What do you do when you feel depressed?

Question

The source of my depression is loneliness and isolation. You see,… I cannot be around people because I suffer from social anxiety. Yet,… I cannot live my life without human contact, which is the source of my depression. But how do I defeat social anxiety, so that I no longer suffer with depression? I cannot remember the last time I felt truly happy with myself, or to be happy around other people. The reason I suffer with social anxiety is because of when I was bullied at school. I have no friends, with the acceptation of two people on Yahoo! Answers. I am seeing a councillor, and I am going to start group therapy soon.

I am surprised I have friends at all. You see, I suffer with mood swings, which I suppose is normal with someone who suffers with depression, and I have already lost a friend on Yahoo! Answers because of my mood swings. I had hoped that she would understand, what with her suffering with depression herself, but clearly she does not because I have lost contact with her over the past few days. I wish we were still friends, but I guess it is difficult when both of us suffer with the same condition. Although I would have thought we could have helped each other through it, but clearly not. Oh, and in case you are wondering, no, I am not taking any medication as the doctor felt I did not need it.

Answer 1

I know when I went to college it was extremely lonely. I also am an individual who can get depressed. Exercise has helped me. I also enjoy writing a lot and conversing with people on the internet.

At work I deal with some stuck-up people who are real good at going out to lunch and making sure I am not invited.

You certainly are a good writer. Please keep on writing and check out the sites I have added.

Answer 2

I too have suffered from social anxiety for a long time . . . for years actually. It does get better over time, if nothing else cures it.

I started a support group for people with social anxiety. The key is retraining your mind/brain to think more positively. The best way to do this is through cognitive behavioral therapy. Your therapist should be doing this with you. If not, then you need to push your therapist. I have read that 12 weeks of CBT is the best method for dealing with SA.

If you can find a support group, then I would go, as it has been helpful for me and the other participants.

You can get better, it just may take time and effort. If you believe in the therapy that you receive, then it will help you over time.

Good luck to you and feel free to message me with any questions.

Answer 3

I'm glad that you don't need meds. Have you taken a vacation recently? Try to smile more. even a forced smile.

My wife is a little like you in some ways. Just remember that people care, understand, and for most, an apology will go a long way. Good luck and do something fun. If it doesn't bring a smile to your face, do something else. not doing anything is the only negative thing you can do.

Answer 4

Observe carefully and you've answered your question well there. To be honest, I'm the same but feel good in a way that I'm isolated from the wrong doing, from the unsafe environment but at the same time there is a strange feeling of missing something...since I'm engaged now (God bless her) I always turn lights off and talk to my fiance' on phone. One needs a perfect listener to share...and I always say, "Everyone can share and care, Only one stays". You dont need medication, all you need is a strong willpower, +ve approach and see how beautiful life is......Oh yes! music does help. It really calms one down.
Sincerely hope everything goes well for you...and so to all.

Answer 5

go for a walk to the pub stay for ten minets then go continue doung this untill 10 minuets is easy then do 20 minuets and continue untill you are fine being their all night.
join a group you have an interest in and go for a walk in the morning and early evening.
depression is a very selfish state so is mania but what type of mood swings are they are they from normal to depressed or is it from mania to depression ? if you are going to group therapy i think it is morelikely to be the normal to depression but take vit b and cod liver oil aswell

Answer 6

personally i wanted to go for counseling my doctor put me on paxil which only numb me to all my problems .It may work for others but not in my case it just made me like a zombie all i wanted to do is sleep for a year ( this was a cuple of years ago ) .Now i find that music almost any kind lets me get all my feelings out. It's different for everyone there is no same cure all for everyone just for the same reason that everyone is different .

Answer 7

i am not different than u, but am lucky enough as i hve good teachers, my teacher always say, while on stage delivering a speech just think with deep breaths that people infront of u are dumb, this really helps, sit among people, have some good points to say will leave ur impact on them... well i guess mood swings shud be only for galz, so cheer up geeza....

Answer 8

here is what i do to get rid of my depression. you can do it too.

To rid yourself of depression you need to distract your self with a simple game like sudoku. where you focus on something really simple. this will distract you from thinking negative thoughts. do that for an hour. then write down all the things you are grateful for; .simple things, like being able to see or to wiggle your fingers and toes, that you just ate a good meal, and that you have a warm bed to sleep in.
think of ways you can do something nice for someone.
acting altruistic will bring you happiness. when you are happy
feel happy you'll be more able to be sociable.
good luck

Answer 9

A couple of draught Guinness's and a bag of chips.

A good Baseball game, or concert.

A walk on the beach.

Or a romp with my wife of 30 years.


Works for me.

.

Answer 10

i go down the pub and get really drunk with a few mates.
it gets me out the house.
also next day all i can think of is my hang over.
i know this is not the answer to all my problems and believe me i have a few but for those few hours i forget everthing thats going on at the moment.