I've been very low lately. I haven't reached a dangerous a point, and I don't think I will, but I was curious as to what some people here may have done to get out of this kind of rut.
I get over it. I think to myself that I have more important things to do then be depress. So, the answer would be to find a project to focus your attention on, something that you enjoy doing. Working out, or any other physical activity gets your mind off a lot of things. Clean your room, or maybe your house if you want. Talking to people you know is good too, it could be anything. Or at least a stranger, you're on the internet after all.
If this happens to you a lot, or this continues for a while, you may have chronic depression, which is a chemical imbalance and you need to seek medical treatment for it. If you just happen to feel a bit down and out lately, then there are plenty of things you can do to try and cheer yourself up. -Go buy yourself something that is entirely for you. In this economy people aren't spedning much money, so if all your money has been going to bills or what have you, take some spare change and go buy yourself something you'll enjoy. Something completely frivolous, like a new book, video game, a t-shirt, pair of shoes, a magazine, whatever. About two weeks ago I spent $15 on a pair of sunglasses (white frame with irridescent blue mirrored and polorized lenses.) and it brightened up my whole week. Just to have bought something for myself that I didn't need, but I wanted. -Go do something you haven't done in awhile or try something new. Umm...you could go bowling, fishing, mountainbiking, skydiving, learn to draw, go see a movie, visit a museum...think of something you'd like to do or learn and go do it. -Strapped for cash? Take a day off as a personal day. Spend the whole day enjoying yourself without worrying about being unproductive. Take a bubble bath, read a book, play video games all day, watch ponies all day, eat a really sumptuous meal or two, pet the cat for an hour....whatever. -Need a sense of direction? Feel a bit lost or too unproductive? Take a learning annex course, enroll in one community college course, apply for some new jobs, etc, etc. Get a new pet. Volunteer somewhere like an EMT squad, firefighter station or animal shelter. There is plenty you can do, just pick something. Flowers. Thats it, go pick some flowers and give them to the first girl you meet. Idk, use your imagination. Or just watch some pony parodies on youtube and give your cat a cheezburger.
When I was depressed, I made a strong effort to go out improve on things about myself so that I could retain a sense of confidence. I started drawing again, I went running everyday, etc.
When I'm depressed, I look to my friends. I don't think I know myself well enough to know what makes me happy, but something that's never failed to make me smile is to spend time with my friends. They'll make you laugh, they'll hold you while you cry on their shoulders. They'll be what you need them to be. During the times when you'll be alone, either at night trying to go to sleep, think about those friends. Think about how they make your life so much better when you spend time with them, knowing that while they may not always agree with you, they'll always support you. This is what lets me sleep soundly every night, and I hope it helps you too.
I've gotten to dangerous levels on a fairly frequent basis. Before a few months ago, there was very little external help, ie I didn't feel like I could turn to my friends for help, with majority of which wouldn't help anyway. After which I was finally diagnosed with bipolar II, which led to lithium medication. Friends you know you can depend on is great step that I wasn't able to take until I came here. If there are things you can do to keep your mind at bay for lengthy periods of time, that is another great one. A common problem with depression however, is the inability to enjoy much at all, for me, music stayed enjoyable, so I just laid on my bed for hours with my headphones blasting brilliance. Being an introvert, and preferring to be by myself majority of the time, it was (as Echoax said) time that gets me out of the episodes really. Medication helps tremendously to dampen the damage, but just waiting it out is the hardest and effective for me. I have come to self-harm several time, but shortly after that stage I was as content as ever, not happy, cause I rarely am. My special pony, rexhyuga, has especially helped me get through my downers recently, possibly more than he knows, and similar results can occur for you with people you are very close with. If you want someone to talk to, I'm all ears to help soften your pains of things I have endure so often, as I hate seeing people go through such terrible emotions and such
Sometimes it helps to target what causes the depression in the first place. I used to have anxiety attacks, followed by terrible depression, and so monitoring the root of the problem helps. Boredom is sometimes a big factor, so keep your mind on something to keep your mind off of the depressing things in life. Surprisingly enough, my depression peaks were caused when I did a bad job plucking my eyebrows. I'm extremely sensitive about my eyebrows, and so when they don't look right or they're mismatched, I become depressed for looking ugly, followed by feelings of depression in that I'll never fall in love, I'll never get a good job, I can't walk outside, I don't like myself, etc. Sometimes it's something that you wouldn't expect at all. But that's not to say that you don't need to see your doctor if it's persistent. The post you offered gives us little to go by, as there's a whole spectrum of depression out there.
