I've had a very bad day.

[cymbidia]

It's the worst day i've had in a very long time from an emotional standpoint.

Bad days really suck. They drain you dry and leave you feeling too wrung out to care about much of anything. Too empty to do much beyond the very basic necessities of bodily care.

What do you do to pull yourself out of a depression? Maybe you simply revel in it, sinking into the muck of the blackness, uncaring as it closes over your head. Maybe you're like Pollyanna and always find a silver lining to your black cloud.

Tell me, what do you do when the black beast of Depresion grasps you with his steely claws: fight or surrender?

 

[Shy Tall Guy]

I eat, masturbate (I do that anyway ), watch something funny or interesting on TV, read and just sleep. Sometimes I ride my motorcycle if possible.

Usually the depression is temporary and I get over it after a day or so. Sometimes what is happening is too much and continual. This has been a bad year for me; unemployed and family being ill - it has been hard, but I am surviving.

 

[BlondeBeauty]

Cry.

I'm definitely a crier.
I feel more exhausted and drained when I'm done, but at least I get it out of my system.
Then, I usually nap. No energy to do anything else.

 

[Rand al'Thor]

When I get into one of those moods, I try to control whatever emotion is running through me by speeding up its normal course.

If I am depressed, I will completely revel in it and cry for a few minutes rather than letting it seep out a little bit at a time over the course of the day.

If I am angry, I'll put on some heavy metal and let the anger pump through my veins until I'm too tired to be angry any more.

...Then I masturbate, like the last guy said.

 

[MissTaken]

I am very sorry to hear you have the blues.

As for me, I hide for a bit. I don't leave the house and tend to escape in lit for a bit. *hugs all*

Also, a hot bath and a drink will help me relax.

Finally, I write. There is no subject or story line. I may even doodle a bit. Eventually, my blues escape.

Hugs Cym. I hope your evening looks better than your day.

 

[celiaKitten]

I have 'Cat Days' .. my most recent was wednesday actually - I declared an 'all-sex afternoon'

I flirt - that always makes me feel better

Watch TV, grab some chocolate (used to be cigarettes ..)

And if all else fails - I go climb in my tree and write.

 

[morninggirl5]

I have a box of books that are my best cure for depression. Every book inside is guaranteed to make me cry. Once I allow myself to release all the energy, I'm usually back to my normal Pollyanna-ish self.

I try not to get too hung up on being depressed and let it run its course. As long as it's not interfering with my life for an extended period of time (longer than a week), I accept it as part of the emotional rollercoaster we call life.

I'm sorry you're having a rough time, cym. My PM and e-mail is there if you want an ear or a punching bag.

 

[Harbinger]

I make the extra effort to try to do something useful. Wash the dishes, clean, find somebody to help. Make something. Drive around town singing as loud as you can. Find a task that can get you outside of your head. Exercise until you are tired. I let the feelings be what they are but I don't dwell on them, don't feed them. Do something, and do it as well as you can.

And in your case I might remember how much people liked and appreciated me.

 

[Barb Dwyer]

(((Hugs, cym)))

Revel in it as long as it takes to eat Haagen Dazs straight out of the carton and listen to a CD of sad songs. Cry or scream- let it all out and get it over with.

Then get up and fight! Do what Shy Tall Guy suggests. Masturbate and then eat it. Err.... I mean, well... never mind. Do something fun, watch a comedy, write a letter, read a book, pierce your nipple again! Come to lit and lecture Todd!

Or do something charitable. Gather up all your coins of the realm and greenbacks, put them in an envelope and mail it to me. Write a check- endorsed to me. Trust me.... it will make us, I mean YOU feel so much better!

My work is done here.

 

[erosman]

My darkest times come from isolation, inactivity, or a combination of the two.
So, I try to reverse the process. To combat isolation, I find people to connect with- sometimes just a brief conversation with the gas station attendant. To reverse inactivity, I run. There's nothing like a midnight run to give clarity of purpose. I guess, it looks like I fight. Hope you find your emotional equilibrium...soon!

 

[KillerMuffin]

I rip the living shit out of anyone who dares to come near me when I'm depressed and then I start crying. Crying is the signal that it's time to exercise.

