Calling all depression sufferers?

Question

Im feeling particulally anxious today. Do you have any coping skills or suggestions?

Answer 1

share your problems

Answer 2

Relaxation Techniques
Description

There will come a time in everybody's life where they just want to relax and forget about everything that is going on in the outside world. Usually people will require relaxation techniques when they are dealing with a lot of stress. When they find that they cannot cope with the stress then they realize that they are in need of some relaxation techniques to help them through their troubles. Relaxing should be a way of life and you should try to incorporate some relaxation techniques into your daily life. If you are a hard worker then you will know just how stressful your work can be. But simple relaxation techniques will help you to lose the stress and then you can start to enjoy your work.
Different Types of Relaxation

There are a few different types of relaxation techniques that can be applied to everyone's daily life. There are little techniques that do not require much struggle as they can be done in simple 5 minute stints. If you are short on time then you can use these techniques to help you relax a little, why not try them out during your lunch break or even during your work. If you find yourself feeling really stressed out then you can just stop working for a few minutes and then try out a few of the simple 5 minute techniques that can be found anywhere on the Internet. There are some other relaxation techniques that are more used for when you have 30 minutes spare. Although some of the techniques are actually simple little thing like making sure you are sitting right for a start, but then there are other techniques that should clean your body of any of those horrible negative thoughts that might be running through your brain. If you feel that none of these relaxation techniques will help you out then you should try something more advanced, something like mediation or yoga has been known to help relax the body and also you can learn a lot of new things just by doing these classes. You can buy a set of yoga DVDs or you can actually go to some classes. The classes will generally cost a bit more but when you get the face-to-face help if you are doing something wrong then you will know why you paid the small bit extra.
What Benefits Does Relaxing Have

Relaxation techniques can help you in a number of ways. Your blood pressure can drop once you start learning to relax and the chance of having a heart attack from your stress can also be decreased. Also once you are applying these relaxation techniques to your everyday life you will not notice but your immune system will start to go back to its original self. Stress can cause your immune system to break down a little, this means that the slightest bug can then cause you a real problem and this will probably add to your stress levels. Also sleeping patterns will be better, you will notice that when you are stressed out that your sleep will be disturbed a lot of the time and a good night's sleep is almost impossible to achieve. However once you are relaxing you can then start to notice that your sleeping will become a lot better and you can then enjoy a good night's sleep. There are so many good things that relaxing can do for your body, you may not notice some of the things that happen inside you body when you are stressed out but once you start to apply relaxation to your daily lifestyle then you will begin to realize just how bad your body must have been when you were under so much stress.

Answer 3

Deep breaths - to relax. Herbal teas (not coffee, and definitely not alcohol - makes it worse). Promise yourself a favourite food for later in the day. See if you can get a friend to go for a walk with you or do some work in the garden (fresh air and exercise really helps, although as someone who's been there I know how darned hard it is to get up and make yourself do it, which is why I suggested a friend).

Small tasks that can be easily accomplished - it's so easy to spend the whole day in a dither and then feel worse about yourself at the end for having done nothing. Write to a friend whom you haven't written to for ages - not about the depression especially, just a gossipy friendship letter.

Is there anybody nearby who could use a spot of help? especially if it's a regular friend. Doing something good for someone often helps the bad feelings inside. Listen to some of your favourite music - the kind that brings you up, not down.

And write a list of all the things that are worrying you, and how important they are, and what you can start doing about some of them now. Just a few - maybe even just one - as opposed to looking at the great tangle of things to be anxious about.

I hope that helps. You might Google for Sydney Smith's letter to Lady Georgiana on depression: although it was written at least two centuries ago it is as good today as ever.

Answer 4

K when I get anxious (as I have dealt with Panic disorder for awhile) I do this, depending on where I am at. I go to the bathroom and go into a stall. I sit there and tell myself and ackknowledge the fact that I am anxious and panicky. Then i try to determine WHAT, WHO or WHY, I am feeling this way. I tell myself that, there is absolutely no reason to be worked up over situations, or things you cannot control. I take a few breaths to calm the heart rate. I also clean the house alot which helps to ease the displaced energy causing you to be anxious. You have to have an outlet for that enenrgy to go somewhere. try it. you may be pleasently surprised

Answer 5

Don't use substances to make yourself feel better. It doesnt work, and you end up feeling rubbish afterwards. Talk to somebody. You can send an email to the organisation "mind", and they'll reply back within the day (I think) and talk you through some practical advice. It's completely anonymous too.

I always find that if not talking, writing down everything that is bothering you, followed by some relaxation techniques helps me. (breathing ones) But it does vary from person to person, as you can see from the massive number of replies on this site.

Answer 6

Well, I just put on my sunglasses and rode my bike to where I had to go, that way I didn't have to stop if I saw people I knew in the street or get on the bus. Funny thing is it's not sunny, but I got what I needed from the shop - lol.. ;oD..

I usually get angry with myself and shout before I leave the house, then have a good old laugh walking down the street... Erm reading that back I sound like a bit of a nut - LOL ah well we do what we must to get on in life.

God bless you sweetie and I pray that your anxiety ceases as you read this....x

Answer 7

Try and re-assure yourself that you are loved,
and that there are a lot of people who feel the way you do unfortunately and you are not on
your own.
I have a son you suffers from manic depression and know how aweful you can feel.I'm sure that you will get through this day,although it's not always easy.If you can try and mix with some of your friends for a while,perhaps they may be able to lift this aweful feeling. Be sure I am thinking of you, and hope that tomorrow you will feel a lot better.God bless.

Answer 8

Do some type of exercise today it will relax you. Exercise lifts your mood some too. You can also do some stretches. If you feel lonely make sure you call some and talk about things. You can talk about anything it does not have to be about how you feel, but that would be good to. You can make some plans to do something with someone to get away from things or home.

Answer 9

Coping Strategies:

* Focus your energy by rehearsing the task in your head.
* Consciously stop the non-productive comments running through your head by replacing them with productive ones.
* If you have some "rituals" for writing success, use them.

Examples:

* Follow a protocol you may have for organizing your time. Use a favorite pen if you have one.
* Spend a few minutes doing some relaxation exercises.
* Take a break: physically walk away from the situation for a few minutes if you can.

Relaxation Strategies

* Stretch! If you can't stand up, stretch as many muscle groups as possible while staying seated.
* Try tensing and releasing various muscle groups. Starting from your toes, tense up for perhaps five to ten seconds and then let go. Relax and then go on to another muscle group.
* Breathe deeply. Close your eyes; then, fill your chest cavity slowly by taking four of five short deep breaths. Hold each breath until it hurts, and then let it out slowly.
* Use a calming word or mental image to focus on while relaxing. If you choose a word, be careful not to use an imperative. Don't command yourself to "Calm down!" or "Relax!"

Answer 10

When ever I feel fed up I have a soak in the bath with a girly magazine and put a face mask on, paint my nails and just pamper myself for a bit or I watch a fave dvd or sometimes if i can afford I nip to shops and buy myself something as a treat if you cant find anything to buy for yourself buy your friend a little present, giving presents always cheers me up. If I am stuck at work I call my best friend and have a good moan and she usually makes me laugh or her just listening helps.

Answer 11

Stay busy. Maybe try writing down your thoughts in a journal of some kind when you feel that way. It helps to get it out. Are you on any type of medication? You should go see your doctor if you know that you are suffering from depression.