My depression is A LOT less. New job (part time). New Medication (Latuda). I feel so much better. Hardly even depressed at all, sometimes late at night or at a random hour of the day I will feel a bit worried or sad but that doesn’t last and I am able to think my way out of it pretty quick. I am working two days a week now and walking the dog daily for exercise. Next week, 7 days from now, I will start jogging and exercising again too. In 6 months I would like to be working 3 days instead of just 2. I would like to eventually add a second part time job as well. I have plans to finish college or start my own small business a couple years from now if I can remain stable and successful from now to then. Sometimes those plans get a bit daunting and doubtful so I try not to project into the future too much. For now, I am very happy and much better than I was a couple months ago.
The problem, however, is I get bored! When I was more depressed I was apathetic and hence, not bored, not ever. Now that I am more active I am bored at times. If I exercised more, or painted, or studied a foreign language or web design, I have the time available and plenty of activities to do but right now I need to keep my activity level where I can manage it. I’ll be adding more activity step by step. So now I have to think of low impact ways to combat boredom. Any suggestions? It seems so odd to complain about boredom but it is a new problem that I haven’t faced before.
PS- My job is working as a janitor in a boxing gym. Not a very glorious but a job at least. Also, I have several good real life friends so social activity is not a problem either. My other medication is Lithium.
Congratulations - I have depression as well - and it is better than it used to be, but I still consider myself depressed. I don’t remember the last time I felt bored. Can you explain what you mean a little more (perhaps with an example)?
Is it that you have more energy now - and need to find something to fill in the time? Or you care more?
Also - out of curiosity - how long were you depressed for?
Sounds like you have a great addititude and good plans for the future.
What about taking adult ed classes in your community? They offer a range of subjects from photography, foreign language, art to basic skills classes (like computer software etc). Usually minimal cost, low pressure and open to all adults in the community. Does your area have anything like that?
How long have you been taking Lithium for, and what’s the dosage? Just as a data point (and I’m not alone in this) I’ve had an on-again off-again thing with Lithium for at least 20 years. Amazing drug in many ways, but it can cause a very flat affect over time.
If you don’t think that’s the case then yeah: classes, meetups, volunteering, new hobbies, take up a sport, etc. It doesn’t need to be a high-maintenance activity, nor one requiring a big commitment.
1- I was depressed for about two months, slightly depressed before that, with mild depression most of my life that comes and goes. Two months ago I had enough energy to get to of bed but barely enough energy to walk a block to the store. Through longer and longer trips of walking the dog I got better at leaving the house but still felt kind of hopeless about life, unemployed and no college degree in an economic depressed neighborhood.
I had been working at the boxing gym for free tuition and locker, $150 a month, work 1 hour a day two days a week cleaning up. I quit going and he needed the work done so he offered to hire me to work 3 hours a day 2 days a week and that really really helped get me in a good mood again.
2- By bored I mean, my appetite for activity is more than my current ability. AS with walking the dog, if I had tired to start at walking the dog for one hour, instead of ten minutes, I would of gotten overwhelmed real quick. I have to make improvement at a slow pace. But right now I have a big desire to do a lot so moderation and patience are necessary. Basically, before I was apathetic but now I am listless. I know if I work slow but keep adding things I will do fine but I need the patience. and I really do feel bored and listless and unentertained a lot because I have a lot of time on my hands.
Last time I was in college I made an A in Art and an A+ in Art History so I want to look at classes at the community college near by. There are lots of high quality adult classes for all kinds of activity in New York City so as soon as I feel good enough to commute on a daily basis I will. For now, I draw or paint and exercise. I will probably add reading books or studying web design on the internet next. add one then add the other later. Thanks for the suggestion.
Yeah see my response above… I will start with a few hobby activities at home and add more as I get better at time management and have more energy. As far as the Lithium I taken 1200 mgs for many years, almost 10, and when I take it regular, which I have done for a year, it works well.
