My depression is taking over my life and destroying it. No social life, no job, no motivation in my early...?

Question

twenties. There are so many things I want to do with my life but the depression holds me back. I've developed bad habit such as procrastination, low motivation, can't think clearly, can't focus and therefore make bad habits. I'm a little slower in decisions, thinking and taking action.

please give suggestion on stopping depression and activities that i can get involved in besides counseling.

Answer 1

Sound mental health and mental fitness is the key to success in all areas of human endeavor. A holistic approach to prevention and cure of mental ailments is by far the most meaningful and fulfilling effort we can undertake. The holistic approach enables us to become aware of the totality of the person and thus makes it possible to formulate a strategy for treatment. The main elements of the holistic approach are Homeopathy and adjuvant Alternative therapies, Counseling and Spiritual or Energy healing. Psychologists, psychiatrists and general practitioners would do well to imbibe the fundamental principles of homeopathy and integrate it into their mainstream clinical practice. Mental health institutions will find homeopathy a welcome relief; in situations where progress has apparently come to a halt, these wonderful remedies will revive the process of healing and improve the quality of life of the person.

Homeopathy has wide-ranging clinical applications in mental health care and has to be brought into widespread use. For this to happen a holistic integrated approach is essential and all of us have to place the needs of the sick person above everything else.

Answer 2

Many people would suggest you take a "gap year", but I think that's silly. I think that you would agree that that would not solve anything. A "gap year" is like one long vacation from life, but can anyone really do that? What you need to do is to do something worthwhile, but you can't be focusing on the worth of it. You need to just do something and not worry about what are the results. Just find something to do and do the best you can. After you get better is the time to evaluate it. Problems can be fixed later. Choose something that will keep you busy and isn't hard. This is not a time to stay still or discourage yourself. Lofty goals should be put away for when you are better. I think you should do something that keeps you around people but doesn't involve complex interaction. Depression itself can make you not think clearly, but I think that you also have anxiety problems. If you take care of that you'll get back your thinking and your motivation. There are some good medications for anxiety like Klonopin. Medications for anxiety are much more effective than antidepresants. I guess anxiety is more scientifically understandable than depression. I think that when depression and anxiety co-exist you cannot reat one without treating the other. I believe that in some cases anxiety triggers depresssion. My doctor doesn't believe this, but in my experience this seems true. Even if anxiety didn't cause depression, it still feeds it.

I know that this advise is unusual, but I expected you didn't want the usual advise. I was where you are now a few months ago. Be strong and don't lose hope.

Answer 3

It sounds like you've already had people suggesting counseling, and it's a GOOD suggestion. I have a friend who suffered from depression for years and was talking suicide - now, with treatment, she's happy, healthy and has a new life.

Other things you can do: get started on an exercise program. I know it's hard when you're at the point where you're isolated and unemployed, but just taking a walk around the block or in a park can help, and will help you get in shape too. Another thing is to volunteer for something, anything. If you love animals, you might volunteer at a shelter. If you're a member of a church, you might offer to help with any charitable activities your church is involved in.

The hardest part of pulling out of that kind of slump is to get moving. If you can get up and get moving, you can start building up momentum and eventually pull through. It's just going to take some time and some work to do it.

Remember, you are not alone - there are a lot of people out there who are feeling the same way, or who have felt the same way and have found a way through it.

Answer 4

I have suffered from depression and its a real downer. I spent a lot of time online telling people about the circumstances which had led me to depression, and I found eventually that it did no good. I got sympathy, but little help.

Fresh air and exercise are good. Try to get out into nature and walk somewhere nice, around a lake or by the sea if you can. Try to leave your troubles behind and concentrate on just being there and enjoying the surroundings.

If you can, try regular meditation, preferably somewhere quiet and pleasant. Make yourself a special space to do it in.

Volunteering is a good way to meet other people and build a social life. By helping others you can help yourself too. Check out local opportunities here http://www.do-it.org.uk/

At home, set an achievable goal - a tidy room, dishes washed every day, a meditation space, something like that and give yourself a pat on the back when you achieve it. Work up to it gradually and don't beat yourself up if you don't achieve it, just resolve to make an extra effort the next day, acknowledge the progress you are making and give yourself a pat on the back.

Remember you can climb a mountain a step at a time. Keep looking at your next step, not the top of the mountain, and know that every step is a little higher up the mountain.

Good luck and ((HUGS)) from one who knows exactly where you are with this.

