Good Morning Sunshine! I told you this old broad would see ya and I am here. Where are you? No fair chasing the nurses when are looking for ya. lol

Hope you had some sweet dreams and having a better day. Things are rolling along here. Sacramento is suppose to sizzle today so see if I can hit the pool. No peaking. Will check in later. (((Zippy)))
Your fans.

Battling depression it does help to have a variety of tools in your tool box. I will add a few at a time.

The idea of playing a game that distracts you is a good one. As is just doing something that is soothing and pleasant. Puzzles, crafts, cooking, gardening, playing and instrument. If it is something that helps you bridge to others in a social setting it is also helpful. Sometimes it can be solitary but it is nice to just be around people without having to do a lot of talking how you feel. A lot of times their good stuff helps crowd out your bad stuff.

Being isolated by depression can amplify the symptoms. If you are not used to being around people and noise it can be more unnerving. Even if you have a really yucky day try to connect with someone for a wave hello or companionship from afar like enjoying a book and a coffee at the back table of your local caf� or walking through a garden somewhere. There are good drop in centers that "get" what it is to have a bad spell and can help you make friends and learn useful things or just feel safe. Look up Independent Living Center's or the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill as they have awesome programs and materials you can take from totally at your own pace.

Getting out and getting fresh air and daylight can become a sustaining and comforting habit. Yea you maybe only set on the front porch in your slippers the first day but if you get a pedometer and add 25 steps a day you will not be sore and gain momentum. A morning walk can help you organize yourself for the day or unwind for better rest in the evening. I am not big on people who are chronicallill having to be saddled with a chore of a pet every day but you can be someone's God Send if you walk their pet or just help their pet socialize with a gentle human. Just feeding the birds makes a lot of difference.

The computer is great for fellowship but it glows and messes with your sleep so set a timer and take a break and even turn it off a couple hours before you need to hit the sack. Good sleep habits and environment are a must if your body has to deal with chronic depression.

Good diet is important. We all get to have potato chips or popcorn days occasionally but if your diet is looking dismal it is hard for your body to feel good. If you are dehydrated you are going to feel like garbage even if you aren't depressed. Making a commitment to yourself to add one new food a week will make a huge improvement to your over all nutrition because you are bound to have a better variety of nutrients. Any fruit or veggie with color and whole grains can give you loads of antioxidents and lower your glutin and carbs. You aren't packing around the extra calories in fat because your body is hording what little good stuff it can get.

Last but not least do something nice for someone else every day. It can be a smile to a harried clerk somewhere, a silly email, pulling someone's trash can in, doing something someone who loves you ask you to do or at least taking the first step towards it. You will have something positive to account for your footprint in the world and your little kindness just might be the one good thing that happen to that fellow human being. Never underestimate the value in just being you. You don't know it but you create jobs and give others purpose in so many ways it is really kind of cool.

So agree with this I would like to add a bit more of a description... Depression that starts out as mild can slide into clinical where the serotonin levels are being depleted from over tiredness, poor diet etc... With the stressors of living everyday life.

I have seen so many people that struggled with depression not understanding the why's of it. I also have seen many GP's or friends that have no clue how to deal with it.. Prescribing medications are great in the idea of stabilizing said person. When that is done the person needs the professional that is skilled in teaching new coping skills to recognize and offset the depression.

After you blow her up, throw her in the microwave....

But in reality according to investigators it was over a parking spot. These guys are all about respect, once they feel they have been disrespected in any way it's on.