# What do you do when you are depressed? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 21, 2015, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-when-you-are-depressed/725754 "2015-07-21T06:38:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DataX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@DataX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DataX)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2015, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-when-you-are-depressed/725754/21 "2015-07-21T19:26:39Z")
> [@SeniorCitizen007](#): > > … or any other sequence of FIVE simple activities performed for a short time that have the effect of changing your pattern of thought Actually the third one has been shown to improve levels of testosterone and make people more confident, but not sure if that was the intent. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2015, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-when-you-are-depressed/725754/22 "2015-07-21T19:54:09Z")
Depression is the normal state of my life, the default. Working on my art helps. So does music. And of course, spending time with my partner and my kittehs. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2015, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-when-you-are-depressed/725754/23 "2015-07-21T21:30:30Z")
Coffee and a walk. Get outside yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Dobbs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Dobbs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dobbs)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2015, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-when-you-are-depressed/725754/24 "2015-07-21T21:41:00Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Listen to Blues. The most down and dirty woman done me wrong life sucks gonna eat a shotgun Blues there is. For some reason it has the opposite effect on me and it makes me happier. This. You don’t listen to the Blues to feel bad, you listen to feel good. Also, for some reason, the Grateful Dead works for me, too. ---
**Author:** ![Reads\_a\_Lot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a9a28c/32.png) [@Reads\_a\_Lot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reads_a_Lot)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2015, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-when-you-are-depressed/725754/25 "2015-07-21T23:09:57Z")
Physical activity helps. But true depression requires treatment. Therapy and drugs worked for me. ---
**Author:** ![Whatever4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@Whatever4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whatever4)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2015, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-when-you-are-depressed/725754/26 "2015-07-22T06:34:37Z")
I get pretty grubby because showering, flossing, and putting on clean clothes is just too much effort. Drink too much tea; eat too little food. I sometimes resent my dog needing to pee, since I have to move and actually leave the house. Pretty much lose track of day and time. Can’t concentrate enough to read. I find something on youtube with autoplay and doze the day away. Years of therapy and meds later, depression still rules my life. ☹ It’s the worst part, for me, of being bi-polar. ---
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2015, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-when-you-are-depressed/725754/27 "2015-07-22T13:37:40Z")
I go for a hike. [Buck Mountain](http://adirondackexplorer.org/adventure-planner/wp-content/uploads/2002/09/bck-mountain.jpg), on the East side of Lake George is my favorite. It’s easy and only takes a couple of hours. It makes me feel better, looking out over the lake. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2015, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-when-you-are-depressed/725754/28 "2015-07-23T04:34:19Z")
Ice cream today ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Phila444](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ba8739/32.png) [@Phila444](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phila444)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2015, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-when-you-are-depressed/725754/29 "2015-07-24T15:50:13Z")
> [@OneCentStamp](#): > > **Things I Do When I Am Depressed:** > > 1. Read books I’ve already read a hundred times (reading a new book = more mental/emotional effort than I want to spend). > 2. See above, only with movies or TV shows. I do these, too. Eventually I’ll get bored or restless and take a long walk or something to clear my head. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2015, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-when-you-are-depressed/725754/30 "2015-07-24T16:03:12Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Listen to Blues. The most down and dirty woman done me wrong life sucks gonna eat a shotgun Blues there is. For some reason it has the opposite effect on me and it makes me happier. > [@Dobbs](#): > > This. You don’t listen to the Blues to feel bad, you listen to feel good. > > Also, for some reason, the Grateful Dead works for me, too. If I’m not too pissed to get to sleep I take a long nap. Otherwise I crank this up to 11: [The Allman Brothers Band - Stormy Monday ( At Fillmore East, 1971 )](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bqa1s4jhkQ8) ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2015, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-when-you-are-depressed/725754/31 "2015-07-24T16:15:13Z")
…this is probably bad for me, but sometimes I cook. Currently, I’m thinking of making [This.](http://www.buzzfeed.com/adambianchi/this-hash-brown-breakfast-burger-is-all-you-need-in-your-lif?utm_term=.hgoBrdoy5W&sub=3808890_6005636) ---
**Author:** ![LibrarySpy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@LibrarySpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LibrarySpy)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2015, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-when-you-are-depressed/725754/32 "2015-07-24T16:51:19Z")
Tell myself, “I am depressed. This is what depression feels like.” Meditate/Pray Watch sports. I’m totally going to try the arms in the air thing. ---
**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2015, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-when-you-are-depressed/725754/33 "2015-07-24T18:28:09Z")
I was thinking about my reply. My depressive episode has lasted about 18 months, but with drugs and therapy I am feeling much better. I do the above when I am feeling sad, which is different from being depressed. Prior to drugs and therapy, I cried and cried and sat staring into space. That is my depression response. ---
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2015, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-when-you-are-depressed/725754/34 "2015-07-24T20:42:39Z")
An ex of mine had been treated for depression and said running really helped. She especially liked running during peak times (after work, weekend mornings) when tons of people doing it gave the illusion of a group activity without having to interact. Running’s how we met. ---
**Author:** ![stillownedbysetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@stillownedbysetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stillownedbysetters)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2015, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-when-you-are-depressed/725754/35 "2015-07-24T22:40:57Z")
I allow myself a short wallow in it. If I think a good cry will help, I have one. Possibly I’ll spend an evening with my friends Ben and Jerry. But within 24 hours, I have to start moving and get out of it. Physical activity is a good start. A long run or walk clears my mind and gets the endorphins going - nature’s way of getting the happy flowing once again. And I sing. Oftentimes I’ll take a drive out in the country, roll down my windows, and sing at the top of my lungs. It seems to help and that way no innocent ears are harmed. ---
**Author:** ![Sefton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Sefton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sefton)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2015, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-when-you-are-depressed/725754/36 "2015-07-25T01:40:26Z")
I play blitz chess. After a few games, my mind is so wound up that instead of being depressed, I’m either enraged by defeat or overjoyed by victory. I’m an odd person. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2015, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-when-you-are-depressed/725754/37 "2015-07-25T05:11:46Z")
I always put on my favorite album: _ **Happy Songs** _ by Neil Young \* - - yes, stolen from a stand-up in SF, cited by Herb Caen (without whom SF has lost its way) ---
**Author:** ![Foggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foggy/32/1082_2.png) [@Foggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foggy)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2015, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-when-you-are-depressed/725754/38 "2015-07-26T22:40:12Z")
Things have been worst lately, I don’t know why, but this did make me smile & laugh for a while at least. [Cats failing at jumping.](http://thefrogman.me/post/124939782425) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2015, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-when-you-are-depressed/725754/39 "2015-07-26T23:03:39Z")
Moving my body. It doesn’t have to be formal exercise. Just anything that causes me to be upright, moving my arms and legs. Accomplishing one task, no matter how small. I have foods reserved for depressive spells. I’ve managed to convince myself that citrus fruits have anti-depressant properties. So does guacomole. When I get very depressed, I let my therapist know. Even when she doesn’t have any advice for me, just the act of telling someone “I feel depressed” helps. ---
**Author:** ![AngelSoft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angelsoft/32/440_2.png) [@AngelSoft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelSoft)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-when-you-are-depressed/725754/40 "2015-07-27T01:10:11Z")
I’ve been depressed off and on for probably about twenty years now. It’s pretty consistent but varies in intensity. When it gets really bad, I just cry a lot and wait for it to pass. I’ve not really found anything other than pushing through it, to help alleviate the more severe bouts of it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-when-you-are-depressed/725754.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-when-you-are-depressed/725754.md?page=3)