Going through a depressive phase.

[Joeyman]

Hello all. Hope you guys are doing well. I have been really depressed since yesterday. Today I was close to losing my temper. Life just seems pointless to me. Everywhere I look I see suffering in some form or the other. What's the point seriously?

[guynfl2chat]

I think its been a tough time for everyone..I feel.my anxiety is higher and a side of depression is kicking in. I am considering a antidepressant for some short term relief. I have taken them for less than a year in the past and had some luck.

[Hb2003]

Iim so sorry your feeling this way I have felt that at some points in my life . i think to myself what’s the point of living if the word is so hateful

[Amyhogs]

Few months ago I was going through a really tough time and your wise words was a great comfort to me. It’s ok to feel like this occasionally. Ride it out things will look up at some point 🙂

[Joeyman in reply to Amyhogs]

Thank you Amy.

[rosyG]

Hang on in there. You’ll find something comes along and lifts your spirits. Walk and look at flowers and say hello to people you meet. Small things make a difference. I joined this forum recently and felt a lot better after people here responded. I rang a neighbour and had a cup of tea with her this morning and we swapped stories of worries and some past events and felt much better! Small steps.

[Joeyman in reply to rosyG]

Thank you Rosy.

[DodgeDhanda]

Hi Joeyman.

I have a trick well it's not really a trick. Whenever I realise that the dark clouds have formed above me & I'm depressed I focus on the moments my 2 daughters were born & that never fails to lift the darkness for me & then I work on what I need to do to get rid of the rest of the negativity & sometimes it's only after I've gotten angry do I realise that the dark snuck in quietly. On another side all emotions need to be accepted & treated equally so don't hate the anger but accept it as its all part of you & then I do something chill like listen to an audio book or read a book or watch a favourite movie. It's a working progress & I believe it will always be one too. Well if I don't look after me who else will bother brother.

[Joeyman in reply to DodgeDhanda]

Thank you brother.

[lovetodance2018]

Thank you for sharing. I am sorry you are struggling. Have you seen a doctor for depression? I have been there where life looked so bleak and I didn't feel like I could cope. I learned that my thoughts were due to my depression and with the right help - counseling, coping techniques, and medication you can feel better. The best technique I could recommend is becoming aware of what you are thinking and how to redirect it to something positive and uplifting. What you think is what you believe about yourself, so speaking things like I matter, I am important, I have value instead of the negative things that we stay to ourselves. Here are three things to help - let go of the past, live in the moment, and love yourself - God made us each unique and He has a purpose and plan for each of our lives. I will be praying for you. Hugs and God Bless

[Joeyman in reply to lovetodance2018]

Thank you for the kind words friend. Yes, I am seeing a doctor and am on medication.

[lovetodance2018 in reply to Joeyman]

How are you doing? I have been praying for you. Hugs

[Joeyman in reply to lovetodance2018]

Hi there friend, I am doing much better, thank you. Your prayers are working for me and I owe you big time. I have also been finding inspiration from Catholic priests and nuns who lead minimalist life styles; they seem to find so much mental peace. I hope you are doing well.

[lovetodance2018 in reply to Joeyman]

Focusing on God as my center does give me peace. I do a lot of praying and giving my worries to God. I try not to focus on the things that bother me and know that God already has them worked out. I will continue to pray you feel well. This resource (bit.ly/2Ta8VEy) is really helpful - The Battlefield of the Mind - Hugs

[Lazy_dog_lover]

Joeyman, I am sorry to hear you are going through this. Fortunately, many of us have been there, too, and we are here to support you. The filter that you see the world through is darkened by depression. Your goal has to be, what is your point. Much of what we see in the news, on social media, or on the street corner is completely out of our circle of control. Focus in what IS in your control, then branch out to something local. It could be volunteering at a soup kitchen or walking dogs at an animal shelter. Those little acts of kindness build up. They make someone else a little stronger and feel a little lighter. That part is contagious and you will feel it too.

[Joeyman in reply to Lazy_dog_lover]

Thank you for your kind words.

[Lazy_dog_lover in reply to Joeyman]

Do you do a gratitude and “wins” journal?

[Joeyman in reply to Lazy_dog_lover]

No, I haven't done.

[Lazy_dog_lover in reply to Joeyman]

Try this. Within about 30 minutes of bed time, write down 1-3 things you are grateful for and 1-3 things that were wins for the day. Big or small, it all counts. There is some science behind it all. It changes your thoughts to positive things right before sleep.

[Joeyman in reply to Lazy_dog_lover]

I will start doing that today.

[Lazy_dog_lover in reply to Joeyman]

Great. Be authentic. Don’t force it. Good luck.

[EamesChair]

I feel this way a lot. I wish I could just fast forward and die peacefully in bed without having to go through the next 40 years. I can’t kill myself, it would crush my husband and he needs me. But I derive little pleasure from life.

[Joeyman in reply to EamesChair]

Hello EamesChair, I am sorry for your suffering. I too feel overwhelmed about leading the rest of my life having to deal with so much suffering. There are moments when I have thoughts about ending my life but I think about the pain that I would bring to my family. Then comes the time when I look into our dog's eyes and I see love in them. When I go to feed our ducks, they quack at me as if they are saying, " Hey human, we've missed you!" When I approach my hens, some of them crouch down so that I can pet them and I feel it's their way of telling me they love me. When I sit down with my family for meals, I realise how lucky I am to have a loving family. I can see, hear, smell, touch and speak, all of which I forget is a privilege that the universe granted me. At night time, I look at the stars and wonder at how far away they must be and I get fascinated thinking about things that exist there. Somewhere inside my head I have stored the words said by Albus Dumbledore to Harry Potter which goes something like "Love is the greatest gift". The first time I read it, it didn't strike me that much but over the course of my life I have realised the gravity of those words. I feel love is a force that transcends space and time, something that connects all of us. Since I started seeing a doctor and taking medication, the moments when I feel low have considerably reduced. It was during one of those low moments that I wrote the above post. I feel much happier now. Dear friend, if you are not seeing a doctor, please do and tell them about your feelings. They can help a lot and I am speaking from my personal experience. In addition, you can make some lifestyle changes. I feel my mood improves after doing some exercise. Try to spend time in nature. I have always found relief and mental peace when I spend time with nature. Also please talk to your husband about your feelings. Spend time with him and you will feel much, much better. Watch films and tv shows even if you don't feel like it. Read children's stories; it makes me so much happier when I read them. Listen to comedy podcasts; there's one called Friday Night Comedy by BBC Radio 4 that I listen to when I feel like I need a lift. Whenever you feel like you want to talk to someone about your feelings, you can post on this website and people will respond. Remember that there are people like me who are going through low moments in life too. YOU ARE NOT ALONE. We are all here together in this universe.

[EamesChair]

Thank you for this thoughtful response, I really appreciate it