What do you do to make yourself feel better about  your life when you are depressed or just sad?
439269
When I'm feeling blue, sometimes I write what's making me feel down in a book.  And then I burn it.  Or you can talk about it.  It's not good to bottle it inside.  But when all else fails.  I drink.
1170957
First and fore most stay true to your feelings. You don't have to be cheerful if that's not the way you feel. There's nothing wrong with feeling sad or depressed.\n\nThe more that you are willing to be at one with whatever you are feeling the sooner it passes.  I find that when I do this I feel a sense of relief and peace. Inother words, don't fight the feeling or it will persist.\n\nLook inside and ask yourself what is troubling you?  I find writing feelings out on paper is very helpful.\n\nDo you have a trusted friend you can talk to?\n\nIs there anything you can do about the things that are troubling you? \n\nTake this as an opportunity to get to know yourself better and raise yourself awareness.
664139
There are many ways to feel better. You can do one or more of the following things.\n\n1) VOLUNTEER at your community - orphanage, school, organizations, parks, hospitals, homeless shelter, animal shelter .... the list goes on and on, there are so many places to volunteer at... your bound to find a place that you will enjoy helping out at\n2) join a community organization\n3) speak with your friends or family about ways to meet people\n4) just say hello to people at your work (or school if your still a student), even if they are strangers\n\nBy engaging in one of these activities, you'll find a friend or just someone to talk to. Then you'll feel better.
128421
Exercise. Get plenty of fresh air and find someone or something that needs your help. I found wild orphaned animals and bike riding. Both are so important to my mental well being as I am very sick and my illnesses depress me. Once I started to focus on other things, like the animals or my exercise, I started to feel much better. I still get sad and even depressed but my friends and family know the signs now and they always find a way to get me through the bad spots. \n\nSometimes though, you just have to feel what you are feeling, then and only then can you move onward and upward!\n\nGoddess bless and good luck.
1059913
You can take some control over how you feel by using some of the strategies listed below: \n1. Learn some ways to relax and incorporate them into your daily routine. Even if too much stress and tension aren't the cause of your depression (although they very well might be), they certainly aggravate it. \n2. Identify things that are pleasant for you and plan them into your schedule. Research suggests that depressed people have a lack of pleasurable events in their lives and that they actually avoid things that give them pleasure. \n3. Increase your activity level. Unfortunately, depressed individuals don't have much energy for exercise, so they tend to remain inactive. Low activity level serves to increase depressed feelings, which then inhibit activity further. To break this cycle, schedule daily exercise that is appropriate for your lifestyle and conditioning level. \n4. Identify self-ctitical thoughts and switch to self-rewarding thinking. In other words, get off your back. It is easy to make yourself depressed by being overly harsh and critical. \n5. Analyze your social behavior. Many depressed people are lonely and isolated. By learning new social skills and assertive communication, you can often get needed support .\n6. Children might avoid the need for presciption antidepressents. and if the one of the parents are depressed, getting the parent help can prevent the child from becoming depressed.\n7. Listen to soft soothing relaxing music or something with lots of rhythm. Music is to the spirit of mankind like a bandaid is to a cut.\n \nit's more the intensity that you can prevent.
592610
First, feel free to really mourn.  Don't wallow in it, of course, but let the feelings run their course.  They begin the healing process.  \n\nSecondly, begin doing things you know you used to enjoy, even if you don't feel like it.  You might not get the same kick out of things at first, but sometimes you have to act like you feel good before you actually do.  \n\nFinally, remember to count your blessings.  Focus on the good things in your life.  There are many more than you may see now, but you'll see more as time goes by.  The more you focus on the positive, the more positive your outlook and your life will become.\n\nGood luck.  We've all been there.
1033709
I have often felt the same over the years.  You may want to evaluate the things that make your life "full".  Are they important to you?  Do you really enjoy them?  Or, do they just keep you busy?  You may also want to speak with your doctor about depression which can make you feel that way even when you feel you shouldn't.  Be well.
634232
Very kind of you to ask us Ladies, my Son. It's normal to feel depressed or as if life is passing you by. You're 22 years old and it seems that you have it all right where you want it. You just don't know what to do with it. Be happy that you have what you do. If you continue to be unhappy go and volunteer at a soup kitchen or a shelter. Trend towards doing something useful rather than sitting around feeling sorry for yourself. Give money to a library or to a humane society. Do something for someone else. You don't need medication. You need a purpose. You have "things" but you need to give of yourself to appreciate them. Good luck, child. I hope you find what you're looking for.
