The best way to handle anxiety and depression is to do the opposite of what you feel like doing.

[Jeff1943]

You probably feel like doing nothing. Staying in bed all day or curled up on a couch just letting time drift by.But it's the worst thing you can do. It doesn't make you feel any better.

Instead get yourself up and occupy yourself with something. Almost anything will do but preferably outside. Dig or hoe your garden if you're lucky enough to have one. Walk down to the shops and treat yourself to something really nice for dinner. Take a bike ride or go work out at the gym. Send an email or two to people you've been neglecting for a while. Or address some minor household chore you've been putting off for ages.

Anything but lying around doing nothing.

I'm not suggesting for a minute this is a cure for anxiety or depression. But it will help get you through the day and leave you feeling a lot better at the end of it rather than simply doing nothing.

Occupation is always good therapy.

[Vonus5591]

Love it. I usually sleep but went to the shops with mum and had nice fruits mix and brought containers

[anonleo]

I’m getting up and cleaning my daughter’s room…. Thanks for this!

[Sugaree]

you are absolutely right. I had a few days in a row feeling depressed, I felt like I was walking in mud. My husband talked me into a swim, it was like the light came back, and it was a beautiful sunny day. Sometimes it creeps back and I fight the urge to curl up somewhere and be motionless. You have to seek healthy distractions like you said. I like to do puzzles on my ipad. I have alot depression with my chronic pain and I already have mdd. It’s not always going to work but be persistent. Hope all have a happy day, with peace and joy.

[Tracey0101]

Absolutely true I suddenly realised this true in January this year and I do my best not to do the opposite what my head wants sometimes we don't have a choice but go out and I think of people who have to get up no matter how they feel they may have children to take care of or go to work and appointments and meetings and shopping and cleaning and many other things to do that they have not got time to sleep they have to cook to feed the family and they haven't got enough time to even see their friends or go out to treats as their many priorities is high. So we need to think about the opposite from what we are feeling and do the things that are the opposite and we will achieve much greater things than thinking about how we feel but think on what we have to be done not on things that how they make us feel and don't do them as we will continue to not do anything if we continue to avoid them as they make us feel that we can't do them when we believe we don't feel like it therefore we will not be able to do them so we will just avoid them and go by our feelings but if we do them despite of how we feel we can improve because we are still doing them despite of how difficult things are but doing them anyway np matter how difficult they are but still doing our best to improve the way we deal with these dig things but not giving up but keep going forward and becoming stronger than we were because we are still living life with the difficulties even though we are struggling with each difficulties but everyone on earth is struggling in someway but still have to keep going doing what they have to do whatever they are struggling with.

[Uglyskinmonkey]

you are right- thank you for posting

[Pet_Collector]

I absolutely love this reminder. There will be weeks I do great with this and then bam something triggers me and I struggle for days again getting momentum back.

[CalmSeeker1]

I do focus on opposite action as well. Sometimes it is easier than others. One thing I've started doing is writing down 3 good things I've done each day. Even if it's small. Sometimes there are many things on this list. Helps me feel accomplished and reminds me that I can do hard things even when I feel awful.

[Agora1]

Thanks Jeff for the good advice. My "to do" list is ready

and waiting. Happy Sunday xx

[Isinatra]

Move the legs and the mind will follow…..something I learned in AA many years ago.