Tell me, if you are feeling sad, what small things do you do to prevent depression

[Whatthefuck3456]

Feeling low. Apart from gp. Any advice please.

Find something that you like to do which can get totally absorbed in. For me, it is painting and reading, but it could be anything. As soon as I start to feel low, I reach for my paints or a book and lose myself in that. Be kind to yourself, if you want to cocoon and can't cope with doing something that can be left, then don't do it. Talk to someone about how you're feeling.

When im inexplicably sad, nothing will fix it in the moment. But i think having a purpose every day (for me, i got my dog at the end of my last serious bout of depression so i have to get up and out every day) and avoiding alcohol are key.

I really wish you wellx

Just keep swimming. Eventually you will feel better.

If you want to be good to yourself go outside. Take a walk or just go into the garden and hang out clothes/do some weeding or just sit and listen and breath.

Knowing it will pass.
Doing anything you need and want to get you through and learning it so you can use when it happens again.
Junk or healthy food. Relaxing or getting out there and getting some excercise .

The only thing you must not do is stay in bed and wallow. Get up, get showered and in clean clothes even if they're jammies and get a comfy station.
Bed is for rest and sleep. Get out of there do your day.

Watch some comedy. Nothing snarky, just something comforting. James Acaster or Miranda. Even if it feels an effort eventually it does help.

Is there any exercise you've enjoyed in past? Try and get out and do it. Even if it's just for a few minutes. Same with places you like to visit. Remind yourself you managed it. And it will get easier next time.

Try and eat some fruit and veg every day. I don't know why that works but it does.

If you can't do anything else, wash your hair. Apparently that helps. I have no idea why.

Another one here to say long walks. I get up stupidly early on a Sunday to do it. Purely so that no one else is around and it feels like you've got a peaceful world to yourself for a while. And sometimes if you're early enough and it's still dark when you set out, there's a real magic in having the sun come up while you're walking. Plus you can legitimately claim a nap later.
Hope you're OK OP xx

Connect with people - even if you really feel like you don't want to. Withdrawing is a downward spiral so try to meet up for a coffee or call for a chat or even just exchange some banter on WhatsApp.

I buy bath bombs, candles, crystals, themed scrapbook kits, do yoga, swimming and visit the beach

Go for a walk, book something to look forward to, clean the house, take DC to the park.

What ever problem comes my way I'm not defined as a person by that problem.
I remind myself that I have redeeming qualities and that I have a worth.
I learnt this through CBT and it definitely stops the need for me to go into withdrawal from life and self isolation.

Feeling sad is not depression. Depression is a chemical imbalance in the brain.

I listen to gospel music, I just find it so uplifting. I love the song "it ain't over till God says its over" especially.
Early bedtimes with a lit candle, feels lovely and cosy and like a treat.
Be kind to yourself, I hope you have a better day tomorrow.

I try to sit with the feelings, I allow myself time to wonder about it to explore it. So where am I feeling it, is it connected to something that’s happened - if it is be a bit forgiving of myself - for example saying ‘well you’re only human so we all make mistakes’ or ‘that person was unkind and that’s not my fault’.

I go on YouTube and watch shorts of my favourite stand up comedians. A bit of laughing can make all the difference.

Make a list of things I WILL do just to get me moving, so write them down, however basic - have shower, brush hair, clean teeth, walk round the block, listen to my favourite album, sweep kitchen and read 10 pages of my book.

Good luck!

The OP just needs some help and support I’m not sure this is helpful.

I also read a book about stopping repetitive thoughts which had a good image, it said your brain chooses the easiest/strongest pathways, so, like paths through a jungle, the most well treaded are the easiest. So, the most commonly thought thoughts you have are the easiest. Therefore how I react to things might not be the only truth in them, I have to retrain my brain to not think as negatively.
If I catch myself thinking the same thoughts eg x happened today therefore I am a failure because of y and z that happened years ago, I stop and think of the jungle, and force myself to think "no, just because y and z happened years ago doesn't mean x is related."
I recommend the book, called why has nobody told me this before by Julie Smith. It's very gentle and easy to read/listen to.

Arrange to meet up with a friend.

Caitlyn moran also said something in one of her books about negative self talk that is so true. She said, listen to your self talking voice and just think, would you speak like that to a puppy? If not, don't speak to yourself that way. Sounds really weird but it's true, be kind to yourself and if that's hard to start with try the puppy talking thing...

Walk a lot every day and get lots of fresh air, garden, paint (pictures not walls), cuddle the cats. I suffer from clinical depression and have off and on for years. Have given up with medication and treatment (therapies/counselling/analysis). None had a long-term effect. I just do the above things and keep on going. It eases after a while (weeks or months) and seems to have fewer huge drops into utter despair and anxiety.

If its related to boredom I get busy with a goal and rely on busyness to rewire me a bit.

If it's general sadness I do what my mum used to swear by which is treating your mentall unwell Ness like you've come down with a physical flu bug. We have all had the flu so bad we would reschedule collecting our lottery winnings to spend more time in bed recovering. This is what you need to do, recover like you're a sick child. That means no work, eating nutritious meals, staying hydrated and upping your vitamin intake, sometimes a hot bath to soak but certainly staying f clean in clean clothes where comfort is a priority and doing nothing else. Just listen to your body. Then treat your body like a spring clean. So if you were spring cleaning your house you'd air it out wouldn't you? Do it with yourself. 20 minutes in the daylight with a cup of tea. Next put your favourite music on like you're listening to background noise to clean but you're the project not your home. Check everything is working right- do some stretches and follow an actual stretch session on YouTube. Basically treat this all like your loved one has lent you their body and mind to fix for the day- they've asked you to make decisions to sort it out in their best interests and they are trusting you to get results, then show yourself that love!

A long hot shower.
Eat something nourishing.
Get out of pyjamas, brush your hair, brush your teeth, put on moisturiser.
Watch a comforting movie. No true crime.
Sit in the garden, leave your phone inside.

Writing a list of three good things about your day - can be tiny like "I saw a beautiful white butterfly" or something more significant eg something went well at work.
When you're struggling at first it's hard to think of three things and it feels forced. But if you do it daily after a while you find it easier and then more than three things come.
And with it very slowly comes a mindset shift in noting the positive and placing it above the negative in your consciousness.
Don't get me wrong, I'm still quite an anxious person, but every time my emotions are causing distress returning to this practice can really really help - especially in terms of putting worries into a wider context

Oh wow, this intrigues me and sounds exactly what I need at the moment too. I am spiralling at the moment so badly & nothing CBT has worked (so far) - I feel 'stuck' in a cycle of negative replays of bad things/situations from the past/feelings about myself.
Thank you so much.

I counteract the catastrophising by saying “even if” not “what if”.
Try to be in the moment rather than doing endless scenarios.
Breathe- long slow out breaths.

That sounds lovely! 🙂

Long brisk walks.

I do live in beautiful countryside but treat these as a kind of project or hobby. I head off and will walk for 2.5 hours, say hello to all the animals I meet, listen to the birds and appreciate the views, the flowers etc. (Ie I don't listen to music or podcasts or books)

It only started working for me earlier this year but I always land home in High spirits. If I am very low, I walk faster. And swing my arms. Yes I look and sound bonkers but it works quite amazingly well.