How do you handle your overwhelming depression?

Question

AmandaYVR · Accepted Answer

It's very difficult. There's no one, definitive answer that works quickly or for all people; quite the opposite.

Some people are more predisposed, based on genetic carryover in bloodlines. That's the most difficult, as you did nothing wrong but often feel you have, like you are mentally weaker than others, somehow.

Others have learned behaviours and beliefs from their parents, such as thinking in a defeatist way, victim mentality, entitlement, competitiveness, seeking perfection, etc. All of these only lead to disappointment and a state of discontent.

Some are born into poverty. Poverty and economic conditions are actually the number one predictor, which is not talked about often. Doctors prefer to talk about the individual, not societal issues, which are much larger and difficult to fix.

Some others had just had rotten luck. Not that there is such a curse as 'bad luck', but some have more setbacks than others. However, the most common trait that 'successful' people have is the ability not to avoid or sidestep these things, but to pick themselves up after setbacks occur. Successful people have good coping mechanisms, whereby they protect their minds, and self image of their worth and value, by never giving up. As they say, 'if at first you don't succeed, try, try again'.

Here are some things for you to read. The first link is some helpful advice on what worked for other people. The next two, I asked not for people to be in competition with one another but to be reminded that you are not alone, these feelings are common, and unfortunately are a common part of the human experience.

Our brains are too large and too complex, and society has changed more in the last 100 years than in all of human history combined. Many people feel disconnected, stressed from lack of resources and unequal distribution of wealth, alone or lonely because they moved to better their life, themselves, seek more opportunities. The global population has tipped into the majority living in urban centres, and these tight quarters, surrounded by people yet not knowing them has left many feeling adrift, without support.

So, good for you for asking this question. Try to stay engaged, interact with others, even if just in small ways. We all need a sense of community. Even better, to have people in our lives that check in on us, reach out, ask, talk, share, and hold us accountable for our thinking. It's great, and important, to stand on your own two feet. But staying in, at least, intermittent contact with others is one of the most important things you can do to try to keep some balance and stability in your mental health and feelings of wellbeing. The more habits and healthy patterns you can create for yourself, the less thinking you will do, the more good habits become automatic, and just a part of life. This is what they say, anyway. I'm no expert on this. I find it extremely difficult, myself. I find myself drowning in circumstances and setbacks and loss. If nothing else, and things appear to not be able to feel much worse, then baby steps - just try to go day by day. Think basic survival necessities. Essential services only.

If you're really unhappy with many aspects of your life, you may need to make changes, be they employment/career, geography/where you live, friends (add or remove), relationships (eliminate the bad, or stay open to something new), etc. If you don't see any need to change or fix those, but you are still deeply depressed, then try to stop thinking, as much as is possible, and just cut yourself some slack. Stop judging yourself, slow down the critical self-analysis, be nicer to yourself, try to focus more on what is positive, good, nice, and appealing about you, and less on what might be more negative. Seeking perfectionism is a path to disappointment. Same thing goes with comparison. Maybe there are negative habitual crutches that you fall back on to fill the void or distract. But, honestly, sometimes distraction is the answer, the key to push you into a different mindset. There are so many ways to look at and approach this. But it's not just about depression. It's about life, really, isn't it? And life is complex. We can survive more easily now, unlike in generations past, where just not starving to death took up a lot of mental processing and required problem solving. But now, we are more idle, and we think about purpose, boredom, lack of stimulation, too much stimulation which leads to addictions. It's a vast topic. Apologies for the meandering, especially on this last paragraph. I don't have the energy to edit this properly. (I'm in a similar boat to you.) Just thought I'd give you some ideas to think about. Another technique is to set a time to think about these things. A certain time of the day, and a specific time limit. Then, you stop. And do whatever is necessary to make your mind stop. Your brain needs rest. Body in motion, mind at rest, and then invert and do the opposite. Balance healthy patterns and stability with pleasure, joy, excitement. (Not in equal portions.) And pet a pet. Get one. Or pet someone else's. Cat purrs slow human heart rates. Exercise. Music. Film. Escape. Come back down to earth, repeat. Doesn't work? Shuffle, try again. Every day is a new day in which you can try something new, experience something new. Pretend you are a scientist, or your own doctor. You know yourself better than anyone else. And it's probably up to you. But never forget that you are not alone. Most people are just too involved in their own problems and life to ask, randomly and sincerely, "How are you?" and really mean it, really want to know. But underneath that, there are people who care. Sometimes you need to water those relationships, remind them that you care about them. We are individuals, but we are also part of something larger. We need to foster connections. It may very well be what makes life worth living. Though a bucket list of experiences you'd like to try, or have, is also something to live for...

