How do YOU deal with depression?

[cerah]

So the winter's creeping up and as usally happens a fair amount of people (me included) tend to get depressed during this time of year mainly as a result of the weather.

I've tried the anti-depressant route before and gotta say I hated it. Being an unfeeling zombie just isn't where it's at for me these days.

I plan on nipping this "depression season" in the bud... get it sorted out before it becomes a problem and all. So I'm looking for a lil advice... wondering what other people do when they start feeling down around this time of year.

Any suggestions??

[MC Hammered]

I eat more chocolate, spend more time with my baby nephew and go chase the snow.

In my opinion, depression is all in the mind, if one can start the wheels of change by just changing the way one thinks then in the future you don't have to deal with the issue anymore.

It no longer exists.

[Chet]

yeah,
-set up a poker night every week or 2 so you can gamble and drink with your friends and have fun
-go swimming in the middle of the night in the rain
-Fuck alot
-try and save money
-take a trip somewhere sunny
-masterbate untill you are numb

[Chet]

oh yeah go snowboarding too

[MC Hammered]

yeah... fuck a lot.

endorphins rule

[yoko*]

Ever tried a lightbox?

If you're friends with me or close to me you've probably heard me whining about how much I hate fall. Heck, it's even in my avatar. Fall and the disintegration of the weather is always associated with negative things.

i've come to the conclusion, that the best thing you CAN do for yourself, is to try to not let your life be dragged down by the weather. Don't let your shitty moods prevent you from doing the things that you want and need to do. It's tough to drag your ass outta bed when there's no sunshine to greet you in the morning, but do the best you can to stay on schedule.

I tend to believe that anti-depressants aren't going to be the best answer to a depression that is caused by the lack of sun. I'd say, regardless of rain or shine get out as much as you can and absorb light into your eyes. There's nothing i can do about the fact that bad weather makes me, as well as many others feel like puke, but I try to make the best of it by tending to areas in my life that i *do* have control of, such as my health and well being. I stick to my gym plans and I try to stay healthy. I try to remember to attribute my shitty moods to the weather and not to anything or anyone else in my life.

I find that it's easier to cope with the way you feel when you know why you're feeling it.
.

[Jingles]

If it were possible I'd go somewhere w/ hot beaches and hot men --
But since that's usually not a possibility - I try to hang out w/ friends as much as possibile - get out and make an effort to be happy and smile

happiness isn't an automatic for people, and it's easy to see the dark side of life - so you really do have to makea conciuous effort to keep positive and keep out of the house
It's uber easy to get down when you are home alone too much

and if you have a pet - play with it, studies show it makes you instantly happier to play with your animals
and if you don't
Well you can always go play w/ Adrienne's kitty ;)

I also agree that sex is a super upper - but if you are already down, meaningless sex may not do the trick - it may sink ya further

and as stupid as it may sound
Hug those you love
there is just something about a hug :)

[cerah]

I wanna get a pet... but I might be moving... I dunno yet. That and I have no bloody clue where the hell I'm gonna be next year so I don't wanna get a kitty and then not be able to keep her.

Adrienne's kitty is nice... but uber shy.

I'm gonna try and get out more but I hate being cold with a passion so usually I much rather prefer to stay cuddled up in bed.

Hopefully this year I'll learn to snowboard *crosses fingers*

[Chet]

Originally posted by Jingles

Well you can always go play w/ Adrienne's kitty ;)

HA HA HA H AH H AH AHA AH AH AHA HA AH AH AHA A

or just read that
that made me happy

but I don't think adrienne's boyfrined would like a bunch of people coming over and playing with her kitty

[cerah]

So I just looked into those light box things... they start at $169US =/

Damn you technology!!

[MC Hammered]

You could just hook up extra flourecent lighting and put in daylight white bulbs

[cerah]

You're so smart WInston... what would I do without you?

Now if only I had a lamp that took those kinda lights... hrmmmm I feel an IKEA trip coming on.

[MC Hammered]

Don't need a lamp... I'd go to home depot and pick up those overhead ones that mount to your ceiling and buy the bulbs. They aren't too expensive and last for a while.

That way the light will flood the room instead of just a corner as a lamp would do.

[cerah]

*gasp*

I truly am amazed at your brilliance Winston.

Next paycheck I think I shall invest in Home Depot gear.

[*STARFISH*]

what is a lightbox anyway?

[bren]

paxil....

bren

[MC Hammered]

Originally posted by *STARFISH*
what is a lightbox anyway?

A box with light inside.

From what I understand SAD can be due to lack of exposure to daylight. See this link for more info -> http://tntn.essortment.com/seasonaldepress_nbl.htm

A lightbox is a device that provides more light in the livingspace so instead of seeing gloomy dark skies and reduced amounts of light, the lightbox will provide as much light as a nice spring day for example.

So my suggestion to Sarah of installing an overhead flourecent fixture with daylight white bulbs should help her out.

