What are some things that you do to cope with anxiety and depression?

[Anonymous]

[dangerDoge]

TL;DR; version:
1.) Playing an instrument
2.) Writing lyrics
3.) Free Writing

Thinking back to when I was at my worst...
1.) Playing an instrument. This is something that I personally did as a way to express the emotions and kind of release them in a sense. Listening to music also helped, but I found playing the stuff helped more. It created a sort of creative outflow that helped me so I wouldn't keep things completely bottled up. It put the anxiety to a positive purpose, and, if I created a song out of it, it let me be proud of the song and help out my mood.

2.) Writing lyrics. This can also be intertwined with poetry, even though I didn't particularly write real poetry. I admit, I am not great at writing lyrics, but the best stuff I wrote came from when I was at my worst mood-wise. The built up emotion needs to be released in some way. If talking to someone is too much, I find writing it out in poetry form helps. Like playing instruments, it takes the negative emotions and puts them to a positive use. Being able to look back and say "yeah, I wrote that" creates a happy/prideful feeling which helps negate the sad.

3.) Free Writing. Now, this is an actual scientifically recommended method that I found helps as well. I strongly suggest trying out this method. The steps are listed here:
liberalarts.utexas.edu/.../pennebak#writing-health

To generalize it all, I believe it comes down to two main things:
A.) Outflow. Emotions pent up and kept in are bad. They need to escape somehow. Whether on your own, with someone, or via talking to a cat, it's important to let the emotions out via some sort of expression. Keeping emotions bottled up is a recipe for disaster.
B.) Doing something you like. I find the best way to combat bad is to do something good/generally enjoyable. Any little bit helps in my opinion. In my specific case, it was music, but it really can be absolutely anything.

If you have any questions or whatever, lemme know

[Anonymous]

I'd like to add the the suggestions that I take time to hang out with a few good friends when I can. It does not matter what we do. I enjoy being with them and talking with an actual person. For anxiety I try to focus on something or a sound and wait until I can leave the room. I can't stand loud and crowded rooms so I put in head phones when I can't find something to focus on. Or I poke my index finger with my thumb nail and focus on that pain. Until I can make my hasty exit before I have a panic attack.

[FashionQueen86]

Aroma therapy, since there are many types of essential oils known to help relieve mental health. I read recently that in the working environment like an office, Japan uses Lemon oil to help people stay in uplifting moods. So, that's one way to battle anxiety.

Another is to simply educate yourself on it, which helped me a lot, like when I'm super scared, I have a tight chest, which makes me feel like it's my heart in trouble, but I'm actually tightening my chest muscles. I learned a lot about it from here.
https://www.anxietycoach.com/anxietysymptoms.html
Antother is breathing exercises or drinking really cold water, which my physician told me helps trigger something in the brain to relax.

Play video games

Watch a comedy movie

Pray.

[Mayamoon02]

If I am not coping - I get really bad rash breakouts and my muscles spasm.

So I immediately force myself to dance really dramatically to 'shake it out' followed by yoga and meditation.

I'll tell people I am feeling bad these days instead of holding it in.
I also never hold back tears if they come for whatever reason. They exist for a reason and just believing that they release the negative energy is enough to elevate my mood.

I am overall a much more loving, caring and happier person these days.
I've found caring more about others happiness than myself has automatically improved the symptoms.
Also I don't take things personally anymore but use my sensitivity to help those in need.

[Mayamoon02]

I forgot to say the biggest thing:

BREATHING WITH MY NOSE instead of being a mouth breather absolutely made a huge difference.

[FingerDancer]

You really need to be careful with the terms anxiety and depression because they are both the same. Let me just say that anxiety is often triggered by either an emotional event or physical event which is one of rest, not activity. It is caused by a chemical imbalance driven by the brain in all cases but could be caused by a physical ailment. The problem has no age boundaries and no known cure. There are a wide variety of medications to curb the swings, but nothing to eradicate them. If you think you have the symptoms of anxiety or depression more than once a month, you really should see a physician.

Just my opinion

[Born_with_Petals]

I sit in bed with a good meal, wrapped in a blanket, with the ac blasting and watch my favorite show on netflix. Do something you feel comfortable doing and that you think you like to do. I've had depression my whole life and I know it's rough. Just take it one day at a time, okay?

[evelator_253]

same holy shet

[legs_n_sheets]

Used to be skating, and surfing when I could. Now it comes down to the ocassional workout, ocassional hiking, reading, writing and listening to music. Been watching a lot of series now as well, though I try to balance indoors and outdoors activities. Don't like feeling as a recluse for too long lol

[AllThingsQuestioned]

Play with myself. NO! Not in that way ;P But just support myself and forget about everyone for a bit because sometimes helping and talking to others is too stressful. I like to be alone and to talk to myself and play video games or do something to improve myself.

[CHRIS11796]

I have really bad anxiety and panic attacks sometimes, i just let it pass i lay down or if I'm somewhere and it happens i usually talk to people it helps a lot for me. As for depression i see a therapists to guide me on what i should do ti improve my worries, fears, failures these thing's suck however do you prevail in the end? Yes you just gotta try and fight back.

[CisScum]

Post on this site a lot and it makes it especially great if I actually get thumbs up. Not even joking either because I have intrusive thought OCD and it pairs great with anxiety. But being active here helps.

[EmpatheticLady]

Talking things out with close friends seems to help at least a bit. I'm able to get the millions of thoughts running around my head out and processed a bit more that way.

[Octavius]

Do some self improvement activity.
Show love/compassion towards someone else in need. It will make you feel really good especially if they are thankful you did something nice for them.
Read a self help book.

[palek]

I sneak out of the hous at 2AM on Tuesdays and Thursday's and pinch-off steamers on my neighbors dashboards.

[SomeGuy37]

Some music, sometimes target shooting big guns, maybe a favorite movie and some 'adult beverages'. Not all together, obviously!!

[BaileyisDarcy]

Well right now I'm avoiding it by hiding in my room.

so... not very well, is how I cope.

[MidnightStar]

Hike, long car rides, write, draw, music, meditate or light a fire and watch things burn

[evelator_253]

i turn up my music and sing my heart out. or i just cry once in a while.

[evelator_253]

i also write stories online and seeing people read it and comment on it makes me happy. (there's rarely any negative comments)

[Phoenix98]

I take naps, I write short stories and poetry, I train and just try to keep myself preoccupied.

[Triss]

Always draw in a piece of paper and vent all the feelings in a drawing
Also I listen to music

[Aweir]

I train. Or i write. Seriously writing can help a lot when you feel low, give it a shot

[Anonymous]

After i've broken up with my girlfriend i've found myself in a serious depression since that day i have been on GaG and i watch too much Porn i dont reconmend you to do the same things.

[kingofknights]

Keep positive, do things that make me happy. Try not to let it get to me that much.

[Anonymous]

I go through quotes to see different ideas, or I watch stand up comedies, or I go for a walk, read online stories or I do something stupid. But, if you are a young white female, you should try drugs. I hear that tends to be the solution to all young white females problems. Marijuana (which you can find on Kijiji), alcohol, bath salts (I'm going to hell for this...)

[Winter_Storm_Guy]

Go out walking seems to be helping me.