#Mental health strategies for depression

[positivelyqueer]

A friend once told me that when they are struggling with getting laundry done, she pretends it is her sworn duty to smuggle the young prince out of the castle to safety, disguised in a laundry hamper.

Now, when I am struggling with hygiene, I pretend I am part of a village with an annual festival, and I get one day a year to spend luxuriously at a bathhouse in preparation.

What my friend imparted on me was the skill of turning mundane tasks into fantastical adventures to make them more compelling and bearable.

So next time you need to go on a mental health walk, maybe consider doing reconnaissance for a secret underground organisation.

Next time cooking is too much of a chore, consider you ability to turn space station rations into a feast to the delight of your crewmates.

[bibibusinessman]

A poem about not being ok

It’s ok to not be ok they tell you.

It’s ok to not be ok they tell you. And yet they judge you when when basic tasks become exhausting.

It’s ok to not be ok they tell you. But when you want to cry they say it’s not that bad. 

It’s ok to not be ok they tell you. But when your grades are slipping they tell you try harder.

It’s ok to not be ok they tell you. But when you sleep all day they say you are procrastinating.

It’s ok to not be ok they tell you. But when your friends text you and you don’t respond it’s because you are rude.

It’s ok to not be ok they tell you. But when you leave marks on your skin it’s because you want attention.

It’s ok to not be ok they tell you. But when you don’t have the energy to clean they tell you you’re lazy.

It’s ok to not be ok they tell you. But when you feel like giving up they tell you it’s never that bad.

It’s ok to not be ok, just don’t show it. 

[futurewife]

Ven please, I'm begging you to go to therapy. Your posts hurt me so much cause I recognize myself and people I've loved in them and I always wanna say smth to make you feel better but I know from experience that that only helps for a little while or doesn't help at all or can even make things worse. But you don't have to suffer like this forever!! You can get better and there is help!! And as a fellow pmdd sufferer you can get help with that too. Idk how you feel about medication but going on birth control continuously so you never have periods or using antidepressants or mood stabilizers just for the two nightmare weeks after ovulation can help so much. Please please please I worry about you and I know you can have a good life if you get help! you're beautiful and creative and you have everything you need you just have to figure out how to access it and use it and I know you can do it. I know your F/Os would want you to and I know your future real life S/Os who are waiting for you would want you to too. You deserve to be happy instead of feeling like a ghost all the time.

Thank you anon I appreciate the concern, feel a little bit embarrassed about oversharing now but you know what...sometimes you just have to say it out loud somewhere. As you would know the nature of the disorder means there's often not much that can be done in terms of talking myself out of the way it feels cause biology is so (detrimentally) overpowering and intensifies other mental health issues and generally all pre-existing negative feelings about ones' existence. The ghost analogy is apt and I've often used this to describe how I relate to life and connecting with others. now idk if I can overcome myself and thrive but maybe I could switch some things up and see if it makes it suck a little less

I was on ssris constantly for years previously (edit: and therapy on and off) before I stopped taking them but your ask has me considering intermittent dosing even if I dislike the side effects just to see what happens. I thought I could just grit my teeth and bare it (put myself to sleep between being wracked by ugly crying as I cannot stand being conscious in my own mind) every month in lieu of meds but maybe I can't rawdog slog through dark funhouse mirror evil pmdd reality on my own/shouldn't feel that I have to in order to not "lose"

I was very touched by your reaching out and compassionately disagreeing with me (lol) and it means a lot from another person with pmdd. It helps to think someone out there sees the value in me as I am right now, and that someone else is also fighting their own good fight. When you said I have everything I need I just have to figure out how to access it and use it and you know I can do it you sound just like my grandma. (<3)

[forbidden-salt]

Breaking the Silence; My Mental Health Story for Worldwide Suicide Prevention Day

By ForbiddenSalt

9/10/2024

Trigger Warning: This blog post discusses suicidal ideation, depression, and mental health struggles. If you are in a vulnerable state, please read with caution, and know that support is available through resources like 988, friends, and loved ones.

Resources and helpful tools for self and loved ones provided below the fold.

