relieving depression, stabilizing tips and methods that worked for you.

these were the most relatable memes for me back in the day when i was going through some shit.

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i was feeling pretty powerless about my mom's alcohol abuse at the time when it was at its peak. her drinking had been triggered by events that happened way before i was even born so i couldn't pull her out of the darkness she was in. i tried everything i could think of but it felt like me and her were always going around in circles, getting lost, too many broken promises to keep track of....everything just kept turning to dust...hopes and dreams and all that shit...praying we could be a cohesive family for once...it was a painful situation for everyone involved...and then a bunch of other shit happened which i won't bore you all with but yeah....i just wanted to make a thread focusing on SOLUTIONS.

Solutions to depression and staying sane while shit's falling apart, etc things of that nature you know...

1) what are some methods that have worked for you to relieve your melancholy/depression?



i'll start by listing a few methods that worked for me:

-staying busy!!!! i don't care what you gotta do. just stay busy doing something. i feel like when you have too much time on your hands (idle hours), you start thinking about unnecessary things, having depressing thoughts and going down that rabbit hole.

-have a dream/goal that's worth more than your sleep. always be chasing something so you're not just focused on that one thing that depresses you. have a bunch of other things you can focus on besides your problems.

-listen to energizing music (stop listening to sad music that only intensifies your depression)

-interact with animals ( they have healing energy✨)

-look at beautiful things to remind you that there are still so many beautiful things within this world. (beautiful scenery, nature, paintings, acts of kindnesses, moon, stars, beaches etc)

-talking to trusted friends, family

-naps

-tapping the crown of my head

-rubbing my rabbit's nose

-listening to oxhorn's fallout lore

-floating around the pool

-gym

-hiking

speaking of beautiful scenery....!

the bomb ass night view....from the hotel we're currently staying in...it's days like this when i feel grateful as hell to be alive....✨✨ (it's nighttime here in japan 1:20 am. footage from our hotel room a few hours ago when the ferris wheel light show was happening)

excuse the amateur video quality 😂😂 i filmed it on my phone, not a proper camera

Posted by virgoOPPP

-naps

-tapping the crown of my head

-rubbing my rabbbit's nose

-listening to oxhorn's fallout lore

-floating around the pool

-gym

-hiking

i hear so many people saying hydrotherapy is therapeutic. i gotta try it....

i want a rabbit too lol 🐇

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrotherapy

these came out better:





how it looked during the day :

Posted by Wizardz_

The thing that "worked" for me is to stop trying to be who you think you should be and instead go with what you are

this!!! 💯

we shouldn't ever underestimate the power of just being yourself.

too many people in this world are depressed as hell right now 'cause they're trying to be something they're not. in order to be liked and accepted by people who probably don't even have their own shit together...we're all figuring things out as we go through life so we shouldn't put ourselves down so much

Posted by Antiphates

Reading/Watching tragedies is the only thing ever really helped me.

you mean like, by reading or seeing how other people deal with their tragedies, you're able to put your own problem into perspective...?

Posted by Hypnotoad

Posted by virgoOPPP

-naps

-tapping the crown of my head

-rubbing my rabbbit's nose

-listening to oxhorn's fallout lore

-floating around the pool

-gym

-hiking

You ever tried tapping the crown of your head and rubbing your rabbits nose at the same time, or while floating around the pool?

click to expand

that'd be amazing 😍😍

Motivational speeches always help me. That's probably one of the more useful things Youtube is good for. I listen to motivational videos which have a large chance of inspiring me. Though it's not just a magical fix that will make everything better. It's like being told all about the best path you need to take, but in the end you still have to take that path yourself and do the work. I think that is the hardest part for some people. Whether it be depression, addiction, or both, you have to want to get better to actually get better. You also have to be your own support on the deepest level possible. It's a rough path because no one, or no thing really can heal you except you. It's not impossible though. Many people get through depression, you just have to be the person who essentially saves you.

Posted by Antiphates

Posted by serenidad

Posted by Antiphates

Reading/Watching tragedies is the only thing ever really helped me.

you mean like, by reading or seeing how other people deal with their tragedies, you're able to put your own problem into perspective...?

No, autobiographic stories bore me.

