Natural ways to deal with depression

Robert Reyes4 said:Walking is nice, but it’s pretty slow. That’s why I suggested running.
It helps both mentally and physically, plus you get that sense of accomplishment and it builds willpower.
It's free, you don't need a crew, and you pick your own schedule.

Forget about "everything going on" for a second—is there just one thing that makes you feel genuinely good? Try remembering what you used to enjoy back when you were younger.

You really think running fixes all of that?

I haven't done anything that actually feels fulfilling. I don't even know what that means. 🙄Maybe certain things, peace, family... but that feels out of reach.

restlesshound48 said:You really think running fixes all of that?

I haven't done anything that actually feels fulfilling. I don't even know what that means. 🙄Maybe certain things, peace, family... but that feels out of reach.

Give it a shot!
I tried imagining what I’d do if I were in your shoes. You’ve got to take some kind of step toward changing things.

Were you dealing with depression even when you were a kid? If not, what used to make you happy?

Robert Reyes4 said:Give it a shot!
I tried imagining what I’d do if I were in your shoes. You’ve got to take some kind of step toward changing things.

Were you dealing with depression even when you were a kid? If not, what used to make you happy?

I know I need to, but you probably haven't read everything on here. I just don't have the energy left for it. I know I should, but I don't have the will for anything anymore.

For the last year, I've basically been a vegetable.

I don't think so. This whole "fading away" process started maybe back in early high school. It was somewhat okay then, really—mostly just anxiety at that stage.

Later on, college, certain failures, family issues, that bullying from high school, life's setbacks... naturally, the comparisons start with people who've already made something of themselves. And now... I just keep dwelling on it.

restlesshound48 said:I know I need to, but you probably haven't read everything on here. I just don't have the energy left for it. I know I should, but I don't have the will for anything anymore.

For the last year, I've basically been a vegetable.

I don't think so. This whole "fading away" process started maybe back in early high school. It was somewhat okay then, really—mostly just anxiety at that stage.

Later on, college, certain failures, family issues, that bullying from high school, life's setbacks... naturally, the comparisons start with people who've already made something of themselves. And now... I just keep dwelling on it.

Feels like my life is headed down this path too. Hate bullying. I don't get how anyone can let that happen...

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restlesshound48 said:I know I need to, but you probably haven't read everything on here. I just don't have the energy left for it. I know I should, but I don't have the will for anything anymore.

For the last year, I've basically been a vegetable.

I don't think so. This whole "fading away" process started maybe back in early high school. It was somewhat okay then, really—mostly just anxiety at that stage.

Later on, college, certain failures, family issues, that bullying from high school, life's setbacks... naturally, the comparisons start with people who've already made something of themselves. And now... I just keep dwelling on it.

Whatever happened, happened.
When you're stuck in a rut like this, you have to look for ways to spark even a tiny bit of positive change. If you look at it from that angle, you might actually spot a way out.
And that first step needs to be something concrete and visible. You kind of have to force yourself to do it.

Jesse Barnes5 said:Feels like my life is headed down this path too. Hate bullying. I don't get how anyone can let that happen...

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Keeping my fingers crossed that things turn around for you. 👍

Robert Reyes4 said:Whatever happened, happened.
When you're stuck in a rut like this, you have to look for ways to spark even a tiny bit of positive change. If you look at it from that angle, you might actually spot a way out.
And that first step needs to be something concrete and visible. You kind of have to force yourself to do it.

I know I need to push myself. Even now. Do you really think I didn't want to?

It isn't that simple... I'm hoping to wrap this up within a month. That's the deadline I set for myself, and I intend to meet it.

restlesshound48 said:Keeping my fingers crossed that things turn around for you. 👍

I know I need to push myself. Even now. Do you really think I didn't want to?

It isn't that simple... I'm hoping to wrap this up within a month. That's the deadline I set for myself, and I intend to meet it.

Same here. Don't give up—try to find some courage and just take it one day at a time. I know that’s not a perfect fix, but just don't quit. Listen to some music, honey. Just don't overthink things too much or it'll break you. If things get really heavy, hit me up in the DMs.

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restlesshound48 said:You really think running fixes all of that?

I haven't done anything that actually feels fulfilling. I don't even know what that means. 🙄Maybe certain things, peace, family... but that feels out of reach.

I have no doubt that Robert Reyes4 suggested this with the best of intentions, and by all means, feel free to give it a shot—it’s certainly not going to cost you anything... however, I find myself rather skeptical given your admission that "overthinking" is your primary struggle. Running is essentially a repetitive motor task that leaves the mind entirely unaccounted for, providing far too much empty space for those intrusive thoughts to wander; therefore, I suspect you might find more success with an activity that actually engages the brain while remaining pleasant and stimulating...

