heva Posted January 3, 2009 Report Share Posted January 3, 2009 We all get a little blue this time of year its natural and clinically the bluest time of year.....and i knwo alot of us also suffer from depression too! So thought would see if other people have good tips for those who are not doing too good in the hope that when were all having bad days there will be someone to help pick the others up! Ive had depression in the past but it has come up again recently in a bigger way than ever and i will be honest im not coping with it at all....have struggled to get out alot of days recently and hate being out when i am...... I went to the health food shop today and had great chat with the lady who went through loads of stuff with me...... New things i learnt was that turkey is good for you as chemical in it produces serotonin in your body....and also having a high protien diet can help too,,,,, also turkey is cheaper than chicken so bonus also found this site really good recently http://bluepages.anu.edu.au/ easier said than done i know (as this is me who hasnt done exercise in agesssss) but iots the best way of producing serotonin and endorphins is exercise!!! so whats everyone else thoughts and tips!!!! of if your having a blue day then just come and say and know we understand..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickentikka Posted January 3, 2009 Report Share Posted January 3, 2009 This might sound silly but several years ago I was really down and one thing that cheered me up no end was feeding birds. Get a couple of feeders and put in fat balls and wild bird food, stick them in the garden somewhere you can see them and watch the birds. I still do it and have 'regulars' which hang around really close by while I go and put the food out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillyMalc Posted January 3, 2009 Report Share Posted January 3, 2009 Chocolate helps! Also I've heard that St Johns Wort helps, but I've not tried it yet as I'm hopeless remembering to take pills I've always got a couple of energy drinks in the house, to give myself a kick up the backside when I really slow down due to "can't be @rsed-ness", and they seem to help by getting at least my energy levels up, so that I start doing stuff which in turn will make me feel better about having at least been productive rather than watching all sorts of errands pile up - if that makes sense. Long walks with the dogs, preferably in remote places, help me no end - it will def be the exercise, but when I'm proper down the only exercise I will get at least some kind of enjoyment out of is walking. I've enjoyed quite a few years of being a gym rat though, and found that regular exercise was good at keeping depression at bay. Once it had crept in though, I found that gym exercise didn't do much for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReikiAnge Posted January 3, 2009 Report Share Posted January 3, 2009 I have tried St Johns Wort before - and did find it helped - but this time I have been taking Serotone 5HTP, which I buy from Higher Nature: http://www.highernature.co.uk/ShowProductF...uctFamilyID=224 It works out at just over £9 for 30 of the 100mg ones, which lasts a month. Obviously if you are looking at trying it, check out any potential side effects, problems with meds you are taking etc. You shouldn't take it while pregnant and you shouldn't drink while taking them either - an occasional glass is ok if you space it out enough but not regular drinking I gather. I do agree that getting out into the countryside for a good dog walk is fantastic "therapy" though, I know it always helps me, especially if it's a lovely sunny day. to anyone suffering. I think I find January gets me looking forward to Spring, so that's something positive. Billy, I agree, chocolate helps! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billydog Posted January 3, 2009 Report Share Posted January 3, 2009 to everyone suffering. It's sadly very common as I know only too well. I found that drugs were the only thing which helped me but then I was quite bad - I only got up cos the dogs needed to go out for a wee. I'm much better now and on a low dose as I struggle without anything. I have heard St Johns wort is good - also on the radio a few moments ago someone said honey was good for depression. Feeding the birds sounds a really good idea - I must get my bird feeders out again. Chocolate does help but not if you eat so much you go up a size If you are suffering, it does get better. Get help from anyone you can including docs. Don't feel silly or embarrassed. If docs not sympathetic try another - I was lucky and saw a great doc but have subsequently seen less helpful docs who if I'd seen them first goodness knows where I'd be now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lazydaisy Posted January 3, 2009 Report Share Posted January 3, 2009 This thread is a great idea. I am feeling really fed up too. I suffer from depression, but feel extra low at the moment. Rescue remedy was suggested to me on RMF so I am going to give that a try. Also I am going to try not to think of everything I have to do in a huge lump, but to take one thing at a time. Hope everyone feels brighter soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirtychicken Posted January 3, 2009 Report Share Posted January 3, 2009 (edited) I found that I struggled more when I tried to fight what my body was telling me that it needed to do. When I eventually gave in and let myself do what I felt that I needed to do, I started to heal. That usually involved allowing myself to withdraw from stuff for a while, but I got worse if I tried to force myself to socialise or communicate when I really couldn't cope with it. This online cognitive behaviour course was recommended by my doctor and helped as well: Mood Gym Edited January 3, 2009 by dirtychicken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rudi Posted January 3, 2009 Report Share Posted January 3, 2009 This might sound silly but several years ago I was really down and one thing that cheered me up no end was feeding birds. Get a couple of feeders and put in fat balls and wild bird food, stick them in the garden somewhere you can see them and watch the birds. I still do it and have 'regulars' which hang around really close by while I go and put the food out Not silly in the slightest I find great pleasure in feeding the birds in my garden and spend ages watching them. The cheeky sparrow family are out there at the moment I've been taking St. John's Wort - it's interesting to hear people say it works as I was wondering if it did. I've not been taking it long and this will probably sound daft, but how do you know if it's working? After years of umming and ahhing I finally went and saw a counsellor about a month ago and she said that I seemed depressed which actually surprised me as I hadn't really seen myself like that. She suggested I go to the GP, which I must admit I haven't