Weekly Prompt #8: How do you maintain hope and positivity when you're feeling depressed?
Hello everyone, I hope you are all being easy on yourself this week.
Last week we discussed How have you been feeling lately? Thank you to all who participated and shared their thoughts for discussion. I enjoyed them. I hope you all did too. If you didn't share yours, please share them here and I look forward to reading and discussing them with you.
It can be difficult to navigate and understand, but discussing our experiences and feelings can be a valuable tool in managing and coping with depression.
This week's prompt: How do you maintain hope and positivity when you're feeling depressed?
Discussing depression can be challenging and emotional, but it can also be incredibly valuable and supportive. By sharing our experiences and insights, we can help to create a more compassionate and understanding world for those dealing with depression.
Let's get started and share your thoughts with us.
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Gosh!! Weekly prompts are so self introspective and helpful ❤️. Thank youu! Reminds me of my semi- forgotten ways to look after myself
How do you maintain hope and positivity when you're feeling depressed?
Prep talk to myself
Writing down gratitude letter 🍀 ( awesome source- @comfortableNight4463)
Painting ( clears my mind )
Reading 📖 books , articles ( comedy , self help..and anything that makes me feel more positive 😊)
What's is your go to ways obs ( @ASilentObserver) ?
*😁Looking forward to hear from others!!😆*
@Emerbliss It sounds like you have identified some useful strategies for maintaining hope and positivity when feeling depressed. Please keep taking small steps and you are progressing. For me, it is usually affirmations, gratitude, and getting support from my people.
@ASilentObserver, those sounds very helpful. Having a healthy support system really does wonders. Practicing gratitude is also one of the best ways ( in my opinion 😁) because that's a go-to option for anytime of the day for many.
@Emerbliss Thank you Ember. Having support and finding gratitude does make a difference
I do Pinterest and herbal tea. I look for inspirational quotes to post on my social media as well, I manage to do self care starting at 4am before my kiddos wake up and then we do our 6 am stroller run. This helps me not to get depressed and overwhelmed, plus I consistently take me meds 💪🏻
@compassionateCar7091 It's inspiring to hear the practical strategies and self-care that work for you. I'm glad you're finding support that works.
@Emerbliss During depression postivevity is what lacks and npositivity is what is needed the most. One can always trying doing things a bit differently or acquiring little little new hobbies which can make them feel things are being different. Like changing the time one goes to bed or wakes up, or trying something a bit different or unusual to eat or somethings. I feel it make make them break patterns little by little and feel things are a bit different each day so changes are inevitable. Hope this helps
@ASilentObserver
Hi, ASO,
Sometimes I just kid myself. I tell myself it will be ok, even though I don't feel that it will be ok. Then I'll distract myself. Sometimes I read inspirational quotes and I find a reason to have hope. I try the skills I've learned from my therapists and psychiatric nurses. They don't always work, but I keep using them.
@purpleTree4652 It's admirable that you keep trying different strategies and using the skills you've learned, even when they don't always work right away.
How do you maintain hope and positivity when you're feeling depressed?
I take the time to remind myself that I have gotten through tough times like this before, and I will get through it again. On days it isn't helpful, I just try to focus on resting or doing mindless things to give myself something to do like binging old cartoons or taking naps.
To maintain hope and positivity whenever I'm depressed, this took me decades to figure it out; I am still learning ways to weave around it and probably will continue to do so in the years to come.
A bit of a history on my end with my depression. I was diagnosed at a young age, around fifth grade, but my GP then says that I was too young to give me medication. My family was of no support, parents both worked full-time, so I only saw them during breakfast and dinner times. Having an older brother, 4 years apart, we were only in the same school during my Elementary years, by the time I was fourth grade, we went to different schools. Older brothers often are the ones that like to make their younger sisters cry and feel bad. So, my other brother was no different. My peak times of depression happened in Grades 8 - 12, then in my first year of University, and in 2011. It wasn't until in 2011 that I finally felt some form of support from my family, although it was limited and was forgotten after a couple of years, I am now back to suffering on my own from time to time.
Over these couple of decades though, and since the 2011 incident, I have been on a very slow, gradual journey of recovery. Learning different ways to cope with my depression. In 2018, someone introduced me to a career, where I felt passionate for during studying the Certificate Program required. Doing the practicum and later, going to work everyday, brought me a great sense of satisfaction. So, hope in the sense of being able to work a job that I could call a career, with passion, had helped with my depression. Since two years ago though, colleagues had filed a complaint on my work ethics, just because I'm more diligent in my work than they are, they felt their position was threatened, so they ganged up on me and filed a complaint on the littlest problem. Although it ended with an investigation from the Manager, our Union Rep. was on my side and fought with me, and it was settled. As they were the ones that didn't follow protocol before filing the complaint, what I did was actually correct. Since this incident though, I have been losing that initial passion for my career, and the past couple of years, going to work nowadays, I'm feeling less and less happy about it.
I'm not exactly depressed because of this, but I feel that the hope and positive mindset I had when I first started the career is diminishing by the day. So, to change direction of my hope and positivity, I was introduced to another business program/plan, where I can start my own business. For the past two years, I have changed my focus of hope and positivity in preparation to launch my own business. This is giving me new hope and once I launch this business, I'm confident that more positivity will surface. As I become more financially stable, I will have a chance to continue with working towards my dream career. If I'm able to earn an income equal to or greater than what my position offers if I worked full-time, I could even quit my job and focus just on my business (and working towards that dream career of mine).
