[Miss Laura]

Is it just me or do you all when feeling depressed watch depressing films/tv programs?

I have just sat and watched Girl Interrupted and My Sister's Keeper and then switched the tv on and there is a program on about Breast Cancer. I am sitting blubbing like a baby.

Btw I have been feeling sui.... too so I know how to cheer myself up huh!!

[SoupDragon]

I don't watch much TV, but I do prefer listening to sadder music when I am feeling down - the happier stuff makes me feel agitated at those times - sort of "how dare you music sound so happy when I am feeling so xxxx!)

Take care - SD

[Umbral_Seraph]

Yeah, I also really get into the more depressing music even more than I usually do (my tastes are a little ecclectic...). I don't really watch anything on TV, but I will get really tired and sleep even more than I already do.

I hope you feel better.

[disguise123]

certainly movies like girl interrupted will make me feel worse, i tend to watch doccos when depressed as i dont get so drawn into emotions then.
Best of luck, stay safe.

[vintageromance]

A lot of times, I'm instantly drawn to depressing TV or music when I'm feeling down. Sometimes I think about rereading Girl, Interrupted when I'm depressed, but I know I'll just end of feeling worse. For that reason, I try to watch/listen to neutral or positive things instead.

[Miss Laura]

Hey guys,

I know I should listen to positive, upbeat, happy music/tv/dvd's but its so hard when your drawn to the sadder movies etc. Today I watched the dvd Thirteen. It's depressing and I know I feel ubber sad but I am also "bouncing" at the moment too I can't win really.

My Friend suggested I get rid of all the sad stuff but I just can't do that, she can't understand how I can do this to myself time and time again

[disguise123]

woah! Thirteen can be very triggering! I understand what your saying. But in terms of trying to be well , your downloading massive ammounts of negativity to your brain.
Be careful.

[justfloating]

I can understand watching depressing movies or listening to sad music. When my depression gets bad, it's like I can't absorb happy stimulus. Listening to happy music in particular is almost impossible, because all it does is make me notice just how numb I really am. It makes me resent the artist's happiness. How dare they be happy when I'm so miserable? (I realize that makes no sense, it's just how I seem to function)

That being said, I do try to limit the amount of depressing music or tv that I expose myself to when I'm feeling down. It certainly doesn't help. If I can't make myself watch something happy, I'll watch something that reminds me of a happier time instead. For example, a movie I went to see with my friends, a tv show I used to watch when I was younger, a song I remember my mother listening to whenever she did laundry, etc. The content doesn't matter as much. What I'm trying to do in those times is transport myself back to a place when I was feeling anything other than numb or depressed. Sometimes nostalgia, while bittersweet, can be a step up for me.

[madisgram]

miss laura, when i'm like that i watch "america's funniest videos" on tv. it helps to laugh and takes away my depression if only for a little while. gives my mind a rest.

[agma]

I tend to listen to sad music when I am feeling like this. Happy things make me very angry. I've tried watching something funny on TV, but I end up laughing because I should/because it would normally make me laugh if I wasn't depressed. My mind just ends up very confused....I'm laughing at something when I don't find it funny and I am feeling depressed.

[widgets]

Girl Interrupted and Thirteen are the two most triggering films ever, they are also 2 of my favourites of all time. But i dont allow myself to watch them now, if i'm not depressed, they would trigger me into depression and when i am depressed they make me feel like i WANT to make it worse.

[Miss Laura]

Thanks guys,

I really should know better shouldn't I? Why do I just want to always do the opposite to what is actually right?

I just don't want to throw away my DVD's as I do like watching them. How come they never use to have this effect on me?

[widgets]

They'll have more of an effect on you now because you can relate to them more, they'd make someone who didnt suffer from bipolar or depression feel a bit sad, so if you're already in a bad place they're just going to add to it.

[obsidianbutterfly]

I do that quite often. When I get depressed I find myself watching sad/depressing movies and listening to sad music. Something I try to do is to find something that has a melancholic nature to watch or listen to that still has a positive message in it somewhere so that I'm not bombarding myself with too many negative thoughts and ideas

[Fuzzybear]

[Indie'sOK]

Oh. my. gosh. Seriously...Girl, Interrupted is one of the most affecting movies I've ever watched, if not the most. Don't get me wrong, it's a great story overall and I loved it, but it was just...sad. It changed my life completely.

[beautifuldisaster78]

Hey- I was just talking to my therapist about this today. I tend to do the same thing. When I am depressed I watch all sorts of stuff I know compounds it... especially Prozac Nation, Helen, and Girl Interupted. I listen to depressing or angry music. So I spent some time with my T trying to figure out why. The answer? Is because I so despartely want to be understood. The movies/songs reflect my mood and makes me not feel so alone because they are portraying what I feel. If no one around me understands, the actors/artists seem to..

That's my reasoning. Not saying it's right, my T told me it was a bad idea. And it is. But I tried watching some movies that I used to think were really funny- and when I'm in deep depression they just aren't even funny to me. They seem stupid.

It's difficult. And you may have different reasons for watching them- maybe you should find out why. But anyway, I share in your struggle just so you know.