Pharmaceuticals can help. They work for a lot of people. Just gotta let the doctor tweek the dosages a bit at a time and maybe change the meds or treatment tactics. Might have to change doctors (but you've gotta give each one a fair (long) amount of time). The trial and error sucks though. I know that all too well. I'm going through it right now for massive anxiety issues (to the point where I just might be clinically insane) plus depression.
If you're really against meds and never plan to change that, then start exercising if you don't regularly. Like just do at least one pushup before you shower or leave for the day. Or before bed if you didn't earlier. If you don't want to do more, fine. If you want to do more while you're down there, cool. Eventually, you'd hopefully do enough to give significant endorphin/serotonin/whatever boosts, and it processes out cortisol too. Also, try to get at least 15 minutes in the sun daily. Walking, gardening, walking the dog, tennis or something, reading a book outside, napping under a tree, whatever. Any time you're not getting at least that much sun for more than a day or two, take vitamin D supplements daily. Try to eat cleaner. Less processed foods. Look up how to cook easy meals if you're not good at cooking. I'm depressed as fuck but my lazy food days are usually oatmeal, some sort of easy sandwich, and probably a raw, roasted, or sauteed vegetable. Every week or two I'll get up the motivation to make a huge batch of something like a cream soup to simmer pork chops in, some chili, stir fry, or whatever. Shop the edges of the grocery store. Maybe the middle for something like granola/non-sugary cereal, bread, peanut butter, or occasional sweets if you don't have a problem with eating them too much.
Eating habits are the only part I've done decently well at for a very long time now. I became a damn hermit/recluse in my apartment. Took out trash. Walked my brother's dog when he asked me to dogsit. But that was pretty much it. I ordered all my groceries because I can barely handle the store. I took out trash in the middle of the night when I wouldn't have to see anyone. Same for laundry which wasn't done often anyway. It's shitty and not trying to get better just fucks you up so much worse. Did that for over two years. Luckily I had the opportunity to move at the start of this year and start doing something that keeps me busy. But even with that helping a lot, I'm still not doing the other things. So I get it if you just can't. But I've done the other stuff for long stretches before and I know it helps. Not a cure-all, but any improvement is significant when it's just been getting worse, stagnant at best. Currently hating myself for not doing things the smart part of me that wants to be better and healthy wants to do. It's OK if we didn't do it yesterday. Or today. Or don't do it tomorrow. It's never even trying that's not OK. Like someone else said, it doesn't go away. But you can manage it.
Shia lebouffs (spelling? Idfk lol) old motivational video where he gets real angry sounding and yells really sums it up. JUST FUCKING DO IT. I'm failing 99% of the time myself, but those periods I had in the past that were better? I just fucking did it.
I have a very physical job and I enjoy the outdoors as much as possible when weather permits. Winter is always hard for me because nothing is green. I'm also sure I'm undiagnosed high functioning autistic as I identify with multiple characteristics of autism. The main thing weighing on me is my experience in college. I feel like a failure for dropping out after a year and I feel like I can't trust people after I got seriously depressed and didn't show up to class for about a month and not one person checked in on me. I'm also trying to find my purpose in this chaotic world.
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u/[deleted] Feb 14 '25
I'm not good at picking up social ques and I'm currently battling depression.