Unconventional Ways That Have Helped You Through Depression?

[Seasounds]

I have been dealing with such a deep depression every time that I associate to my feelings around losing my community at work, that I bottom out--you know the kind that medication and therapy doesn't solve.

So at my wits end (and I must say my therapist's as well), I fell back on my old motto for getting through hard times; I'll try new things, if they are safe and inexpensive. Due to injuries, I haven't been able to exercise-an old fall back, helpful thing. Due to my Physical Therapist's suggestion, she told me that my injury would allow me to do mild to moderate social dancing. I tried it, and it worked! Need to do it for a couple of hours.

Of course there are lots of reasons why: it totally helps me shift gears, I let go of the body and mind pattern that is involved in the grief. It seems that the mere physical connection with others, helps connect my 'electrical circuits' to things and people outside myself. It is as if when I grieve, I cut my electrical circuits off; then out goes the lights, and I am in a psychological blackout.

Anyone else experience something like this?
What has worked for you?

 

[shimmerz]

Seeing depression as a freeze response. The fact that your dancing works for you makes sense to me as you are moving out of the freeze response. Most times I am not able to do such active things (I have to take it easy) but with mindfulness when I feel I am starting to seize up I will move with the absolute purpose of getting out of my freeze state.

 

[Seasounds]

@shimmerz, helpful insight! I was happy to discover a more moderate activity than the self-defense class I have used.

I can say that 'this time around the wheel of depression' the 'connection to others' seems to fill the deepest void. Though other forms of 'unfreezing' movements, which I rely upon, (e.g. Alexander Technique, yoga, or dancing alone) usually both unfreeze me and restore my connection to the earth (it both undoes recoiling in fear and helps me ground to the earth), this recent loss-circumstance was only fully relieved by moving with another person.

Thanks again!

 

[Brenton]

I have been dealing with such a deep depression every time that I associate to my feelings around losing...

I wrote a suicide not that became a story, that got published... I would have shot myself for sure if I didn't have the outlet.

 

[Ed Norton]

Playing doctor except I'm not playing

 

[Ava Jarvis]

I asked the head priest of my Shinto shrine for an omamori (a blessed charm) against suicidal thoughts. There are omamori for all kinds of things—fortune, healing from illness, protection, even ones that help you study better. I'm not really sure how they work. I'm not sure they work for everybody. I didn't think that this omamori would work for me.

But it did. The suicidal thoughts got muffled way down low.

Whether this is a case of "Dumbo's magic feather" or a case of me thinking about the care and love and power that kannushi-sensei put into this special omamori (it's not a common omamori) or something else entirely, it worked.

More recently I have been grounding in the sense of, I guess, communing with Amaterasu-omikami, which is somewhat like praying but not quite. I open up to her and ask her for help, as much as I am able -- it's really hard for me to ask for help of any kind, or even to open up that much. I still am afraid of doing it but it often works.

I ... have run up against people elsewhere who tell me this is wrong and I need to stop all of this because I need to believe in God or I need to not believe in "mumbo jumbo" and religion is wrong. I'm probably mean for blocking them. It's a sign of progress that I can block them at all, even though they still hurt me deeply and make building up my faith even harder.

These are the same people who dislike the idea of unusual solutions to depression. It's all got to be regulation, normal, and entirely speaking to logic and/or God. They do not have the same kind of depression I have, apparently.

 

[Sideways]

Plants.

Plants pull me out of dissociative episodes, and working with plants (re-pot something, even if it doesn't need repotting!) switches off my brain, including suicidal stuff.

I used to be like Freddy Kreuger with plants. I could kill the unkillable. But I started working in gardens as a therapeutic thing, and I'm now studying Landscape Design. Plants communicate distress in so many different complex ways. And bringing plants into health and watching them thrive is the best. Really calming.

I live in an apartment with just a small patio that is becoming a bit of a jungle with lush tropical plants with boldly coloured flowers. It's my breathing space. The absolute best. And 4 years ago, I didn't own a single plant because it was a sure-fire death waiting to happen!

 

[hodge]

I asked the head priest of my Shinto shrine for an omamori (a blessed charm) against suicidal thought...

Ava, do NOT let anyone put down the belief system that resonates with you. There are many ways up the mountain and not all of them work for everyone. I'm so glad you found something that works for you.

 

[Powder]

@Ava Jarvis

I think that the intent of others in alignment with one's own has always proved powerful. It's been used in human history for both good and bad.

So of course it works, and is the basis of cooperation and making things happen that would otherwise not happen.

I loved your story and how this helped you. How beautiful. Thank you for sharing, and I'm sorry anyone would think that love is not of God. It's odd that anyone would think their version of God would be all there is. Small-minded.

 

[Deleted member 29920]

Bit gruesome (sorry in advance)

I found that picturing my own lifeless body really snapped me out of my thoughts of suicide.

Something more positive that helps has been getting back into art, and taking photos of beautiful things I see whenever I'm outdoors.