My Story:

Suicide Awareness Day holds a deeply personal meaning for me. For years, I struggled silently with suicidal thoughts, depression, and anxiety, unsure of how to ask for help or whether I deserved it. Sharing my story now is not just about raising awareness, but about offering hope to anyone who feels the same weight I once carried.

At the age of 13, I began to experience something many people are hesitant to talk about—suicidal ideation. But it wasn’t until I was in college that I truly realized how dangerous those thoughts had become.

I remember one day when I was walking across campus from class to my dorm, lost in thought, and accidentally stepped off the curb without looking. A car was coming toward me. Instinctively, I jumped back, avoiding an accident. But what happened next startled me more than the near-miss. As I stood on the sidewalk, tears welled up, not because I was relieved, not because I was scared—I was upset that my instincts had saved me. I realized I wasn’t crying because I had narrowly avoided getting hit by a car; I was crying because, in that moment, I wanted to be hit. It would have been an "accident"—a way out without me having to act intentionally.

It dawned on me that this was something much more serious than I had admitted to myself.

This wasn’t the first time I had experienced suicidal thoughts, but it was one of the most shocking moments. I knew I needed help. I sought out a counselor at the campus health center and, for a time, tried therapy. When I went home for a break, I spoke to my doctor, and she prescribed me an SSRI. I confided in my family and was met with mixed reactions—some were supportive, while others expressed concerns about the medication, urging me to stop taking it as quickly as possible. This set up an internal battle for me; I began starting and stopping my medication over the next few months, caught between fear and shame; and eventually quit all together.

Suicidal ideation lingered in the back of my mind for years. I wished for a pause button, a way to make the world stop so I could catch my breath and somehow not fall behind. I dreamed of getting hurt or sick enough to be hospitalized, just so I could take a break from life’s demands. But I never let myself act on those thoughts.

It wasn’t until my mid-20s that things got so bad I returned to therapy. This time, it was different. My new therapist helped me understand that I wasn’t “crazy”—I was carrying the weight of childhood trauma and years of struggling to survive. She diagnosed me with complex PTSD, and for the first time, I felt understood. Her support gave me the strength to make significant changes in my life, including moving to a new state.

There, I found another therapist who continued to guide me through the ups and downs. I started back on an SSRI and have stayed on it ever since. Through this process, I realized that what I had been dealing with wasn’t just emotional—it was also biological. My body wasn’t producing enough serotonin, and my chronic illnesses, were compounding these mental health struggles by denying my body the tools to make its own serotonin and through the weight of the symptoms. Especially for a while before there was any answer or treatment plan in sight.

I went through EMDR therapy, talk therapy, and put in the hard work to heal. I focused on my physical and mental health, fighting for answers and for my life. Slowly, I began to reclaim control. I started to recognize the warning signs of passive suicidal ideation and created an action plan for when those thoughts creep in. I don’t go to therapy as often now, but I still have touch-base appointments in case something changes.

Through this journey, I’ve learned so much about myself and the nature of mental illness. Depression, anxiety, and PTSD were not signs that I was lazy or difficult, though I was often labeled as such. They were symptoms of a much deeper issue. I wish people could see that depression isn’t a mindset or mood and suicidal thoughts are not selfish—they are the final, fatal symptom of a disease.

It took a long time for me to accept that what I went through wasn’t my fault. I wasn’t to blame for the trauma I endured or the way my brain and body responded to it. And if you’re reading this and find yourself in a dark place, I want you to know you are not alone. I know what it’s like to stand in the darkness for so long that it starts to feel like home. But I also know that it is possible to fight back, to heal, and to find hope again.

If you can’t fight for yourself right now, I encourage you to reach out to someone—anyone—who can sit with you in your pain. Let them help you find a therapist, a doctor, or simply help with daily tasks. It might not be the person you expect. For me, one if my company leaders had noticed my depression and helped me find a therapist. I had a best friend who sat with me over the phone while I sobbed broken hearted, encouraging me to seek help if I needed it. That going to the hospital if I needed it wasn’t shameful or weak but brave and admirable. It was my grandmother, who spoke to me daily, reminding me of my faith and offering love when I couldn’t love myself and felt those I loved most didn’t love me.

