Depression and Coping

Insane amounts of optimism and occasional denial.

 

People tend to misuse that word nowadays...

Depression is a mental health condition that is caused by a chemical imbalance in your body, and needs to be treated with medication and therapy.

Feeling depressed, blue, sad, hopeless or being in a funk is another thing entirely, and I'm assuming that's the state of mind you're referring to. In which case, it helps to change your outlook on life, especially since you mentioned yours has been rather negative lately.


Yes, you can change your perspective on life. But, as with changing anything about yourself, you first have to want to change, then you need to make an active effort to do so. And no, it isn't easy. But nothing worthwhile ever is.


You can start with a little positive self talk. Lots of people have the tendency to put themselves down in their own heads, and it does a lot of damage to your ego over time. I know firsthand. I also know first hand just how much of a difference not doing that can be. For example, say you draw something and it doesn't turn out as well as you'd hoped. A typical reaction would be, "ugh I'm never going to be good at this, why do I even bother...."

Instead, try thinking something more along the lines of, "I'm new at this so of course it's not going to look like a DaVinci painting, but with a lot of practice, I know I can improve."

Yeah, it sounds corny I know, but having an optimistic voice in your head as opposed to a negative one that is constantly putting yourself down does wonders for your self-esteem and your general outlook on life. Here's a tidbit from the article that got me started doing it in the first place:

It's from a bodybuilding article btw, but the theory is the same no matter who you are or what you're doing. Being a jerk to yourself isn't going to help anything.




Another strategy which is actually talked about in the same article, is to set small goals for yourself to accomplish and set aside a certain amount of time each week where you do nothing but relentlessly try to achieve that goal. By setting yourself small goals and busting your hump to achieve them, you'll not only have something to look forward to and keep yourself going, but you'll provide yourself with feelings of accomplishment. And invariably get to know yourself and what you're made of a little bit in the process.

Here's the an excerpt from the article:

Now, it doesn't have to be push ups, or any exercise at all (although exercise does contribute to your sense of well being and help reduce stress levels...) it could be any small goal. For example, if you've always thought of yourself writing a book, don't make your goal to write a book. Instead, make your goal to write one awesome paragraph. Or beat 1 level in 1 video game on hard mode. Or dribble a basketball continuously for 30 seconds. Whatever it is you want to work on. Just remember to start small and gradually work your way up.

A small goal could also be something like putting in a job application. Next week, try two. Something like that.




Another small thing you can do is to get out there and try some new things. Broadening ones horizons and trying new things are a great way to improve yourself and your outlook. Ever wanted to learn a new language? Give it a shot. Ever wanted to write in script? Try it. Do a kickflip on a skateboard? Why not? Give it an honest try, and if you don't enjoy it, move on to the next thing. Maybe you find something you really enjoy and would like to continue doing, maybe not, but either way you've gained something from each new thing you try.

The key is to go at it with the mindset that you're just trying new things, and that you don't have to be good at anything you try. It's a fun learning experience, you're not making a career out of it. Like a sampler platter at a restaurant. If you don't like the calamari, try a mozzarella stick. Simple as that. Although it may be a good idea to get the whole "positive self talk" thing down beforehand if you think you'll still just put yourself down if you don't do well at the stuff you try.





There you go, some suggestions for getting yourself out of a funk. They may help, they may not, but remember...you get out of life what you put into it. And I can personally vouch for these methods, they worked wonders for me. I used to have a terrible outlook on life, nothing but gloom and doom, but now I have a more positive perspective on things and I find myself more often content with life than not.


Hope this helps.






P.S. About college, it sucks not succeeding at something you set out to do, but it isn't the end of the world and you can always turn your situation around if you try. And if you came out of college without any outstanding debt...you're basically in the gold. College these days is both over priced and overrated. Many college graduates can't find a job to save their butt. And considering the fact that working as a garbage man or UPS delivery truck driver will make you probably more than a job that requires a 4 year college degree, who needs college? Skilled trades is where its at right now, and most don't require college or even trade school.

Just a thought.

