What makes you feel alive?

[rosetulipdaisy]

I am trying to recover from depression. Recently I have been feeling very flat and numb. I can't remember what activities I like to do, what things get me in tune with feeling something or feeling alive. Either positive emotion or negative. Looking for suggestions please - what helps you?

Knitting. I can’t empathise how relaxing it is. I suffer terribly with anxiety and I find when I knit I concentrate so much my mind is just free from all other thoughts. I sit and listen to the tv at the same time and spend hours relaxing like that. There are some wonderful tutorial videos on you tube of how to learn if you’re interested.

*emphasise!

Exercise, music, pets,nature.
l grow lots of flowers, in the summer l can hear the hum of the bees and enjoy seeing all my cheerful flowers swaying in he breeze.

Sitting in the window of a cafe drinking a large coffee, people watching makes me feel part of life again
In my deepest depression( I have been an inpatient quite a few times)
This is my first goal

Tennis. I started playing about 3 years ago at the age of 48 having never played before.

I'm still not great, never going to win Wimbledon, but it makes me feel alive.

A long brisk walk (5 miles) while listening to music I like.

I've found it an excellent way to deal with my depression. It costs nothing too, so makes it something anyone can do...

Looking up at the stars. If I think about space for too long it freaks me out, but just watching the sky and hoping to see shooting stars makes me happy.

Also as corny as it sounds, exercise. I hate exercise per se, being unfit and very overweight, but I went for my first run in about 5 years this morning and I had a huge grin on my face the whole time. Some upbeat running tracks and nice scenery and I felt happier than I have in a long time.

Hope you rediscover your joy xx

Walking my dog super early down the lane when it's just us him off the lead and me tramping to keep up with him x

Listening to music. I felt really low after birth of DT as completely overwhelmed with caring for them. One day I realised that I hadn’t listened to music in months so made a point of putting on my favourite records and having a baby disco!!

Ballet lesson each week. It’s really very meditative in terms of listening to the music, doing the exercises, breathing and thinking about the artistry. Really takes me outside my head

Walking round my small garden and observing all the changes; right now lots of daffodil and tulip shoots but I can also see the beginnings of a new stem on my peony which will be lovely in May.

Sailing of any sort. You can hire a boat for £12 for an hour at my local nature reserve- its amazing.

A seriously cold shower. I am going to get an ice bath soon too.

Massive long hikes

Orgasms

Really fucking nice food and alcohol

Going to a very noisy concert or theatre show

It's a bit cold at the moment but if you have a decent coat and boots, and it's not too cloudy (or raining!) then I really recommend sitting outside somewhere with a decent view and watching the sun rise or set.

It often makes me feel very small, in a good way - part of something bigger, and seems sort of miraculous and uplifting... Might just be me but worth a go :)

Making sure my wants and needs are priority, making plans and orgasms 👌

Going for a walk.

rosetulipdaisy - I also wanted to say, don't beat yourself up. I used to get terribly frustrated, but now reframe low mood / low energy days as 'rest days'. Always remember that each day is a new start. I never stop hoping that tomorrow will be a good day.

Get into the habit of affirming good moments; 'that was a good film on TV, I enjoyed that', 'that was a nice chat I had with that stranger,' 'that's a beautiful garden over there,' the sun is out and it's lovely, etc. There are so many moments in life that are beautiful.

Best wishes to you OP.

I couldn’t enjoy anything at my lowest with PND. I tried to search for one good thing each day - a
nice walk, something my DD said, looking out at the sea, a cold drink with ice, seeing blossom. It was really helpful to focus on small things.

I hope your recovery goes well xx

When I was recovering it was building up my hobbies again, e.g. Art, history, e.g. Egypt, Antarctica, ect. That gave me distractions and results when completing different research projects about the various topics ect, that I then could write field reports about the different aspects for my knowledge journal, as committing it all to memory would be a pickle.

Sometimes it's also inspiration from tv documentary or fictional programs, e.g. Forensics , wicca, then I can look up the topics more detail for the real life knowledge.

*look up the topics in more detail

Orgasm
laughing (with friends or on my own). I’ve recently got into going to watch comedians live.
swimming and spa days.
costal walks.
watching a foreign box set with subtitles so I can’t go on my phone at the same time.

Singing in the choir i go to. It is so uplifting and loads of fun.

Stunning nature, get out to the coast or some mountains/peaks and feel fresh air and see some beautiful sights

i can’t swim well but swimming for me is a game changer. Similarly running or walking, especially somewhere pretty on a brisk day. Swinging on a swing (if there’s nobody about!!). Sitting with the dog, playing with the kids. on a less ‘higher than high’ level, reading, watching something I used to love, listening to music I used to love, sometimes with a good cry x

Oh god I forgot- standing on a beach with my feet in the sand at the water edge, the muddy bit!!! Makes me so happy!!!

Swimming. Without fail, swimming.

Getting out of the house and anything that breaks out from my normal routine - it can be as simple as taking a scenic route home from work or dancing in the kitchen, or doing something more 'crazy' like a new piercing (not to everyone's taste but hey) or an activity with friends.

So far going to a trampoline park (we were the only adults bouncing) and going paddle boarding have worked well and kept me smiling at the memories for ages. Planning the next 'thing' also helps...axe throwing, anyone??