I will say I sleep sometimes, but more often than not, it's not because I want to reduce anxiety (in fact, anxiety generally keeps me from sleeping). Sometimes it is a way of dealing with depression, but I don't usually go to sleep because I'm depressed; rather, I go to bed whenever "it's time" (my sleep hours change, because I'm sometimes up late, or can't sleep, or whatever, and I might end up sleeping during the day), and then I have a hard time getting up. I wake up several times, and it's hard to make myself get up, even if I've slept for 10 or more hours. Part of this is because I don't want to deal with whatever it is I have to do (or don't have anything exciting to do) that day, also because I just feel drowsy, regardless of all the sleep I've had, the bed is warm and it's chilly outside of the covers, and I often know there are things I want to get done, but I just don't "feel like" getting up. I feel guilty when I do this, and when I sleep during the day, a lot of the time, too, SeptemberMorn.

But I have other coping strategies, too. I read, watch TV (if I'm anxious in the middle of the night, it often eases my anxiety to get up and quietly watch TV until it passes), try to get my mind off what's bothering me. I have these moments when I'll think of something that makes me extremely upset or depressed. It's not always by choice...more like, I'll be thinking of one thing, and it leads to the bad things without me intending to think of those things. Anyway, when I become aware of what I'm doing, I'll tell myself to "Stop it!" or "Ok, stop thinking of that," or something like that, and try to get my mind on something else.

When I'm about to have a severe panic attack, I start talking to myself: "It's ok, it's ok. You're all right. Calm down. Take it easy," and so on. But it doesn't always work when a severe attack is close.

Talking to other people can help, but I don't always have someone to talk to.

When I'm depressed, I post to email lists, message boards (like this one, and like I did a few days ago), etc. It helps to talk, although I'm tired of talking, and want solutions.

I like crafting, but I'm not a crafter. I get really enthused about trying something or learning something, but after a time, I want to do something else. I think I have ADD. It's not just crafts that I'm like this with. My last interest was beading. I learned a few stitches, but that's about it.

Jen, I'm not a sewer, either, although I get interested in doing it every now and then. I've never been good at it, or known much. I especially hate measuring, anyway. I had a sewing machine as a teen...we did some sewing in home ec, and I was going to make dresses and shirts and--oh,my!--all kinds of things. Never happened. I hope you have better luck than I did. I have an aunt who sews and sews and sews. She makes these really nice rabbits. I just don't have the patience.

I've finished two, maybe three latchhook kits in my time. I remember one I only had a few more rows to go and quit. I did sew one of the finished ones into a pillow for my sister. The kit was a rose image.

I don't do it much, and don't have enough of the subjects I'd like, but I like photography, too. Well, I like taking pictures...don't care so much about learning real photography, even though my boyfriend knows a bit about it; it's a hobby of his. Jen, my favorite subject is animals.