 

My father once gave me some useful advice.
He said to me; "Son, life's a [rhymes with 'witch.']
Toughen up."
It is the only useful advice that the man ever gave me.

Life sucks, and the only way to get through it is to have the will to face challenges head-on.
You won't always succeed, but you'll sleep better at night knowing that you did everything that you could possibly do.

 

Ah, well it's good that you're receiving treatment for it, props.

Although even so, those suggestions should still help to improve your outlook on life as a supplement to the medication. I'm sure a therapist wouldn't say that positive self talk is a bad idea lol.

 

Glitch? I saw that poster of Vanellope at MomoCon as well! :derpe: No, but seriously, there was a poster of Vanellope with the text "Life's a glitch!"

 

Even though I don't have depression myself my older brother has it so i've been exposed to it and have personally lived with/ experienced it.

 

If I went to doctor, he/she would definetly tell me that I have depressive feelings. Well, I'm experiencing those problems almost daily. It's hard enough. I'm having these from my age of... 13 I guess. I can't really remember.

 

He makes a valid point.

Determination and willpower are very useful in a lot of situations, but opportunity and resourcefulness can often get you where willpower alone can't.


Although personally I'd take being lucky over any of em any day. lol

 

I'm right now having depression... again...

 

I have mild to moderate chronic depression. The last week it was severe. My main issues are my anxiety & schizophrenia which leads to me being depressed. I usually cope by my medication, talking to friends on Skype, and most often music. A lot depression comes from the feelings of isolation and lack of self worth. I see myself as inadequate and unwanted by basically everyone. Only positive thing is that I am beginning to lose weight and I hope to go to college. I want to move away from my mom and my hometown (Tulsa, OK). And move to a more LGBT-friendly place like Seattle, Washington. I also want to finally move on my own and hope to find a woman who would love me and accept me for me. I just hope I get into college.


Sent from my iPod touch named 'Rainbow Dash' cause I am the Realest BRonY in the mug, by Tapatalk.

 

Well, I have to avoid the negative aura that will be presented to me when I enter college. I know the ONLY way I will have a pleasant future for me is to take this opportunity to get an education and make something positive for myself. I am planning to go to IT and I hope with the training and degrees I can get a job right after completing school (hopefully a decent opening in North Seattle). And then make a new life and start over, disconnect myself from my mom, old friends, and the diseased-infested society that Oklahoma plagued me for over 24 years.

 

I would love to give advice to people who feel like crap who, feel like they have no place in the world. But I'm not the person to do so, I have a very dependent personality I'm envious of my childhood friend and brother and sister because they have kids, and I'm in no condition to have kids of my own. I can't decide whether or not to go to collage for video game programming or go to Law school or learn to wrestle. But since this thread asks how you cope. Here's how I cope I listen to music play video games (which ends up being all day), I bottle everything up. And get very dependent on friends to the point where if I don't have a person to talk to I feel like crying but I can't shed tears that's how I cope. Also with the dependent of friends, I know everyone needs someone to talk to but I get upset if I go without talking to a friend for more than two hours. well i hope I didn't get too depressing for this forum and sorry if I did.

 

I suffer from Bipolar II Disorder, and have struggled heavily through many things, even though my life as it was, was rather luxurious after seeing what other people have/had to go through. I'd rather not go through my experiences and instances of depression but rather how I get through it.
As demanding as it sounds, I relied heavily on my friends. Just talking to them, being with them, helped me immensely.
The other is music. goddamn, music. Lying on my bed, listening to my atmospheric music (albeit incredibly depressing and suicidal music) puts my mind on a trip, man.

I prefer not to talk to my friends about the condition itself and how I'm doing (not many of them even know of my conditions), but the sort of conversations that would be had regardless of mental issues.
And while in theory it doesn't sound like it would help me listening to sad, depressing music, I find it relaxing and stabilizing.

But most of what I've said has already been said. Take it as you will.

 

My older brother has depression so I know what several people who posted on this thread are going through although I do not have or experience depression myself.

 

I found a good way to get rid of depression is to stay active. always does the trick

 

I suffer from quantum tripolar strange OU disorder.