[lunaticfringe]

Hi all --

I have been mostly depressed for the last month or so and I'm wondering: Does anyone have any tips or things that they do to bring them out of a depression?

Today I am heartened by the fact the spring is coming and I'm trying to get back on the super healthy vegetarian diet I was on a few months ago. I'm still feeling the depression big time but I'm hoping that with some better daily habits and a med change, I can slowly come back to life.

Thanks for any input!

[jacky8807]

I would like to hear some suggestions too

[quasicrystalline]

I feel for you. I find myself sinking and sinking lately.

To prevent it, I've done the following:
*I've been trying to limit my sleep (when I sleep 14+ hours, it seems to plunge me further).
*I try to walk everyday or do some kind of physical activity.
*Journaling helps.
*Remembering it's a cyclical temporary thing.
*Being honest with others around me about it. Helps me feel a bit safer if they know. Especially with the suicidal intrusive thoughts.

[ChaoticSymphony]

This last depression I can look back and say I wish I would of been more honest with those close to me. The work of pretending everything was fine took me out. That's all I can think of atm Sry.

[lacerta]

* sports, even going for walk if everything else is too hard
*healthy diet
*putting on a paper things that I enjoy, do at least 1 of them per day
* I make schedules and to-do lists taking into consideration that I'm slower than usual and need extra time. I plan small awards for each completed task.

[Here2There]

Some things I do are:

• Listing for myself all the good things in life can help. Sometimes I'll try listing 100 good things as I'm going to sleep (helps me wake up in a better mood).
  
• Exercise, yoga, or something else active (whatever I can get myself to do)
  
• Doing something to help other people
  
• Deliberately smiling (not necessarily at anyone) because research shows it helps you to feel happier (doesn't have to be a real smile - they found that just turning up the corners of your mouth actually makes you happier).
  
• Some kind of project where I can feel I've achieved something.

[Here2There]

An article to go with my last post (about smiling making you happier):
Smile! It Could Make You Happier - Scientific American

[~Christina]

Music ! When your stable find a song , a song that you can believe in. A go to instant feel better build you up positive one.

Mine ?

Defying gravity by Idina Menzel from "Wicked"

Something has changed within me
Something is not the same
I'm through with playing by the rules
Of someone else's game
Too late for second-guessing
Too late to go back to sleep
It's time to trust my instincts
Close my eyes and leap!

It's time to try
Defying gravity
I think I'll try
Defying gravity
Kiss me goodbye
I'm defying gravity
And you won't bring me down

I'm through accepting limits
'Cause someone says they're so
Some things I cannot change
But 'til I try, I'll never know!
Too long I've been afraid of
Losing love I guess I've lost
Well, if that's love
It comes at much too high a cost!

I'd sooner buy
Defying gravity
Kiss me goodbye
I'm defying gravity
I think I'll try
Defying gravity
And you won't bring me down

Unlimited (unlimited)
My future is (future is) unlimited (unlimited)
And I've just had a vision
Almost like a prophecy
I know it sounds truly crazy
And true, the vision's hazy
But I swear, someday I'll be...

Flying so high! (defying gravity)
Kiss me goodbye! (defying gravity)

So if you care to find me
Look to the western sky!
As someone told me lately,
"Everyone deserves the chance to fly!"

I'm defying gravity!
And you won't bring me down, bring me down, bring me down!
Ah Aaaaah [echo]

[Crazy Hitch]

Hi Lunaticfringe,

I think that all of the posters above have given you some fantastic suggestions.

I would like to offer an alternative because I am not sure what else I could add that hasn't been stated above.

The suggestions are great but it's a case of HOW do you now implement these suggestions when you are in the middle of a depressive phase and simply put frankly will have moments when you just don't feel like doing ANYTHING at all.

You take ONE day at a time, if that is all that you manage.

Start small.

If you can only achieve ONE thing for yourself today on the suggestions above, great. Do it. Do ONE thing.

And you progress. Aim higher.

Try TWO small things for yourself the next day.

They don't need to be BIG things.

You do what you are comfortable in doing.

And you pamper and you look after yourself even when you don't feel like it.

[lunaticfringe]

Thanks everyone these are great!