I mean fiction that emotionally hits you over and over again. Stories that don't try to lie to you that everything will be alright or something similiar. Doesn't mean they all have to end well, but they have to be, for a lack of a better term or description, emotionally honest and real. They need to have beauty. I think aesthetic beautiy is the only thing in the world that ever can give a moment peace and happiness.

class="bqfade">click to expand

ohh ok i see what you mean...yeah i can't do those disney movies with super contrived happy endings either... lol

'cause life just ain't like that most of the time...it's not all peaches and cream.

i only wanna see stuff that's raw and real

Posted by Soul

Motivational speeches always help me. That's probably one of the more useful things Youtube is good for. I listen to motivational videos which have a large chance of inspiring me. Though it's not just a magical fix that will make everything better. It's like being told all about the best path you need to take, but in the end you still have to take that path yourself and do the work. I think that is the hardest part for some people. Whether it be depression, addiction, or both, you have to want to get better to actually get better. You also have to be your own support on the deepest level possible. It's a rough path because no one, or no thing really can heal you except you. It's not impossible though. Many people get through depression, you just have to be the person who essentially saves you.

i agree that you gotta ultimately be the one to save yourself.

for the longest time, i couldn't understand why my mom just gave up without fighting...i'm a fighter by nature so i couldn't understand why she didn't want to fight to get better or fight for her family...

but i understand now that not everyone has the emotional/mental will to fight and you can't make someone *want* to fight.

it took me so long to come to terms with this...

Posted by alexscaries

Posted by Wizardz_

The thing that "worked" for me is to stop trying to be who you think you should be and instead go with what you are

What if nothing in your life is working and you are a total mess?

click to expand

even in the midst of confusion and chaos, you can't give up on yourself.

'cause at the end of the day, you're all you've got.

saw cherry blossoms today :

Posted by ImperfectStorm

First of all, hugs to you.. my mom was also an alcoholic turned pill-addict.

As far as my methods of coping, exercise helps me. it makes sense, since our bodies release “happy hormones” while exercising. When I’m consistent with it, I feel I’m at my best. But it’s hard to feel motivated to get it done while I’m feeling blah.

Nature calms me and soothes my soul.. like you mentioned, being surrounded with peaceful, beautiful things quiets a noisy mind. But I live in the Midwest so I’m not near any large bodies of water or mountains unfortunately. So I started watching these landscape paint tutorials on YouTube, they are so fucking relaxing and the bright colors and beauty make me happy. After watching a few of these, I bought some supplies and started painting my own which is even more relaxing than watching these.

Cleaning my house is oddly therapeutic for me, the before and after.. A messy house contributes to a messy mind.. so when my house is clean I’m way more relaxed and clear headed. I work full time and single mom, so my house gets messy during the busy work week but then I like to clean on my weekends off.. put on some good music or a good podcast, open the windows to let fresh breeze in (if weather permits) and light some scented candles. Then afterward when the house is clean, I can finally feel relaxed and accomplished before the start of the work week.

sorry about your mom as well...😢 it's hard dealing with this shit...i let it consume my life at one point but now i can kinda cope better.

i agree that exercise releases happy hormones! i've been going to the gym nonstop since i was like 19. i treat it as meditation. it clears my mind and i forget about my problems when i'm working out. i feel like it's one of the reasons i stayed sane throughout these years. it made me feel like i had some control over my life.

i think aries and scoprio are kinda similar in the sense that we're both take-charge people, and fighters. we don't drown in our problems, we both keep going.

i watched that video from beginning to end! lol it was sooooo therapeutic! i loved the soothing background music too.

love how she drew the waves and the reflection of the moon in the water. the stars and clouds in the sky, the sandy beach and the palm trees... i wanted to chill on that beach so badly lol

you just gave me a new hobby for real lol watching painting videos lol

cleaning is a nice way to relax! im trying to be a minimalist nowadays. lol

i love opening the windows to let fresh air in. you feel uplifted and positive. the first thing i do in the morning is open the curtains to let the light in. lol i love scented candles but s/o thinks i'm gonna burn down the apartment 'cause i sometimes fall asleep without putting it out and s/o has to put it out for me lol 😂 he needs to go around all the rooms to make sure i didn't leave a candle burning lol i'm forgetful.lol i feel bad so i'm laying off the candles lol

Swimming. I deadass feel euphoric after doing that for an hour.

Meditation also helps keep me centered when I’m depressed. I have a tendency to sort of deflect when I’m depressed (like pick one person to completely have a problem with), but if I meditate my mind steers away from deflecting (or is it projecting? Idk).

Posted by Whorpio

Swimming. I deadass feel euphoric after doing that for an hour.