I thank everyone for their input and support. It's know there are people that care. And while the advice you've offered would helpful, I don't think it'll help me too much. Allow me to explain. I don't have many close friends. Or any, when I look back on it. Most of my old friends weren't exactly helpful, and most turned their back on me. The friends I do have (other then everyone here, of course ) are friends of circumstance. They need me and I need them. So I'm a little lacking in the support department. As for my depression, it doesn't have a root. I can spend all day doing something I enjoy, like writing stories or reading a book, but at the end of the day I just feel . . . dead, is a good word. It happens everyday but today was particularly bad, which led to this thread. I've been worse then this, and I don't want to slide back. So any input is welcome.
Doesn't ponies help at all? When I feel down I always focus on ponies, try listen to the smile song, that usually helps for me. Myself I have also established a personal relationship with Rainbow Dash, now rain make me happy. Look at these ponies, do you feel better? By the way, do you have any people who knows you are a brony or that you feel you can confess this to? One cure of depression is having people you can confide in.
Skype! Add all the pony friends on skype. Then you get to plan meet ups and projects and stuff. You can get closer to other ponies on Skype than you ever can on the boards. ...No offense.
Yes, ponies make me smile (as does the picture), but I can't look at ponies all day. Also, only one person knows I'm a brony, and I'd like to keep it that way. No offense to anyone here intended. As for Skype, I use that for work and to speak to my editor. Adding a bunch of bronies wouldn't help me much. Not that I have anything against bronies (obviously) but the people I know wouldn't exactly be kind about that. Now that I look back on it, I really am in a sad position.
You could always make a second skype. One for work, and the other for bronies or whatever. -- Sent from my Palm Pre using Forums
I plan on making a second skype. For my DA only, that would be for people that watch me. I don't know if anyone would add me or whatever but it can't hurt anything. So I figure the same would work for you. Just EP instead of DA. -- Sent from my Palm Pre using Forums
They say time heals all wounds. I don't know about that, but it makes you feel better about them. If you want me to give you what I've got in terms of experience, I will. I've hit a few ruts. More recently, I was told by my ex-girlfriend, someone I've had feelings for these past couple years, that I mean nothing to her and that she doesn't ever want to see or talk to me again. That right there, that hurts. I mean, I dedicated time to her, trusted her, spurned the advances of others in favor of being faithful to her even when she wasn't around, and had some powerful feelings for her, and she decided that she doesn't care because she thinks, and I quote, I'm not worth it. That conversation happened a couple days ago. There are some problems in life that we can't find answers to, that we can only be answers to. You think I'm going to mope around and chase after some girl who thinks I'm not worth her time? No way. There is a special person out there who will appreciate me, and so I'm going to look for that person. You've got to be the fire in the core of your world. One great way to get out there and feel invigorated again is to do things you wouldn't normally do. Why did I decide to lay down in a random patch of grass for a half-hour? Because it wasn't what I normally do. That's called taking yourself out of your comfort zone. Finding things to do with others who appreciate you can help with this, but sometimes you'll have to do it yourself.
I was basically in your shoes but nowadays, I don't let this happen to me anymore. Finding happiness, ponies, family, My Dreams and Seeing the beauty in life on earth keeps me going. Just find what makes you happy. Doesn't have to be always ponies. Make magically memory happen with a little adventure you make each passing day.
everything good that could be said was already said. Making second skype and having new brony friends could be solution. Just give it a try, you have nothing to lose
