When i'm really low, some things i've found that can help include:
- Duvet days. I'm a really tactile person, and i think i'm in some way related to cats. I like my comforts and when i'm really low and overwhelmed it can help a bit to curl up in my duvet. Whether this is on my sofa watching some crappy TV (or the Buffy musical episode) or in bed, it sometimes helps to hide from the world.
- Scheduling. This sounds a bit geeky, but it has been my saving grace when i'm going through my worst patches with the evil depression. Typically, the time i need it most is the time i feel less able to do it - but fortunately i have a few people who are willing to help out. I have a blank timetable (seperated into morning/afternoon/evening (not hourly as this freaks me out a bit and doesn't work as well). I then have lists of different types of activites - chores, social, pampering, study, chill etc (for example, ones under social would include ringing a friend, coming on the forum, writing/emailing someone, going to a friends house - anything that involves communicating with another human (something that i find tough when i'm low).
When i'm writing the schedule, i try and put in a mix of these different types of activities (aswell as when i eat, sleep and have a shower as i find these hard to). The idea isn't to overload myself, but to give me some kind of framework that keeps me going. When i'm low i find decisions really tough, aswell as having little motivation, so the schedule helps there too. I have to be careful not to berrate myself for not sticking to it perfectly, and make sure i reward myself when i do do something. It doesn't make things all better suddenly, but i've found it holds me and stops me getting worse.
- Music. Playing it, listening to it ... i have soundtracks for almost all moods. When i'm low, music like death cab for cutie, the eels and deftones (b sides and rarities) comfort me like a warm blanket. If i'm low, but need some energy to go out and do something i tend to put on my rock stuff (currently Hatebreed, other detftones, sevendust, prong ...). they help me feel something and kinda break the stupour
- Walking. It's the last thing i want to do when i'm low, but strangely enough it helps a bit. There's plenty of theories that tell you why (it helps produce serotonin apparently, the feel good chemical of our brain). Still, as much as i know that when i'm feeling crap i still don't feel like doing it. I feel like i'm in an alternative universe where everything's gloopy and i'm walking through fudge. Still, when other people drag me out it helps somehow. Whether it's the fresh air, being close to nature or just that it forces me to think about something practical - i don't know. It just works
- Pampering myself. Again, like everything else this is the last thing i want to do when everything is so dark and overwhelming. Still, i've learnt that if i can treat myself with respect and love by doing things that (if i wasn't feeling so terrible) i'd usually enjoy - it's a good thing. It's like if i treat myself as if i'm worth something, my mind will eventually get in on the idea and start to feel it a little. It's not a magic cure, but it's something.
(note - the worst thing i can do when i'm low is neglect myself as this just reinforces how i'm feeling about myself and makes me spiral further down)
There are just a few of the things i do. How about you?
- Duvet days. I'm a really tactile person, and i think i'm in some way related to cats. I like my comforts and when i'm really low and overwhelmed it can help a bit to curl up in my duvet. Whether this is on my sofa watching some crappy TV (or the Buffy musical episode) or in bed, it sometimes helps to hide from the world.
- Scheduling. This sounds a bit geeky, but it has been my saving grace when i'm going through my worst patches with the evil depression. Typically, the time i need it most is the time i feel less able to do it - but fortunately i have a few people who are willing to help out. I have a blank timetable (seperated into morning/afternoon/evening (not hourly as this freaks me out a bit and doesn't work as well). I then have lists of different types of activites - chores, social, pampering, study, chill etc (for example, ones under social would include ringing a friend, coming on the forum, writing/emailing someone, going to a friends house - anything that involves communicating with another human (something that i find tough when i'm low).
When i'm writing the schedule, i try and put in a mix of these different types of activities (aswell as when i eat, sleep and have a shower as i find these hard to). The idea isn't to overload myself, but to give me some kind of framework that keeps me going. When i'm low i find decisions really tough, aswell as having little motivation, so the schedule helps there too. I have to be careful not to berrate myself for not sticking to it perfectly, and make sure i reward myself when i do do something. It doesn't make things all better suddenly, but i've found it holds me and stops me getting worse.
- Music. Playing it, listening to it ... i have soundtracks for almost all moods. When i'm low, music like death cab for cutie, the eels and deftones (b sides and rarities) comfort me like a warm blanket. If i'm low, but need some energy to go out and do something i tend to put on my rock stuff (currently Hatebreed, other detftones, sevendust, prong ...). they help me feel something and kinda break the stupour
- Walking. It's the last thing i want to do when i'm low, but strangely enough it helps a bit. There's plenty of theories that tell you why (it helps produce serotonin apparently, the feel good chemical of our brain). Still, as much as i know that when i'm feeling crap i still don't feel like doing it. I feel like i'm in an alternative universe where everything's gloopy and i'm walking through fudge. Still, when other people drag me out it helps somehow. Whether it's the fresh air, being close to nature or just that it forces me to think about something practical - i don't know. It just works
- Pampering myself. Again, like everything else this is the last thing i want to do when everything is so dark and overwhelming. Still, i've learnt that if i can treat myself with respect and love by doing things that (if i wasn't feeling so terrible) i'd usually enjoy - it's a good thing. It's like if i treat myself as if i'm worth something, my mind will eventually get in on the idea and start to feel it a little. It's not a magic cure, but it's something.
(note - the worst thing i can do when i'm low is neglect myself as this just reinforces how i'm feeling about myself and makes me spiral further down)
There are just a few of the things i do. How about you?