Regardless of my skepticism, we must acknowledge that for certain individuals, the physiological chemical shift triggered by running can be quite beneficial. For some people, that is the case. Personally, I suspect that nothing but the raw act of running would deplete my mood rather than elevate it. But then again, humans are diverse creatures, and what provides solace for one person may offer no relief to another...

In any case, go ahead and try it; there is no harm in testing the theory, and you will soon discover exactly how it affects your own psyche. There are plenty of sports out there that provide that necessary physical outlet while simultaneously keeping the mind occupied...

feralranger said:I have no doubt that Robert Reyes4 suggested this with the best of intentions, and by all means, feel free to give it a shot—it’s certainly not going to cost you anything... however, I find myself rather skeptical given your admission that "overthinking" is your primary struggle. Running is essentially a repetitive motor task that leaves the mind entirely unaccounted for, providing far too much empty space for those intrusive thoughts to wander; therefore, I suspect you might find more success with an activity that actually engages the brain while remaining pleasant and stimulating...

Regardless of my skepticism, we must acknowledge that for certain individuals, the physiological chemical shift triggered by running can be quite beneficial. For some people, that is the case. Personally, I suspect that nothing but the raw act of running would deplete my mood rather than elevate it. But then again, humans are diverse creatures, and what provides solace for one person may offer no relief to another...

In any case, go ahead and try it; there is no harm in testing the theory, and you will soon discover exactly how it affects your own psyche. There are plenty of sports out there that provide that necessary physical outlet while simultaneously keeping the mind occupied...

I suggested it specifically because it's pure physical activity that doesn't require much focus. I figured that might be more manageable for him right now.
And on the physical side, it definitely does something for the body.
Yeah, he should try it.

Robert Reyes4 said:I suggested it specifically because it's pure physical activity that doesn't require much focus. I figured that might be more manageable for him right now.
And on the physical side, it definitely does something for the body.
Yeah, he should try it.

I follow your drift completely (regarding what you were aiming at), but I suspect that running won't exactly cure his "overthinking" (which he claims is a constant struggle)—though perhaps some other form of exercise actually could...

Still, let him give it a go just for the sake of trying something new; it costs him absolutely nothing, as you pointed out...

If it fails to help (much like how certain activities just end up making people lose interest altogether), he shouldn't take it as a personal defeat, because that doesn't mean something else won't eventually click...

feralranger said:I follow your drift completely (regarding what you were aiming at), but I suspect that running won't exactly cure his "overthinking" (which he claims is a constant struggle)—though perhaps some other form of exercise actually could...

Still, let him give it a go just for the sake of trying something new; it costs him absolutely nothing, as you pointed out...

If it fails to help (much like how certain activities just end up making people lose interest altogether), he shouldn't take it as a personal defeat, because that doesn't mean something else won't eventually click...

Honestly, I don't think overthinking is the only issue here. There's a pretty big side of passivity and just not taking action going on too.

I guess if you just run or walk until you basically hit a wall, you can actually shut off that constant overthinking. Eventually, you just get too exhausted to care, and once you finally stop, you pretty much pass out immediately.

Robert Reyes4 said:Honestly, I don't think overthinking is the only issue here. There's a pretty big side of passivity and just not taking action going on too.

That is certainly a possibility. I only voiced my skepticism to ensure no one feels utterly crushed if things don't pan out as expected. For some people, hitting the pavement for a run might completely derail them, while for others, it could be the very thing that lifts them up—and really, what is there to lose by trying?

Regardless of the outcome, if we are discussing clinical depression—and I am speaking strictly in medical terms, not just using the word colloquially—the likelihood of curing it simply by running is vanishingly small, if not non-existent (though I personally prefer to remain slightly more optimistic than that), and I fear that making attempts which yield no results serves only to deepen one's sense of disappointment.

Jesse Barnes5 said:Same here. Don't give up—try to find some courage and just take it one day at a time. I know that’s not a perfect fix, but just don't quit. Listen to some music, honey. Just don't overthink things too much or it'll break you. If things get really heavy, hit me up in the DMs.

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Like you said... there isn't really a solution. Every day just feels harder, and "surviving" like this is getting worse. It's not like I'm hitting massive peaks or deep valleys of crisis either. Every day is just more of the same.

Robert Reyes4 said:Honestly, I don't think overthinking is the only issue here. There's a pretty big side of passivity and just not taking action going on too.

The issue is, maybe for the better, that no matter what I try, I've done the right things, but I just don't have the will or the strength. I want to make progress quickly, but time just slips away every single day while I feel myself sliding backward.

Running isn't a bad idea. If I can get the circumstances right, I'll try it within a month.

