I do know what you mean. In the past, I got to where I adopted a policy of just "riding it out." Trying to be productive didn't seem to make the depressive episode resolve any faster. I used to say it was like a bad cold, or the flu. It would blow over after I went through a certain amount of suffering, and not before.

I now have a new policy because these depressive episodes had been getting longer and longer. After 2 months of doing good, I got real depressed the day after Christmas. (There was a mishap at my house that triggered it.) I now believe that I've got to force myself, even if I have to drag me by the ear, into doing some productive things, especially picking up after myself.

I did basically rest for 2 days in my pajamas, which I think I really did need. The next 2 days of "resting" were a total waste and I got worse blue. So I got dressed this morning, made my bed, filled up the bird feeders outside my windows, ate something decent and am still pickin' up stuff I let just become a mess over the past 4 days.

This is my new strategy and I highly recommend it. Sometimes, I take a kitchen timer and set it for 20 minutes. I tell myself that I have to do something to clean up the place until the bell dings. Then I have a deal with myself that I can screw off for an hour, until it's time to set the timer again.

Sometimes this strategy doesn't work, and I stay depressed. I feel for you.

Watching TV can be bad in that it keeps me passive. Today I put on talk radio, and that is helping me to keep going. I can listen to it, while I do stuff around the house. I don't have to sit and watch the radio to enjoy it. I hope it gets better for you sooner, rather than later.