View Single Post
 
Old Feb 21, 2011, 12:12 PM
Distressed2010's Avatar
Distressed2010 Distressed2010 is offline
Member
 
Member Since: Sep 2010
Posts: 295
Quote:
Originally Posted by invisigirl View Post
try hard to shift your focus. find something to engross yourself in - a project, a hobby. even focusing on being optimistic in itself will remind you that that is not how you feel and then you'll think of why you don't feel that way. it's not going to help to read about optimism.

yellowted had some good ideas as far as getting into a routine of sorts so you have something to go out and do regularly and may have the opportunity to make friends who have similar interests. perhaps you could volunteer somewhere, or get into a sport you enjoy, or take up a hobby or craft of some sort. doing these things will help shift your focus away from him and onto something more positive in your life.

I had to do this myself a couple years back. I joined a writing group, I have gotten back into swimming, I have started drawing and painting again, I've looked into auditioning with local theaters (but haven't because of transportation problems). doing things you love to do can not only be fun rewarding but can also help you develop relationships with others who have common interests and improve your outlook on life. it won't happen over night, but it can help a lot if you stick with it.

some of my friends from my writing group have become my biggest support people over the past couple years. and my writing has given me another way to process things and express things that I have trouble talking about.

exercise is the most effective anti-depressant there is. it works better than drugs and many people who find drugs ineffective, are recommended to try regular exercise. but it is something that you have to really stick to and do often. I try to get out and swim any time I can (preferably 3x a week) and on days I don't swim, I go for a run in the neighborhood. my husband is a cyclist and rides his bike everywhere whenever he can - he also enjoys playing soccer and tries to do that a couple times a week.

Hi Invisigirl,

First of all, thanks for the friend request and giving me all sorts of ideas!

I did research the exercise as an anti-depressant thing but it seemed the experiment was lacking a lot of things. I also used to exercise(do cardio for 2 hours) daily for 2 years during the time when I was a teenager but it didn't lift my depression

ALso, a year ago, I'd broken up with someone, and it wasn't a long relationship but it was just someone i fell for right away and that was the toughest ever, and probably because I'd already been depressed. I put it all into my workouts but then I still felt very alone and lonely and empty on the inside.

Usually I'll get really engrossed into an activity, like painting or working out and it takes me about a week to get regular and then 3 more weeks to lose interest and I'm back at where I was. Not sure if its depression or I just have a low tolerance for interest? or something else is lacking in my life?

But thankyou, I do appreciate you giving me lots of examples and ideas!