Andrew Barrett4 said:I guess if you just run or walk until you basically hit a wall, you can actually shut off that constant overthinking. Eventually, you just get too exhausted to care, and once you finally stop, you pretty much pass out immediately.

See, I don't know, but when I'm physically drained, I still need a decent amount of time to actually fall asleep.

I had a pretty demanding job recently that really wore me down, and even then, it took a while before I could finally drift off.
But once I do, I sleep fast and recharge.

And how would that be a long-term solution?

That job wasn't bad in that sense. I'm used to grinding through things, and if it had paid better—like a typical college student gig—I would have stuck with it longer. I can handle hardship. It wasn't related to my field or my education level, though. Nothing like that.

feralranger said:I have no doubt that Robert Reyes4 suggested this with the best of intentions, and by all means, feel free to give it a shot—it’s certainly not going to cost you anything... however, I find myself rather skeptical given your admission that "overthinking" is your primary struggle. Running is essentially a repetitive motor task that leaves the mind entirely unaccounted for, providing far too much empty space for those intrusive thoughts to wander; therefore, I suspect you might find more success with an activity that actually engages the brain while remaining pleasant and stimulating...

Regardless of my skepticism, we must acknowledge that for certain individuals, the physiological chemical shift triggered by running can be quite beneficial. For some people, that is the case. Personally, I suspect that nothing but the raw act of running would deplete my mood rather than elevate it. But then again, humans are diverse creatures, and what provides solace for one person may offer no relief to another...

In any case, go ahead and try it; there is no harm in testing the theory, and you will soon discover exactly how it affects your own psyche. There are plenty of sports out there that provide that necessary physical outlet while simultaneously keeping the mind occupied...

I think if I were doing something more technical, I'd be more focused on the task at hand.

It would be great to get the brain working. I used to be able to focus for long stretches when I first started, but the real struggle is just getting off the couch. That part keeps getting harder.

restlesshound48 said:I think if I were doing something more technical, I'd be more focused on the task at hand.

It would be great to get the brain working. I used to be able to focus for long stretches when I first started, but the real struggle is just getting off the couch. That part keeps getting harder.

By all means, give it a shot...

However, if you are dealing with actual clinical depression rather than just a case of the "blues," please don't walk into this expecting a jog to cure you. If you set an expectation like that, you’re merely inviting a sense of failure that, much like any other setback during such a period, might end up draining your energy more than it replenishes it.

People toss the word "depression" around so casually these days that the advice given often ends up being incredibly shallow and hollow. Clinical depression is most frequently rooted in a chemical imbalance of neurotransmitters within the synapses of the neural network. The idea that you can resolve a biological issue of that magnitude simply by hitting the pavement for a run is, frankly, quite unrealistic.

feralranger said:By all means, give it a shot...

However, if you are dealing with actual clinical depression rather than just a case of the "blues," please don't walk into this expecting a jog to cure you. If you set an expectation like that, you’re merely inviting a sense of failure that, much like any other setback during such a period, might end up draining your energy more than it replenishes it.

People toss the word "depression" around so casually these days that the advice given often ends up being incredibly shallow and hollow. Clinical depression is most frequently rooted in a chemical imbalance of neurotransmitters within the synapses of the neural network. The idea that you can resolve a biological issue of that magnitude simply by hitting the pavement for a run is, frankly, quite unrealistic.

And that’s why feralranger is still standing. ☕

https://jamesclear.com/exercise-and-depression

Running and staying active definitely helps once the medication actually kicks in. But look—when you’re in the middle of a deep depression, you can barely crawl out of bed, let alone leave your room. Getting to the bathroom feels like a marathon, so asking someone to go out and hit the trails in the woods like Trump suggests is just... it's unrealistic. People are so uninformed, and they just end up spouting nonsense without a clue what they're talking about.

Singing and dancing 🎉

Joseph Bailey41 said:And that’s why feralranger is still standing. ☕

https://jamesclear.com/exercise-and-depression

And yes, I am still breathing. You can find some flimsy, half-baked study to support just about anything, allowing any tabloid headline writer to scream, "Scientists prove X!" Then, just a few months later—either in the same rag or some other sensationalist outlet—you'll see different scientists claiming the exact opposite is true.

There are actual scientific studies (which I linked recently) that would make the same argument regarding homeopathy or organized religion; one might even argue that joining Jehovah's Witnesses would be more effective than running, assuming there were a single study that managed to group both together with comparable results. 🤷

Regardless, I am quite unconvinced that clinical depression is cured by a jog. While exercise is generally beneficial for your health—one could certainly argue it lowers the risk of various ailments, much like many other healthy habits—the idea that it actually "cures" them is something I simply don't buy...