yes who said the day is 24 hours I need more time than this. LOL I am now employeed after having my own business for 20 + yesrs, mom of two grown kids one at home a grandmother and I have fish lots of fish!! I can't get my house clean from the holidays. I just need more time well energy would be good too

You just described my most FAVORITE way to beat depression - distractions. I was the QUEEN of distractions during the height of my depression. I would fill up every little minute so that I didn't have to focus on my issues.

The problem with that is . . . that the issues never get addressed due to lack of time. Distractions are good for making sure that one does not downward spiral into an abyss and never come out, but a person needs to eventually work on the issues that contribute to the depression.

I've been working on a lot of my issues over the past year and I've made a lot of progress. I could not have done this work previously. So I guess those distractions where necessary at the time. I needed to stay distracted during my worst times to keep me from sinking.

Sadly depression doesn't give a damn about peoples busy schedules.If you are suffering from depression then treatment needs to be priority number one. That is because if it gets bad enough it can render you incapable of handling even your most simple tasks. I've been hospitalized numerous times and I've seen people that have gone catatonic. Of course that's a worst case scenario but it can happen. If you want to remain vital and capable you need to do your own personal maintenance. Please at least let your regular doctor help you with an asessment. Then if necessary you could maybe get a referral for someone that can better help you with depression. So please make time to take care of yourself. (((( Hugs ))))

what ThenAgain said.

That's how I feel! It will and does affect you though. I am starting to try to do more for me. My oldest is 8 and somewhere I feel I lost me!!

Good luck!! I have enough problems finding time for my friends and my 18 credit hour schedule without all the rest added in. I hope you manage to find the time. Just remember not to super overdo it and give yourself a break every so often.

..if only it were as easy as not having enough time to be depressed, we'd all have it solved.

I do agree with ThenAgain about masking the real issues, but if you can avoid that, I really don't think there's much else wrong with distracting yourself. Even better, you're (partially) distracting yourself by taking care of animals, which can be rewarding enough to dig yourself up out of minor (sometimes even major) spirals. For me, at least.

Wishing you the best with your studies and your furry/scaly family :)

I find it hard to find that balance between distractions and a too-busy schedule that leaves me feeling drained and...more depressed.

Too much time on my hands, and my mind reverts to memories and self-pity. I am not proud of this at all, but I do have to take responsibility for it.

Well... luckily... I've been so busy I haven't cut myself in over 4 years, and haven't even WANTED to, so I'm doing something right. Plus, at the college I'm at, I am around so many positive people with huge hearts that it's really really hard for me not to feel it too. I am fortunate as hell to have people who care about me enough to endure my good days, and love me most on my bad days. And really, that's what we all need. ALL of us.