Meditation also helps keep me centered when I’m depressed. I have a tendency to sort of deflect when I’m depressed (like pick one person to completely have a problem with), but if I meditate my mind steers away from deflecting (or is it projecting? Idk).

yeah something about being in water heals you. i feel so fucking energized after spending a day at the beach. lol

Posted by _mudra_

Meditation/yoga really pulled me through

Forcing myself to get out of bed and do fun stuff for my kid. Cooking, watching her favorite TV shows/movies, asking her random questions for her funny opinion on things, going for walks, shopping. Pretty much living only for her in those low moments.

Long baths

Setting up massages/chinese fire cupping

Mental health channels in discord servers haha

Watching "clean with me" YouTube videos and tiktoks until I finally started deep cleaning everything

you seem like an amazing mom. she's so lucky to have you..! ♥

I YouTube pep talk/therapeutic videos about what I'm going through. I also look up videos that are motivating and heartwarming even if I can't relate to them directly.

Example, watched a video of a guy the other day who surprised his family with the news that he beat his stage 4 cancer. He was previously given only months to live.

Makes you feel like if these people in seemingly impossible situations can make it through, so can you.

Posted by Doloris_Claiborne

I YouTube pep talk/therapeutic videos about what I'm going through. I also look up videos that are motivating and heartwarming even if I can't relate to them directly.

Example, watched a video of a guy the other day who surprised his family with the news that he beat his stage 4 cancer. He was previously given only months to live.

Makes you feel like if these people in seemingly impossible situations can make it through, so can you.

i remember watching this video about a guy who was told by a doctor he would never walk unassisted again for as long as he lived, but then started rehabilitating himself doing yoga and stuff and he was able to regain total mobility of his body again. it was incredible. it taught me not to give up.

also speaking of beating cancer, there's this video with over 40 million views of a woman telling her senior dog that she (the dog) beat a very complicated cancer.....the dog's reaction just melted my heart....😢😢

found this quote on my camera roll and thought it was worth sharing

being involved in half ass things will make one's life lacklustre.

half ass friendships, half ass relationships, half ass stopgap jobs, half ass situations, half ass feelings, half ass anything.

more relieving tips i thought of recently :

-have something to look forward to.

no matter how big or small. it could be something as simple as having a nice cake/dessert at the end of your work day. or a nice relaxing bath. or a nice book that you look forward to reading.

it could be an outing or a trip that you've planned a couple months from now etc

anything you can look forward to.

-be part of something bigger (than your problems). join a cause you care about.

do something nice for someone else. these things will give you a purpose and a direction.

people without a purpose get depressed more easily than those with a purpose.

-go see a sporting event and absorb the lively energy there. it's pretty hard to stay depressed when you're surrounded by people who are pumped up and ready to have a good time lol

the liveliness is contagious.

game on the 26th (we lost 😂):

I don’t get depressed. It’s pointless.

Posted by virgoOPPP

-naps

-tapping the crown of my head

-rubbing my rabbbit's nose

-listening to oxhorn's fallout lore

-floating around the pool

-gym

-hiking

How long can you rob rabbits nose?

Isn’t floating in the pool promoting ‘thinking’?

Posted by borednbeautiful

I don’t get depressed. It’s pointless.

I know you didn’t mean it but what you said is mean. You don’t ‘get’ depressed! You ‘get’ sad or upset or mad but NOT depressed.

Depression is a condition that you can’t ‘get’ - it’s brain disfunction. It is driving people into suicide.

It’s not pointless. It’s like saying that cancer is pointless. Don’t!

Posted by GemiMay

Posted by borednbeautiful

I don’t get depressed. It’s pointless.

I know you didn’t mean it but what you said is mean. You don’t ‘get’ depressed! You ‘get’ sad or upset or mad but NOT depressed.

Depression is a condition that you can’t ‘get’ - it’s brain disfunction. It is driving people into suicide.

It’s not pointless. It’s like saying that cancer is pointless. Don’t!

click to expand

You are right. Just because I don’t get it, many other people do.

Good point, Gema May! Thank you.

Posted by borednbeautiful

Posted by GemiMay

Posted by borednbeautiful

I don’t get depressed. It’s pointless.

I know you didn’t mean it but what you said is mean. You don’t ‘get’ depressed! You ‘get’ sad or upset or mad but NOT depressed.

Depression is a condition that you can’t ‘get’ - it’s brain disfunction. It is driving people into suicide.

It’s not pointless. It’s like saying that cancer is pointless. Don’t!

