[giddykitty]

Might I ask a question? (no, that wasn't it. ) For those of you diagnosed with major depressive disorder or identify with unipolar depression, what do your good days feel like? Do you ever experience racing thoughts due to too much excitement or anxiety? do you sleep less than when depressed (for instance, when depressed I can sleep up to 13 hours and still feel tired), ...

I'm just curious what normal is supposed to feel like. Does anyone really know?? Like I said (in the check in thread), I'm beginning to feel a little down now, but this is getting to my "baseline". Like, I started treatment at around this level (a lower level).

Thanks!

[Yaowen]

I am so sorry you are feeling down. Giddykitty. I'm also sorry that you are experiencing racing thoughts due to too much excitement or anxiety and that you are sleeping less. That must be troubling. I have felt those things too. And my heart goes out to you!

Regarding your question, I would say better moods feel like this to me: colors are brighter, I notice and treasure things, even little things like the song of birds outside my window. I feel lighter as though a huge weight had been lifted from my soul. I notice the good in people, even in so called "bad" people. I value things more and everything seems more precious to me. I feel lucky to be alive and hopeful about the future. I feel the desire to be of use to other people or at least share in their misfortunes. I feel as though I am stable, standing with both feet firmly on the ground instead of trying to keep balance standing on the head of a pin.

[giddykitty]

Originally Posted by Yaowen

I am so sorry you are feeling down. Giddykitty. I'm also sorry that you are experiencing racing thoughts due to too much excitement or anxiety and that you are sleeping less. That must be troubling. I have felt those things too. And my heart goes out to you!

Regarding your question, I would say better moods feel like this to me: colors are brighter, I notice and treasure things, even little things like the song of birds outside my window. I feel lighter as though a huge weight had been lifted from my soul. I notice the good in people, even in so called "bad" people. I value things more and everything seems more precious to me. I feel lucky to be alive and hopeful about the future. I feel the desire to be of use to other people or at least share in their misfortunes. I feel as though I am stable, standing with both feet firmly on the ground instead of trying to keep balance standing on the head of a pin.

Thank you for sharing. I too have experienced these things, but as the first post mentioned, I experience those other things too. *hugs

[downandlonely]

For me, when not depressed, I enjoy being around people more and don't feel like isolating. I also have more energy, sleep less, and am able to focus better. When depressed, my memory is terrible and I can't focus on school or work.

[Fuzzybear]

I don't feel like I'm trapped inside my head and can concentrate on other things more aside from that biting inner critic and anxiety. I feel things other than anxiety, anxiety, anxiety, depression, grrrr ness

[lotusblossom19]

When I don't feel as bad, I'm able to be productive, relatively speaking, and power through the thoughts of wanting to give up while working on something. I still want to give up, just not as intensely. When I feel "better," I don't have as difficult a time with focusing and my energy isn't as low. If I'm not in a state of crisis, I'm still, at best, hanging on just enough to get by.

[Raindropvampire]

My better moods are I don't want to be dead. Not that I'm ever actively suicidal. I honestly am so low I don't even see wasting the effort to try to kill myself. Other than wanting to live I don't cry myself to sleep but that's about as good as it gets for me.

[giddykitty]

Originally Posted by Raindropvampire

My better moods are I don't want to be dead. Not that I'm ever actively suicidal. I honestly am so low I don't even see wasting the effort to try to kill myself. Other than wanting to live I don't cry myself to sleep but that's about as good as it gets for me.

Mucho mucho hugs to you for that (and anyone else who stays pretty low most or all of the time).

I actually understand that super low feeling. I've been there too. Fortunately it hasn't but happened only a few times in my life.

Hugs to everyone reading and commenting on this thread! Much love!

[zapatoes]

In a better mood feel like doing more such watch a funny movie, get out more to socialize.

[Thirty shades]

Hi Giddykitty

I have periods where I experience racing thoughts and then I don't sleep... This is normally when under intolerable stress. I can also sleep overtime

I have given up on normal, I was once but I don't expect to ever get that back...

Putting on my mask and achieving as close to normal that is possible, is the best I can manage.

My mood and emotions are not what I would choose but they are me, As Is....

[Fuzzybear]

a few less umbrellas

[giddykitty]

Originally Posted by Fuzzybear

a few less umbrellas

hands you more umbrellas (that's what you need, right? I'm still learning these metaphors )

[Fuzzybear]

Originally Posted by giddykitty

hands you more umbrellas (that's what you need, right? I'm still learning these metaphors )

[Thirty shades]

Some days an umbrella is enough...

Others it has holes
Or worse still blows inside out and breaks completely...

No-one has invented an umbrella that is a fail safe

[Mopey]

What an interesting, worthwhile question. I read all the answers so far and find them all valuable.

For me when I am feeling good it’s almost like being in another zone or operating from a different area of consciousness from the usual. My energy flows correctly, I am able to focus (pretty much) and a lot of the extraneous stuff gets filtered out. If my energy starts flowing too intensely I try to visualize shoving the excess down and out of me so it doesn’t lead me off haywire. Excess energy can easily drag me off track unless I get rid of it quickly.

It’s almost as if when I’m feeling ok it’s more a matter of what ISN’T happening than what is happening. As Fuzzy says above, the constant inner critic is not so loud and insistent, and the negative thoughts and worries are mostly silent too for a change.

Many hugs to you... 🙂🌹

[Fuzzybear]

When bears do it in the woods

[Fuzzybear]

Have you had any fun today?

[giddykitty]

Originally Posted by Fuzzybear

Have you had any fun today?

I guess you could count listening to music fun! I'm not in a particularly down mood today, so that's good, but I'm not like super up either. Just getting by. :P

[Fuzzybear]

Listening to music here too