For people like me who are vampyres, extra light just hurts my eyes. :284:

[Ragga_Wh0re]

buy tanning minutes and just work out or fuck or masturbate ALOT. Seasonal depression sucks ass. Dont do anti depressants they suck even worser ass blah.

[*STARFISH*]

thats a really good idea, winston.
i think im gonna have to try that too.
its so much harder getting out of bed when theres no light

[Flip]

The 3 Bs will get you through any rough times.

Smoke some BUDS...
Eat some BACON...
Get a BLOW-JOB...

Simple, yet satisfying.

[baby_bluez]

I gotta say, one of the reasons i get depressed is cuz my skin gets all chalky and i feel hideous. So i always have a tanning package on the go. I go once or twice a week to maintain a healthy glow and the UV exposure helps battle symptoms of S.A.D
(seasonal affective disorder)
soooooo yea, that and LOTTTS of exersize. Not only will you have a killer body and not feel bad about indulging in anti depresant foods (chocolate and such) but the endorphin release is kill!

OHH and take a vitamin B complex (b6, b12 etc) everyday, along with evening of primrose oil (if your a girl) and vitamin C

all three help relieve depression. For ladies, Evening of Primrose Oil, helps relieve cramps, bloating, and moodiness around that time, and it makes your skin, hair, and nails healthier. :)

[SEAN!]

Originally posted by MC Hammered
You could just hook up extra flourecent lighting and put in daylight white bulbs

yeah if you have flourescent lighiting in your office change out the tubes wiht ones that our full spectrum....i find that it helps with the seasonal depression.


errr i get really bad seasonal depression, how i cope wiht it...juts listen to alot of disco, gay happy life affirming music cant help but make you happy...oh yeha and if you use drugs...dont use em during the fall or winter because the weather will make your sketch alot worse.

[MC Hammered]

Originally posted by SEAN!

errr i get really bad seasonal depression, how i cope wiht it...juts listen to alot of disco, gay happy life affirming music cant help but make you happy...

YEAH!!

Love Inc - You're a Superstar :y:

I zone out to that before I bomb any mountain. If that track doesn't pick you up then nothing will.

ftp://form:[email protected]... superstar.mp3

[diva]

Originally posted by MC Hammered

In my opinion, depression is all in the mind, if one can start the wheels of change by just changing the way one thinks then in the future you don't have to deal with the issue anymore.

I think your opinion about depression is a pretty uneducated one. It's all in the mind? I dare you to try telling that to one of the millions of North Americans who suffer from depression. Before I go any further, I think it's important to distinguish clinical depression from the feelings of sadness that most people call depression.

Depression is a very real illness. This is one of my favourite quotes: "I am now the most miserable man living. If what I feel were equally distributed to the whole human family, there would be not one cheerful face on earth. Whether I shall ever be better, I cannot tell. I awfully forebode I shall not. To remain as I am is impossible. I must die or be better it appears to me."
--Abraham Lincoln [Who, by the way, is probably one of the most famous people who's been documented with depression]

When someone has a broken leg, don't they need medical intervention to fix it and prevent any complications? A better analogy would be this one: Some diabetics can manage their illness through a carefully controlled diet, but others can need multiple insulin injections a day. I don't understand the whole anti anti-depressant movement at all.

I think a lot of the misconceptions regarding the use of pharmaceuticals to treat depression stem from miss education and ignorance. If someone can manage their depression through alternate means, that's great, but choosing to take medication for it shouldn't be looked down upon. A lot of the times it's actually harder to go the medication route. You have to deal with shitty side effects for the first few weeks (maybe longer), you have to decide if those side effects are better than the actual depression, and if the medication you've been prescribed doesn't work, you have to start the process all over again with a new med. It's a shitty process. I cannot stress this enough. It's even shittier when you're not getting the support you need from friends and loved ones who constantly undermine your feelings by telling you that, "It's all in your head."

I don’t even know why I’m typing all this shit. At any rate, if you think this is a real concern, I’d advise you to go talk to your family doctor about getting referred to a specialist. General Practitioners don’t have enough expertise in the area to accurately diagnose or treat depression.

Cheers,
Esi

A few helpful sites on this subject are:
http://depression.about.com/
http://www.wingofmadness.com/
http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/Villa/5712/

[bebu*funfun]

yea im a BIG TIME grey weather downer i want to cry depression kinda girl. even though life is absolutely FAB right now..the smallest things can disturb me and pull me down. i duno recently ive been concentrating that energy towards school and keeping myself busy by doin my projects/hw asap and keep myself busy with happy music on the side. (advice from a friend ;..and workin real well) other than that.. if anyone does believe they are in depression.. go check out a counciller or something. i went through a shitty phase and my doc sent me to a counciller and helped me A LOT.

other than that.. hmm..example last nite it was a downer, so i decided to srcunge up all old pictures and made a huge scrapbook.. oh man.. memories are the best. i was laughin and gigglin the whole time workin on it. good times.