Faith also played a huge role in my healing. I’ve had my share of questions and anger, but my belief that God could handle my questions and my rage helped me through some of the darkest times. I questioned why my life was going the way it was, why I was feeling the way I did, if He knows everything before it happens, if he’s all powerful why didn’t he step in to change the course of my life away from this. My questions turned to anger and I had to keep reminding myself that God had shoulders big enough for my anger, my tears, my pain. That I could toss all of it at him and he’d still see me still, love me. I never doubted his existence, and honestly to this day I still don’t have all the answers but I’m sure one day I’ll understand and I’ve realized I was still loved even when I couldn’t see it.

My family eventually came around too. Even my dad, who I had thought didn’t believe me, recently admitted how scared he had been for me after he had kept his fears hidden for years since it had gotten bad. We were able to talk and he listened, shared his point of view, and made the effort to understand. He allowed me to assure him I was safe now, I was doing better, and it’s changed our relationship for the better. While I had found my way to stability without knowing if my family believed or supported me, learning my family did care enough to worry, cared enough to learn, and loved me enough to listen even if what I said was hard to hear meant the world to me.

If you’re struggling, know that there is help out there. Call 988 for support, reach out to friends, hug your dog or cat, cling to your faith—whatever gets you through the next moment. Each day is a step, and that’s enough. It doesn’t have to be a leap—it just has to be forward.

Resources for support below:

Here are some coping strategies:

1. Box Breathing: This simple technique can help reduce anxiety. Breathe in for four counts, hold for four, exhale for four, and pause for four. Repeat until your heart rate slows and you feel more grounded. You can do this while on a video call too just let your eyes glide along the edges of the screen while you hold and breathe.

2. Straw Breathing: Another great calming tool—take a deep breath in, and then slowly exhale like you’re blowing through a straw. It mimics the relaxing response of the parasympathetic nervous system and helps you focus.

3. Journaling: I started journaling, reminding myself it didn’t have to be perfect. It was just for me. I stopped feeling guilty if I skipped days or weeks and let the words flow when I needed them. If you struggle with journaling, try creating an anonymous blog where you can rant and vent without worrying about dates or continuity. I have a separate Tumblr just for this—a void I can yell into when I need to.

4. Bilateral Stimulation: Butterfly taps—crossing your arms and tapping on opposite shoulders—helped calm me during moments of stress. This was especially useful during EMDR therapy, which became one of my strongest tools.

5. Creating a Routine: I used to go to the gym to cope before my chronic illness made it harder, so I shifted to art as a form of expression. Creating anything—whether it’s a routine or a creative outlet—can make a difference.

6. Boundaries and Emotions: Learning boundaries and reconnecting with my emotions was vital. One book that really changed my perspective was Rage Becomes Her by Soraya Chemaly, which helped me embrace my anger as a valid emotion. Learn how to advocate for yourself and establish boundaries. This takes time, but it’s one of the most empowering things you can do for your mental health.

7. Prioritize Yourself: Make time for what you need—therapy, the gym, a bath, or a doctor’s appointment. And allow yourself to rest. Your mind and body will force you to stop if you keep ignoring the warning signs.

8. Taking Shortcuts: Too tired to make a proper meal? That’s okay. Eat food however it comes—deconstructed meals are all the rage anyway. I’ve had moments where lunch was just handfuls of cheese and lunch meat. The goal is to nourish yourself, and sometimes that means being kind to yourself about how you do it.

10. Create Safety Nets: If you're heading somewhere that could be triggering, plan for it. What’s your exit strategy? Can you bring a comfort item, like a fidget toy, a blanket, or a stuffed animal? Having a plan can give you a sense of control.

11. Redirecting Negative Thoughts: When I get caught in negative thoughts, I ask myself if these thoughts are helping me process emotions or if they're just hurting me. If I’m not ready to process them, I work on redirecting my focus to something more helpful.

13. Emotional Support Animals: If you can, get an emotional support animal. My mini schnauzer has helped me through so much, even though she doesn’t know it.

How can I help a loved one:

1. Listen First: Before jumping to solutions, take time to listen. Validate the person's feelings, and let them process before suggesting how to fix things. Most of the time, they already know the solution; they just need space to work through it.

2. Stop Shaming Mental Health: Be mindful of how you talk about mental health. I’ve overheard loved ones shaming people for being "selfish" or "foolish" for being depressed, anxious, suicidal and even those that did commit suicide not knowing how often it was on my mind. Those words made it even harder to speak up and ask for help.

