How do you counteract 'feeling blue'

ColeTrain · 20-10-2015 11:30PM #1

With winter setting in and the dark days upon us, it's important to keep the spirits up.

We all have tough days, it could be a ****ty day at work, getting snowed under with the weekly grind or just feeling down and out for no apparent reason.

I find music played at a very high volume does wonders when I'm in the midst of a **** day - as does a blast of fresh air. A bit of exercise is a given too for the natural high it releases.

So, how do you lift your spirits?

***First person to mention 'have a ****' wins the bogey prize***

major bill · 20-10-2015 11:41PM

Feeling pretty down lately but find certain Music to be a spirit lifter, in work I try to avoid the negative people!!

fleet_admiral · 20-10-2015 11:42PM

ColeTrain wrote: »

With winter setting in and the dark days upon us, it's important to keep the spirits up.

We all have tough days, it could be a ****ty day at work, getting snowed under with the weekly grind or just feeling down and out for no apparent reason.

I find music played at a very high volume does wonders when I'm in the midst of a **** day - as does a blast of fresh air. A bit of exercise is a given too for the natural high it releases.

So, how do you lift your spirits?

***First person to mention 'have a ****' wins the bogey prize***

You were thinking blue balls whilst writing out the thread werent you?

20-10-2015 11:43PM

It depends on the intensity of how I'm feeling. Sometimes there is nothing for it but for me to stay wrapped up in bed with my beloved books and a supply of chocolate.
Other times I need to talk to someone or just be in another person's company.

I think we put an awful lot of pressure on ourselves to fight the blues. When going for a walk feels like the last thing we want to do then we need to listen to ourselves. Often times there is nothing for it but to ride it out. I should add that I'm not referring in any way to clinical depression.

Baggy Trousers · 20-10-2015 11:44PM

Cardio Exercise - Running, swimming, cycling (ideally during the day but gym in evenings). Also indoor or outdoor soccer.

60% of the time, it works every time.

ColeTrain · 20-10-2015 11:50PM

fleet_admiral wrote: »

You were thinking blue balls whilst writing out the thread werent you?

I wouldn't know about that type of thing, maybe you can describe the feeling?!

Deleted User wrote: »

It depends on the intensity of how I'm feeling. Sometimes there is nothing for it but for me to stay wrapped up in bed with my beloved books and a supply of chocolate.
Other times I need to talk to someone or just be in another person's company.

I think we put an awful lot of pressure on ourselves to fight the blues. When going for a walk feels like the last thing we want to do then we need to listen to ourselves. Often times there is nothing for it but to ride it out. I should add that I'm not referring in any way to clinical depression.

That's a fair point, of course sometimes there is no quick fix - depending on circumstance.

SEPT 23 1989 · 20-10-2015 11:53PM

Wine and plenty of it

Azalea · 20-10-2015 11:54PM

Definitely exercise - it's not always easy to get out there if the weather's really bad (gym or exercise classes are good in those cases) and sometimes you really would rather not, but you feel great after it.
Thinking about Christmas (from after Halloween afterwards!) is great for cheering me up too - but I realise it's not for everyone.

OneOfThem · 20-10-2015 11:55PM

I like to watch wild animals go about their business. I live in Dublin, so I'm a little limited. We're talking street pigeons, feral cats, stray Jack Russels and Daddy Long Legs. I like to imagine I can hear their thoughts. Sometimes they'll throw you a look. And their look says "aww, did your girlfriend tell you she doesn't love you? One of my babies got eaten by a magpie earlier, her name was Sarah, I kinda liked her... magpie ate her. Now if you'd mind getting the fvck out of my way, you big fvcking girls blouse, I've to try to find enough food tonight so that I have enough calories stored up so that I can burn enough energy so I don't freeze to death tonight, and can manage to survive long enough to feed my remaining two children tomorrow. There's a good lad."

cantdecide · 20-10-2015 11:56PM

I understand that this sounds extremely simplistic but when the claustrophobia sets in, I just remind myself that however long it lasts, it is temporary. It's a personal thing but knowing it stops me slipping.

Ruu · 21-10-2015 12:09AM

Run, meditate but not at the same time that would be a disaster.

siblers · 21-10-2015 12:13AM

Azalea wrote: »

Definitely exercise - it's not always easy to get out there if the weather's really bad (gym or exercise classes are good in those cases) and sometimes you really would rather not, but you feel great after it.
Thinking about Christmas (from after Halloween afterwards!) is great for cheering me up too - but I realise it's not for everyone.

I find the gym is a great stress reliever, distracts you (even if temporarily) from the stuff keeping you down. Agree with you on Christmas too!

21-10-2015 12:13AM

Run and meditate.

