Out of the black hole of depression... day by day... anyone?

[GodsPersonalAssistant]

Hi I was wondering if anybody who is struggling with depression would like to have a thread to refer to, to make plans, to create some practical strategies.

A thread to use as support to get out of it slowly but surely.

I have had several depressive episodes in the past few years: I get better, then down again, then better.

Last time I was prescribed antidepressants but this I'd like to get better with other means.

A healthier lifestyle. Meditation. Therapy. Some gentle exercise.

I feel I am taking the darkness in time, and perhaps I will succeed to reverse the descent.

Anybody else who needs a little bit of plan and structure to see if we can get better with some positive action(s)?

My plan for tomorrow is to do 10 minutes of exercise on my cross trainer before starting to work and write a food diary to try stop the overeating.

Ok so tomorrow is today and of course I am finding it so hard.

I will start by having my mint tea and then getting up. Starting is the hardest.

I did my 10 mins on the x trainer but omg it was so hard!! not so much physically as mentally... it was as if all my fear and anxiety concentrated in a dark knot and time seemed to stand still. I listened to some loud music and kept going. Now to shower and get dressed for work.

Next challenge: a small walk at lunchtime. If I can't face going out I will look for something on youtube. Five minutes. That's all I'll do.

Baby steps @GodsPersonalAssistant. And dont ask too much of yourself. 10 mins on the trainer every morning before work would be a fantastic achievement. Id focus on that alone for 2 weeks then think of the next thing to tackle. Do your 10 mins, then spend the rest of the day congratulating yourself:)

Day 1: Achieved! Great work.

(ps, you are clearly determined to sort this out which will go a very long way).

I’m awake and have run a bath - just need to get out of bed now. Have achieved one other thing so far - messaged someone I’ve been meaning to contact for a fortnight, so that’s good.

I have been back on ADs for about 5 weeks though, and definitely feeling more positive. Came of them last August and thought I was doing ok, but really do feel the benefit of them.

That's good. You do what you have to!

Hi @WishingHopingThinkingPraying and @Seeingadistance, how are you doing today? It's the getting out of bed that is so hard isn't it?

Yesterday I ended up going out at lunchtime as I accompanied my son to the station (going back to university) - and going out of the house really made me feel better - then I had an email about a job interview which made me feel excited and terribly scared at the same time.

It is a time of massive uncertainty in our family which makes everything harder.

I am sleeping a lot at the moment because it's only when I am unconscious that I feel I can relax, and I am overeating because eating makes me feel good momentarily.

Yesterday I moved a bit more but the earning was out of control again, today I am going to try to make more of an effort with eating well.

• eating not earning... why there isn't an edit button? :)

@WishingHopingThinkingPraying, good point about the not wanting too much from myself. That was a very useful post, really thank you.

Oh and I have done the 10 mins today :)

Well done!!! Now you can relax for the day knowing you've achieved what you set out to do.

Maybe spend a bit of time planning meals for the next week. And try to stick to only eating at mealtimes. It might be useful to make yourself write down all between meal snacking on a list. So if you have a snack, it must be written down. So if you're craving some crisps, you either have them and note it OR hang on till the next mealtime and have the crisps after your meal as part of the meal. When you get there you may not want them having just eaten.

How is everyone's day going?

I got into a series on Netflix which made me smile today.

I'm finding it hard to concentrate on watching things these days and reading.

I cooked today which made me feel good.

I've had a mixture of happy and sad feelings today but will try to keep positive.

Lockdown has been hard but glad restrictions are lifting