3. Fear and Guilt Are Not Helpful Tools: Fear and guilt are not effective motivators when it comes to mental health. I once told someone close to me that I didn’t believe people who commit suicide go to hell. Just as someone who passes from cancer doesn’t go to hell for how they died, I believe the same for depression—it’s an illness. They responded that they hoped fear of hell would keep me from acting on those thoughts. I explained that, by the time someone is ready to act, they likely don’t care anymore. The weight of the pain is overwhelming, and fear or guilt won’t pull them back.

4. Recognize the Signs: Suicidal ideation, passive suicidal ideation, and suicidal plans are all dangerous and need treatment and support. It may begin with passive thoughts like, “I wouldn’t mind if I didn’t wake up tomorrow,” but those can shift into active planning if left unchecked. Just because someone hasn’t acted on it doesn’t mean they don’t need help. Depression doesn't always look the same for everyone. It could be messy rooms, low energy, or a lack of interest in things that once brought joy. It could also look like reckless behavior, withdrawing, or joking about death. These subtle signs shouldn’t be brushed off—they’re as important as overt cries for help and worth a check as little as “hey you keep making these jokes, I just want to make sure you really are okay?” If someone is talking about feeling hopeless, giving away possessions, withdrawing from loved ones, or engaging in risky behavior, these are red flags.

5. Offer practical support: Whether it’s helping with daily tasks, providing a ride to a therapy appointment, or just sitting quietly with them, practical support can be a lifeline.

6: Encourage professional help: Gently suggest therapy, medical care, or other professional help if the person hasn’t already sought it. Be patient and compassionate, understanding that reaching out can be terrifying for them.

7. Be present: Sometimes the best thing you can do is just be there. Your physical and emotional presence can provide comfort, even when there are no words.

If you have a loved one who you worry is going through something, or has confided in you and you are worried for them. Don’t wait. Speak to them. Ask them how you can help, what’s going on, listen. If you’re afraid for them, even after they have gotten to the other side, don’t let your fears tear at you for months, tell them then listen and trust that when they say they are good, have come out the other side have an action plan for when they notice the signs - belive them. If you can’t let it go still, seek your own support. The fear of loosing someone you care about is worthy of attention. If you’re reading this because someone you love is struggling with suicidal thoughts, thank you for caring. Supporting someone with suicidal ideation can be incredibly difficult, but your presence matters more than you might realize.

If you or someone you love is struggling, find Resources for Support:

1. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Dial 988 for immediate help in the U.S. Available 24/7.

2. Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a trained crisis counselor.

3. The Trevor Project: Focused on supporting LGBTQ+ youth, The Trevor Project offers crisis intervention and suicide prevention services. Text START to 678678 or visit their website.

4. NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness): NAMI provides free, confidential support for mental health concerns. Call the NAMI Helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI or text NAMI to 741741.

5. The Jed Foundation: Focused on mental health support for teens and young adults, the Jed Foundation works to protect emotional health and prevent suicide. Visit jedfoundation.org for more information.

6. The Veterans Crisis Line: Veterans and their loved ones can call 988 and press 1 or text 838255 for confidential support. Available 24/7.

Suggestions for Keeping Yourself Safe:

1. Create a safety plan: Write down a plan for when suicidal thoughts occur. This could include calling a trusted friend, therapist, family, distracting yourself with an activity you enjoy, or going to a safe place where you can feel grounded and making an appointment with your doctor.

2. Reach out to a support network: Whether it’s friends, family, or a therapist, let someone know how you’re feeling. It’s important not to isolate yourself when you’re struggling.

3. Remove means: If you’re feeling unsafe, remove items that could be harmful or ask someone you trust to hold onto them temporarily. There is no shame in this ever.

4. Practice grounding techniques: When suicidal thoughts take over, try grounding yourself with techniques like deep breathing, focusing on your senses, or engaging in mindfulness exercises. These can help bring you back to the present moment. Call on your faith if you need to to get by, play with your pet anything to help you get grounded and move through the feeling

5. Remember that feelings pass: In the heat of the moment, it can feel like the pain will last forever. But emotions are temporary, and feelings—even the darkest ones—eventually pass. That feelings are normal and natural and have no moral judgement, feel it, acknowledge it, and let it move through knowing another feeling will come your way take its place.

