How do you fight depression?

Background: Finances are hard right now and every payday is a struggle. I refuse to live like this forever and that is why i'm getting my bachelor's degree. It just feels mentally that this is never-ending struggle.

Boots--our cat of 10 years. Was sick for 1 1/2 days. Next day he was gone--as in missing. His is a home boy and never leaves more than a few hours. He definitely does not miss multiple feeding times. We have searched and searched our house and neighbors with no luck. As soon as I realized the next morning he was gone, I felt in my heart that he went off to die. I have no idea what in the hell would take a cat so very fast like that but this is what we think.
He was a good cat. He was the calmest cat I have ever seen, even as a kitten. He was living on the streets and starving. He was so skinny when he first came here. He was a cutie too with dark grey fur and four white boots. RIP Boots.

Years ago, I had a bad reaction to a product I used for 2 1/2 years. Every since then, I get hit with depression every once in a while.

I know what works for me. These include: hard physical labor, sunshine, if it is a light case-music.
Do you guys have things that you do if you get depressed? I would love more ideas.

Sorry to hear about Boots. We have two dogs here. Many of our previous dogs were strays or pound-puppies. When one of our dogs died or had to be put down, the other dogs knew it and grieved.

I also deal with occasional depression. I've tried various medications, with so-so effects. Sometimes distraction works, or music, or cleaning. Sometimes I just need to curl up and sleep to feel better.

Good exercise, whisky, pie and Pig Destroyer. Possibly ice cream. Chronic insomnia. That's what I do. Though it doesn't really work.

So sorry about your cat, you were so kind to take Boots in and you shared 10 happy years.

When I feel my depression is getting bad I settle down with my card making and get lost in my crafting for a while, or I tidy up any crafting mess I left behind the last time!

Sometimes, I just need to let go and really cry, it's like a huge emotional release. This freaked my partner out totally when we first got together, he wasn't used to the sudden rush of emotions. I explained that handing me a tissue and giving me a cuddle was all that was required of him, and he's far better with that now.

If all else fails I clean, move furniture around, and of course I end up with a tidy house which cheers me up anyway!

All the very best, add me as a friend if you would like a MFPal in Scotland!

bump as well

I have suffered from Anxiety and depression for the past few years. I literally woke up one day, had an anxiety attack at work for the first time in my life and it was a slippery slope from there. I went to my doctor who prescribed me anti-depressants - even though I told her that I didn't feel depressed, that something else had to be wrong because I have been happy and healthy with no anxiety issues for 33 years.. I took my first tablet that night and had every adverse side effect. So I never took another one and instead found an amazing naturopath who not only put me on some supplements such as Omega 3, Vit B and Magnesium, but she also sent me away for hormone testing. My hormone picture was all over the place and she said this is what was causing my anxiety.
It has been a very long and slow road to recovery as I opted to work with the naturopath to balance my hormones through natural means, and I have over this time felt quite depressed and have seriously lost my confidence due to being unsure as to when the next anxiety attack was going to hit.
In the past few years, as well as my naturopathic treatments I have found the following to really help me when I am feeling anxious or depressed:- Going for a walk with my dog, watching a funny movie, swimming in salt water and spending time in the sun. I have also recently discovered a treatment called Neurolink which has been AMAZING! My naturopathic treatment has balanced my hormones again and the Neurolink has really helped me to feel balanced again mentally and physically. My confidence is coming back and I am starting to recognise the old me - all without being on any drugs.
I hope that you start to feel better soon. It is such a horrible feeling being bogged down in depression and I hope my post helps you to see that there can be some solutions that don't involve taking anti-depressents.

I know this way past your first post, but cleaning really helps. Other options are listen to music, dance around really weird, scream and sing loudly, if you can go for a long walk, do craft, look at old pictures and think of happy times, etc.

I have suffered for years with depression and know how you feel. Meds are an option depending on your situation. Do seek the advice of someone you are close to that always helps too. Whatever you do don't be afraid to see someone such as an LPC (counselor), LCSW (Clinical Counseling Social Work), or a MA level psychologist. They do not prescribe, but they are mainly there to listen and help guide you through the stormy seas the Depression Monster likes to get you lost in. A lot of times you therapist can make a referral for you to see a psychiatrist for medication assessment (also available are Pharmacotherapy Advanced Practitioner Nurses, they work under psychiatrists). They often work hand and hand with each other during this process to make sure you are responding well. Everything is very confidential. If it is not and they are not treating you respect, then they are not following ethical guidelines.

Please do not be afraid and REMEMBER YOU ARE NOT CRAZY. People often don't realize our "brains" get sick too just like any other part of our body.

Through time you learn to adapt to the Depression Monster and his visits. When hes visits and tell him to get lost. Sometimes he wins though, but I know how to handle it. I usually find a nice comfy place, grab my favorite blanket, and tell the world I wish I wasn't in it and sleep it off. It took years to acquire this skill, it was not easy, but once you find a away, you'll do fine. I know I can always wake up in the morning knowing I am alive, wanted, loved, and have a purpose. My cousin fights the depression monster off by doing push ups...hehe...she has the great looking arms to prove it;)

I wish you nothing but love, peace, and strength. It is a hard battle, but you can win. Please remember you are not alone:)

I usually clean something that I've been putting off for a long-long time. If my family seems me down on my hands and knees in the closet, they know to leave me the F alone.

It really helps when I'm done and can appreciate what I've done.

Of course grief is different from depression. When my doberman died 2 years ago, I barely had the energy or motivation to get my usual day-to-day responsibilities done, and I'm sure you feel similar about your cat right now. Take care of you; losing a loved one is so hard!

This. Grief is different from depression, although unrecognised it can lead to it.

At the very least, give yourself some time to remember Boots and allow yourself to feel sad he has gone, and if you can, feel happy for the times that you had that were good with him. It would be better to look up the seven stages of grief and even to speak to someone about it.

But normal depression? A long bath, massage my legs myself, watch old re-runs of a show I loved when younger (just now it's MASH, before it has been Friends), set a small task or home improvement and accomplish it (that is more for when you are on the mend), have a drink or a coffee with a friend, read a good book, take a few hours for me and do whatever I feel like at the time, meditate. And also, if it keep cropping up, look at the big stuff in life, where life is headed, see what the depression is telling me and take steps to change it. Sounds like you've got the big stuff covered- recognise how much you are doing for yourself through that, some people never get to that very mature place you are already at, so give yourself a lot of credit for it. Hope this helps.

Hakuna Matata

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejEVczA8PLU