Keeping Busy and Feeling Happy

I hope you guys are having a good Saturday. I decided to get into crafting and use some of my creativity toward something good. Going to the craft store today, the dog park and hanging out with friends later. Keeping busy and getting out (in addition to counseling) seems to help with my emotions and keeps my depression at bay. Staying positive 🙂

[Hidden]

I like your positive strategy. It's a great Saturday. Prayers your way.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thank you 🙏

[knittingninja]

I also find that getting out of the house and seeing friends sets me up for a good day. Enjoy!

[Sarah1111111]

Sounds like a great Saturday. I love crafting it helps me with anxiety and depression.

[Melina9 in reply to Sarah1111111]

What kind of crafting do you do? I’m looking for ideas. I draw and use pastels. I’m very depressed. No friends and never get out of the house. Just looking for ideas to help me.

[Sarah1111111 in reply to Melina9]

I make cards and crochet, tried coloring but wasn’t really my thing although sometimes I will paint the pictures

[Melina9 in reply to Sarah1111111]

Thanks for replying I want to paint, and need to go and get painting supplies. I tried crocheting once and couldn’t get the hang of it. Means a lot that you replied, this is the first time I posted on a forum here, and someone actually replied. I was about to give up. Grateful.

[Sarah1111111 in reply to Melina9]

Enjoy your painting. A friend taught me to crochet when I was in the hospital and I got a bit obsessed with it! Still not that proficient but like making things as it’s calming and am working my way through yoitube tutorials. Downside is I overbought wool so now have enough to keep me going for about the next 10 years!!

[Melina9 in reply to Sarah1111111]

Sounds like you are making progress! Maybe I’ll give it a try m. Thank you!

[Reallife72 in reply to Melina9]

Me too Melina. It’s hard to find new friends when you have anxiety and depression. However, when I do have a friend to invite me to something, I usually turn them down because I never feel like it

[Melina9 in reply to Reallife72]

I do the same thing most of the time my Borderline Personality Disorder severe mania mood swings kick in and I can’t get my DBT skills together to go out. This is because I don’t have enough DBT under my belt. Then as you mentioned, anxiety or depression may kick in and I never go out. This happens with family functions too. Then the guilt and shame. I feel trapped. By the way, means a lot that you replied, this is the first time I posted on a forum here, and you are the second to reply. I was about to give up. Grateful.

[Dolphin14 in reply to Melina9]

Melina

I have the same issues with going out. I just get anxious. I'm working on skills also. For me the coping skills take awhile to learn and then they have to stay with me. That's my problem, hanging on to the changed behavior.

[Melina9 in reply to Dolphin14]

My DBT skills are taking forever to learn, which is normal. Unfortunately my Intensive Outpatient Treatment Program for personality disorders was prematurely interrupted. Therefore, so was my DBT training. I’m feeling very lost. My former tool box of coping skills no longer work. I’m feel like I’m falling without a net and I’m scared to death.

[Dolphin14 in reply to Melina9]

We gotta just keep working it. That's all we can do. Hang on to the skills and apply then the best we can. Some situations are easier to remember what we learned, don't you think. Like in real stressful times I just revert right back to old behaviors.

[Melina9 in reply to Dolphin14]

I’m experiencing manic mood behaviors now, and I’ve never experienced them before. It’s frightening, unpredictable and a nightmare. The only thing that can help me is DBT. I can go back to my program at the hospital in November, and I’m hoping time flies.

[Melina9 in reply to Reallife72]

I really relate. It’s extremely difficult for me to go anywhere, let alone commit to anything, and that hurts me. I pretty much always turn people down. Now I have one friend, and I turn her down too. Luckily, she understands me; she isn’t always there for me, but I don't blame her for that. . My family just blames me for everything and thinks my BPD is an easy fix.

[Melina9]

This is awesome. I want to do the same pertaining to friends, but I don’t have any friends, which makes me more sad and depressed. What kind of crafting are you into? I draw.

[Hidden]

I feel you there. I have one good friend and it took me a long time to find someone I could connect with. I hope you find that person as well—sometimes it just takes one! I've been getting really into changing my space to make it more positive and match my personality so I craft things like lampshades, curtains, fabric art (things I learned how to make via YouTube) for my home. I like it a lot. It's cool to see your space change/improve. It's great that you're an artist. There's probably a lot you can do to craft your art into decor for your space :o)

[Melina9 in reply to Hidden]

I’m just learning how to use this site, and seeing your reply for the first time. Thank you for all your ideas on crafting! I always spend my time reading and organizing the house. Thing is, I’m very psychologically minded and most of my attention is focused on that petaling to reading. It’s blessing and curse. I do draw, use pastels and color. However I want to get into sort of other art and crafting. It seems friends are impossible to make. Also, this is the first time in my life that I don't have a date/relationship and I blame it all on me. I definitely need coping skills.

[Reallife72]

Great post Nyx. It slightly motivates me to do something creative. I have been trying to figure out a hobby or anything really to keep my mind busy and off of worrying.