Recovery isn’t pretty, and life isn’t perfect; but you are worth fighting for.

[schizodiaries]

super easy self-care tips

There are plenty of self-care articles online, but I wanted to focus on easier and simpler self-care methods for mentally ill people like me with low energy/motivation or who have a hard time managing daily life.

Drink some tea — Tea can not only soothe you, it can hydrate you as well. I personally like teas that help reduce anxiety like chamomile tea, lavender tea, or rose tea.

Cuddle a stuffed animal — Even if you’re an adult, a stuffed animal can be great for your mental well-being. They can help ease loneliness, provide comfort, and heal your inner child.

Chair yoga — Don’t let the idea of yoga scare you, you can do it while sitting! There are many mental health benefits to yoga, such as relieving stress and improving focus. Search “chair yoga” on YouTube for some guided yoga exercises.

Sit in sunlight — You can do this outside or indoors next to a window. A few minutes of basking in sunlight helps boost your mood.

Step on grass — I know “touch grass” is often used as a snarky comeback, but seriously, feeling the grass beneath your feet can release endorphins. If you find this gross or don’t like the sensation, you can try stepping on a soft rug instead.

Pet an animal — Do you own any pets? Running your hands through their fur can lower stress and anxiety, and it also makes for a good grounding exercise.

Use hand sanitizer — It’s easy to neglect hygiene when you’re in a rut. But it’s important to keep our hands clean to reduce the spread of germs. Use some hand sanitizer, they’re less harsh on your hands than soap and water, and they smell nice.

Clean up your inbox — Unsubscribe to any mailing lists you’re not interested in, and delete any old emails you no longer need. Even just five minutes of cleaning up your inbox will take a weight off your shoulders.

Use a rocking chair — If you own a rocking chair, using one can release endorphins that promote relaxation, improve sleep, and boost your mood. They’re also good for stimming.

Doodle — You don’t have to be an artist to doodle. You can doodle anything from stick figures to scribbly lines. Doodling can help reduce stress and regulate emotions, and you might even make something you like!

Take photos — Try to take regular photos of yourself, friends/family, pets, food, surroundings, anything special to you. That way you can stop to appreciate life and have fond memories to look back on.

Aromatherapy — If you own a diffuser, you can use essential oils to promote relaxation and manage anxiety. You can also mix them with lotion or a carrier oil and massage it on your skin for extra relaxation.

Breathing exercises — When your stress or anxiety levels are high, even just one minute of deep and steady breathing can help keep those levels under control.

[finefiddleheaded]

Something I've noticed that's been helping me a lot lately is shifting the question from "what can I handle right now" to "what would make me feel better right now?" It makes me stop and honestly assess without pressure of Productivity. Sometimes the answer really is 'lie down in the dark under the covers' but quite often I'm finding if I detach my well-being from my productivity the answer is usually a list that looks like: eat something I can picture, drink water, consume salt (for my dysautonomia), take a shower, take my medication, put in earplugs for sensory overload. Some days it even includes 'go for a walk' or 'go to the library.'

For me to get here its required some previous experience with doing those things and knowing what works for me when, but it's made a huge difference. I've been regularly stopping mental spirals and sidestepping executive dysfunction walls that would have kept me in bed all day.

Also once I start taking of one bad it lightens the variety of bad feelings and helps me maybe target some other things that would now make me feel better.

That said, I have never been able to make myself better through brow-beating or berating myself about healthy habits or what I Should Be Doing. It started with the phrase "be kind to yourself" and I built from there. Taking a moment to answer the question "what would make me feel better right now?" with honesty (and patience/acceptance if the answer is that lying in bed would be the thing that would truly make you feel better right now) is an extension of Be Kind to Yourself.

Idk, thought I'd share in case it helps anyone.

[wisterianwoman]

Under the Mask: The Reality of Being 'High-Functioning'

"High functioning" just means you're really great at hiding when you're struggling. Let's talk more in-depth about what that means, how to cope, and fighting the stigma.

