I feel awful, depressed, what can I do to feel better?

Sometimes it is a challenge to look outside ourselves and appreciate the beauty around us. It takes effort, just as it takes effort to break ourselves out of negative thinking cycles we let ourselves fall into. I've walked in your shoes and I know there is no easy answer. But here's what I would do.

1) Go buy some ST John's Wort and start taking taking that. UNLESS you are on other meds, then you need to do some research first.

2) Set a goal for yourself to find one thing every day, in nature or in life around you that makes you feel good. Whether it is in a flower or in a child's laughter. It's out there, I promise, you just have to actually see it when you look.

3) Start paying close attention to your reactions to things. If you react to things with negative thoughts, then work towards changing those reactions. This was very hard for me so I turned it into a sort of game for myself.

4) Know that no matter how alone and isolated you feel, you are not. Many, many people are going through what you are experiencing. There is a way out. Sometimes we can find our own way, other times we need to get help from others. It's nothing to be ashamed of.

cry,scream,talk to someone get help

I feel like this too. I felt like it before I even experienced the chronic pain and not being able to walk much because of painful legs. It makes me feel even more depressed. One of the things I to do is instead of staying in the spiral of depression I would first go without and allow myself to be in a funk then go and do something physical like a bike ride or swim. When you do something physical it sort of cancels out all of that thinking. A mind is a dangerous thing to leave alone! Wishes

call your doctor. i don't know exactly what treatment will be needed but it is possible that you could be develping a depressive disorder and that you need treatment. the sooner you begin to treat it the sooner you will feel better. in the meantime try etaing foods that are high in protein adn fiber and low in fat and exercising and take some vitamin b pills. this will boost your energy a bit and make you physically feel better. force yourself even if you don't want to.

I believe we all have thoes days and many of them, when we take charge of our self and say,you know what,I will not be depressed to day,I am and will be happy,come hell or high water!You march your self out side and go for a walk.Come in and make your self something beautiful to eat.Get to the point that you run your life!Do not let your feelings do it for you. You get mad at yourself.I promise you with in a short time
You will see a difference.you will find happiness you must not let that deppressing spirt win.You have the power with in you to be any thing you want to be. Write me let me know how you are.My love and prayers to you,Trails

I agree with nuevo,,,working out produces hormones in your brain that actually keep your spirits up! I own a Curves for Womn,,,,find one in your area and get moving!

excercise helps, also learning new things, or taking up a hobby helps.

excerise does help. but i also watch high school musical 2!
ITS SOOOOOOOOOOOOO HAPPY. WE'RE GONNA FUN IN THE SUN DADADA

Random acts of kindness....I'm telling you, it works. When I am really down and out, I immediately find someone to help or something nice to do. I'll do things like:

In the winter - shovel snow off my neighbor's driveway and sidewalk and in the summer I'll sometimes mow her yard.

Bake some cookies and take them to a friend.

Sometimes I'll drop a dollar or two someplace where I can sit and nonchalantly watch to see who finds it and watch their reaction.

"Treasure hunting" at a thrift or second hand store usually makes me feel better, even if I don't find anything.

Sometimes I'll go to the local animal shelter and they let me go into the kitten room and pet the kittens.

I volunteer a lot at places like the Literacy Alliance, League of the Blind, etc. Helping someone else overcome their challenges can help put my own in perspective.

I have some favorite movies that I can watch when I'm sad or feeling down. They always make me laugh and feel better.

There are certain foods I treat myself to if I'm feeling down.....like sushi (my favorite!) or Chicken Tiki Marsala from an Indian restaurant (fantastic!).

When I had a husband I'd ask for a night of "affection" and that always worked for me too.

Everyone has their days, or even weeks of feeling blue. You have to find a healthy way to make yourself feel better. I hope you find it. I'll be thinking of you as I know others on the site will be too.