How can I boost my mood?

Question

I've been really down lately. It seems like all I want to do is sleep. When I am awake I just feel really bad about everything. I've been doing a lot of unnecessary crying. Is there any way to naturally boost my mood?

Answer 1

I used to feel that way. Then I read Richard Carlson's book "You Can Be Happy No Matter What." Richard Carlson also wrote "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff."

According to Carlson, most people think happiness is conditional and outside of themselves or expect that it is a fleeting feeling based on the events in their lives or their circumstances. They don't realize that their happiness is inside of them IN THE MOMENT.

According to Carlson, most people are unhappy because most of their thinking is negative. Negative thinking leads to a negative feeling in the moment which leads to a negative mood. Then the negative mood leads to a negative feeling in the moment which leads to more negative thinking. Then the negative mood leads to more negative feeling which leads to more negative thinking. It becomes a viscous circle.

The reverse is also true. Positive thinking leads to positive feelings in the moment which leads to a positive mood.

The trick is not to try to feel better or think positively, the trick is to think positive thoughts. When I feel down, I don't try to change what I'm feeling, I just DELIBERATELY start thinking about things I like. For example, when upset, I make myself think "I liked the movie Babel, Brad Pitt looked good in that movie. I like Oreo cookies, they taste good. I like Bette Midler's song The Rose, its pretty." It sounds stupid, BUT IT WORKS. Within a couple of minutes my mood is lifted and I FEEL BETTER.

Another thing that makes me feel better is remembering what I have to be grateful for. I don't live in a mansion, but I am grateful that I have a roof over my head. My husband and children annoy me sometimes, but I have a family that I love to be grateful for. I work a regular job, but I pass jobless and homeless people on the street everyday, so I am grateful that I have a job. I am alive and healthy.

Answer 2

Oh, wow. You sound alot like me. I don't really know why. Well, I kinda do. But anyway. I'm almost fourteen, and it's not like I only want to sleep because I'm lazy, more like, its the only thing that I can enjoy, and I feel so tired all day. But yea, I feel the same way. And, I've actually found that I hardly even miss "the old me" being happy and stuff. Anyway, I think that taking my dog for long walks in the evening is so wonderful, especially if you're walking somewhere secluded, you can just cry and cry, and it feels SO good. But, once I get back home I'm not that happy anymore. oh well. You could try that, if you have a dog. Or just go by yourself. Whatever your going through, I know it's hard, I hope that my idea works for you.

Answer 3

chocolate is a pretty good natural anti depressant, actually even better than that would have to be a good workout