Answer 5

Join a gym and as much as you dont want to, go!! Or buy a bicycle or inline skates. Physical activity, and it does not need to be intensive, just FUN, can really be a mood adjuster. Its amazing how much better I feel about things after doing a stretch class at the gym. If possible, talk to some people there. When you feel like your just sitting in one place and cant move, turn off the computer, the TV, or stand up. Get a cool glass of water and wash some dirty dishes or something. Just do anything small and concentrate on how much better you feel. Try to think positively, this can be a challenge and definitely takes practice, but dont give up. Keep thinking positively. Good luck to you!

Answer 6

There are three rules to follow to dig yourself out of the pit but they take strong will power and determination. When you can finally say to yourself "I will not be a victim to these emotions!" then you can follow these rules to get out and prevent yourself from getting into it again.

1. Never sit and wallow in it. Stop the sitting around and thinking about how bad things are or feel, get up and find a distraction. The less you think about it the less you feel it and in doing so you can break the cycle of the downward spiral.

2. Keep active and keep busy. I know its a cliche but being busy or having a little excercise can really help. Exercise releases Seratonine into your body which is the hormone of happiness, it can make you warm and fuzzy inside lol. If motivation is aproblem then just be busy, do a job thats been nagging at your conscience or find a hobby, it can really help to keep your mind busy and give your body a little boost of activity.

3. Be social! This is the most important one. If you are sitting around feeling consumed by it, talk to someone. It doesnt even have to be about your problems. Pick up the phone and chat to a friend or family member. Go into a chat room and pass the time of day with someone there if you can. Lonliness is by far the worst thing to fuel your depression. Human contact will keep your spirits up.

In short the best thing to do is to distract yourself from all that is bothering you and in time things will get easier. Remember all the good things about yourself as a person and think about the good things in your life. When you feel as bad as you do now it is important to be grateful for the little things in life.

I wish there was a rel way to help you but there is not. Just remember to keep plugging away and in time it should get better. If it doesn't........talk to your doctor. DO NOT let it get out of hand. You dont have to get through it alone.

Answer 7

You don't have to feel this way if you don't want to.

Go to the doctor and fess-up. It's a bit like admitting you're an alcoholic. You'll feel silly, you'll feel like your wasting the doctor's time, you'll even convince yourself there's nothing really wrong.

If your arm was hanging off would you just ignore it? Don't be daft. Well, you're brain is just another part of your body that sometimes needs fixing.

You'll get a drug that will simply help your brain's normal happy juices. Non addictive. Most people have no side effects. Nothing psychedelic. You won't turn into a zombie or go la la. You'll still be you, but you might be a slightly happier you.

I agree that counselling, keeping fit, eating the right food, having hobbies, making friends are all absolutely terrific anti-depressants too -BUT- drugs are not to be feared, they do work, and they are a good kick-start.

Answer 8

I know you don't want to hear this but getting involved in therapy is best. I am involved in a group IMR (Illness Management Recovery) and it has helped me so much!! I too was the way you are but I had to make changes!! I stayed indoors for 5 years! You don't want to live like that, you can feel better and still have depression. Eating right, getting enough sleep, taking meds at the same time daily, keeping your appointments, and exercising will all drastically change your life!! You need to want to make the small changes.

Answer 9

medication? it's NOT a bad word !! if this is your first bout of depression, i can almost GUARANTEE that it will happen again. that's just the raw truth. been there. now, 15 years after my first bout of depressin/anxiety/agoraphobia/panic attacks, i'm on a lower dose of meds than i started originally. once you are over this bout of depression, you will FEAR having it again, and that will only set in more problems, mentally speaking. Counselling? Well, that can be expensive. Start easy with walking, or ride your bike on a trail or something, if you live in an urban area you can find a support group that is free of charge online... there are lists for every state and they meet once or twice a month. trust me here... you are NOT alone !! i actually thought i was going CRAZY !! things can and will subside but you need to take action for your health's sake. like i said, it WILL happen again. you WILL come out of it naturally, in time, but you will fear it ever coming back and other things will set in.
don't be ashamed at all. being proactive is the best thing you can do. admitting to your "issue" is very empowering. please, please, trust me, okay???

Answer 10

Been there, done that and then one day i woke up and thought it is what it is, now lets change it and i've never looked back.
When it gets that deep you do loose everything, motivation, focus, job, the car breaks down, your behind on rent and bills, irrational thinking, and just lying in bed all day and nite, crying and mooping about. Until one day i got up and said **** this i don't deserve what has been dished out to me, and took all that negativity and spun it into gold.
Going for long walks helped me think things out, set goals, write in a diary, DO SOMETHING !!!! get out of the hole your digging for yourself.
Think positively, start to love yourself again, get a job or go and study, find yourself, start a new beginning.
I wish you all the best, things will look better real soon, as long as you make it happen.