What do you do on seriously flat days?

[aidjm]

I'm sure I'm not the only one that has days where you feel completely apathetic, like you could not be bothered doing anything significant. I spent most of yesterday sleeping and browsing Youtube, and I've had a couple of days like that over the last week. Like you just say dammit to the world and stay in bed.

What do you guys do when you feel like this? Do you find it's better to force yourself to do something or just ride out the feeling?

[KirstC]

Hi aidjm,

Yep, I've been there and am there atm.

I find it's better to force yourself to do something. Exercise works best for me. It is difficult though but better than putting up with the guilt and self loathing at the end of the day when you've done nothing.

If I manage to get just 15 minutes of exercise I pat my self on the back x

[Gray_D]

Hey aidjm,

Is such an easy thing to do sometimes and been there several times myself.

like kristC I find best to force myself to go and do something, even if taking my brother in laws dog for a walk to get some fresh air, or even got and sit have a coffee in a coffee shop somewhere.

Just getting out of the house can sometimes be enough to inspire you to do something more each day and slowly bit by bit it will build.

Just starting small can lead to bigger and better things....

Good luck

[white knight]

Hi Aidjm,

Couple of months ago there was a revelation. Couple of experts found that if you are in deep depression (deep being the word) then no matter how positive you be your positivity can work against you. Especially in that it can rise to false hopes and lead you further into depression.

So just be aware of this. Better to not expect too much of yourself, baby steps during that bad day and wait until that cycle drops away before you embark upon some serious advancement.

We have to accept we cannot operate like the average person out there. We cannot expect ourselves to get up every day and function normally. We have to find the right balance for us as individuals. You might be labelled lazy or that you are capitalising on a situation but too bad for them. as long as you are not lazy when the cycle comes around and you have the capacity to function better. That's when the computer games and social media can be left aside to literally smell the roses and clean the windows....

[aidjm]

Good replies, thanks guys (or girls, as the case may be). I definitely find I feel better after doing something, especially exercise. I guess it just comes back down to keeping moving sooner or later.

Insightful words White Knight, although I find it a bit disappointing to think I may not be able to function normally for a while. I sometimes worry about that being permanent. But I know there are up times - I've had a few recently - so I'm trying to focus on those.

[AGrace]

Hi aidjm,

Have you also had a look at the thread finding joy in times of darkness? There's some good tips there in terms of what people have done to make it through the tough times. 

You can enter the thread title into the search function and it will direct you to the relevant thread. 

AGrace

[aidjm]

Hey AGrace,

I had a look around for the thread, but I couldn't find it, not even with the search bar.

Could you tell me whereabouts on the site it is? Or maybe send me a link? I'd actually really like a look at it right now.

Thanks, 

Aidan

[HA1]

Hi Aidan!

you can find the thread "finding joy when times are dark" under the category "Recovery and Staying Well".

take care,

AOK

[geoff]

dear Aidjm, when we have depression we stay on a level of feeling hopeless, negative and everything else, but amongst these days we could have better days, and remember we are still depressed, but then we have really really bad days, so on these better days we can force ourselves to get up and go for a walk, but on our worst days there is little chance that this will happen, so basically it's the same as what WK has said, cycles and it even happens in depression. Geoff.