"I am looking for clues to be happy.
Can anybody give me tips that I can understand and implement?
I am looking for practical tips and not long conversations.
Can anybody help me?
Thanks."
_________________________
Yes, CDM, I will try to help. These are good for you, Das, Chris, Michelle and anybody else who suffers from depression.
1. Surround yourself with positive, happy people.
2. Ignore people who fail to recognize the severity of depression and only offer "words" not understanding.
3. Try to be with other people and to talk to and confide in those who show a true understanding for your illness.
4. Participate in activities that are FUN and may make you feel better. Make a list of things that you LIKE to do and put it on here for us to see!
Keep us posted as you do FUN, HAPPY, EXCITING things and tell us how they made you feel.
5. Mild exercise will release endorphins, which make you FEEL GOOD!!
6. Go to a movie, a ballgame, a play or some activity that requires you go OUTSIDE and tell us what you plan to do, what you ended up doing.
7. Participate in religious, social, or other activities and let us know HOW THAT MAKES YOU FEEL.
8. Feeling better takes time. Your mood will improve gradually.
9. Obey the doctor's orders about NO use of alcoholic products while on medication.
10. Positive thinking will replace the negative thinking as your depression responds to treatment.
11. Walk! Very simply, talk a walk. Look at nature. Listen to the birds; look at the clouds; watch squirrels, rabbits and little creatures play; smell the flowers and fresh cut grass; enjoy the beauty of all the different sights and sounds that blind and deaf people can not enjoy.
12. Count your blessings. Name them one by one. Look (and list?)for all the things that you have and CAN do that others DO NOT have and CAN NOT do.
These are things that you can do anytime of the day or night to help make you HAPPY. These are things that HAPPY people do every day. I hope that these ideas help you and others!
(What is positive thinking? It is when YOU think, "I can smile when I look in the mirror", and you look at yourself, and YOU SMILE! That is positive thinking. If you looked at yourself and DID NOT smile after you said that, then you were thinking negatively. So, it is a matter of attitude, if we try to help you CONCENTRATE on remembering to smile MORE... like, you are my friend. ~~~~
~~~~~ I just SMILED at you! ~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~ Did you SMILE back at me? ~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~ try it ~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ How does that feel? ~~~~
~~~ keep smiling ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~
~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It feels GOOD to me to smile! Now we have to work on ways to get YOU to smile more, okay? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~
~~)
The depressed person needs diversion and company SO keep coming back HERE and telling us HOW YOU ARE DOING and WHICH of these tips and hints are working the best FOR YOU! It will be best to TRY some of ALL of them and others you MUST do in order to be successful in happiness!
You need to be with people who care. That is us! Look at the forum called "CAN A FORCED SMILE MAKE YOU HAPPY?". It is a GREAT thing to keep in mind! Good Luck and best wishes!
May God bless you!
Trish
you are my friend. ~~~~
~~~~~ I just SMILED at you! ~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~ Did you SMILE back at me? ~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~ try it ~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ How does that feel? ~~~
~~~~~~~~keep smiling~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~
~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It feels GOOD to me to smile! Now we have to work on ways to get YOU to smile more, okay? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~
~~)
CDM, this next part is not for you. Go ahead and start making your FUN lists, OKAY?
Trish
THIS NEXT PART IS FOR THE REST OF US, including Alexandra who seems so positive that it really puts off others with ailments.
IMPORTANT for all friends (and family) who want to HELP ANYONE who suffers from depression:
Keep reassuring the depressed person that, with time and help, he or she will feel better.
The most important thing anyone can do for the depressed person is encouraging the individual to stay with treatment or to seek different treatment if no improvement occurs.
Encourage participation in some activities that once gave pleasure, such as hobbies, sports, religious or cultural activities.
Invite the depressed person for walks, outings, to the movies, and other activities.
Engage the depressed person in conversation and listen carefully.
Offer emotional support, which involves understanding, patience, affection, and encouragement, but point out realities and offer hope.
What we should NOT do:
Do not accuse the depressed person of not listening to our advice or understanding all of our halp.
Don't make too many demands because it can increase feelings of failure.
Do not disparage feelings expressed by the depressed person.
All of the above information can be found at the following website:
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