Depression support: What's your best advice to people on how you got out of a depression?

Do you suffer from anything that would be considered a mental health problem or illness?

How do you think your level of sadness and loneliness compares to others?

PeachyPie93 · Accepted Answer

I tend to get really bad someday's where it is almost like OCD and I can't stop thinking I need to d*e because I am old, i'm ugly, I am not where I want to be in life, no one loves me, etc, etc. and negative thoughts keep flooding my head.
Like it almost tears me apart how bad these thoughts get and the emotions I feel is ridiculous. Some days I will cry and be sad and have absolutely no idea why. The only thing I can do in those moments is take an antidepressant and go to sleep. I should be taking them all the time but they make me constantly tired. Other times I can fight the thoughts and just tell myself the opposite of what I am feeling and I get over it when I use logic.

Purpleronnie · Accepted Answer

I’m no therapist or even trained medically to deal with this question but I’m going to go out on a limb and ask are you actually diagnosed with clinical depression? Or is it just low mood? Have you spent any time trying to understand why you feel low? . I have came through periods of low mood and anxiety and what helped me the most was getting to the root of why I had the thoughts that I did and challenging those thoughts , giving myself small goals and targets and building myself up. I’d say when you look at everything all at once it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and apathetic but group therapy , chipping away and challenging why you feel the way you do and how you can overcome it , it actually works.

normalice · Accepted Answer

I simply stop thinking about it. Telekinesis isn't possible but if there is anywhere that thoughts can manipulate physical space it is within the confines of one's own head. Controlling one's owns thoughts is the closest thing to a superpower available to us. Yanking one's own thoughts off the well beaten path of crippling anxiety and despair is actually easy and once you do that you quickly realize it was a simple addiction to the chemicals those thoughts produce all along.

Jonathan373 · Answer

Being a guy is the hardest thing to be. We have to struggle with how to express our emotions without looking violent, we do not get the same coddling that women get, even though sometimes we need it, depression comes with choices. So talk to your guy friends that are smart and know how to listen. Get a semi father figure you can sit and talk to or a male counselor. You are going to have to slowly work out of it but men always work on ourselves, you are going to be okay, and you gotta get up and talk to someone. Do not let poeple gaslight you either.

getwiththepg · Answer

Some weeks I feel on top of the world. Some weeks i don’t even want to get out of bed & can sleep all day. What I found out is that the weeks I’m doing the things I want/need to do positively for my mental health are the best weeks. The biggest takeaway is working out. It’s the number one anti-depressant.

sheikalana · Answer

I've never been clinically depressed. But I have my days where I feel down and sad. Going on walks always in the nature of by the sea always make me feel better.

Yannae · Answer

I talk to my friends about it or a professional therapist and I talk to myself. I list up what I hate, what I like, what caused it, what I want to change, how I'll go about changing that.

Dbtr99 · Answer

Comedy , a crap ton of comedy and screaming into the abyss.🤣 sorry if that got dark.

MemeSupreme · Answer

my brain went on like autopilot mode so I've been bobbin and weavin it full robot mode

Phoenix98 · Answer

I beat it through willpower on my own though it wasn't easy it was a long hard uphill battle.

JayBones · Answer

I take a shit load of drugs and do shit that makes me not depressed

AngryCarl · Answer

I get stuff on prescription. I also try to practice mindfulness.

butterly248 · Answer

I'm not sure. It's too much rn 😢

Jennz6 · Answer

Sometimes I drink 🍺

JacobJordan · Answer

What overwhelming depression?

serious_miss419 · Answer

Smoke a joint of indica

VV3ZZY123 · Answer

Get out of your comfort zone

Gabriel-Chicanito · Answer

Jus sit it in soothe..

RainBat · Answer

I don't

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