done, they're so offhand it seems pointless. So I got some St. John's Wort - I wondered if I'd recognise it if the SJW does work Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mags Posted January 3, 2009 Report Share Posted January 3, 2009 I find talking about it really helps. Luckily my OH is very understanding although he does worry about me being 'sad'. I keep explaining to him that I'm not sad or unhappy but I can never explain it. Thanks to Lazydaisy I can now say that 'someone pulled my plug out' because that really does sum up how I feel. I could feel it brewing all over Christmas and finally on NYE, I let go. I had a good cry and a good chat with OH and things are looking brighter. My ex was never supportive about it. He would be highly embarassed if I told anyone I was suffering with depression. So find someone who will understand (or at least try to understand) and get it out in the open. It's nothing to be ashamed of. I'd say even just posting on this thread will help a lot of people as they are 'talking' to people who understand. for all Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReikiAnge Posted January 3, 2009 Report Share Posted January 3, 2009 I've been taking St. John's Wort - it's interesting to hear people say it works as I was wondering if it did. I've not been taking it long and this will probably sound daft, but how do you know if it's working? I took it some years ago now for a while. I don't think I knew for sure it was working until I stopped taking it, thinking I was doing fine and soon after realised I wasn't. It took me a while to connect that I was feeling worse because I had stopped taking the SJW, but I'm sure that was the reason. I'm not sure how long SJW is meant to take to "kick in", it's around 4-6 weeks for 5HTP I think, but hopefully you will notice it's helping I know they used to say that SJW was for mild depression only but I believe there is research recently released which indicates it may help more severe depression. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
collies r best Posted January 3, 2009 Report Share Posted January 3, 2009 This might seem like an obvious one but dont drink alcohol at all when depressed. When i get depressed and have a drink it pulls me down even more and makes me cry a lot.Also take things one step at a time, thinking only of what you need to do /achieve to get through one day, it piles on the pressure if you think too far ahead.I know you probably know thisas they are so obvious but it really does help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heva Posted January 3, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2009 i have been taking SJW for about 8 months now and think its great........altho think i have dropped down even more so it doesnt quite do the job anymore but certianly takes the edge off and would to think what i would be like not on it! I also take female esscence which is flower remedy. i think that has helped with my hormonal side of it and balanced that but i think im going to be back at the doc again soon!!!! would love to feed the bird as i used to but we are on top floor and i fed them on the roof below......then the mice came and took up home...... so had to stop now!!!! and sadly i cant do long walks incountry side as have to usea crutch everywhere i walk at the mo so gentle short strolls in park!!! will look into nthe one you mentioned ange Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brenda Posted January 3, 2009 Report Share Posted January 3, 2009 I'm feeling a bit low at the moment. My son went back to uni today, daughter goes back next Saturday..... There is so much build up to Christmas and then it is all over so quickly. I have just bought myself some spring potted plants and a bunch of daffodils, looking forward to Spring and lighter evenings. to all who are feeling horrible at the moment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackmagic Posted January 3, 2009 Report Share Posted January 3, 2009 would love to feed the bird as i used to but we are on top floor and i fed them on the roof below......then the mice came and took up home...... so had to stop now!!!! k!!! You get window bird feeders that stick on to the window with suckers. Maybe you could use those. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotslass Posted January 3, 2009 Report Share Posted January 3, 2009 For me, at my worst, exercise doesn't work, because I don't have the energy to do anything much. However, if I don't force myself over the door, I get agoraphobic and that doesn't help. I find I have to force myself to go out, even just round the block, force myself to speak to people, force myself to eat decent food...or I just sink further into a black hole. I've finally got myself some therapy - when I'm depressed, I can't even cry (in fact, I find it hard to cry generally because of my upbringing, I think) but when I talk to a professional, as opposed to a friend, I find I want to cry and cry. The cynical part of me thinks that someone is making easy money out of my endless tears, mind you ....but it does seem to help me focus..all that talking, letting things out, hearing myself say what I really feel about things, and crying. I used to have flashbacks about my parents' horrible last illnesses, my miscarriage, etc, but I can honestly say I think I'm dealing with them now. I never grieved properly for those losses, I don't think, but I'm allowing myself to make a kind of peace with each in turn. Alcohol is, sadly, a big no-no for me now. It just makes my head fuzzy and I can't shake it off the next day. It is a depressant, anyway, isn't it? I do try to tell people now, though it's hard to own up to. Most people, including many GPs, are very uncomfortable around it. Mine referred me to what she called "an excellent service" which consisted of ONE 30 min face-to-face session at a centre far from where I live, when I was in no state to go anywhere by myself. I gave up and bought myself some private psychotherapy, but it's outrageous that it isn't freely available for everyone. Walking on the beach, music and laughter help me, but I can only manage those when I'm not rock-bottom. It must be hard for the partner of a depressed person - my OH is a strong supportive guy, but he's had to come to terms with not being able to "fix" me, I suppose. I think I'd find that very hard if the situation were reversed. I've realised recently that my ex-husband actually didn't mind my depression - it made me lean heavily on him, which he needed, and it kept me close to home. I now feel free to take whatever measures I need to get better, knowing my man is secure enough to get on with his life without feeling responsible for every aspect of mine. to everyone who feels unable to cope at the moment; you will get better, spring will come, and life will be good again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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