Hi, how’s it going? Hope you are doing well.
Have you ever felt this way? Same routine, different day… Nothing goes right, so why bother? It feels like the world will end if you get out of bed. Well… Chances are you getting out of bed won’t bring on Armageddon. LOL.
But routines filled with drama and failed attempts at fixing things can bring a person down. In fact, it can bring a person who has bipolar disorder too far down. It can lead to clinical depression.
But there is a four-syllable word that can help: Productiveness. How many times is it easy enough to just stay in bed and do nothing when you are depressed? Even if you get out of bed you aren’t likely to do much.
There is a philosophy for dealing with depression. The saying goes “Get up and eat.” Now, I don’t want you to take this the wrong way: food will not solve depression. The point to this saying is that getting up and doing something will help.
There is scientific evidence to this, as well. Getting up and doing things that are productive will help the brain chemical process that will encourage your brain to bring you out of the depression. Now, this isn’t a substitute for taking your medication or following your treatment plan. But it will help.
There are lots of things you can do. The more productive they are, the better. I say this because the satisfaction of a job well done will build your self esteem and help pull you out of the depression. Not to mention there are things that just need to get done.
These sorts of things can vary greatly, ranging anywhere from hobbies to household chores to work or school to socialization. You can talk on the phone to someone you’ve been meaning to get ahold of for a while now. You can choose to eat a healthy meal and plan for it when you go grocery shopping. Even going grocery shopping is an example of something constructive you can do.
Now this isn’t by far a cure-all. But it will help you in many ways. It’s a good coping skill to have and to learn. If you need help with it, let someone know. There are many people who can help you with it, including your supporters and your therapist. You should let your psychiatrist know as well.
Now, supporters, if your loved one comes up to you and says that they need help with motivation, take them seriously. But do it gently. They don’t need someone yelling at them or forcing them to do anything. What they need is gentle encouragement and attention to details that will help them along. They also need you to be their source of hope when they don’t have any other.
What are your thoughts on this?
Well, I have to go!
Your Friend,
Dave
Post responses below
Hi Dave, Have not responded in along time, sorry. I would like to let you know I do thank you for all of your effort and not giving up on me. This is also to let you know it is not about me. This info you are sharing with me is about a sibling of mine. I do appreciate your input as I am further praying for him and continue to read your data and do further research on this disease that effects many. Good day to you Dave and thank you, Your friend, Suz
Hi Dave, thanks for the encouraging words. Sometimes I feel so down that I don’t think my medicine is helping, but what I find helpful is going swimming, take a walk, cooking, and just getting out of the house helps. The change of scenery can elevate my mood. Fresh air is healthy too. Being productive is a plus.
Hi Dave, This is so true I do know that being productive especialy walking or exercise is so very theraputic. I havent had the mony for my meds or therapy but i walk every day sometimes twice a day and feel pretty good. i have a question though, i am enrolling in school and wonder how my bi-polar disorder will effect my major or degree decision.
hiiii hun…how things…
a think sometimes when you try to hard to atcheve something an something gose wrong you sort of loose inntrest..a think its just negativity what is the down fall..but that carnt solve the way you feel it takes time to get back on track..i no we all have our ups an downs but sometimes you can scoop so low you carnt see any way out..
Take Care Linda..xx
I have a dear friend who has gone deeper into depression. Her meds don’t seem to be helping. I tell her all the time to help herself move away from the depression, I support her. I have her working for me & insist she does things bc all she want to do is just sit there. She doesn’t want to help herself she say’s she can’t. I am at a loss, I just don’t know what to do anymore. I wonder how effective this method is?
dear dave you know the other day i was not so nice about anything so i was yelling about everything i thought my family was going to call the polic on me so i made an doctors appt. sometimes i just dont know what is wronge with me so thanks. ur friend sharon
Hello Dave
This is great advice. I live with Bipolar II disorder, and one of the absolute BEST things to help with depression is going for a walk! To all supporters: the best thing you can do for the person you are supporting is: walk with them!! I go for two walks a day now, one in the morning by myself, and one in the evening with a friend and 3 dogs. If you have nowhere specifically to go, just walk around the side streets in your neighbourhood. Take a Walkman or Ipod if music makes you feel better. Even a 15 or 20 minute walk is better than nothing. You WILL feel better. Try it and you will see for yourself.
