Depression Tips............add yours to the list.

Good Morning

Here are a few tips about Depression I thought might help some of our members, newbies and veterans.

1. Catch it as early as you can the longer you wait for proper treatment the worse it gets

2. Find away to effectively communicate with your doctor - if you are uncomfortable talking about something then write it down - my "journal" I would hand over at the beginning at the session he would read whatever I wrote since the previous one, we would discuss any trends or triggers then how we were going to deal it. Telling your doctor you had a bad month is not going to get you anywhere

3. Recognize any sort of patterns that seem to effect your mood. Every time I do whatever this happens so next time I am going to do this instead.

4. Find something that gives you joy no matter what it is and try to make sure you do it when ever possible - some people like to draw or paint or write or go for walks/hikes. With the war with depression its gets very easy to forget the good things

5. Don't do it alone. Males have this problem more than females  Find a close friend to confide in, utilize sites like this one, involve medical personnel. The last person a depressed person should be taking advice from is themselves due to the simple reason  depression clouds their vision

6. The second you can not convince yourself that your NOT a threat to yourself or others get to a hospital, call a hotline, or 911.

Please feel free to add your own tips.

Respectfully
Kitt

i have a certain song that i have designated as a sort of "reset switch": usuallly when I hear it, it'll relax me and remind me that whatever is going wrong is not the end of the world. Occassionally, on bad days, I've got that one song on loop on my MP3 player.
I also have a certain stuffed animal (there's no such thing as too old or too masculine for a stuffed animal) that I'll hold and cry to. Since she's a gift from my fiancee and is an animal I see representative as myself, combined with it being impossible for a stuffed animal to be judgmental or anything except loving and accepting, she makes a great shoulder (back, face, tail...) to cry on and sounding board.
Having someone to talk to that isn't as close to the situation as me is paramount. Thast's why I'll usually turn to my fiancee, his mother or these boards for help, advice and a listening ear, depending on how far removed from the situation I need the advisor to be.
Seeing the little things, the small happinesses that'll appear even under the darkest cloud.

Great threat Kitt! 

I have had depression for a long time and even knowing what my "triggers" are I still tend to isolate. 

I really have to push myself everyday first thing is the gym.  I have started to think of it as my time alone...even though I have people there I chat with everyday.  It is still my time.  Plus the exercise is a great destressor.

The other for me is my animals.  I have one cat Normandy and a Shih-Tzu named Sophia-Larue.  No matter how bad my day, or how upset I may be my two fur faces will not let me stay that way.  They kinda remind me that i'm not alone.

If i'm feeling down I go to a bookstore and browse around, sit in a comfy chair and read whatever I find.  I can stay there for hours and it helps not to feel so alone.  I also needlepoint which takes a lot of concentration so that is a good distraction.  I think any hobby or project that can occupy your mind and keep you from thinking too much is a good thing to do.

Get regular exercise... keep the blood flowing and help combat the tiredness

Music is an extremely powerful form of expression. It combines both words and sound to deliver a message. Certain songs that one hears on the radio can trigger specific memories in one's mind. There is no doubt, there is a fervent connection between music and our feelings.

Music  makes me feel good if I throw in a tune like "My Girl" or "Big Black Horse And A Cherry Tree"

Of course I get to sing along.

Kitt,
I love that song about the black horse and the Cherry tree. I will be thinking of it all day long now. Thanks...

Els,
My dogs are so special to me. I have always had dogs all of my life. And they have been such comfort. I hope that you have a wonderful day too.

Luv and hugs, Karen...

Can anyone tell me if they have tried Pristiq?
My doctor switched me off Effexor because of unbearable constipation, before that I gained 20 lbs in 2 months on Zoloft, before that constipation on Cymbalta.

I have been on Pristiq for 22 days and not feeling top notch yet...taking anxiety meds and sleeping alot. Also, seem to be constipated.

I feel like a test mouse...

Just wanted to add my 2 cents worth.  I found that jounaling on the PC very very helpful.  I was able to get things out that I know I would never have said to anyone. 

For some people, music can have the opposite effect.  I still have problems with it.  Until a few years ago, I was the biggest music fan my whole life, but now...only sometimes I can listen.

Gentle hugs

Diane