DIY depression treatment

[Usernamaste]

I’m depressed. Completely flat. Can’t be bothered to get out of bed, cook, clean, wash myself, see anyone, stroke the cat. Nothing. I’ve been depressed before so I should have seen it coming but there’s been a lot going on and it’s crept up on me.

For various reasons anti-depressants are not an option. Neither is counselling at the moment.

Initially I put it down to perimenopause and started HRT three months ago. So far it’s made no positive difference at all, though I appreciate that it’s early days. I have another HRT appointment in a couple of weeks so will be discussing a stronger/adjusted dose then.

In the meantime, please does anyone have any tried and tested DIY depression treatments?
I swim in the sea several times a week which usually makes me feel a bit better, albeit temporarily, but for the last couple of weeks I can’t even be bothered to do that.

There are lots of things that make me feel better about myself but I can’t summon up the energy to do even the simplest of them, so I just need to find something to give me a small kick up the arse so that I can start doing something positive for myself.

(Please don’t anyone suggest getting a dog. I don’t do dogs)

So sorry you are n such a bad way. I get the not wanting anti-depressants. DP is the same having been on a number of them over the years he just doesn't want to begin that cycle again. His depression is currently caused by having Long Covid. Is there anyone iRL you can offload to who will give you the small kick you are asking for?

You may not do dogs but how about cats? We have an indoor one now and aside from the fact she needs feeding etc she provides us with affection and joy.

Thank you. I also had covid early in the pandemic with headaches for a year afterwards and I’ve been wondering if long covid is playing a part in this.
I have a beautiful cat, and normally she brings me a lot of joy, but recently I can’t be bothered with her which is one of the things that made me realise that I was properly depressed. (I still feed her etc - before anyone rings the RSPCA)

Exercise. Outdoor walks, indoor gym stuff. Genuinely saved my life. If you start moving, over time, everything becomes easier. At least for me.

I've had serious situational depression and a mega stressful domestic situation going on for years. Brought myself up from bed bound with depression.

Now, if I feel I'm slipping back, starting to get low, I can knock myself back into a better place.

I hope you will be ok. X

Can you bring forward your HRT review? I had my HRT dose increased and felt a mental improvement inside a week

But you dismiss the 2 main treatments for depression. There isn’t much else apart from tablets or counselling.

Mindfulness is all l can think of.

I’m not dismissing them, but they’re not possible at the moment.

Walking really helped me out of my last depression, though I think I was already on the road to recovery. Not only the actual exercise but exploring my local area, seeing new places. I began to really enjoy planning routes using Google maps the day before. I don't drive but I'd sometimes catch a train to a town or village I'd never been, explore a bit or walk to the next place with a railway station to get home. As soon as I got home I'd have a hot shower then relax. I keep trying to get myself back into it now (currently in a major depressive episode) but just can't seem to get going. I've asked a friend to walk with me. Hopefully that will help. Voluntary work has helped me in the past too - having a change, meeting new people and knowing I was helping others was all very encouraging. On Monday I intend to go and offer to work at a nearby café where they cook donated food for the homeless. I think the hardest thing is pushing yourself to get started on something. I try to keep myself busy because, even though it's exhausting and I'd rather stay in bed forever, it does distract me from my dark thoughts at least a bit.

Yes, for me it was running (outdoor). I had no success with either anti depressants or anti anxiety pills.

You’re right that it’s the getting started that’s the problem. I’m trying to persuade my husband to force me out for a walk everyday, but he’s a reluctant walker himself so it will be tricky.

The think that you want to do count to 5 and start doing it before you get to 5.

Feeling Good (the new mood therapy) - David D Burns on Audible.

I have found with depression you have to go against your feelings. For example all I want to do when depression strikes is curl up in bed away from the world but if I force myself to go out, even if it’s just a walk around the shop and grabbing a coffee, I feel better. I also try to notice things when I am out and be mindful, plants and nature. Sounds naff but it works. I also dig a good book out. Sometimes I think I won’t be able to concentrate but usually I find myself getting into the story

@Usernamaste

I’m depressed. Completely flat. Can’t be bothered to get out of bed, cook, clean, wash myself, see anyone, stroke the cat. Nothing. I’ve been depressed before so I should have seen it coming but there’s been a lot going on and it’s crept up on me.

For various reasons anti-depressants are not an option. Neither is counselling at the moment.

Initially I put it down to perimenopause and started HRT three months ago. So far it’s made no positive difference at all, though I appreciate that it’s early days. I have another HRT appointment in a couple of weeks so will be discussing a stronger/adjusted dose then.

In the meantime, please does anyone have any tried and tested DIY depression treatments?
I swim in the sea several times a week which usually makes me feel a bit better, albeit temporarily, but for the last couple of weeks I can’t even be bothered to do that.

There are lots of things that make me feel better about myself but I can’t summon up the energy to do even the simplest of them, so I just need to find something to give me a small kick up the arse so that I can start doing something positive for myself.

(Please don’t anyone suggest getting a dog. I don’t do dogs)

For me, I have a love for learning, be it, wicca, ancient egypt, archaeology ect, when my mind was rebuilding , I kept myself busy with my research journal, basically I got an a4 writing pad, got dividers and labelled each one for the various topics, then in my spare time, to keep my mind busy (as when I was overthinking thinks, it made it worse) then when researching rather than just printing the information I wrote it out by hand but was selective in what I was writing, sorts like revision information, that I could use when conversing.

Music, films, tv shows I tried to keep to a minimum as they ovestimulated my emotions at times, then when my mind was more stable and able to watch will being detached emotionally then I started to watch and listen.

I still do my research journal as I still have my love for knowledge and history.