I make music, and try and record it. Makes me feel professional an stuff.

During my latest bout of depression I read a lot. Reading helps pull me from the depths as I get lost in the characters' lives and forget how sad I am, even if only temporarily. Reading is a wonderful respite, albeit a short one.

The things that seem to alleviate my depression is music, writing, and exercise. The exercise thing is probably a different sort-of problem though...maybe another post to explain that later.

The other thing is this site! Actually knowing that others in this world feel similar to myself is reassuring that, although I spend almost every hour of my day alone, I am really am not. I can come on here and "interact" with others and try to gain friendships.

P-NRG

I have tried pretty much all of those things. My depression has been pretty resistant to treatment. I've tried lots of different meds. Sometimes meds work for awhile, but always temporarily if at all. Other things on the list (diet, exercise, walk outside, prayer, etc.) seem to help less. There have been a couple of times that I went on vacation with loved ones. That always felt good. Too bad I can't spend my life traveling with friends or family.

I am very interested to know if any of you know anything about bio-identical hormones? Have any of you tried them? Have they been helpful?

What about Vagus Nerve Stimulation?

What about any other treatment that has not yet been listed? I'm trying to think out of the box.
Help!

These things help me a lot when I'm down:

sleeping (often helps since I'm always so sleep deprived)
running/jogging
biking
singing loudly (and badly...more fun!) when I'm alone
taking a bath
writing in my journal
watching tv (although it sort of "drowns out" or "blocks out" my sorrows...which sounds kind of bad)
and talking with a friend.

i think knowing that you're not alone helps. when someone reaches out to you during a hard time in your life, its just one of those things you never forget. helps make the day a little easier.

As long as I feel comfortable with the therapist I'm fine. This is the best for me, If i don't care for the therapist I would have to say Family would be a strong second.

talking to my best friend
sleeping

calling my sil and she will listen to me vent

Hmmm...I guess for me it's recognizing how I'm acting different and trying to get back into a normal routine. Eating right, sleeping the right amount, getting out and socialising.

[font="Lucida Console"][/font][size="4"][/size][color="#0000FF"][/color] :detective2:
You know what helps me is talk therapy and support from friends.

I voted medication but it's not only that. It also is:

- Friends and family
- Being on the computer and watching TV
- Going out, shopping, eating, to the park with my son
- My husband is the greatest support
- Church
- Praying

A self help book i have found personally helpful is "Sue Atkisons Climbing out of depression" .

I also have a secret diary of sorts, which when im up to it i jot done any observations, for example, what triggers me, or something that i found fun, or a negative beleive i realize i have about myself, anything really.

I sometimes put on my headphones (i am in student halls, dont want anoise compliant!) and listen to really loud, passioante music, when im really low or agitated.

Sometimes just excepting that all i can do at present is hiding under the duvet, and trying not to beat myself up over it also helps sometimes.

Txtn a friend, even if they cant come over or im not up for company.

Hugging a teddy bear (yes im a guy i know!) when no other form of hug is avaialable.

If i have energy ( a big if!) then maybe getting a bus into town and grabbing some lunch out or somthing, not so much for pleasure, more then i dont have to worry about not eating well.

just a few things ive found help me, sorry for going on.

i said support groups like DF. it helps when u know ur not alone

I said Self help books and well I didnt read the whole thing properly, just clicked the button, but would like to go back and press a combination, but I guess I cant go back now.

So with that I would say being involved with this site, self help books : , having people understand me and also knowing I am not fighting this illness on my own.

MOSAIC

My depression has sort of culminated only recently, so I might change my answer somewhere down the line, but for now, it seems to be that music helps me the most. Usually Bob Dylan, The Beatles, even loud, crazy music like Flogging Molly. I don't like to bother other people, so I try not to talk with friends and relatives about my depression. Also, my writing and photography help a lot.

Meds kind of help, but I find that when i am most down I clean my pistols and rifles. I spend alot of time shooting, the explosion and hit on the target is very satisfying. Its probably not for everyone but it works all right for me and has for a long time. I do have some drawbacks, I am almost deaf now from years of unprotected ears while doing it. I use the old fashioned guns where each shot has to be hand loaded, so it works as a good distraction since mixing the gunpowder and primers and stuff has to be done a certain way, if not you can hurt yourself really bad. I get lost in them concentrating on the steps i have to take, where i am in those steps,etc. so I dont end up blowing myself to bits.
Alot of times if its a particular person that irritates me I can impose their image on my targets, and that seems to help. Its probably not the healthiest way of anger and depression management but it seems to work anyhow...

for me it is df that really helped/helps me. time alone with my dogs where i can just let my thoughts run w/o having to worry about what i'm thinking. positive self (thoughts - talk) has helped a lot as well. i always think about the negative side of things but what would it hurt to think about all the positive sides for once? =)

~adorabelle

listening to music, talking to my mom

mine is coming on here it helps me to let it all out and coz i dont see any one face to face i dont feel like i am being judged where if i talk to mates or family i would feel like i am being judged

there is mine

CK

Meds help take the edge off, coming here helps alot, distracting myself by getting involved in something I can actually concentrate on helps, I guess right now out of the three coming here and talking to people who actually get what I'm saying helps most :)

