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.

@TuVuoiFaLamericano so I can give you an instant one for reversing the rude people, you tell yourself that you are so thankful for X,Y,Z people in your life who bring you happiness when you think of them rather than being surrounded by these rude people who you wouldn't choose to be around. Also that they must be very unhappy themselves because why be rude? The rudeness makes you see the politeness in others.

It is a bit like if you have been in a shit relationship (haven't we all at some point?) and that makes you realise what a good relationship is because it is the opposite of the shit one.

Delayed flight, I am grateful that I am getting on a plane to go on holiday or that I have a job that allows me to travel. You just tweak it to whatever doesn't sound wanky to you.

Walk, rain, hail or shine, with the dogs.
Podcasts.
Clean , clean, clean ! Very therapeutic.
Declutter!
Cup of hot herbal tea. I have a big selection.
Time out in my flower garden.
Visit my elderly neighbour. Always puts everything into perspective.
Brush my Maine Coon cat. He loves it.
Watch a favourite movie - often You’ve got Mail.

I totally agree with this. Give your head space to take a second or two to access all the free joy in the world. Even if you are so down that right now you can't experience the joy, you can practise making space for it and acknowledging it.

Today, for me: feeding wildlife in the garden, going for a walk by the river and seeing the sky and trees reflected in it, saying hi to some cute dogs, turning around a potted dahlia so the best bloom was visible from the kitchen sink window, heating milk and frothing it for coffee, playing a song I'd forgotten I loved in my teens on you tube - all small things but they add pinpricks of light and those pinpricks eventually add up and break right through.

When I'm feeling on the verge of depression, I avoid social media and the news for a while, I clean the bedroom, put fresh bedding on and lose myself in a good book whilst cuddling my daft Border Collies.

In the evening, I treat myself to a long shower with my favourite shampoo and shower gel, light a scented candle in the bedroom and sink into bed (with my book)

Get off the internet and talk to someone. This is not the right place to be when emotionally fragile.

OP I just wanted to thank you, so this has been so helpful.
I have been going through a particularly low phase at the moment and to all those who have said about going for a walk I have to say totally agree. I have forced myself out of a walk every day for the past few days and whilst it doesn't solve the root cause it so helps to lift the mood in the moment.
I have made a note of all the advice that I think will work for me so thank you to everyone who has posted and shared their tips and experiences.
Sometimes knowing you are not alone helps.

Hope you feel brighter soon BlairAtholl. This thread has helped me already as every day feels like a battle with my own brain at the moment.
The Audible version of the Julie Smith 'Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before' book has been really good listening so far too as it's accessible and bite size-y.
I must take the walk idea on but getting presentable eluded me yesterday...

Exercise. Speak to another person and get absorbed in a conversation. Change of scene.

Love this, thinking of hot milk for that extra nice drink, and turning the flower so you see it and it creates another pin prick in the black sheet of darkness.

I'm bipolar and had ASD and I'm going through the start of my annual dip. It's not too bad right now but Im still putting things in place now to help myself in the near future.

I've put all of the things I can on regular subscribe and save or recurrent deliveries. Washing up stuff, laundry stuff, toilet rolls, soap/shampoo/conditioner. I'm currently decorating the second to last room in my new house and it's made me realise how having a messy house directly impacts my mood so I'm working as hard as I can for the next few days to try and get it sorted out. I'll get the stairs and landing decorated/carpeted in the new year and I'm paying somebody to do that. I'm not doing any more of I can help it.

What really helps me is to be creative when I can. I'm a glass artist and I also enjoy crochet, house plants and propagating them. I find doing something nice for other people makes me feel great. I make a cake or fresh fruit loaf or cinnamon rolls etc, and take some to my family members or even give them to my DH to take to work. I collect a pack of dog treats/tins/cat food every for shop and take them to the local animal shelter every 6 weeks or so. But the biggest thing that's made me happier is to make a very direct effort to compliment other people. It was hard at first but if I see somebody and think "she has nice hair" I actually say it out loud to them and it's like a domino effect. Bringing a smile to another woman's face is contagious. It comes naturally now and I love it. I've never had a negative reaction either. I also really enjoy mindfulness and if I'm feeling terrible or sad I make an effort to write down things in grateful for and happy times in my life.