“High functioning” just means you’re really great at hiding when you’re struggling. Let’s talk more in-depth about what that means, how to cope, and fighting the stigma. on the surface… I had straight A’s in second grade when my dad was deported. Fourth grade, too, when he died. I graduated high school two months after I found out I was being cheated on by my first love. I bought a brand new…

[angelnumber27]

I don't know you very well so I don't know how helpful this advice is, but I can recommend some small things I do that bring me joy that you might also like

If you collect anything, I find it relaxing to just go through my collections and think about where i got the things in it, reminisce on times I went to the beach while going through the shells ive collected, or petting my stuffed animals and thinking about where I got them or who I got them from

Doing photography of things I normally wouldn't take pictures of is also really fun, it's challenging and requires focus, which helps to distract me from all the other stuff going on in life... taking a picture of something ugly can be very fulfilling

Music always brings me joy, and I find that listening to things I've never heard before opens new avenues of things I could potentially really enjoy (Mongolian throat singing and breakcore are two styles I only got into recently, but I really enjoy both!!) Exploration I think is part of the reason I like music so much

Painting a bad portrait, dancing to music thats not meant to be danced to, reading and researching topics and things I find even vaguely interesting, honing new skills and acquiring new hobbies gives you new opportunities and new sources of dopamine, and I hope some of these give you ideas on how to find new forms of joy<3

This is beautiful. Really really beautiful and really helpful

So many of these things help me like this feels like you do know me well by how accurate this is for me. Like I collect things, I love stuffed animals and the sentimentality behind them, I love photography and taking photos, I love music (I love that discovering music is endless I love the way there is always something new and beautiful to stumble upon- same way with art) and art and reading and researching and learning new things and how to do new things. This is so helpful and spot on for me it’s wild. Depression and all the other shit stacked on top of it makes it really difficult sometimes to do things. Anything. Even things you know you love to do that you know make you feel better.

You just gotta make yourself get up and do it. That’s what I’ve learned. Just fucking do it. I have to remind myself that even when I don’t want to do something that will help me and make me feel better. That’s one prevalent contradiction with depression, the things that make you feel better are so difficult to do sometimes. The things that heal you feel impossible to accomplish. The truth is that (for many people) we have a lot more control than we realize. Like I can choose to get up and do things I know help me and choose to have a good day and take care of myself and laugh and enjoy myself because I deserve those things.

Thank you for this

[thehavenmh]

[bibibusinessman]

if your ever feeling down think about the things you are looking forward to

for me its

The boys season 4

summer

rowing

HeartStopper season 3

starting my new job

[truenarracounseling]

Struggling with depression can feel isolating, but you don’t have to face it alone. Seeking mental health counseling in Frisco, Texas, can provide valuable support and guidance. Depression affects millions of people, impacting daily life and relationships. Understanding effective strategies can make a significant difference in managing symptoms and improving overall well-being.

[traveltogether4mydeals]

Maximizing Your Resources: Personal Growth Without Breaking the Bank

🚀 **Maximizing Your Resources: Personal Growth Without Breaking the Bank** 🌱 Think personal development is expensive? Think again! You don’t need fancy courses or costly memberships to grow. With free resources, small goals, and a little creativity, your journey to self-improvement can start today—without draining your wallet! 💡✨Ready to unlock your potential? Let’s start small and grow BIG! 💪#PersonalGrowth #SelfImprovement #BudgetFriendly #FrugalLiving #GrowthMindset #FreeLearning #UnlockYourPotential

Unlock Your Potential, No Big Spending Required Thegildablogger Newsletter September 17, 2024 Mission: Whether you’re climbing the career ladder or forging your own path to the next big thing, let us illuminate your journey as you chart your course and navigate your way to success. Whether you’re grasping the rungs of the career ladder, or carving out the next big thing, get illuminated as you…

[dynamichealthinsights]

Beyond the Blues: The Profound Impact of Anxiety and Depression on Cognitive Abilities

Anxiety and depression are often viewed through the lens of their emotional turmoil. Yet, their reach extends far beyond feelings of sadness or worry, casting a shadow over the very essence of our cognitive abilities. This intricate connection between mental health and brain function can significantly impact our daily lives, influencing everything from memory and concentration to decision-making…

[mommunity]