What helps you with crippling depression?

[GinandGobbledegook]

I'm 4 weeks into antidepressants and I've not yet seen an improvement. I don't know if it's too early yet.

I cannot get out of bed. I can't motivate myself to do anything at the weekends.
I manage to get out to work each morning which weekday because I know I have to but it's hard and I get straight back into bed when I get home.

The cycle of not moving or doing anything isn't helping me. The idea of walking downstairs makes me want to cry.

I'm after small tips that have had a big impact when you feel this way.

That sounds dreadful - you may need a change dose or change meds. Contact your prescriber.
Take care.
Depression is hell💐

Take time off work and focus on you

Thanks both. I will look at booking a Dr appointment to review my dose. I definitely don't feel any different but I assumed it was too early.

I can't take any time off work as that will just cause a massive anxiety attack because I'll worry what they are saying what's happening without me there. I know it will make me worse.

Day light or get yourself a SAD light, I know it's not the answer for everyone but even just sitting outside in the garden can help a little bit, small steps to break the safety of staying in bed.

I’m so sorry you are going through this. Here are some things that help me:

Aim to have a shower on the weekends. It might take all day, it might feel impossible, but if you do it then you have achieved something with the day. (If you don’t do it it doesn’t matter.)
Open a window and get some fresh air. Soon you will be able to go outside again. (I echo the SAD lamp too)
Make sure you are eating enough food, and a well balanced diet. Fresh fruit and vegetables if you can
Drink a lot of water.

And hopefully your gp can adjust your medication as that should have kicked in by now

Routine. Wake up at the same time every day after going to bed at the same time every night.

Eat healthy. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Drink plenty of water.

Exercise every day. I follow Couch to 5k and NHS Strength and Flex, plus I do 20 mins of yoga a day.

Take your vitamin D through winter, made a huge difference to me when I was found to be deficient in March and it's changed my life.

Take some time out to be mindful. I journal every day, and meditate for 30 minutes in the evening. It's helpful to check in with yourself and your body.

Be organised. Have a plan for things that stress you out. I plan meals/shopping, and have a day for managing money matters, and have a housework plan.

Try to stay social, don't cut yourself off. I play games on a Wednesday and Sunday, and have a movie night Fridays. I also try to contact family every day to check in and chat.

I have recurrent depressive disorder, it's like bipolar without mania, and all of these things help massively.

Op I have no medical qualifications but I read recently that anti-depressants only work for 50% of people. No doubt someone on here will correct that statistic if it's wrong. I think antidepressants don't work on atypical depression either. If there's no improvement after eight to ten weeks, I think I would try and get back to the gp or do you have the means to see a psychiatrist privately?

Sorry you are feeling so crap. I feel similar ATM. Not unhappy as such, but completely demotivated.

Someone on here recommended Therapy in a Nutshell on You Tube and I have found it helpful. You have to be feeling motivated enough to put the work in though and that's very hard when you are feeling seriously depressed.

Do you feel going to work is helping or hindering you? Gp normally say it's good to keep going if you can, but you may need some sick leave to give yourself a break or take the pressure off initially while meds kick in or to put the energy in to recovery rather then work.

Most of all, please don't keep this to yourself. Tell people. Your depression sounds serious. Please fight for some support for yourself. I hope things improve for you very soon.

And to get to where I am now, I started with tiny steps every day. You don't achieve all of this at once, you start to build new habits and when you get one down, you start another.