Hey Pandas, How Did You Get Over Depression? (Closed)

Clinical depression is something you don’t get over. You have to learn how to keep it in check.
The #1 intervention is adhering to a regular sleep/wake cycle with 8 or more hours of sleep.
A close second is 20 mins or more of exercise as close to daily as you can. Simply walking can change your mood.

Well, I haven't quite gotten over the depression of my reptile dying, but what helps is to think of the nice parts of owning him.

Tamagotchis are the ultimate sadness relievers for me.

I doubt that it's something that a person *can* "get over" - at least not if it isn't relatively mild to start with. I've been on some hefty doses of antidepressants for nearly 30 years, and don't expect that to change any time soon.

Still have not "got over" it- sometimes incredibly happy, sometimes hiding from my parents and crying. Sometimes I have extreme anxiety. It varies. I am only a child, so no antidepressants or therapists for me. I do have the school counselor though.

Exercise. Developing strong self boundaries and learning to say 'no, absolutely not.' Learning to love myself [even if it's not 100% consistent]; myself for only myself, and not someone else. Prioritizing the people who care about me vs wasting effort on people that don't. Going back to university and making friends :)

The unfortunate reality of the matter is that regardless of culture/background, there's always been a stigma surrounding mental health issues in general, not necessarily just depression. As an example, a close family member of mine thinks that suicidal people are cowards who just want to escape from everything. As a human being AND as a music therapy student, I wholeheartedly disagree with that notion. I've been through depression before and had many dark thoughts within that realm, and I can tell you it's not us being cowards–oftentimes, as I see it at least from my experiences, it's years of negativity from other individuals and the overall environment alongside several other factors that you bury deep in your chest and rarely/never let out that causes it. Ultimately, indeed as many of you have said–take it one day at a time, and most importantly, do your best to surround yourself with positivity, be it from people, the environment, etc... Be safe and make wise decisions!

I haven't. And honestly? I'm OK with that.
I manage symptoms through a combination of medication (no shame) and distraction (video games, books, films, sewing, even work). There are bad days which suck, but there are also good days.

I clinical depression, attempted suicide last year... you don’t get over depression, you learn to live with it and you fight hard. Therapy and medication have been key in my struggle.

Well, I didn't, but my medications help a lot. There are still days where I feel really bad, though. We need to work on diagnosing this medical problem! It's serious.

I would take good care of myself as if I were a little child I love and that needs some help right now. I will be understanding, honest, comforting and patient. Thats what I can do going through it, but I cant "overcome" it.

Moomin books and the Moomin anime of the '90s.

How I got over depression? Uh, well, ok. I've been depressed at least 11 times, and this is the 12th. To get over it, I just did what I loved most, like reading, doing book reports for fun (I am a huge nerd and find comfort in researching and studying.) I also became a furry. I now draw athropomorphic art, and will start selling fursuits soon.

I got depression because of how short I am, and because I just lost my best friends # while a phone switch. I coped with it by pretending I'm in my own world and listening to sad music. I would and still, pretend I'm in a recording studio singing this while fiction characters watched in awe.

When I get depressed, I usually go to my room, take deep breaths, and rest a little, and when I wake up, I feel better. :)

The 10 Best-Ever Depression Management Techniques by Margaret Wehrenberg

Learning that the bad days don't invalidate the good days.
Having a bad/terrible day doesn't mean that all the good days were 'fake', 'wishful thinking' or just imagined, or not that great after all; no matter what my brain tried to tell me.
I turned my good days from an 'impossible to reach goal' into a safety net,
At the beginning, it might have not been a good day, but just a good moment. But that doesn't make them less valid. Moments have turned into days, and I am certain, that someday they will become weeks.

Trigger warning: Mentions self-harm, su*cide

Disclaimer: I didn't have clinical depression. I was assessed, but it wasn't "severe" enough. I was told that it couldn't be clinical since I didn't have any appetite/weight change. It took me awhile to realize that not being clinical didn't invalidate what I was feeling.

ANYWAY

I would say what really helped were two things:
1) God
Probably a really controversial answer. But it's true. God said do not murder, (Ex. 20:13) and that includes myself. He also said I am his child, (John 1:12-13)and he knows the plans he has for me (Jer. 29:11). Who am I to say when it is time for me to die? He said my body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, (1 Cor. 6:19-20)who am I to cause harm to it? I trust God to make those decisions for me, and that trust in him saved me from cutting and suicide. So even though bad thoughts were in my head, God's commands and promises gave me something to hold on to.
2) Counselling.
I found an amazing councillor. All that first point probably makes it sound like I'm one of those miracle-healer-prosperity-gospel people, but part of taking care of my body is taking care of my mind. After like three weeks I got in touch with a certified counsellor, signed a no-harm contract, and began my 4-month recovery. I don't think I could have done it without her. She was so good. I did cognitive-behavioral therapy, CBT, and learned a lot of stuff. I am able to pick out spiraling, black-and-white, and generalizing/catastrophizing thoughts, and I 100% recommend CBT to anyone and everyone, depressed or no.

music or movies help me

I was depressed from about 15 to 21 and I hated myself and the way I acted with other people. I used meditation as I was reading about Buddhism at the time anyway. I learned how to meditate (Naomi Humphrey's book - check it out) and selected one behaviour that I exhibited that I didn't like and meditated on that during a session. I went through different things and after about 6 months, I was more content with the kind of person I had then become. I highly recommend it as the drugs just mask it, but don't beat it.