Tasks to occupy the mind.

[puddycat]

Despite having been a happy little soul for most of my life I have just been diagnosed with depression. Basically, I'm always sad and often very weepy. I can't concentrate, lack motivation and have problems sleeping. I feel I've let people down, am being selfish and incredily pathetic as I have no real reason to feel like this.
I know people will think I should just snap out of it but I'm sorry, I can't.
I need something to do to keep my mind occupied that doesn't need too much concentration - any suggestions?

TIA, Pud x

[x sparkle x]

hey puddycat, sorry to hear you're not too good. don't apologise for not being able to snap out of it, depression does take hold of you (my mum was diagnosed with it last year so i kind of know what it's like). you need something to take your mind away from real life, i find reading a book or magazine gets you involved in another world so to speak. when im having a hard time thats what i find helps. xx

[~Wingnut~]

Hi puddycat
Same thing happened here and mine developed into anxiety which kind of goes hand in hand, because I took so long to ask for help, so well done for taking the first step.
I took up numourous hobbys like beading, silk painting & card making. I found this helped enormously. I started by selling things on e-bay and with the money I made I would buy the silk painting, beading etc. kits (you can pick up some real bargains this way!). This kept my mind really occupied and plus it gave me a boost when I sold or won an item and then had something to look forward to in the post!!
Good luck with it all and please don't apoligise for having depression, you didn't ask for it or do anything to deserve it, just look forward to the future :o)

[~owzat~]

Hey Pud,

You've come to the right place, cos there is a lot of very sympathetic peeps on here. Any that give a twisted view, just ignore them, like you would outside of cyber. There will be some who have first hand experience of depression, and will give you sound advice. As sparkle has said reading can transport you away from your probs.
Nothing too heavy, but lighthearted will put a smile on your face. Even if it means watching a kiddie programme. Having said that, some of the rubbish on adult viewing is laughable! Put on a CD of your favourite group, and dance away your blues.

Anyhow, you have made the first move to recovery, by talking about it.

take care
owzat ☺ ☺ ☺

[crete]

you are being too hard on yourself , what you need is time to get better stop putting yourself under pressure to do anything, my suggestion at the moment is to write down everyday at least once how you are actually feeling,forget the words i must or i should and no you are not pathetic just going through a bad time at the moment which will gwt better given time , take care

[mccfluff]

hi Pud, how about joining a gym or swimming club, exercise is supposed to give you a boost, take care x

[puddycat]

Thanks everyone, you're all great and I'm glad I asked.

You've also got me crying all over my keyboard again (but that's no great surprise!)
xx

[whiffey]

Are you on medication ? If not you should consider it, it really helps.

If you don't want to go for a full-blown anti-depressant, try St.John's Wort, freely available (e.g. ASDA) until the EU maybe ban it ! It is very good for mild to moderate depression and won't cost you an arm and a leg.

Good Luck - anybody who has ever suffered depression (as opposed to unhappiness) will know where you are at. It is not possible to 'pull yourself together' and anybody who tells you to hasn't a clue.

[puddycat]

Thanks Whiffey.
I'm not on medication, have only just been diagnosed and my doctor won't give medication the first time she sees you. Going back on Monday so until then I'm using Bach Rescue Remedies.
The only thing that concerns me is that the medication might be addictive - I don't really want to become dependant on it. Any advice?

[whiffey]

puddycat - talking only from experience - if you go on to something like Prozac, expect to be on it for quite a while. Also they take anything up to 3 weeks to kick in. Hopefully you won't need to.

St.John's Wort you can stop/start freely - I do anyway. Read the packet first obviously, you shouldn't mix it with other treatments.

Watch as much Blackadder and Fawlty Towers as possible !

[crete]

it is a misconception that anti depressants are addictive they can be a valuable aid in the treatment of depression , sunshine also helps but as i said before stop feeling guilty you have a common illness that we in society are reluctant to discuss openly.

[PinkFizz]

Im sorry to hear that you aren't feeling too good.I find when I am down then the good old guys on here always lift my spirits. I know that you are more than just down and have depression,but chatting on here really could help you.

Also why not try jigsaws,light reading,knitting,sewing,(not sure if you are male or female!)

