Depression Guide

I am barely hanging on, so there probably won't be a next Bipolar Game any time soon. Just for those who were expecting one.

However, I would like to ask you, and you could consider this a game, to describe as succinctly as possible the best way to deal with depression: any different steps, optimal behaviour during different stages, general principles, things to focus on and things like that.

To give you an idea of the length: please use no more than 10 sentences, preferably 4 or 5, say.

This "depression guide" may contain the most obvious of advice: when depressed, you might forget the most obvious things.

Write it for your future self, who might be more depressed than you are now.

"They" truly do need you.

This is what I wrote somewhere here recently (and I thought it was a lot shorter). I will make it shorter. Hope it may help someone.

It is balancing the "advantages", thinking and not doing (I really think of depression as a very difficult puzzle, which you should try to focus on: something, just something intangible and subtle, some emotional-sensory dynamic, went wrong and you have to figure out what and in case of post-mania/-psychosis depression you just need to recharge physically and you should make sure nothing in your thinking might be a bit disordered/delusional still), and the disadvantages, understimulation (which could very well be a cause of depression to begin with, as well as overstimulation, which might be due to lack of freedom, to slightly lose some control, you afford yourself, clinging too much to some routine, and fear for losing it, which is caused by the same). That balance should be a purely rational decision, since your intuition/emotions are useless/clouded.

So take your time to experiment with that balance. Allow yourself more time, but use that time by thinking more constructively, if anxiety keeps you in (mental) paralysis. But gradually try to do anything more stimulating, which is of course really anything, more every day, allowing for some deviation (another balance).

If you escaped your depression, you should still very carefully balance under- and overstimulation, freedom and routine. Both cause anxiety: not enough or too much (self-)control. You don't want too many challenges or too much excitement either, both overstimulation. You can use your time depressed to make a plan that extends to that period.

I hope this helps. It might be obvious, but since obvious things might be missed when depressed, a reminder.

Don't interact, do anything nice, when still very depressed, or you plunge back very hard, but find some stimulation, some distraction, maybe a train journey or go for a walk.

Understimulation will make it worse. But if anxiety is high due to stimulation, distraction, just lie down and try to focus on future plans for when you feel better: plans to help you get out of depression or things that were important to you before. Never ever feel guilty: you need and can use your depression to think, plan, reorganise your mind, reorder priorities, solve the BP living puzzle. It's full of paradoxical traps, but can be solved.

If you can without anxiety, watch a film or TV series, go outside or read a book (even if it doesn't really register).

Mania will go too fast to properly prioritise. Try to use depression to do that. You really need both. Just adjust your thoughts and behaviour according to your mood state, but deliberately, with a plan. Stay determined.

Don't try too hard to do what you won't. Make use of a bad situation. The right balance is everything.

Just living is achievement enough.

^^^^ Ditto.

Test, one two. Test.

Roses are blue violets are red dammit.

Give up.

Why do most people only want to see particularities?

I get dizzy from all the same kind of threads, same problems, same solutions, over and over. Not all of it is like that, but it is a routine that is nice, maybe, but not really leading anywhere.

I mean: how does one deal with depression? All together now!

And violets are violet.

Maybe I take up weaving and try to create a map, or maps.

Structured analysis.

Try to get better at depression each time. Abstract from particulars and recognise stages and best ways of conducting yourself at each stage. Share your findings. Find words to express, to describe, how and why you suffer.

People that don't share the experience will better understand you and may help you, those that share your experience are the ones you can help and they can help you, in one effort, all together, helping ourselves.