What are the best & worst things you can do while depressed?

For example, you're only feeding your depression if you stay locked in your room all day, but going outside and getting a breath of fresh air is rejuvenating and can temporarily help lessen the depression.

I'm mostly looking for advice, but I figure this thread could help other people, too. It also makes us think what we should and shouldn't do when depressed.

Best: Exercise, socialize, attempt to do the things that make you happy

Worst: Internalize, isolation, drinking alcohol

Best: Exercise, eat well, work on hobbies, get outside

Worst: Isolate, ruminate on bad thoughts, overeat

best: find someone to talk to about it, do things you like doing, try to focus on something exciting or fun that has either happened or is coming up.

worst: doing nothing and letting it get to you, self harming, acting on suicidal urges (if you have them), neggative talk

Thank you for starting this thread! Great topic, and am also looking forward to others responses - I can use the new ideas/advice, myself.

For me, worse= isolating, ruminating.... confining myself to the "safety" of my room can start the snowball's momentum of not showering - not eating - not sleeping - paranoia - & etc.

Best? For me, getting outside, even just to write on the computer. Making myself complete a small list of chores (including some fun activities for myself) before I can give in to the siren call of my bed and hide out.

Great thread, I really don't have anything to add.that others haven't already said, but I look.forward to seeing the responses from others.

Best: do the opposite of what my depression is telling me to do.

Worst: give in to what my depression is telling me to do.

Best: Watch self-help videos, talk to my therapist and/or pdoc/someone trustworthy, take a shower or bath

Worst: Ruminating on what is bothering me, Drinking Alcohol, staying up all night

I also benefit from excercise and doing something that I am good at and like. I usually cook or build mobile applications.

I am in trouble if I let myself ruminate or isolate.

best: look on amazon

you don't have to buy, but i find looking on the site when i'm depressed makes me excited and anticipate all the stuff i want to buy at some stage

best: treat yourself.

on wednesday, i treated myself to my own copy of the lion king on dvd

it made my day

worse: don't trigger yourself

i'm a bad one for this. i'll feel bad or depressed about something, think of a movie or a tv show (or indeed some music) that i know will only make me worse, and what do i do 9 times out of 10?

listen/ watch it

For me it's easier said than done to not brood over something, to "snap out of it" or "pull myself up by the bootstraps". I don't know why that is. Something that will pick me up is when I get pain in my leg, back and hip (from a lumbar fusion) and I have to take a percocet. I don't get high from it, or manic, just a mild euphoria that for most people may be "normal". Because I fear becoming addicted, even though I may be super depressed, I won't take one unless I do have pain.

Drinking regularly is not a good idea. It will make it worse and delay your recovery. Been there.

On the positive: start your own thread here, just for you. Post daily. You will know you are not alone.

Another positive: Always remember things will change. Because you have bipolar, it must change. Therefore, you will not feel like you do forever. It is not hopeless.