[mnko]

medication can be adictive, i suffered with depression when i was 20 due to events that happened when i was a child. it lasted 3 and a half years during that time i was on many different anti-depressants, the one i found worked was depiathon(excuse spellin) it had an added bonus of helping me sleep. i was seeing a councellor in that time. i finally got back to some sort of normallity and did'nt look back .....until the birth of my daughter i felt a failure and couldnt snap out of it. i thought i could handle it but had 2 admit to my wife that i was again depressed. i'm now on cymbalta and no councelling( in ireland they dont care) (my opinion) i'm taking one day at a time, i'm trying to set up a web business to occupy myself and earn some money at the same time. maybe you could do something similer? if you need to talk i will listen. talking does help. take care
mnko(glyn)

[~Wingnut~]

Hi again Puddycat! Following on from Whiffeys post about watching Blackadder & Fawlty Towers, definatly a good idea having something that lifts you away from your thoughts and feelings. It isn't necessarily through these shows (tho they are good ones Whiffey;o)) I find that whenever I have thoughts and feelings I just can't escape from watching Friends really helps, why this show I don't know as I didn't really watch it first time round when it was popular. I have watched all the episodes so many damn times I know them all word for word! I just seem to get this feeling wash over me like a comfort feeling.
I hope my waffle above helped in some way lol
Pink's right too coming on here is a definate mood lifter, hope you become a regular :o)

[Robinia]

Yes, there are lots of us who battle with it as you see. For me my garden is a huge tonic.... looks out at the wind & dark clouds... erm, well on a good sunny day it is!
If that's not your thing, just getting out to a park, or even the shops can help, although I know when you feel really bad that going out is the last thing you want to do. Do you have a friend to go with for an hour or so?
Try & set yourself short term goals - look at the day in small chunks instead of seeing it as another long one to drag yourself through. Your favourite film or music, however cheesey it might be can be something that doesn't need too much concentration.
Most of all, try not to neglect yourself. Make yourself get up early, & have a shower/bath, put on nice clothes & make-up if you wear it...do your hair & nails. And eat as well as possible - difficult if you cook for yourself & you can't be bothered. Buy easy to prepare food but even a microwave ready-meal is better than nothing.

You will feel better, even though it may take time. Treat yourself well & please don't feel guilty. xx

[whiffey]

mnko, not really correcting you, it's Dothiepin (Prothiaden) - and don't I know it !!

puddycat, hopefully your GP is not prescribing urgently because your depression is not as severe as some, where it can be almost a clinical emergency.

And Eddie Izzard if you are into that sort of manic surreal genius !

The flood, Noah has built his ark......

"Two ducks?"

The ducks are going, "We're not coming."

"There's going to be
an enormous f***-off flood."

"So?

"What's the big problem?"

(from Glorious, inspired!)

[KittyGlitter]

I'm currently reading this book:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1841191256/ sr=1-4/qid=1154600777/ref=sr_1_4/026-2332686-9 963644?ie=UTF8&s=books

It seems to speak a lot of sense. Regards things you can do - I think it helps to engage with other people. Write down a list of all your interests (even if you might not be interested in them at the moment) and then try to follow it up. So if you enjoy art, you could do an evening class. Maybe join a class at a leisure centre - its very useful to do aerobic exercise to boost seratonin. You may not feel like doing these activities but tell yourself that is the drepression talking, not 'you' and you have nothing to lose by trying. If anyone tells you to 'snap' out of it, well that is like telling someone with a broken leg to walk properly. You're already making progress by asking for some help on here! xx

[elpea]

hi Pud... you're not being pathetic or selfish. You may be convinced you are, but you're not. It's how you're feeling, and sometimes that's too intense to deal with unless you make some provisions, like plan to do things, eat some good food, try and stay in touch with your friends, etc. I really like cycling, and also gardening and I find they really help as they're about the only 2 activities I have I can focus on while zoning out at the same time... unfortunately I can't really read books as I'm so distractible (although I'd love to, and am accumulating a pile of them to read when I do get some brain space back) - and often I find that with music too, even though music is my main passion, quite often I find I am too critical or negative to find something I actually can handle listening to. Different things work at different times, so try out a few angles to see what suits you. You'll know you've found something suitable when you've been doing it for a wee while, then look at the time and realise you've been lost in something for hours, and haven't even thought about it.

[puddycat]

Great suggestions.

Jigsaws - could do with someone coming round to sort out the edge pieces (the one job I hate more than housework!) but will defo give it a go.
Gardening - yes, mine does need work.
Reading - have gone through most of the easy reads I own but have just ordered a load on-line.

Will give pretty much all of them a go and report back. As for Eddie Izzard, what can I say - definitely inspired. Love bird in an aeroplane, Pavlov's cats, star trek skit...

Thanks again xxx

[puddycat]

Gone a bit crazy with stars but you've all been great and don't want any of you feeling left out!

By the way - Female (Fay).

[whiffey]

Pavlov�s Cat Results � Day One � rang bell� cat f****d off. Damn� Day Two � rang bell, cat went and answered dog. Day Three � rang bell, cat said he�d eaten earlier. Day Four � went to ring bell on day four, but cat had stolen batteries. Final day � Day Five � went to ring bell with new batteries, but cat put his paw on bell, so it only made a �thunk!� noise. Then cat rang his own bell! I ate food��