Of course, there are times where I'll feel depressed, with constant triggers around me, but I can now cope with it more efficiently. Letting myself know, that a better day, a better future is awaiting ahead of me.
@ASilentObserver
@Jaeteuk, you just made so many of us feel less lonely , thank you for sharing your story. I admire your thought process and the way you make your way around the curveba life throws at you. Its truly inspiring.
It's my greatest honour to share my story and to have someone like you find it inspiring. Thank you for your kind words. We are definitely not alone on the journey of recovery, whether we have support or not from family and friends, or even just from the community here, at 7 Cups. Honestly, it is here that I've received most of the support since I joined in 2017.
I am forever grateful to have found 7 Cups and have met some very helpful members during my numerous tough times as I struggle with my depression, without the support of family, and to not have friends. This has been my only supportive network.
@Emerbliss
@Jaeteuk , it's a joy beyond words to to know someone has benefited so much from being here . Sooo glad you are one of them ! Yes this is definitely a safe place. Big yay to all the beautiful souls who makes us feel better ❣️ It's mirthful to know and get reminded that none of us are alone in recovery. Thank you once again 😊.
I've been trying to share this community with colleagues that suffer from depression too, I just don't know if they ended up joining or not. I think I once mentioned it to my GP, to let her patients know about it as well.. then, again, not sure if she kept it in mind to pass on the information.
7Cups being my only support network, I really cherish everyone moment of it. It really does make a difference when I don't have any family or friends that can give me the same kind of support and understanding.
@Emerbliss
@Jaeteuk, you are using a members , that is supposedly to be for receiving support , but here you are giving back so much more than you take. That's so thoughtful of you. I have more people who may find cups come across this place.
@Jaeteuk It sounds like you've been through a great deal over the years and have gained wisdom from those experiences. Thank you for sharing and being here with us Jae. We are all here with you to listen to and support.
Thank you, @ASilentObserver
It does seem that I have been through a lot. During my school days, I have become very alert of people around me because of certain traumas I had been through. Observing everyone who is around me when I'm in public places. It's not as bad now, but I would only go into a shopping centre when I know the purpose. I'm the in-and-out, type of customer, because window shopping will just drain all my energy. I people-watch, not window-shop. So, in a sense, it has also helped me able to observe others enough to have a hunch as to what people are thinking just by looking at them.
At the same time, when I compare myself with the same-aged people I grew up with, it does seem like I went through a lot with the depression and traumas (it also seems like I was the only person who had depression); but I know that there are also many others out there who had been through worser times than I. I am just glad that I no longer need to be on medication. I had been medication-free for the past 8 years.
@Jaeteuk Thank you for sharing your experiences and perspective. It sounds like you've faced some real challenges but also developed skills through them. How are you feeling now as you reflect on your journey?
My journey, the traumas in my childhood, I do believe that they have scarred me for life, unfortunately. Those traumas, are experiences in my life that I could never forget, and sometimes, when I get flashbacks, they seem like it just happened yesterday. Yes, I've come a long way with recovering from depression. Being medication free, and not having harmful thoughts. Sometimes, I do lose hope sporadically, but I've been trying to train myself to try and look at things less negatively. Even when negative thoughts come up automatically, I do try and not dwell on it for too long. I'm now able to reflect on the situation more neutrally after giving it some thought.
My journey is, and will continue to be a roller coaster ride. As much as I want to shine more light into my life, I do have fears. But, that's another story.
@ASilentObserver
How do you maintain hope and positivity when you're feeling depressed?
I don't maintain hope and positivity at all.
@WharfRat I hear things have been challenging at times. but please know your every step counts and you are not alone in this. we are all here wth you to listen to and support.
"How do you maintain hope and positivity when you're feeling depressed?"
My usual tactic is to remind myself of past accomplishments, often creative ones. It's a way to generate pride &, hopefully, the knowledge that I will do more of the same. I also try to remember that I have been through many episodes before, some of them horrific ones...I got through them, so I will get through what I'm dealing with right now. These tactics do not always work but they're effective to some degree... We should remember that no tactic or strategy works 100% of the time.
Remembering past accomplishments is a great idea! Especially ones where no one thought you could do something, and you finished it with flying colours.
@slowdecline48
@slowdecline48 It sounds like focusing on your past accomplishments and persevering through difficult times has helped you at least to some degree in the past.
I remember that my depression is *temporary*. I work to be gentle with myself-rest on the couch, & do "comfort things"-foods, books, TV, etc. I let my husband know what's up. I tell my psych & therapist what's up if it's lingering.
@Nevanthi18 It sounds like reaching out to others and taking comfort in familiar activities helps you cope when you're feeling down.
Yeah usually.
Books, music, tv shows, sleep.
@charmingSky5972 Thank you for sharing, those activities sound relaxing and enjoyable. It can be helpful to find things that bring us comfort and joy.
@rainApple Hi apple, Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me. It can be hard to go through difficult times but having an outlook of gratitude and hope for brighter days is very wise. How do you find ways to nurture hope during the stormy days?
@ASilentObserver I focus on self-care and I try to stay mindful of my loved ones. That is sometimes helpful when I'm depressed.
@MindfulnessOwl Hi mindful, I hear how focusing on self-care and cherishing time with loved ones can provide moments of comfort and hope during hard times. What aspects of self-care do you find most meaningful in lifting your spirits?