Exercise is a good short term solution to a bout of depression because it releases all sorts of feel good 'dorphins in the blood stream. I'm talking serious, gonna puke if I push myself any harder exercise. Not just a put on the Kenny G and meander around the block "exercise."

Another good thing to do is to not bloat on carbs. Comfort food that is. Eat fruits. Fruit has natural sugars in it that gives you that nummy sweet high without shortchanging you on needed nutrients. This means that when your sugar rush recedes, you still have something giving you energy so you don't actually crash into worse depression. Ben n Jerry will make you feel good for about thirty minutes and then you crash harder.

If depression is something that is regular, then a nice visit with the nice lady who prescribes happy pills is in order.

 

[Starfish]

I am like Harbinger in the sense that I find something to fill the emptiness. Art, Reading (getting lost in other things), Doing something useful, or doing that 'thing' I've been putting off for so long whether it sounds boring or not, etcetera.

Muffin is right, and although I know motivation to do it is the key, excersize alone can make you feel less overwhelmed by depression, so if you can't find something to be interested in/distracted by, go for a hardcore walk, jumping jacks (700 of them or so, and ladies don't forget to wear a bra for this one.), swimming (Oh, and Towely says: Don't forget to bring a towel) or something that is good for you body. Your mind soon after, may start to feel relief from the stress.

 

[pabloback]

i talk
talk about my problems
or talk about anything
but i do talk
killer muffin, i tried the exercise but when i am that down i have no energy to do anything
talk is the best thing
dont sit alone

 

[Svedish_Chef]

Tell me, what do you do when the black beast of Depression grasps you with his steely claws: fight or surrender?

Neither... embrace it and put on the right music to get into it deeply... write bad poetry and sometimes get drunk.

I actually enjoy being depressed, so of course it hardly ever happens for me.

God, sometimes you really piss me off!

 

[LukkyKnight]

music

Powerful magic, music.

Lots of insight already posted here, but...
cym, the answer is situational. An emotionally trying day which includes a (significant) loss cannot be put to rest before grieving is done. The antithesis of depression is action, so the many variations on "doing something" are good answers to how to overcome it. The secret is hidden in knowing when to go with it, and when it's time to reverse the tide and re-take control of your circumstances.

Music. It touches the soul, like poetry without words. One can escape into the music, bond with it, meld to it, and ride it back to an energetic, better place - when one is ready.

IMHO

 

[T.H. Oughts]

Depending on what has got me depressed..... if it's a wind up from days of being Pissed off with something, then a good cry does wonders. But immersing myself in writing poetry helps to weed out the bad bits. Here's one I wrote for a friend the other day who was on a downer.

I am a woman standing with pride,
knock me down I do not hide.
I am strong as the days go forth.
My destiny is power of course.

If by chance a tear you see,
do not have pity here with me.
For within minutes I gather, I go forth.
I am a woman with pride of course.

 

[Mensa]

It's called acting out!

I respond to everyone like Paul, the pissed-off primate. I fling feces at everyone who dares make eye contact with me!

 

[cymbidia]

What powerful, lyrical, honest, open, and emotional depression antidotes have been offered here! As always, i find myself deeply impressed and quietly delighted by the insightful nature and overall intelligence of the residents of this place.

Well, the above applies to everyone except Mensa, of course.

 

[Mensa]

Watch it!!

What powerful, lyrical, honest, open, and emotional depression antidotes have been offered here! As always, i find myself deeply impressed and quietly delighted by the insightful nature and overall intelligence of the residents of this place.

Well, the above applies to everyone except Mensa, of course.

My aim is constantly improving!

 

[T.H. Oughts]

When people are not afraid to talk about their sexual side, the chances are they will tell you if they enjoy a good cry or not.

To many people walk away from discovering their sexual awareness that awaits them because some person built them a brick wall way back when.

Just like to many people walk away from giving cheer to someone that is down because no one has done it for them.

If the world just relaxed into sexual pleasure of giving and receiving and gave a smile to the person sitting next to them, the world would be less stressful for sure