• IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: Please read THIS THREAD about a rebrand for SF.

when you're depressed what makes you feel better:

SinisterKid

We either find a way, or make one.
SF Supporter
Nothing actually makes me feel any "better" for want of another word, something just distracts me temporarily. Once the activity is over, I am just the same, in a place where I see no future that involves hope of a better world for us all to live in.
 

Just Lost

Active Member
Keeping myself distracted, but it's exhausting! Once I stop, because my ability to continue is gone, I'm right back where I started. FULL CIRLCE! I'm so tired of being dizzy from spinning on this merry-go-round
 

SinisterKid

We either find a way, or make one.
SF Supporter
Keeping myself distracted, but it's exhausting! Once I stop, because my ability to continue is gone, I'm right back where I started. FULL CIRLCE! I'm so tired of being dizzy from spinning on this merry-go-round
Sadly, it can be extremely tiring being on the go, physically or mentally or both, for a long time to keep distracted. You need to be careful because tiredness can make depression worse. So what you are trying to distract yourself from, can actually become worse because of what you are doing to distract yourself. So yes, very much the full circle, a very vicious one at that.
 

iam

SF Supporter
I always find swimming helps, it's just getting motivated to go swimming is the problem but once I'm there it's great
Listening to music also helps especially live music.
I download lots of pointless games on my phone like dominoes or pool. They help, nice and simple, nothing too complicated.
Or coming on here and chatting helps too.
 
Exercising (also a great distraction when it's by guided videos)
My betta (El-Moe)
Music
Movies with a drink or 3..
Nature and Wildlife
Food (thankfully I am not so addicted but comfort foods are nice sometimes!)
Sleep is just the ultimate 'escape' and my dreams are amazing..
 
Exercise
Reading
Watching quality TV ( like Little house on the prairie :) )
Colouring in my grown up colouring book
Chatting to my partner or friends
Making a cake or a lovely meal
Having my nails done at the nail bar
A massage or facial
Eating monkey nuts & vegan chocolate
Going on holiday or to a nice restaurant
Dancing til I drop
Clothes shopping

I didn't realise how many things made me feel good until I wrote them all down - thank you
 
A sufficient workout helps me the most -- more so if it's an exceptional one. Anything that I know is a concrete step towards my goals can lift my mood. If it's something that doesn't do much for me in the long-run, then it's merely a distraction, which often doesn't help at all.
 

Niantiel

Active Member
Of positive ideas? Gaming and sleeping mostly. Sometimes films and shows.
Having clinical depression and not being on medication or seeing anyone professionally for help is HELL on you as an adult...
Especially if you're an artistic person because you have the urge and desire to be creative but when you put yourself to it suddenly nothing comes out and it drives you fucking crazy.

The list of negative things people do in an attempt to break depression and have some sort of emotional feeling is much, much larger but because I'm new and don't want to give off the wrong impression I won't recommend or list any of those. Common sense will tell you what's not a good idea if you have a moment of clarity and really think about it.
 

Thauoy

Well-Known Member
1. Going to a place of natural scenic beauty like hills, forest, park etc. 2. Eating my most favourite delicious food. 3.Watching inspirational videos on YouTube. 4. Reading books. 5. Spirituality.
 
I'm starting from an extremely low mood. I associate the words "feel better" to a longer term less depressed state. I use these short term mood lifers: Waking up after a set period of time sleeping (not oversleeping) Sitting in a chair instead of lying in bed. Cooking instead of getting takeaway. Doing the dishes. Finishing a task I started.
 

BarryW

SF Supporter
Waking up after a set period of time sleeping (not oversleeping) Sitting in a chair instead of lying in bed. Cooking instead of getting takeaway. Doing the dishes. Finishing a task I started.
1974, you have just listed severals goals I am focusing on as well right now. I have been sleeping 9-13 hours a night for the last couple weeks minus the 1 day a week I have early morning plans. A few times I tried to set the alarm before going to bed but I always switch it off before I fall asleep. Even last night I did that. I got out the recipe book a couple weeks ago for the first time in possibly a year. I have sworn off eating out to help save money and be more healthy; we'll see how long I can stay strong. Being honest with myself I can see a big list of supposed plans/changes I was going to make with my life this year that I keep putting off, so I can definitely relate to 'finishing a task I started'. We can swap tips for these items; let me know anything that works great for you and I will try it out.

Playing tennis helps my mood.
 
1974, you have just listed severals goals I am focusing on as well right now. I have been sleeping 9-13 hours a night for the last couple weeks minus the 1 day a week I have early morning plans. A few times I tried to set the alarm before going to bed but I always switch it off before I fall asleep. Even last night I did that. I got out the recipe book a couple weeks ago for the first time in possibly a year. I have sworn off eating out to help save money and be more healthy; we'll see how long I can stay strong. Being honest with myself I can see a big list of supposed plans/changes I was going to make with my life this year that I keep putting off, so I can definitely relate to 'finishing a task I started'. We can swap tips for these items; let me know anything that works great for you and I will try it out.

Playing tennis helps my mood.
When I started seeing my doctor I was told sleeping up to 16 hours per day plus naps was normal. As therapy progressed, my doctor suggested I try to stick to a sleep schedule and to start with a bedtime. This helped. I started sleeping less and a more consistent 9-12 hours per day plus naps with a regular 11pm bedtime. As time and my therapy progressed, I needed fewer naps. Today, I sleep pretty consistently 9-10 hours per day with an occasional nap. If I have a strenuous or stressful day, I might sleep longer. From diagnosis to my ending therapy was 10+ months. And it took another 3-4 months for my sleep patterns to normalize.
My doctor recommended Melatonin (not a prescription) when I wasn't able to fall asleep at bedtime. Today, I continue to take 5mg Melatonin about 30 minutes before bedtime. The trick with Melatonin is my body needs darkness for Melatonin to have an effect. If I leave a light on I won't fall asleep.
 

memyselfand1

University Student
Here are mine

Turning iphone off at least three times a week and taking a break from all social media
Avoiding food for comforting at dificult times.
Binge watching my favourite dramas on netflix and chilling out away from daily life.
Reading my books
Colouring
Doing my OU course and escaping into my degree.
Avoiding my triggers that cause me to feel rubbish and binge eat
Staying away from triggering people on facebook and real life that make worthless, nothing in society, jealous of their career/job/university
Sticking to jobseeking one day a week on Friday and not overdoing it
Keeping my pain at a manageable level
Eating a healthy diet and avoiding salt, sugar and processed foods, with maybe the occasional "treat
 

Z.Hudson

screams while naked in the shower holding an AR-7
Playing video games such as shooters.
Listening to jazz, swing, blues etc
Turning off my phone, skype or anything people can contact me. I really don't want to talk to anyone when in a bad mood. And also because I'm really rude when I get upset.
Listening to ASMR videos and rain sounds.
Meditating? I tried some OM meditation. Its really relaxing.
Food. Pizza, chocolate, cheetos, popcorn etc.
Watching funny videos on YT
Movies

But of course there things are short term, haven't anything for long term yet....
 
- Sleeping (when it's really bad, sleeping is the only thing I am actually able to do)
- Eating something sweet
- Taking a shower
- Sad music (helps me cry and it's a good thing)
 

Please Donate to Help Keep SF Running

Total amount
$0.00
Goal
$255.00
Top