120447
Take a deep breath and grieve. then start with the small stuff. pay a bill or dust a piece of furniture. then see how you feel. try doing just one thing a day until you feel you can handle more.
1108173
If you are feeling very depressed, it will be hard to concentrate on anything, let alone trying to intensively study!\n\nIf something happened recently to cause you to feel depressed (a loved one died, financial problems, breakup with your mate), then you need to find ways of seeing the good in life again.\n\nIf you started feeling depressed, for no reason you can figure out, you need to see a counselor quickly. \n\nThe counselor can either help you remember what is/was happening and how to get through it, OR can refer you for a psychiatrist. \n\nThere IS a very real, physiological illness caused by neurotransmitter imbalances. It is NOT something that can be thought or reasoned away... it requires medication. If your depression came on for NO APPARENT REASON, or has been with you for more than a year after the event that started it, you may need medication to help restore the balance in your brain.\n\nIf your depression DOES come from something that happened recently to make you feel sad:\n\nMake a list of everything that is going right for you. Every day, look at the list, and either add one more good thing in your life, or pick one item and say out loud "I'm glad _______ is a part of my life."\n\nIf you have a serious and looming future problem that is stressing you out. Write down everything you can about it. Split the list into things you CAN fix, and things you CAN'T. Set the "can't" list aside.\n\nTake your "can fix" list, and number each thing in the order that will work best to help you address the problem (make it less or even, maybe, get rid of it).  Then start work on #1 on the list.\n\nIf you "just can't think" of things to put... ask a friend to sit with you and help you brainstorm, or go to a counselor.
1105906
may be you had a bad day.  we all do sometimes.  do something to make yourself to feel better. listen to a sad song and sing along??  call up a friend and chat chat??   \nno matter what you do, i hope you feel better soon.
458452
Look through old photo albums! That always cheers me up. Also, go somewhere with lots of orange like a park with lots of flowers. Orange is proven to improve mood. Go for a long walk. That will clear your mind or whatever your sad about. Hope you feel better.
578461
Identifying the problem is the first step towards solving it. You're on your way. The key to enjoying life is deciding to. Spend time every night reviewing and appreciating all that is good about your life. Make a list if it helps. Review that list when you're feeling down. Then, start small. Pick something you'd really like to do and do it. It can be as small as striking up a conversation with a stranger or as big as sky diving. Remember you're always in control of the choices you make. Good Luck!
315451
write down how u feel on a blank white paper..be clear of how you are feeling. when u do this, u'll know what's really bothering you.\nWrite down what makes you sad, and what makes you happy, and then focus on the one's that make u happy. most of the time, its the past that's holding one back. always remember its your present that will determine you're future, and you have to make sure being alone does not come as something that is bad...lots of things can be achieve even as you are alone, and trust me..as you write down what makes you happy, u'll realize life is worth the while\na heart can be broken, but not your dreams. rediscover it
457577
lift weights, jog, get a massage from a licenced masseuse.  Do  something to make yourself happy again.   You have to make yourself happy before you spread happiness to other people. A doctor or pill ain't going to do it for you.  Exercise at least releases endorphins into the bloodstream and helps regulate mood.
798607
The best ways to rid yourself of sadness and loneliness:\n\nJoin clubs any hobby you are interested in (chess club, astronomy club, bridge club, womens club etc) you will make all kinds of friends.\n\nGet out of the HOUSE often. You need contact with people, any people (like at the store, library, swim center etc)\n\nGet lots of exercize, it promotes serotonin for good feelings (go swim at a pool, jazzercise, biking, hiking, walks, tae bo etc).\n\nEat healthy, very important to nourish the mind so you wont be depressed (lots of fruit and veggies and lean meat) Also take supplements (vitamins and minerals and herbs) Talk to someone at a herb shop or health food store. They have amazing stuff.\n\nRead Books (fiction for pleasure and non0fiction to learn about health, wellness, hobby, and more)\n\nGet involved (community service, find something you can help with) My best days were spent helping others. Very important for your well-being.\n\nMake contact with family and friends (make the effort to visit them, talk on phone and email them asap) See your child more often you are her mother and she needs you.\n\nHere is an important book I want you to read. It can change your life for the better.\nThe Luck Factor by Dr. Richard Weisman (amazon)\nTells you the steps to make your life better, more luck in every aspect of living, even how to pick a mate. This is one of the best books I have ever read. Please read it too.\n\nGood Luck & keep you chin up.
1153454
Whenever you do anything right or whenever someone compliments you,write it in a book.When you are feeling depressed flip through the book.You'll feel better.The best way to take a break between studying is to take a walk.Never watch tv,or browse the net if you like both these activities.You'll never notice the time passing.