When you get in a depressed mood or life is test you pretty hard, how do you get out of it?

[Ironco]

I've been going through some things lately that are getting me down. I just have to move forward.

What are the ways you make yourself feel better?

[sage2021]

I seem to be just the opposite of the other person's advice to
stay as busy as you can. Trouble with that is that at the end of the day, and you are home alone again, your problems are still there.
I have always thought about things long and hard, worked it out in my mind until I found a solution or just had to let time take care of it. I say that, because life is always changing and when enough time passes things might not be as bad as they were at one time.
But the thing that helps me the most is giving it all to God in prayer. After all, he's my Father and he dispatchers our angles to be here with us, even though we cannot see them, they are there with us.
I might not get immediate answers, but at least I have given it all to Him to work out, and it's off my chest. I don't feel stuck when I do that.
I agree about not listening to music or watching movies that only will keep you down.
I have personally been through a lot of things in my life that might have broken some people. My life hasn't been easy at all. And I had to tackle each one by myself. That's where prayer 🙏 helps.
No one said life was easy, and sometimes it's just damn hard. But we are here, and have to deal with it the best way we can. All you can do is your best, then try to let it go!
Don't be hard on yourself, because that doesn't help.
Sometimes it feels like other people have it made and here we are, sad, depressed and dealing with the hard things life throws our way.
Hang tight, and come back here if you need more encouragement. 🙂

[Ironco]

Thank you

[sage2021]

@Ironco
You're very welcome!

[Genie23]

I started feeling depressed from my early teenage years because of things were happening around me especially my mum's illness. In the last 2 decades, my life went up and down more than few times and I found out things that helps me cope and feel better during the tough times.

• Sharing what I'm going through and how I feel with someone I trust. Sure, it made me cry and miserable sometimes while I was expressing myself, but pretty soon I felt less depressed.
• Telling myself everyday "I can overcome this. There's nothing I can't deal with. I'll overcome this"
• Going to a garden/park and take off my shoes... so, I could walk on the grass for a bit before I sat down on the grass. It made me feel better.. feeling grass, looking at the trees and birds. Admiring nature helped.
• Painting and sketching. I always liked arts and when I would draw something, I'd be able to distract myself from depressing thoughts and focus on that little goal... that is, to make sure I don't mess up the art.
• Reading an exciting novel before I slept (like adventure or thriller). Reading these fictional stories would make me feel like I've gone to a different world... an amazing world. It helped me distract and made me look toward to what will happen next.
• I would avoid listening to sad songs or watching sad movies. If I'm dealing with a loss of loved one, I'd just avoid playing the kind of movies that reminds me of them so I don't fall back in the dark pit.
• I just keep myself busy and spent time with loved ones.
• Workout/yoga.

I don't know whether these things will help you, but if you ever need someone to talk to... I'm here.

Please try to keep yourself busy. Because the more you're alone with your thoughts, the more difficult it gets to come out of it. Maybe join some clubs you're interested in. That way you will have something to look forward to and might even make some new friends.

[DryGermanGuy]

Keep in motion every day, even if it’s just a 30 minutes walk outside. Stay in communication with people you have good relationships with. Distract yourself with lighthearted movies or series.

[AngryCarl2]

I suffer from clinical depression, which is a bit different from a depressed mood. I require drug therapy and have been through behavioural therapy, with very positive results.

[Crimsyjo]

Really depends on if it's something you can ultimately control or not. Somethings suck hard but pass and you will learn resilience. If there's things you can do to fix or minimise the hard stuff then do it. Sometimes you have to let yourself grieve and hit rock bottom in depression to suddenly feel like right, I have to try again and get yourself up to fight another day.

The worse situation and deepest cause of depression (in my opinion) is when you feel powerless to change or fix the things causing you emotional pain. Therapy may help. But only accepting the circumstance or changing your goals will really help I it's not something you can "fix" directly. I'm stick in this kind of depression right now. I can't get the one thing I want and I refuse to give up or settle. So I'm so stuck. There are moments of relief you can try. Tale a few days away, or off work. Look for and go to events. Go for walks in nature. Talk to people. If you can. These are temporary distractions but can ease the burden for short periods of time.

[RandomGirl42]

I'm looking at the age differences here so I know there is nothing I can really say that you do not already know. It helps me sometimes to just sit alone and quiet in nature. (Sometimes hard to do with a big family 🤣)

Please, just try to remember you are not alone and you are loved whether you can see it right now or not. I know that can be so hard to apply when you feel so the opposite. It's hard to see the storm when you're in the middle of it and all that.

And I personally can get so annoyed and irritated when I am in a down mood and someone says "Oh, just be happy!" Like, yeah right, gee thanks, I so never would have thought of that on my own. 💖

[DishLady]

It’s not to do with age, actually. That’s a good way to stay mindful and check in with yourself as well as the universe. We’re all vital to the universe whether we see it or not.

[RandomGirl42]

@DishLady Oh, I so agree. And a big, wide wonderous universe it is.

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

I have a few small tricks to help for bad days. It’s the little things that can really help get you out of a funk. For example, I have a happy music playlist I listen to at work if I’m having a bad day. All songs are in major keys, not minor, and all with a fairly upbeat tempo, if not just something that makes me think of something happy. It’s not a long-term solution, but it can help get me to a better mental space long enough to recognize that everything that’s upsetting me right now is only for right now and it won’t last forever.

[DishLady]

Get on your bike and take a ride… Hang out with your neighbors… Take an extra day on your next trip just to enjoy wherever you’re at. It’s important to take the time for those changes of pace (away from our daily chores) so we appreciate what we have despite what we’ve lost or struggled with.

[beenherebefore]

I remember myself that it won't last forever and a few months from now I'm going to be in a completely different mood. Also or anything that is not under my control I pray to God for help.

[CherryLove007]

Tap into something creative to do... like write a song (however personal or long it takes you) walk in an area you enjoy seeing the scenery.

If you have some extra money saved then take a train ride somewhere new.

[PrinceAlbert57]

Lately it’s been like that. I drive for a living so I shut music off and talk to God.

[Ironco]

Been there too, buddy.

[Anonymous]

[Opinion Owner]

*We care about you Ironco, just a general piece of advice for people in this situation.

[thegreenyogi]

I move.