the battle against depression is serious and ongoing for so many.
How do you fight , placate the black dog?

[Heisenberg]

I'm fighting right now, and having a bit of hard time, but one thing I've noticed that has improved my condition and spread out my really depressive moods is just to let myself cry sometimes. What I mean is just to watch a few sad movies and let yourself sob, or when you're feeling only a little sad, cry with someone close to you.
I know how hard that can be. Even now sometimes I feel like I have to be strong, like crying is a weakness, but I am getting over it.
Back to the topic, it's a small thing, but after letting it out I feel less burdened, even if occasionally that's only slightly, any bit can help.

[justempty]

You're right, Heisenberg--crying, etc. are temporary fixes. I find that it comes right back, though. How do we get through the rest of our lives fighting this? If this is how it's going to be the rest of my life, I don't know how I'm going to do it. I'm just trying to exist from day to day, there's nothing really to live for any more. I don't enjoy anything any more. I lost my husband in Feb. and feel like I'm doing worse now than shortly after it happened.

Tulatutu, I wish I had some encouragement for you, but your question is also my question. Keep trying to find those ways to pull yourself up when you can--that's what I have to keep doing. But I'm finding I just want to sit and do nothing more and more.

[venusss]

I like to keep my enemies close.

[Abyssal]

Try to keep my mind busy

[online user]

When I am having a bad time, I take things just a bit at a time. I bargain with myself--just get through tonight, and things may be better tomorrow. I try to think of something I would look forward to doing--and think, "Just live with this for two more days and I can ......"

And, inevitably, things do get a bit better. There will be a day where I can smile. There will be a day when I really enjoy doing something. I try to remember when I am angry and irritable or feel really down and hopeless, it is my depresssion talking to me. I know I will feel better when that passes.

My sister is bipolar. She has had many episodes of psychosis with this. She confided in me once that she spends most of her life working on staying sane. She has done a lovely job and works full-time as a librarian, utilizing her master's degree in her work. I have so much admiration for her.

We learn to control and live with our mental illnesses much as a diabetic learns to control blood sugars or a heart patient learns to control his cholesterol and blood pressure. We take our meds, get counseling, and go forward with our lives. But, for some of us, it IS a daily effort, one which cannot be taken for granted. Like everything, there are pluses and minuses to having illness--you learn more about yourself and what has value for you. It's not all negative unless you don't look for the positives that come of it.

[Thomas in Ohio]

I have to agree with online user - just take things one small bit at a time.

I've been fighting a major funk for over a week. That is, until last night.

Long story, boring details, but I had something go right for me - not even that big of a deal, really, and not related to my current situation - and >pouf!<, I suddenly realized that the funk had broken
I'm actually thinking of sitting down and watching a movie This is the first time in a while that I think that I can concentrate enough to do that.

Sometimes, all it takes is a tiny bright spot to turn things around, and they can happen at ANY time.
When it does happen (and it will - "power of positive thinking"), hold on to as much of it as you can and bring it out when things are looking dark (much as online user said)