If you were depressed, what would you do to alleviate a depressed mood?

Question

What usually works for you? I know everybody is different but I'm trying to get ideas that can help when feelings of sadness and hopelessness hit.

Answer 1

Exercise is always good. Getting out and being with friends is good too. See your doctor if it persists though.

Answer 2

There are several things you can do to alleviate depression. Physical exercise is one of them. Calling a good friend or two who you know can make you laugh and think about good times is always helpful. Find a good comedy on TV and let yourself get into the humor of it, letting your cares go for a while. We all have things that can depress us...but please, ignore the drink alcohol suggeston. Alcohol is a depressant, and while it may make you feel good for a little while, in the end you'll be even more depressed. Try to find things that you enjoy doing, such as cooking, painting, creating in some way. Things you enjoy can easily take your mind off depression. However, if these things do not help, please do not hesitate to talk with your doctor. Statistics show that close to half of all Americans do or have taken anti-depressants. Some people need them for only a short time, while others require a longer regimine to help them get through a depressed state. Whatever you do, don't just ignore it; depression doesn't tend to go away on it's own. You have to work at it, and seek medical attention if the above suggestions don't help.

Answer 3

I don't think thoughts of harming others, or yourself, are depressive thoughts. Those are thoughts of manic behavior, even if they are stemmed by depressed thoughts. I have been depressed for a long time, taking medications and tried several kinds of therapy. The thing that always helps me the most is something that will stop me from thinking about and worrying about myself. Focus on people you can help, and worry about their problems more than yourself. That works. I volunteered at schools and other places for a while, and it helped me a ton. Do something where you can see the good you can do. If you do get manic feelings, and ever want to do something to alleviate your depression that will hurt yourself or somebody else, stop. It's not your fault entirely, but there is something seriously wrong with you. Go to a doctor or see a counselor, clergy, anybody who can listen to you and help you to stop thinking about hurting anyone. A lot of people in the prisons are people who are just like me and you, but who took themselves out of their depression with manic behavior that is illegal and harmful. Don't let yourself go there. You aren't prison material. You can do this, pull yourself out of the black hole and see the sun again. You need to find some kind of activity to put all of your male aggressive behavior, for me it was weight lifting. That helped my depression a ton. That or any other sport will help you, in more ways than one. Good luck.

Answer 4

Don't listen to the first guy. It's not right. When you feel sad it's usually because your thinking about all of the stuff that's sad and depressing in your life. Some times you just need to get out of that. Make a dinner date with you family or do something with you friends. Make whatever you do something you enjoy or are good at. Count your blessings.

Answer 5

The most obvious answer is to try to identify the root cause(s) of the depression, and if possible address them somehow in a positive, constructive manner, and involving other people to help you with these problems when appropriate, like family, friends, counselor.

One of the common symptoms of depression is a loss of enjoyment in activities that you used to enjoy that made you feel happy. That's what makes it so difficult for some people to lift their mood, because their favorite activities simply aren't helping anymore. I guess my advice would be to try to keep doing things you have an interest in regardless if you're able to enjoy them or not right now, because if you just stay in bed and stare the ceiling or whatever, that'll just make things worse.

And engaging in activities that you like is always better when you have the right people around you to enjoy them with.

Perhaps there still are activities that may help to lift your mood, but we don't know you so can't offer suggestions based on your personality and age. For instance, I happen to be a pianist, and practicing Chopin does it for me.

Honestly, when I was like 18-22 or so, what helped to lift my depression was going to a club/bar or whatever, having a few drinks (but not to excess, just to loosen up slightly) and picking up a nice looking woman (shame on me). After all when you're in your teens/early twenties, what's better than that??

As far as general all-purpose suggestions that apply to most people I'd try to:
1) Go for walks
2) Exercise and lift weights -- these have been PROVEN in studies to help men with depression, particularly weight lifting.
3) Keep dating girls (if you're not married, of course :-), and fall in love with someone)
4) Let your friends know you're feeling down -- they're apt to think up things to do and spend more time with you.
5) Do not spend your day on the computer/video game console zoned out. Put your computer in the closet for a while if you have to.
6) Don't oversleep, stare at the ceiling, etc. Stay active.
7) Do things you feel passionate about, whether it be working on cars, playing an instrument, whatever.
8) Just in general, keep your brain and body active. Part of depression often involves ALLOWING yourself to sink into the depression in the first place by not fighting it off when it surfaces.

Good luck.

Answer 6

Take phosphatidyl holine or holy basil. They both deal with depressed mood very quickly without making you high & without untoward side effects. Usually if I take my Empowerplus doses on time this doesn't happen though.

Answer 7

I try to pray my out of a depression. If you like hot showers take one, I love them and I usually feel better afterwords, I feel like I have washed the mental funk away also. Call someone you trust. Sometimes you do have to cry your way out of it. This seems bad, but sometimes I go to sleep, and feel a little better when I wake. Hope some of this helps. I feel your pain.

Answer 8

Do you have a roof over your head? do you have medical care? are you currently/was in school?

If you answerd yes to any of those questions.... you have no reason to be depressed other then a chemical imbalance, in which case you would need a medicine to correct it

Answer 9

I put on a funny tv show. I can turn off my thinking and just laugh at stupid things. I also wander around a store or mall too sometimes.

Answer 10

Go do physical work charity of some kind it's the best. Hard work and a good feeling afterward