I avoid shopping at peak times and/or in large malls. I try to shop as soon as the store opens and not on Thrusday-Sunday, I aviod large shopping centres as there is always to many people bumping and shoving, (some-ones gonna get a whopping and it ain't me)
To many people in my space, breathing my air.

Stories about child abuse or neglect is a huge trigger for me. My mind cannot fathom how a person can mistreat a child.

me too wow how did I forget that one.

I stop reading the news and ask my husband to keep his economics talk to himself.

Like Sindy, I avoid crowded shopping centers. There is one mall that don't go to even when I'm okay.

I also avoid friends/acquaintances who are cynical or what I like to call "dark clouds," the ones who fixate on the negative. I avoid my sister; she's in a class all her own.

Certain music makes me sad. I avoid the score from Schindler's List and a few others. No serious talk radio either.

The things that help me the most are sunlight, exercise, and routine.

I completely avoid watching the news and reading the newspaper. Nothing but depressing, tearful stories, and bad news. How can people start out their day reading and watching that crap? How can that possibly make for a good day?

i hate people breathing my air my air has to be cold :P ! a lot of thinks set off the old anxiety, people moving across my personal space is the big one.

Mirrors. I don't want to see how ugly I feel.

Good Topic Starlesssky

I don't watch tv.
I also do what Lonleysindy does, go shopping at the quietest times, I don't like massive crowds and people in my space.

Trace

To maintain my mental health:

I do not watch TV News.

I do not read the Newspaper.

I shop at odd times to avoid crowds.

I will not socialize with negative people.

I do not answer my Cell or home phone, unless it is someone I want to talk to. Most of the time I turn of my home phone ringer, and use my Caller ID, which works good because the phone is right in front of me, and I see the ID light up.

I am constantly trying to avoid, not getting enough sleep, because the better I'm rested, the better i can focus.

I avoid taking any pain meds, or sleep meds, because I do not want to become dependent on them.

Doug

I can't watch sad movies or horror movies. For some reason I can deal with death better in real life than I can in a fictional film. I won't cry at a funeral, yet I'll sob at a Disney movie. I refuse to watch sad movies anymore. I feel that I don't want to waste any more of my life feeling sad- I've already wasted to much of my precious life feeling depressed.

I avoid school kids or schools in general. They take me back to the bad times.

I avoid:

Shopping at peak times (if I can help it).

Being in crowded places

Depressing music

Alcohol and drugs

Yes mirrors also...good one!!!

I avoid certain people in my life who I consider "toxic". I don't drink or use street drugs which is normal anyway. No news...no political shows.

I try to find either an activity that engages me so that my mind can escape my depression. Getting outside with my gardening or playing with my dog help alot...

Peace, Cheryl

I avoid people. Wal-Mart is my greatest fear.......

I don't watch or read the news, because I can't deal with hearing about abused animals.

This is a weird one, but because of the wonderful times I used to have in the summer, enjoying my convertible, pool, and just hanging outside, I have avoided going outside since it got hot. If I feel the heat, I immediately fall apart and just want to die.

I avoid listening to anything having to do with real estate, because I lost my house and before the market crashed, I was a successful real estate agent.

I avoid looking at or hearing anything having to do with cats, because I had cats my whole life and there is nothing I love more, and now I have no animals, This has been devastating to me.

There are a lot of things I should avoid, but don't, because they make me feel better. But those are just a few things that trigger my already horrible depression to become even worse.

Confrontation unless I am backed in a corner

I go out of my way to avoid confrontation. And people, most of the time. I avoid getting into conversations because I don't like b.s. but sadly that's all I can talk about ITRW (in the real world). I avoid dealing with my feelings cuz' it's too painful but it doesn't work, my dreams play out and demand that I face things that I don't want to. I avoid answering the phone. I avoid anything to do with babies and children because of my sorrow and loss regarding them. I avoid going out at night, it scares me.
Heathlover~I'm sorry if my avatar is upsetting to you. I will gladly change it if you'd like. Losing my house was one of my many losses, too.

That's really sweet of you, but it's my problem that seeing it just made me cry. It's a beautiful cat. I miss mine so much, I can hardly stand it. I took one back a couple months ago, but she was 19 years old, and I had to put her to sleep. I only had her back for 3 weeks. Again, thank you very much for asking. It's my problem though, and I will just try to go out of my way to not look at it.

Take care.

I try to avoid the news or current affairs programs, especially when they're talking about unemployment, debt, house reposession and bankrupcy - I empathise too much

I have to avoid anything that has to do with relationships. I can't watch shows or movies about people in happy relationships. And have to look away during kissing or cuddling scenes in other non-romantic movies or shows. I also have to adamantly avoid thinking about my ex.

This post has been edited by DeeBear: Jun 26 2009, 08:25 PM

I can not deal with any of the above already mentioned.

However also the extreme misery and desperation of some of the peoples in Africa, who are hungry and diseased, with no hope of medication or food.

I avoid crowds, some music, my father, mirrors, having my picture taken.

Hi Ya'll: I always avoid anything that has to do with mushiness, chick flicks, romance, those songs that rip your heart out when you listen to them, romance novels, current events (every time I read a paper, see the news on TV , open up a web browser all that is on there is negative negative and negative). I dont live life like an ostrich with my head stuck in the ground but I have so much on my plate to deal with that I dont want to hear any more.

I am so glad I have 2 wonderful loving kitties that always know how to cheer me up.

I avoid people, phones, the news, and judging from my diet healthy foods.....