combating depression

So what do you guys do to combat depression? What do you do to get out of your own head? I think it’s hardest in these days with so many of us questioning what it is that we actually want to do with our time.

 

I think seeking help is always my go to advice. Depression is serious and speaking with a professional is needed if you feel like you have depression. I’d imagine things are easy now with virtual calls/ Zoom meetings as well. 
 

Additionally:

- Do something physical every day. Some sort of work out, it does wonders for the mind. 
 

- Cut back on or eliminate drinking. Alcohol + depression don’t mix well. 
 

- Focus on small wins. Got out of bed on time? That’s a win. Sometimes the most simple things are actually really difficult, so overcoming that obstacle is a big win. 
 

- Don’t isolate yourself. It’s easy to want to be away from everyone. Don’t fall into that trap. 

“The three most harmful addictions are heroin, carbohydrates, and a monthly salary.” - Nassim Taleb
 

My coping mechanism has been exercise daily and daydreaming. I have identified the next goal in my career and have been making moves to get there, obsessing over it almost every day. It's unhealthy, but it's been helping.

The way I see it, once this pandemic is over I should feel better. But we'll see.

 

Depends on how bad it is and what's the cause. 

I faced something similar to your case after graduation (unemployment in a job market with 35- 40% youth unemployment) + a variety of personal issues and I needed extra help for my case (meds). An easy way to check your mental state is simply to see how messed up your sleeping is.

If you can still do your 7-8 hours at night, then it's not bad at all. If you are sleeping too little or too much, then it's better to start giving yourself a routine. I strongly recommend doing daily physical exercise as it stabilizes your brain and releases a bit of stress. Reading helps too, you have free time anyway. Make a routine for job hunting too (networking, researching etc) and avoid focusing your entire day on your source of depression. If possible, avoid spending time alone (you'll be surprised, this is the time in your life you see who are the real friends). If you have other hobbies, pursue them too. Basically anything that cheers you up and makes your day stable. 

Never discuss with idiots, first they drag you at their level, then they beat you with experience.
 
Most Helpful

With so much of my time now being cooped up at home I've naturally just felt more "down" than ever before because I do not get to interact physically with as many people anymore. I find that with work from home I also have a lot of time to be alone with my thoughts and not stay constantly distracted with work, social life, news, etc. etc. 

What I find helps for me is:

- Exercise (DAILY). Even if it means going for a 30 minute walk outside in the fresh air and sunlight. It's honestly helped a lot. I get to go outside and see other people going about their lives and being productive, active and happy and it makes me think what the fuck am I sad about? I have a good job, a good social circle and am in good health. 

- Eating well - Can't stress this enough. To me, cooking has become almost therapeutic. There's something about making things with your own hands that just makes you feel accomplished and gives you a nice boost. 

- Sleeping. 8 hours, man, it'll do you good.

- Practice mindfulness - Put things into perspective while doing some deep breathing. Really become aware of your surroundings. Observe things in your home. Ex. I went to Holland a year ago and bought this porcelain windmill as a souvenir. Never really thought much about it, but I was feeling kinda down and I was doing some mindfulness exercise when it caught my eye. Looking at and thinking about this little porcelain windmill and the sheer amount of detail that went into it made me have a small awakening about how there is beauty in even the smallest of things. This thing was hand made and hand painted and it probably took hours of hard work by a skilled craftsman. 

- Decompress & talk to people - Don't forget that people genuinely care about you and odds are that during this period of social isolation and distancing that they too are likely feeling down in the dumps too. Check up on your friends, ask them how they are doing and coping. Have an open conversation about how you feel. You'll be surprised. Reach out to that co-worker you rarely speak to anymore because you're not in the office. They'll be happy you made the effort.   

EDIT: Another thing I've come to learn over the past 6 months is that mental health is no joke. I have gained a new appreciation for the importance of mental health. If anybody ever needs to talk about anything feel free to PM. 

 

I've had some fairly bad depression bouts and get close to it a lot. For me, when things get super low it comes down to discipline. Keep the room clean, go to the gym at the same time and push hard, get to work on time, don't skip any meals, drink enough water, get all nightly activities done, and in bed with no phone use on time. From all the conversations I've had on the topic this advice seems to hold fairly well, but then everyone has different causes that need to be addressed on top of this to fully escape it. 

 

I agree. It depends on how serious it is and you can do things to make it better but the cure lies in seeking help.
I was going through shit a couple of months back and I was thinking about suicide. I had kept the struggle to myself for a good number of years but at the onset of COVID, things got really bad. I reached out and spoke to a therapist. Did around 3 months of sessions with her. She also referred me to a psychiatrist, who then prescribed some medication (Welbutrin) and shit has taken a 180 for me. 

I know it's scary and it doesn't feel right - it's not what we are conditioned to do - but seek help.  The right mix of medication and talk therapy has really changed my life. I'm writing this with tears in my eyes. There is hope. Things will change. This shit hurts but you'll get past it - believe me. 

 

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