Depression Support Group

Why this might not be the healhiest response, this is what I do. I ESCAPE!!! I daydream, listen to music, go off by myself, etc. It actually takes the edge off of my downhill spiral of depression. Hmm...in fact, I did it last night.

Don't laugh, but sat in tub with an ipod and sang songs! Music and bath and bodyworks aromatherapy is a good thing!

Oh Inis I love that suggestion. I love "playing dress up" LOL. Actually my boss just called mt to tell me that we have corporate people coming in tomorrow and my first thought was "Yay I get to get dressed up" Just thinking about it made me feel better.

And Lynn - yeah i love baths too. Maybe time for a nice long soak in the tub. :)

batdog i call it those little men in my head telling me i am nothing,,and i am a piece of crap...then if i can i will do the bubble bath thing.....

right now i don't have it in me to give others strength but i do know that you are a wonderful friend and i care and love you very much

I'm sure people have told you this, but when the voices are very loud, "it's the depression talking." For me, it helps to be reminded that it's not just me, it's happening to all of us. Which is why DS helps.

I have been trying to notice that when I get the bad thought, rather than trying to defeat the thought, I try to consciously let it go - visualize it floating off somewhere else. My therapist says that these "voices" that come from certain part of our brain have helped us get through difficult situations in the past - for instance, she says there's a part of the brain that "manages" us - and when we're not feeling good, it turns the managing mechanism into negative thoughts we direct at ourselves. She says to "thank" the manager but tell it to take a backseat. I know it sounds a little funny when you hear it, and I am still fighting with it, but I've started to be able to let the thing go rather than to keep thinking about it in a loop, which only makes it worse.

Also, if it's particularly bad - how long have you been depressed? Are you in therapy/on meds? I honestly think my meds starting to kick in is helping the voices subside.

The other thing I would try is to find a small task you think you can handle but that would also normally make you happy. And when you start to think the negative things, do that task. Doing something else takes your mind outside of itself.

Hope I'm helping and not just rambling! Best of luck.

Just curious - your profile says you are co-dependent and here you say you're trying not to help others as much - I would guess that maybe part of the thing that helps you feel good about yourself is doing stuff for others - but at the risk of doing things for yourself. I have the same problem. As depressed as I am, I can do things for others, and that makes me feel better. But when I am faced with just myself, I feel bad and the voices come back. I have been trying to figure out how to get the self esteem I need from me and not from the feedback I get from helping others.

It's hard. It's such a big part of who I am. I guess I haven't gotten there yet, but just letting you know I'm hangin' in there with you.

i blame others.

I try to sit quiet and listen to music,,,,do something I love and focus on forgiveness and being gentle with myself, for no matter how bad I think I am, I know I am also loving and compassionate and mean no harm to anyone,,,, I feel you are a good soul Batdog so you should do the same

I'm with Bistro. I try and think about it logically. I recall the things I've accomplished before I became depressed, or was diagnosed...I have alot of pride in those things. That helps alot.

I also focus on who I really am. Don't listen to the lies; I focus on who I KNOW I am. The person who existed before the depression and all the anxiety; That's who I will always be, inside, deep inside. That's the best part of me.

And yes, a long hot bath never hurt anyone, especially if you have your favourite tunes....I like candles, me. They help me focus on something other than my current thoughts, they take me somewhere else.

:p to pervs