coping without self-destructive "coping" strategies

[mwff]

any long term depressives about?

for years i've "coped" (more or less) when i start to get down by leaning on any one of a number of long term self-destructive, self-defeating crutches, but at least in the short term they did make me feel "better", they aleviated the feelings to some degree.

right now i'm casting around for a crutch and i guess it's progress that i'm not letting myself get pissed or stoned, but instead i'm struggling with making myself eat (enough/properly, i find losing weight intensely comforting).

how do you live with the shitty feelings? how do you get yourself to do what you know you need to to do to lift your mood (i need to run, i need to do some yoga, i need to meditate) when you simply don't have the energy/motivation?

Have you tried activity scheduling?

Break your day into segments (hours, if necessary)

Do this on a piece of paper, like a time-table. Structure stuff in that you need/want/like to do and do your best to stick to it

It's well known that motivation and energy levels increase when one has the sense that things have been achieved and accomplished

cheers bernard. no, i haven't tried it. my first reaction was that i'm not that bad, we're getting through the days okay, although i'm leaning a lot on telly for the kids. i'm getting most of the "them" stuff done, it's making time for the "me" stuff (which impacts massively on them, i have to remember that too) that i can't do. they're things i'd do evening/early morning but right now all i can do is sleep.

i get into a state of paralysis where i can't do the things that make me feel better so i feel worse.

i'm going to try the meditation/mindfulness first cos that's something i shouldn't have to schedule, should be able to apply it through the day, have a book coming.

appreciate the chance to talk this stuff through, thanks.

it's the feelings though, that's my stumbling block, the sadness, anger, despair, they overwhelm me. how do people deal with those?

Bumping for you