Evidently I have S.A.D and in the winter my depression is exacerbated TEN fold! I swear, if I could go to bed and sleep from November until March, I WOULD. How can I bring myself out of this? How can I exercise when I can barely drag myself out of bed daily to shower and get to work? I've suffered with this my whole life and I'm sick of it! Thanks!

first off, without my celexa, i would be lost, probably dead. i used to try and fight it. now i just go with it and give myself the time i need to get through it. i sleep when and for as long as i want/need, do nothing if i want. i let myself be as grumpy or sad as i need. i'm lucky that i don't work so i can be good to myself, although, i have had to stop watching the kids of 2 of my children due to depression, but not really a big deal.
i've found that after a couple of weeks of hibernating that i can begin to see the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel.

A change of scene or some distraction, a pleasant one of course have helped the most. My "depression" isn't that serious... I don't want to make it a big part of my life. Light moments with friends, humour have also vaporised my gloom in the past... its amazing how quickly these thinks take effect. I'm thankful for my friends and ppl who care about me.

Hi, JC. I suffer from SAD too and it's the worst. I grew up in Seattle, Washington, notorious for its gray skies and rain, and it about drove me nuts. I'm on antidepressants and they help a LOT with the symptoms. There are other natural solutions that can help too, like full-spectrum fluourescent lights, diet changes (more protein fewer carbs), etc. Here's a link to an article about SAD on DF:

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

I think you'll find a lot of help for your depression here on DF.

Meds have definitely been the main help. It's also nice when I can really talk to (and connect with) someone about how I'm feeling and know that they'll be sympathetic. It's hard to find too many people like that though. I hear music's also good because the same part of the brain that's activated when you're singing is also used for making you depressed and it's difficult to do both at once.

Exercise, I walk about 10kms a day.
Music
Friends
Dancing
Watching comedies
DF chat room.. it's always a lot of fun and makes me laugh
Trying to give someone else a helping hand on DF
Chocolate =)

By reading all these replys it seems that we are a likeminded bunch bless us!
I fit into lots of the categorys too. for me without a doubt it has to be:

* My tablets- there when i needed them most, comming off them slow but sure but, without them i honestly dont think i would be here.
* My family and frineds - are absolute heros. They dont understand alot of the time but listening to me vent is a godsend to me at times.
* Our allotment and garden- outdoors and the sunshine go hand in hand and id go mad if i couldnt get my hands covered with mud and weeds!!!
* My comedy dvd's- when i ve had a particulary bad epipsode there is nothing that will lift my mood than a bliimin good laugh. Dirty sanchez, mighty boosh, dinnerladies , drop the dead donkey, anything to make me laugh is pure bliss
* Myself - at times i dont trust my thoughts but when i really need to be strong, there isnt a tablet in the world that will give me the strength to carry on fighting like my brain does.xxxx

A book called Sunbathing In The Rain by Gwyneth Lewis... its just a story of her experiences and a beautiful way of looking at depression. Its my new recovery bible!

excersise
homeopathic
the lovely people i meet her
deep breathing

working on diet there is alot of reaseach showing the diet is one of the key parts of it though.

I voted for this place.

Do I get paid for doing that? :D

The things that help me the most, is just hanging out with family. My aunts, cousins, and my sister in law. They help the most. My sister in law is going through it all too, even though I have never talked to her about mine, (except once I told her that I had an unspoken prayer request), she tells me about what she is and has gone through, and for some reason, it helps! Also prayer and I love to recieve hugs from the people I love the most! This is a good thread!

Much Love,
Me

going on vacation. well at least it helps while I'm gone.

second to vacations: being busy with hobbies I like, not having too much time on my hands, having money, exercising, and being in love (this one's a double edged sword though)

I fixed a stupid computer the other day, and i felt really good afterwards.

So i guess success and achievments help alot.

my son....i love him so much and the things he says are so unintentionally funny!!!
my family and friends,they know when im low,and when to back off or when to give me a little push!!

you guys,i come in here and know im not alone,that my illness is very real,and i laugh alot,especially in chat!!

My family (my husband, four children, one son-in-law, one almost son-in-law, one grandbaby, one cat and four parakeets). I would have ended it all long ago if I didn't have them.

For me it's been to wait till my spell has run its course which is not a healthy route to be in. At other times, it would be me conscientiously trying to get myself out of this state, like what I am trying to do now.

What helps me is when I talk to myself or write down in a journal what's on my mind. It helps me to have a better perspective on things. It also feels like I can leave my bothersome thoughts behind on paper.

I am just so glad to have found this forum where I can voice how I feel and you would all understand.

I just wanted to say I love listening to music...specially the music that makes me nostalgic of good times.

No question.... Medication is the only way for me....

Having a chemical imbalance, medication helps me the most with depression.

For anxiety or stress -- the thing that helps me the most is sleep. I can me on the edge, totally stressed out and if I can sleep for 30 minutes, I feel like a new person.

I also work out with weights 3 times a week. If I miss more than 4 days I DEFINITELY feel a difference in my moods -- a little more down.

I walk my dogs every day and that definitely makes me feel better.