when you're depressed what makes you feel better:

[Acy]

• snuggling my cat
• a good book
• music
• sleep
• nature - flowers, birds, squirrels, rabbits, deer, mice, clouds

blackmagic, I'm sorry to hear that alcohol is "what makes you feel better."

I'm sure others think alcohol "helps to numb" them. Alcohol is a depressant and it doesn't actually resolve a situation, it only blots it out for a short period. And then when that wears off, there is often a desire to drink again, but it takes more alcohol to get drunk as one goes along. Alcohol tends to make depression worse. On top of that, it's expensive, kills brain cells, causes liver damage, can add to weight gain, has been associated with increasing risks of cancer, and it takes away our ability to think rationally.

 

[Twocky61]

Being with my gf Claire makes me feel better however much she exasperates me

 

[Gerald93]

Short Term:
- Watching a film, any genre will usually do but a good comedy obviously is the best
- Sex/Masturbation
- Music
- Video Games
- Being social, maybe a few drinks with work colleagues

Long Term:
- Finding a good full-time job
- Being in love

 

[redrobin62]

A few months ago I would've said alcohol. I've been sober for 3 months now and been depressed so deeply you wouldn't believe it. I drank when I wrote short stories. I drank when I watched TV. I drank watching movies. I drank while reading books or listening to music. I drank to calm my nerves. So far I'm not happy in my sobriety. I guess I just have to find other things to do than drink.

 

[Viktor]

Short term: Watching good movie or documentary about universe or nice music (i love instrumental soundtracks). These things doesn't work properly for me these days though.

Long term: Best would be love. A girl which would love me and cared for me. That would not be only for long term, but that would cure me. And also friends who would care for me. None of these things i have.

 

[Daydreamer]

Long term: exercise. Going out for runs/running on the treadmill helps me tremendously.

Short term: going on, even with mini steps. On some days getting up and taking a shower is an insurmountable obstacle. And it doesn´t help that my parents think I´m just lazy. If I was lazy I´d enjoy lounging in bed. But that´s not exactly the word I would chose for cowering in bed, covered in sweat because fear is suffocating me like a lead blanket. I consciously have to break down the "task", push back blanket, sit up, stand up, take one step, one more step - and every single step is a huge fight.

 

[random33]

Walking or driving aimlessly while listening to radiohead and letting my mind wander, also looking at old photos, it gives me a warm feeling of nostalgia, like a "good" sadness.

For the long term I do some volunteering at an HIV organization, I do mostly the boring stuff, clerical work, IT support and things like that, but knowing that I'm making a tiny difference in the world and helping others, gives me a good warm feeling inside I also may join an amateaur theatre group, I've done theater in school and loved it, I've actually been planing this for some time, but because of work, I had to travel a lot in the past few years, I haven't been able to, now that I'm in a more "stable" position I'll give it a go.

 

[W Miller]

First, drinking Iced Green Tea always does the trick, for me.

I enjoy watching old Late Night TV Show, and some daytime programming. I enjoy you-tube when ever my internet connection is fast enough to be able actually watch something, without is pausing every 10 seconds - Slow DSL - HAHA

To the above poster: I think you a special person to volunteer at an HIV organization. You are doing an amazing service to those suffering that horrible virus, and we need more people like you in this world.

Keep up the good work Random33

 

[random33]

Thank you, the merit goes to the amazing counselours, nurses and case workers we have, I just try to make their lifes a little easier, they have more important things to do, than worring about a broken printer

 

[Butterfly]

Playing the sims

 

[Petal]

Losing weight

 

[Dan99]

Caffeine................ SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN COGNITION............

It "magically" changes the lens through which i see the world.

I think the main benefit of caffeine for me is that it boosts my serotonin level.

My psychiatrist says caffeine is a mood destabilizer but i have since realized that they are TRAINED to say this so patients will choose to buy their meds instead!

Though i am trying not to take caffeine too often cuz i don't want to develop a dependency.... i only take caffeine whenever i am in "cognitive distress".

 

[W Miller]

Watching movies from the 80's. (pretty much any~thing 80's makes me happy)

 

[DrownedFishOnFire]

Taking a bath or taking a swim at the pool

 

[AAA3330]

Watching tv, sleep and eating, but all are only temporary. I wish that I could sleep forever because every time that I wake up things are still the same.

 

[Witty_Sarcasm]

Only death will make me feel better at this point. Rather, I won't have any type of feelings, which is precisely what I want.

 

[seeratmehra]

I just leave alone that its.

 

[Jay19]

Comfort eating and listening to music makes me feel better. Although the number one thing is sleeping, it gives my mind a rest from all the anxious thoughts.

 

[Jath]

Caffeine................ SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN COGNITION............

It "magically" changes the lens through which i see the world.

I think the main benefit of caffeine for me is that it boosts my serotonin level.

My psychiatrist says caffeine is a mood destabilizer but i have since realized that they are TRAINED to say this so patients will choose to buy their meds instead!

Though i am trying not to take caffeine too often cuz i don't want to develop a dependency.... i only take caffeine whenever i am in "cognitive distress".

I totally agree, for me it's coffee. Even if it's 3am something about staring at my french press.. waiting for the coffee to be ready helps set my mood a bit better.. then the coffee/caffeine afterwards seems to help clear my mind for a while. All the other things I try seem to be too short of a distraction.

 

[insiiideouuut]

Sleeping