To ask you to tell me what’s making you happy at the moment?

[riotlady]

I’m going through an episode of depression at the moment and struggling to feel joy in anything, even my beautiful daughter. My parents have taken her for the afternoon to give me a break but nothing I can think to do makes me feel any better.

I would love to hear about some happiness in other people’s lives. What’s going well for you at the moment? What’s made you smile today?

GBBO makes me happy. And robins hopping in the garden. Having the gas fire on. Cinnamon buns from Gail's bakery. Leafing through recipe books. Radio 4 (just the soothing bits).

Oh, and I'm reading Bill Bryson's Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid, which has made me laugh out loud in public.

A slightly naff but quite soothing podcast called The Simply Luxurious Life.

In extreme cases: Ironing my pillowcases and spritzing on lavender water to help me sleep.

Feel better soon, OP

Looking forward to dance class, and supper which will be cooked by my husband.

Becoming a step-grandmother....

My son gained his next swimming badge this morning, then he met my boyfriend and we all survived.

OP, are you receiving adequate treatment?

Thanks everyone, you’ve all been really kind

Yes he does! He is a green cheeked conure and they are well known for being extremely affectionate. Here he is sitting on my knee. He also rides around on my shoulder.

Getting out in nature. Even in the rain. Even in the city. This weekend I stuck my waterproof coat and wellies on, then enjoyed walking through parks and woodland. Stopping to notice the berries on holly, the leaves turning brown, the smell of fresh damp air. You have my sympathies. Depression is a fucker. Reminding myself it’s like the weather helps - just as it rolls in, eventually it will blow away and the sun will come out again x

Be kind to yourself OP. So glad you have people around you who will give you a small break.

Today I am ill, but making me happy will be bathing my DS in an hour. I’ll then dry, cuddle and sniff his squeaky clean hair while we snuggle on sofa with a g&T (him a cookie and milk obvs!)

Sorry to hear you are not in a good place at moment - hope things soon improve
Things that make me happy:
My cats
DF waking up and recognising me, sometimes smiling and able to give me a kiss (he’s currently in a nursing home n classed as end of life)
Spending time with those I love
Relaxing somewhere warm
Swimming
Eating good food
Losing myself in a good book
Cracking a tricky puzzle
Feeling I’ve made a difference to someone in my professional role

Had a log burner fitted this summer and we've finally lit it.... I'm bloody boiling (as is everyone else), we've got the door open but it makes me a happy bunny to see the dog sleeping infront of it.

This image. The cat is alive and a real cat - and has quite a following on the Internet. Makes me smile.

Sorry to hear you're feeling shitty OP and I hope your appt goes well tomorrow.

weebarra I am very moved by your post. My younger brother died unexpectedly last year. You are right - nothing will ever be the same again, and I still miss him.
The very raw grief does pass and you will remember your sister in happier times.
Sending hugs to those who need them.

I've got a bar of chocolate and new book to read tonight....I can't wait to snuggle up in my favourite PJs with my hot water bottle.
I will be hoping dp doesn't come to bed too early to disturb my little sanctuary.
Actually feel like going to bed now.

So sorry you're feeling bad @riotlady. What's making me feel happy at the moment is my bedroom. I have de-cluttered it (having watched Marie Kondo) and re-decorated. I have made it into my sanctuary and cannot wait to get into bed as early as possible every evening and read, Mumsnet, play on Kindle. I keep looking up to look round my lovely cosy safe space - and it is joyous. I could never get out of bed again. (Except for snacks).

When work is stressing me I keep thinking, never mind - I've got somewhere lovely to retreat to this evening.

Hope things look up for you soon.

We've managed to fit all 3 kallax units in a row along one wall so the room looks way bigger. Ignoring the fact dh has half demolished a wall to make it so.

Someone is coming on Friday to do some coving so we can start decorating upstairs. I think I've blocked out how much effort it will be and I'm looking forward to the end result!

At the moment, everything is making me happy. But only a couple of months ago I fled a job with no alternative to go to, despite living on the bread line, because I couldn't take the bullying and negativity any more.

It was such a horrible job that I struggled to leave it at the door, so it affected my home life, too, and the whole family suffered. I had sleepless nights over the fallout of my decision but I'm pleased to say I've now found two part-time jobs (one of which I love so much I'd do it for free), our finances are back on track, and I've got a spring in my step again.

I am so sorry to hear you're having a horrible time, but please believe that things can change on a pin. In a few weeks your whole life could be different; we never know what's round the corner - and that doesn't have to be a negative, we all have good things happen to us sometimes.

What made me and dh happy today was looking out of our lounge window and saw 8 different kinds of birds in our garden at the same time.
I hope you feel better v soon and I can say this to you,picture your beautiful daughter`s smile and in seconds you will be smiling too possibly with a tear in your eyes as I have thinking of you.
Sending you loves and hugs.

I’ve just had a big long walk with the dog and we’re now both snuggled up on the couch. His wee sleepy moans make me smile 😊

Didn't get a job I was hoping for last week
Feeling I'm wading through mud
My children are keeping me sane

Bit of a rough patch here too at the moment, but i went for a swim today and I find that helps

Depression is an absolute fucker.

PND hit me like a ton of bricks when my DS was 2 weeks old (it literally came on overnight) and I'm just beginning to feel like myself again now he's 11 months old. When I was properly in the thick of it, it was inconceivable to me that I would ever find joy in anything (not even my beautiful DC) ever again. I couldn't imagine feeling 'ok' let alone happy. I can honestly say I don't feel like that now.

I still have my moments, I'm definitely not 100% recovered. But I'm able to enjoy things like a good book, meeting a friend for coffee, snuggling up on the sofa with DH and watching a film with a takeaway or relaxing in the bath with a face mask and an interesting podcast. I'm able to do nice things for myself (got my eyebrows waxed and tinted today) without it seeming "pointless" or feeling like I don't deserve it because I'm a horrible person. What has helped me is forcing myself to keep doing the things I used to enjoy or find relaxing, even when they brought me no pleasure or seemed pointless, because the more I did those things the more the enjoyment gradually crept back in. I also had to force myself to get out of the house and see people, even when I really didn't want to, because isolating myself made me so much worse.

I hope things improve for you soon.

It’s lovely to hear so many people have been through tough times and are doing well!

The animal pics are great too :)

You always get through these things - tomorrow is another day (to quote Scarlet O’hara).

Have a pic of a squirrel sniffing a lovely flower 😊

Exercising outdoors. It's so hard to get out but once I do it's lovely being out in the open in the fresh air.

Reading my book.

Planning Autumn/Winter activities. I absolutely love this time of year. Looking forward to carving pumpkins, watching firework displays, decorating my house for Christmas, Autumn walks.

Depression is the biggest arsehole out there. J.K Rowling describes it so well through her descriptions of the Dementors in the HP books. It literally sucks the enjoyment and joy from things. I never felt sad when I was depressed, I always felt empty, just nothing.

Meditation, having a "sanctuary" as someone up thread described it, colouring, sewing and talking with friends helped.
Currently listening to DD3 snoring which makes me happy as it means she's finally asleep and I can have some "me" time🙈 by god, I love my kids, but they don't half take it out of you!!
I hope your appointment goes well tomorrow OP. And if medication is what helps, then fucking happy days!! You wouldn't put off getting a cast on your arm if you broke it!!

@weebarra my heart broke reading your post. Be kind to yourself

LordProf what a wonderful picture. It has made me smile