THE LORD HAS PREPARED A TABLE IN THE MIDST OF OUR ENEMIES (OUR SOURCES OF DEPRESSION)
hi dave, i felt it important that i respond to the depression artical for one main reason; first i should give a little info abt me. i feel i am both bipolar & supporter, not for someone else but my own supporter. i know that must sound really weird, you see i do have peole in my life who w/out knowing, do in times of crisis support me, like my mom, she suffers from depression herself that has really become alot worse since she retired some years ago, so i try not to burrden her as much as i used to. i wish i could say that i havent needed to call her to save my life {no joke}or that i never asked for her to give me permission to die!, to which she said NO!! and that if i should ever think o asking her that question again her answer would be yes as long as she goes w/ me, that sounds pretty messed up to most im sure what they dont know is that she knew that would be the one way to stop it from ever happening again, i love her more than everything!!! anyway what i was gettng @ is i try very hard to keep my disorder from negitively affecting those close to me, they dont get it, andi dont push it. for the past several months it seems iv been in probably the most depressed low place i can ever remember {and im 39} normally my depressed times dont last nearly this long or get this bad!! they are always followed by fantastic manic highs, i dont mean the highs are good, because i know that although my feet dont ever seem to touch he ground when im manic theres always gonna be a fall when ill have to deal w/ what ive done while manic. anyway as far as getting up and doing something productive i found a way to even make that somewhat negitive. confused?, let me explain, you see when somethings bugging me i clean, sounds good, harmless, even productive hu? well how i make it negitive is i clean obsessivly, i clean to avoid things, i get so into it that i shut everyone around me out, and i go far beyond normal cleaning, even pushing detail cleaning to the extreem!! there have been times that i knew i needed to deal w/ something or someone and didnt want to or know how to so i would clean for days all along the stress of what i was avoiding would build til i was a complete mess and haveing to ask anyone to stop me! yes stopme from cleaning. i havent figured this out yet so thats all i have to offer, i just felt it should be said that sometimes what seems productive can be counter productive. i dont know if thats helpful or not for me it just is, i work on it and everything else dayily, and what you do is such a huge help for me i cant thank you enough, truely words just dont do it your emails have kept me going i wish i had an active supporter in my life but i really dont so i count on my daily email from you so please keep up all your good work!! my best to all stayc
To REBECCA GOZA: As far as going to school, and how your disorder will affect your semester there – remember your treatment plan!! Don’t sign up for more credits than you can easily handle. Do NOT try drinking alcohol or partaking of recretational drugs. They’ll only mess with your mind, and maybe send you into an episode. Taking courses toward your major is vital; just don’t overdo it. Your decision to go to school is GREAT, and it CAN be a great experience for you, but…I tried it, and found that the STRESS of college “could” be too much. PACE yourself; figure out just how much you can take, sensibly, and GO FOR IT!! I know lots of bipolar survivors who have managed their college life with their disorder. Take everything in moderation (yes, even sturdying and taking exams!). Try NOT to enroll in early-morning classes, as you WILL need your sleep. Sometimes the “fun” of college can hinder your illness, so try to take your studies seriously. MORE POWER TO YOU…I have faith in you!!!
BIG HUGS to all bipolar surviors and those who love us. May God bless you real good. I continue to pray for my country.
It sounds so simple. I am bipolar, but I’m alone most of the week. When I’m in the middle of a depressive episode, I’m lucky I’m awake let alone getting out of bed. Please, this is not a simple thing to do. You are not only dealing with being depressed but you may also be dealing with a change of medication. Just the side effects of the meds can make it difficult to get out of bed. Yes, I agree being productive does help, but depending how deep you are in your illness, this idea is very simplified. I am one of those small percentages of people that have very hard to treat bipolar disorder. I wish with all my being that it would always be that easy.
Dave many thanks to your tireless support and encouragement for those of us who are going through the difficulties of Bipolar Disorder. And I think “getting out of bed in a productive way”, is really a better way to cope with and fight with the negative side of the disorder:Depression!
But Dave let me share with this current iccident with all of you, I am in a depressive mood since the 14th of August and beleive tried each and every method including my medications which all failed. And now I am out of because I got a positive news, so some times though the copying strategies work but again the brain chemical imbalance will previal as long the triggering factors are in position. And once a positive takes place, the mood will go back to its natural cycle in my poor opinion based on my personal experiences!
Thank you Dave for all THe encouragement.I was reading Acomment by Stacy on Aug 24.My husband Dan have the OCD problem.I think he’s a clean freak sometimes.He gets major panic attacts.He worries abt.Everything and everybody.To a point that it stresses me out to much.I try my best to help him.I was also diagnose w/ manic Depression 10 yrs. ago but my depression goes away as long as i get agoodnight sleep,eat well and exercise everyday.I also work as a hairstylist 6 days a week.I’m Very busy.I’m also A mom of 2 beautiful kids.So far i manage to stay positive.I’m very grateful for everything I have.My only worry is my husband.He’s agreat husband and a wonderful father when he’s not suffering from anxietty attacks.Which he gets every morning.lately.I hope it goes away soon.I love him and i want to help him.I just don’t know if i’m doing the rigth thing.I do make him walk w/me everymorning.I can’t enjoy my walk w/him bec all he does is complain abt. feeling awful.I ussually tell him that feeling will pass.I wish and pray he believe me.I’m running out of patience.Don’t get me wrong.He used to push me to do things when i was feeling down.I try to do the samething.I hope this help.To everyone whose suffering from bipolar or depression.The thing that help me is the book called THE SECRET.I know I can’t even get my husband toread it rigth now but he start feeling better when we watch it together lastyear.I need to watch it again w/him.Have faith.Things do get better.Don’ty ever take serequel.The worst medicine for bipolar.I’m not a doctor but I seen the bad side effect on my husband.God bless and have a great day.Pls.email djoh at mindsping.com.He’s my husband who needs the support and love.