We want your depression tips and stories

We want your depression tips and stories

Hi everyone

We want to write a feature on the site that talks about the small things people can do to help them with their depression.

We're not talking about taking tablets, but the small goals you might set yourself or things you tell yourself to help you get out of bed in the morning or make the journey into work.

They can be the silliest or most insignificant things, it doesn't matter. We want to help other people and show that there's more you can do than the regular tips experts give.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions

Rob, Health Editor

Re: We want your depression tips and stories

I tend to find a few minutes with my daughters gives me a lift in the morning. One of them will say or do something funny and it makes all the difference - even if I'm in the blackest mood

You had me at 'hello!'

Re: We want your depression tips and stories

If I'm not feeling too chipper, there are 5 things that work for me!

1)  A black mood can make me feel lazy. But if I wake up feeling awful the first thing I do is put on my makeup, even if no-one is going to see me that day. It's doing something for myself, good for self-confidence and kickstarting my day in a good way.

2) Sometimes something as simple as being with friends can cheer me up on a low day. Then again, sometimes what I really need is time to myself. If that's the case I just let my boyfriend know it's nothing to do with him, I just need a nice hot bath to myself and a bit of a read in bed, and I feel much better!

3) Taking the dog for a walk. If it's cold, wet or dark, it's a pain - but once I'm doing it I love it, it's very stress-relieving and with a dog as stupid as mine I always get some entertainment out of it!

4) Cooking. Cooking from scratch is always relaxing and fun, and you get a tasty benefit at the end of it!

5) Doing stuff in the garden. I like weeding and pruning or buying growing coriander from the supermarket then separating it into bigger pots to make it grow bigger. Being outside in the garden and actually doing something for a few minutes always helps me relieve my stress!

Mind you, I'm sorry Rob (hello by the way, nice to see the Goodtoknow peeps on here!) cause I don't think I answered your question. I guess helping deal with stress is not quite the same thing as coping with depression???

Re: We want your depression tips and stories

I was diagnosed with post natal depression after my youngest was born 5 years ago and I suffered from it for about a year. Antidepressants really helped but for me I turned a corner in just admitting that I had depression.

There's a real stigma with mental illness. It's a bit like the difference between people who are overweight and those who are underweight. The underweight people get treated like they are very ill and need help but overweight people tend to get "labelled" lazy and other horrible things which I won't repeat. I think a lot of people see stress and depression as "weaknesses" when they are true illnesses.

I used to talk to friends and family about the causes of my depression and I started asking for as much help with the kids as I could, whereas before I used to try to do everything myself.

It really helped me anyway.

Don't sweat the small stuff. It will make you stinky.

Re: We want your depression tips and stories

 Nina, that sounds like the most simple thing, but I bet it took a lot of strength.

Asking people for help is really important, especially because many people either don't realise what you're going through or don't understand and don't know how to help. 

Hope you're doing better now

You had me at 'hello!'

Re: We want your depression tips and stories

Hi Jaqb

I don't know about strength but I am one of those people that find it hard to say I won't be able to cope with something! Deep down, I honestly believe that no one can do a job as well as me and that's where my problems started really.

My youngest is now 5 so the depression is far behind me, but I'll never forget that feeling of being like Eeyore, with a cloud constantly hanging over you and following you around. My sympathies go to anyone who suffers from it.

Don't sweat the small stuff. It will make you stinky.

Re: We want your depression tips and stories

Hi. I know it might seem a bit silly, but when it's too difficult to get yourself up, I find that having a little sleep can sometimes do the world of good. It's like you get a chance to start the (somewhat shorter) day all over again. I know it sounds a bit bizarre, but it does work for me.