), tried going to the gym, lots of water etc. I still can function.Sad

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XenoBitch · 05/12/2021 19:41

Having a routine. Doing things just for me. Any hobbies? Try and do them, even if it for just 10 minutes.

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ThisIsStartingToBoreMe · 05/12/2021 19:55

There isn't really a cure for depression as such, just medication to numb the feeling.

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InternetAnonymityCanHelp · 05/12/2021 20:06

Fresh air, sunshine.

Either talking therapy or CBT. Even a self help book.

Being open to the fact that depression is a condition and you can change your way of thinking. But it takes work. Medication helps, but is not the whole answer

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nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut · 05/12/2021 20:06

I make myself get up and wash and dress every day by 12. On a good day I go shopping or just for a walk round the shops if I'm not at work. On a bad day I cry down the phone to my long-suffering therapist.

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Forion · 05/12/2021 21:34

Medication and a lot of supplements.

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Ubiquery · 05/12/2021 21:37

Go for a walk.

Write To Do lists (brush teeth, empty dishwasher etc) and tick things off.

Schedule things to look forward to.

Go for a walk.

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Ubiquery · 05/12/2021 21:37

Also, are you in therapy?

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Hobnobsandbroomstick · 05/12/2021 22:16

Having a morning routine. Walks. Dogs.

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Glugglejug · 05/12/2021 23:09

Fresh air makes things slightly more bearable, always.

It is extremely hard though. Flowers

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hivemindneeded · 06/12/2021 04:53

These things helped me when I suffered from it long term:

1.) Basic self care: shower, clean clothes - the nicest ones you can face putting on, a bit of make up, brush hair and clean teeth. My mantra was: You don;t have to want to do this, you just have to do it.
If you have the kind of depression that tells you you don;t 'deserve' self care, do it for someone else - for your DC or someone you know is concerned about you.

2) Basic health care. Depression is a very physical disease. It ruins your sleeping and eating habits. You have to try to override this. try to eat three healthy meals a day. If you are on meds that create carb cravings, it's easier to go low carb. Add herbal iron supplements and Vitamin D spray. Read up on any trace chemicals you might be short of such as magnesium or, if you find it really hard to motivate yourself, try L-tyrosine.

3) make a list of what you did each day, not a To Do list. i found it really therapeutic on days I thought I had just slept in PJs to realise I did actually make DC's packed lunches, put on a wash load, feed the cat and the birds, cook tea etc. Small things that helped other people's (mainly DCs) world go round.

4) Do things that give you a break from low mood. I used to think: what;s the point in goig for a walk or doing yoga? I just feel rubbish again afterwards. Then I realised the point was that I didn't feel rubbish during - and that was a break through. I started looking for more and more things that broke the circuit. So it's great you are going to the gym. Try spending time in nature too. Just go for a walk and decide to focus on one specific thing, such as the colours and shapes of leaves or the different textures on the path - moss, stones, mud etc. Just to have somewhere to rest your mind away from intrusive thoughts. If you have DC do this as a game with them.

5) Work out what soothes you and do it daily. For me that's gentle piano music in the morning and funk and disco music in the evening. I watch comedies (long run series like Parks & Rec are good) instead of endless crime dramas, and I avoid the news almost entirely. I'd rather watch HIGNFY to find out what happened in the week that have a relentless torrent of gloom piped into the house through radio and TV.

6) Do something in the community. When I was at my most depressed I volunteered for a local foodbank. It was a couple of miles away without public transport. I walked there and back (was unable to work at the time). It gave some purpose to my week. I loved adding extra treats to the food bags and seeing the clients faces when they saw the treats.

7) Do soemthing every day that you've never done before. It acts as a sort of mental circuit breaker. And keep a record of it on your laptop or in a notebook. Start small when you are knackered - try a different scent of bubble bath or a different coffee in a different cafe. Take a new route to work or when out on a walk. then start pushing yourself a bit. try a new fitness class or hobby (just once - you don't have to sign up for a term) Go to a gig of music you don't normally listen to. Treat it all as a bit of an experiment. I found this, above anything else, started to rekindle my enthusiasm for life and after a few months I felt well enough to come off medication and stay off it (this was after decades of medication)

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hivemindneeded · 06/12/2021 04:55

I forgot to add the obvious stuff - meditation, yoga and affirmations. Affirmations can feel very forced and off-putting but they are a good way to take a break from any loop of self-critical inner talk.

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momiamarichman · 06/12/2021 13:18

Thank you so much everybody, it means a lot that you've taken time to comment. Thanks

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DressingPafe · 06/12/2021 13:23

Getting my cats helped me a lot. Even when I felt crap, they still needed attention, feeding etc. A dog would have been too much commitment but the cats are just right. They do cute things and make me smile. They snuggle on my lap and make me feel loved. They’re just company when I’d otherwise be alone.

Other things that have helped me, are getting out into the garden for some fresh air. I find weeding, maintaining the garden etc very therapeutic. I also like losing myself in a good book or I do those adult colouring books.

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HeatingOnHeatingOff · 06/12/2021 13:43

When i suffered with depression and was sitting around in pjs unwashed, teeth not brushed etc it was a really difficult thing to break.

Everything feels like a big effort. I had CBT and that totally changed everything. I had 7 sessions of an hour each and ive been fine since and that was about 6 years ago.

This is what i do day to day….

  • i set myself targets. For example if i want to watch something at 9pm i will set myself a target at 7.45pm to have a shower, wash and style hair, brush teeth and be back ready to watch the programme for 9pm.


The house is a tip so after the school run i think right i ve got 2 hours before the cleaner comes so i will start upstairs and work my way down and afterwards i’ll have a brew.

I reward myself with alot of brews come to think of it.

Also i bought myself some headphones and i listen to music on my phone whilst im doing things. It really keeps me motivated that chores dont actually feel like chores when im humming along to tina turner!

Like now im looking at the clock and thinking i can get a corned beef hash on cook before i pick the kids up and they can have an early tea and if i do it now then i ll have time for a hot chocolate before i go!

Another thing is i dont own any pjs, dressing down, sloppy lounge wear.

I got rid of all these as its too tempting to slob around in these rather than get dressed. I now only have proper clothes so when i get up in the morning i have to get dressed properly as i have no pjs, dressing gown or loungewear. I also shower at night so its not such a big ordeal getting ready for the day.
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