You are right. Just because I don’t get it, many other people do.

Good point, Gema May! Thank you.

click to expand

I don’t think I get depressed. I am just lazy and I loooove staying in bed more than anything…

But I have anxieties since young age. So I take my 1/2 Xanax in the morning for decades now and never increased it. It literally saves my life! I was suffering until I came here and doctor gave it to me and VOILA! I was shaking waking up unable to function. Strangely I only need it in the morning!

🤷‍♀️

Getting to the root of it by having some psycotherapy/healing sessions

We can’t always do it alone and its useful to talk it out with a therapist ...

Unstable moods are a problem for many people. But with the crazy world we live in, who could blame them?

One day I feel motivated about my garden and “my husband” thing is, and next day I could care less.

Thank God for dxp and some laughs 😌

Posted by Findingbalance

I try to either live in the moment or I end up in a completely fake, fabricated world in my head. It's not terribly healthy (second option), but. My so has issues, including depression. He feels like someone (but not a therapist) needs to fix it for him, which obviously no one can. It's a long road. I don't believe in giving up on someone due to mental health any more than due to physical health but it drains me. And then I end up depressed. So when he's really bad I end up in my own happy world in my head for a bit as a type of shield. For me, the best (real life) things that help are being creative, sunshine, water (beach, creek, etc), bring around positive people, upbeat music (not so much the words but the tempo), nature and meditation. I also have a invisible friend of sorts. This is my aqua moon talking so...anyway, it's that world in my head thing. I don't share irl personal things like what's going on with my so. But, I do in my head, with a made up bf who just listens and gives me a hug. Ok I know it's not the best coping mechanism, but my so s issues aren't really anyone we knows business and sometimes I really just want to talk about how it effects me. So, that's my best solution lol.

thx this helped me so much. i totally get what you mean when you say it's important to have a world inside your mind to escape to. i have a happy place inside my mind that i escape to as well (i imagine myself on some tropical island, swimming in turquoise waters lol with not a single care in the world lol) i don't usually talk about depression with anyone in real life. i'm doing pretty good now but it used to be really bad around age 16-23 (when my mom was drinking heavily and ending up in rehab several times....sometimes we couldn't even find her 'cause she would leave the facility without telling anyone....)

i'm sorry your so is going through depression and you're also absorbing some of that energy...:/

please remember to take care of your own happiness and well-being while he's figuring stuff out.

aqua moons have humanitarian tendencies so you probably feel a sense of duty (?) or something towards him but just remember that your needs matter too, just as much. ♥

Posted by GemiMay

Posted by borednbeautiful

Posted by GemiMay

Posted by borednbeautiful

I don’t get depressed. It’s pointless.

I know you didn’t mean it but what you said is mean. You don’t ‘get’ depressed! You ‘get’ sad or upset or mad but NOT depressed.

Depression is a condition that you can’t ‘get’ - it’s brain disfunction. It is driving people into suicide.

It’s not pointless. It’s like saying that cancer is pointless. Don’t!

You are right. Just because I don’t get it, many other people do.

Good point, Gema May! Thank you.

I don’t think I get depressed. I am just lazy and I loooove staying in bed more than anything…

But I have anxieties since young age. So I take my 1/2 Xanax in the morning for decades now and never increased it. It literally saves my life! I was suffering until I came here and doctor gave it to me and VOILA! I was shaking waking up unable to function. Strangely I only need it in the morning!

🤷‍♀️

click to expand

is xanax safe...? i'm kinda worried that you're taking it everyday....:/

i've never been one to take meds but i sometimes drink chamomile tea to help me sleep....it doesn't taste that good tho lol 😂

Posted by MyStarsShine

Getting to the root of it by having some psycotherapy/healing sessions

We can’t always do it alone and its useful to talk it out with a therapist ...

my depression isn't so bad to the point where i can't function (people can't even tell that i'm going through anything usually 'cause i hide it well lol) so i've never really considered going to therapy before.... but i tried to take my mom several times and she refused...she said she went to therapy as a teenager but didn't really gain anything from it....i think maybe she just talked to the wrong therapist or something...i'm sure they're not all the same and there are some good, helpful therapists out there...

Posted by borednbeautiful

Unstable moods are a problem for many people. But with the crazy world we live in, who could blame them?

One day I feel motivated about my garden and “my husband” thing is, and next day I could care less.

Thank God for dxp and some laughs 😌

it definitely is a crazy world...lol i really like this quote that says feelings are similar to the weather.☺