Does wonders.

biko · 21-10-2015 12:13AM

Stop being blue and be awesome instead.

21-10-2015 12:15AM

Also I find avoiding After Hours to be a good idea...

Aongus Von Bismarck · 21-10-2015 12:17AM

Ruu wrote: »

Run, meditate but not at the same time that would be a disaster.

10 minutes of mindful meditation in the morning, followed by a good high cardio run and a decent breakfast. It's a wonderful start to the day. Things tend to fall into place after that.

Stheno · 21-10-2015 12:17AM

I don't really tbh, I just get into a funk.

I've a job where every few days I get independant reviews in terms of what I do, and if I don't hear from consulting customers, I worry.

I seem to spend my life worrying.

But then I set myself high standards, so maybe it's me.

I chose to screw up recently on something and don't really care about it, but I'm dreading tomorrow as it's weekly evaluation time.

If I've a row with my OH as we did this past weekend, I always consider it's the end, he's capitulated first so we are back talking and doing nice stuff for each other.

I'd love to have more faith in me.

NintendoGirl · 21-10-2015 12:23AM

Reading a book, getting lost in a different world and forgetting about my own for a while , works!

chrissb8 · 21-10-2015 12:26AM

Exercise. Smoking weed. Both help release what I feel anyway is a knot in my head. It's almost like I can't go 10 mins without worrying about something or getting negative about something. When I get to that stage I just put on my runners and run a few miles out. Then weed just helps me relax at the end of a long day and I just can't turn off from it.

NachoBusiness · 21-10-2015 12:38AM

Whenever I feel a bit low, I always think about that woman who got her face ripped off by chimpanzee.

Got her face totally ripped off by a chimpanzee and whenever I'm feeling a bit low, I think I could have been that woman.

ColeTrain · 21-10-2015 12:46AM

NachoBusiness wrote: »

Whenever I feel a bit low, I always think about that woman who got her face ripped off by chimpanzee.

Got her face totally ripped off by a chimpanzee and whenever I'm feeling a bit low, I think I could have been that woman.

**** it, i'm going for pints, sure I could be like that woman with the chimpanzee, she wouldn't be fit for pints on a Tuesday with the face she has because of the chimpanzee...

jamesbere · 21-10-2015 12:47AM

Personally I'd say doing exercise is the best way to combat the seasonal depression. A nice brisk run followed by a hot shower always perks me up.

The Backwards Man · 21-10-2015 12:54AM

Tennent's!

Aongus Von Bismarck · 21-10-2015 12:58AM

Some great advice here. There seems to be a common thread running through the genuinely useful posts. Exercise, mediation, reading, good food, music.

The Backwards Man · 21-10-2015 01:00AM

Aongus Von Bismarck wrote: »

Some great advice here. There seems to be a common thread running through the genuinely useful posts. Exercise, mediation, reading, good food, music.

And sweet Scottish nectar too Aongus, don't forget that.

NintendoGirl · 21-10-2015 01:00AM

Aongus Von Bismarck wrote: »

Some great advice here. There seems to be a common thread running through the genuinely useful posts. Exercise, mediation, reading, good food, music.

Your class, sophistication, good taste, must be rubbing off on us AVB :P

diddley · 21-10-2015 01:03AM

Start 'atin

NachoBusiness · 21-10-2015 01:19AM

Serious answer: focusing on what I have, no matter how small, I feel helps.

Even if your glass is only 1/100th full, best to focus on having that 1/100th rather than the 99/100ths that you don't, currently, have. Especially so if illness is partially, or completely, why you are find yourself in the state that you do. If grief is part of it I think remembering what that person would want for you helps. Maybe they did a lot for you and so to carry on trying to achieve goals that they were helping you with can make you feel like they are still with you in some sense.

Otherwise though, on just a day to day thing. Try and stay away for heavy news. I think that's why I like the Daily Mail as so many of the news stories are ridiculous but at the same time you get to keep up to date with what's going on on the planet. Watching your favourite comedy shows, chat shows, movies etc, are all good. I also like watching films where people overcome an adversity of one form or another. Mask, Papillon, The Pursuit of Happiness etc. I feel occupying yourself with enjoyable forms of entertainment, whatever that may be for you, is very important.

Robsweezie · 21-10-2015 01:32AM

Acknowledging that you're blue, and repeatedly chanting abi dee abi dyy, is very important.

But in all seriousness, keeping active , not sitting and wallowing, can help.

myshirt · 21-10-2015 01:37AM

Knock out a few knuckle soldiers in the privacy of my neighbours back yard while staring through the window as i dont have a dvd player

Charlie19 · 21-10-2015 01:43AM

I just have a read through the news headlines from around the world, my problems always seem so trivial then.

How do you counteract 'feeling blue'

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