re: Is there anyone on here with anxiety or depression, who is having a hard time?

I've come to the realization that there is no swaying someone who has gone too far left or too far right, and I certainly accept that

You will get through this

Lots of great home workout on YouTube where you don’t even need weights.

Some other recommendations that help me:

Journaling - Practice mindfulness. write down goals, make it a day to day. Write 3 things you’re thankful for. This was massive for me and helped me to start feeling like myself again

Video Games - it’s a good escape from everything

A light box with high lumens - this is more necessary in the colder months but I use mine some days regardless

A dog - if it’s possible and you think you’d be up for it. My dogs are always there.

Watch your diet, watch the alcohol.

Take a long bath while listening to music

Drawing, painting, coloring, puzzles, crosswords

Some things you can take that can help boost your mood:

L-tyrosine, 5-HTP (Pure Balance Serotonin is a product I use)

Tunasntigers92,

I've said before that if finding yourself smack dab in the middle of a pandemic didn't even take just a little bit of the wind out of your sails, then you're either a liar or a damn fool who's escaped natural selection. For me it's the social, economic and constitutional ramifications that affect my psyche with all of this more so than my own health, but I'm most certainly worried about my parents, remaining grandparents and others who are at risk of dying if infected. That said, I miss people and things when they're not even gone yet, so I'm already predisposed to worrying (oftentimes unwarranted) about the people and the intangibles in life.

Furthermore, I'm not unaccustomed to the existential feelings of dread, but on top of those preexisting feelings, having yet another daily (hourly, if you let it be) reminder of our imminent demise is a bummer on top of a bummer. Straight up: It's a bummed out thing to contemplate, given our mostly first world problems 60 days ago (e.g., don't get ran over by a Mardi Gras float), and it makes it worse when the happy-go-lucky folks that people like myself depend on to give perspective are in the dumps too.

If you're already a depressed person then this exacerbates it. I'm a pessimist, but far more of a realist, as I look at life as being a series of tragic, horrible and burdensome events that defines who, what, where, when and how I'll live out my days on earth, because at its essence, that is life: Outside of the births and maybe a wedding or two, it's the hard times that send us on our way down life's path. It's how we recover from the hard times that defines us, not how we live during the normal, aka "good," times. IME, there are no good times, there are only the times in between the hard times and hard events from which we are recovering (or not recovering).

It's okay to be a depressed person, but you've got to always acknowledge your depression or it can (and oftentimes will) destroy you. Many times in my life I've nearly succumbed to my depression, but I've never forgotten this: "Fear is a liar." 2nd Timothy says, "For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline."

IMO, you gotta get outside- really get outside. There's a reason why many humans not only enjoy nature, but worship it; likewise, there's a reason why billions of others worship its Creator when experiencing its grandeur: The natural environment was not created by a fallible man with different tastes and designs; the breadth and depth of the natural environment are seemingly endless and never grow out of date and out of style.

Go hang out in the other society- the one where everything is always changing and yet it stays the same in perfect equilibrium (assuming we don't frick with it). There's a reason why nowadays more and more people are being prescribed "the outdoors" by doctors: It's in our blood. It is a divine place, and it is damned good medicine.

Go camping- in a tent. Go live a life of sustenance for a few days in the woods and watch what happens to your soul when you step foot back into human society. Float a river for a couple of days, and whatever you do, do not NOT fish. There's 2 things I've never heard a man say that he hates (and when I say "hates" I mean "hates like a man hates stubbing his toe"): #1 is his dog, and #2 is fishing.

The beautiful vibrations of a "fish on" is a universally- UNIVERSALLY, I SAY - replenishing thing for the human soul. Prove me wrong and I'll kiss your arse.

To paraphrase: It's normal to be melancholy about our current situation, as well as being a melancholy person at your core; we all have our cross to carry, our burden to bear, and our chains to break. It is in my best opinion and thorough experience that both now and in the future, the best safeguard and "cure" for depression is to acknowledge it (both to yourself and to your "burial people," i.e., your most loved and trusted people) and to get outside- but not just "outside," but really get out there. Go somewhere away from the pack and recharge your humanity and your sanity. Go out into the wide open spaces where it's safe and where none of the inhabitants are going to stick around to put up with your bullshite (unless you make camp on a yellow jacket burrow).

And for God sakes wet a hook while you're out there. It'll put things into perspective and you'll realize that there's a whole 'nother world outside of our own where we've no capacity to change the happenings (unless we were to destroy it), and gaining that insight, if only for a moment, tells you all that you need to know: There's not a damned thing we can do about the road left ahead in our lives except to live it.

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things that can help

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Theanine works pretty well for me in general.

God Call, Tulane. Doing the Lords work!

I’ve got a personal friend hat is a licensed anxiety and grief counselor. He is doing free therapy sessions over the phone to help people in this crazy/scary time. Let me know if your interested and I’ll connect you. He’s a great guy and has been offering this for the last week.

Let’s talk about it. What is bothering you? What specific thoughts do you think have triggered the depression?

This will pass my friend. I have health issues and my littlest does as well. I have a stress ulcer at the moment. He is sick but still acting normal now for over a week. I am sick (had a covid test - no results yet) and still making it.

This will pass. I try and enjoy the small things that I once ignored before or just brushed over. Take time to rest and as others said find things to occupy your mind.

Allow yourself twice a day or no times a day if need be to look at the news. I actually started to look at GOOD news related to virus. This will pass as all the other sicknesses in history have and there is light at the end of the tunnel just keep moving forward friend.

I run stadiums daily, prison workouts in the garage, tend to my business which is still functioning at least for this weekend, read as much as I can, smoke alot of weed, call and talk with friends or see a friend and talk daily, listen to motivational videos daily and often multiple times, evade my vices like high alcohol spirits and dont drink to cope with pain, focus on what I can control and acknowledge what I cannot. Im in a decently bad little mental rut right now but there are real factors contributing to it that In aware of and working on letting go of daily.

You’re Stronger Than You Think - Youtube - Jordan Peterson

Reading material that could help-
12 Rules Of Life - Jordan Peterson
Cant Hurt Me - David Goggins
The Road Less Traveled - Scott Peck
Lost Connections - Johan Harri
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a frick - Mark Manson

Audible has a free 1 month trial period along with 2 credit free download upon signing up.

Stay in the fight. There is meaning to staying in the fight. There is huge meaning to your life, and you have a ton of potential to bring joy into other’s. This feeling is just a snippet in time of your life, it’s not always and it’s not forever. It can be negotiated and navigated and there are days on the horizon where smiles are effortless my friend. Stay in the fight.