How far have you gone to avoid an oncoming depression?

I'm curious-- what healthy or unhealthy things have you done to stop the oncoming downswing after a mania, hypomania, or normal period?? (Whatever normal is)

Eat healthy food. Cut back on sugar and coffee.

Exercise. Gentle walking or cycling on quiet roads.

Regular sleep.

Stick to my meds as prescribed.

Pretty boring, huh.

I am yet to find a way to actually avoid depression. I used to self-medicate with alcohol and drugs, which was such a massive success I am now a member of Narcotics Anonymous. Nowadays if it's a mild mood swing I try a cup of coffee and some chocolate. Sometimes it works. Gym works ALMOST always but not for long -- gym rat here and largely for that reason. And I never, ever skip my meds.

Best i can do is stick to my meds and go with the flow. I try to avoid negative people.
I cant avoid my moods. I can just be aware of were my moods may be heading on a minute by minute basis.

Nothing, really. Nothing works! If it's coming, it's coming, there's nothing I can do about it except waiting it out.

Oliveira, I've tried going for a run, but it doesn't work. If I'm already depressed I can't even make it to the bathroom to change clothes. If I'm not yet depressed I usually manage to go out and run, but it doesn't really get me anywhere. If the depression is coming, I usually can't even finish showering afterwards until it comes.

For me it's heavy weightlifting. In fact today the only reason I got out of the house was to go to the gym. Now I'm back, less depressed but still in no shape to see/talk to people. (Groceries! Come to me!)

But yeah I know the "shower is too far" feeling and yeah, not even a workout helps. Because it doesn't happen. Lying in bed for hours happens. Big hug invicta.

@thebetterhalf I actually started using the "I don't want to see this" option on Facebook. I am very sorry about the plight of Nigerian girls and Brazillian people but I can't read about that, share it, comment. I also block friends' friends when they post comments I dislike instead of getting in conversation with them. I just can't afford spending my spoons on that.

Hugs to you too, Oliveira, I hope you bounce back soon! And be proud of yourself for finding the strength to leave the house to go to the gym.

And I agree, at times like that, you need to try and block anything that's likely to get you down. Easier said than done, as usual. I have a tendency to match my music to my mood, which is a recipe for disaster. Most people do this, it seems. I find some satisfaction in listening to someone put into words what I can't, but the truth is it usually puts me in an even worse mood. People do the strangest things!

I have greatly altered my life and thinking habits, and it has helped me avoid depression periods for a year or so

Definitely avoid negative people. Or sometimes just avoiding people in general. Depression is something I've lived with so long that I had some coping ways I learned to deal with it. Like Stay in Bed when you cannot get out of bed. I couldn't avoid the impending depression, but maybe there are ways that you can help things out. Right now I feel pretty stable, the best I've been in a while, so keeping on top of my mood swings can probably help lessen the severity of a bad depressive state or manic state. Just my thoughts.

-- Thu Jul 17, 2014 1:39 pm --

Oliveira,
I know this too well, the "shower is too far" feeling. LOL! My husband will tell me to go take a shower and I don't feel like it, I could care less that it's been days since I last bathed. On those days I avoid people like the plague. I don't answer calls, if I do I make up something that I am too busy doing something else so we can't get together, whatever.

And instead of blocking people on Facebook, I just go days, even weeks without going on there. I am so depressed I am actually able to do this. Because Facebook is so addictive.

Like most of the others.. It comes when it comes. Rathen than trying to avoid it, I'll just get ready for it much like others; shut out people you don't need to be in daily contact (and even of those ones you can't argue with until you feel better). Depending of the time, postpone mandatory appointments etc. Drop all the stress you possibly can - in my case talking with teachers to re-schedule deadlines or lower required works for lower score (long as it passes it's fine, right?) I don't know how that'll pan out in work-life, but so far I've met many people who have been quite easy to negotiate with, even though most of them aren't aware of my condition.

Although technically I did avoid multiple depressive episodes by being busy and stressed for few months. Frankly, I wouldn't recommend that approach at all. Those months were the last straw that made me seek proper medical help. Avoiding depression only meant hitting another sharp hypo, followed by another equally sharp depression, followed by stress induced hypo - times uncountable. Retrospect it's far easier to just ride it over.

Oh, and send mom a message, so she'll drop by to give me a hug and see that I've got something edible in my fridge, even if I don't feel like eating for days. Even if I don't feel like talking to anyone, at least I can look forward to have someone to hug and rant about life. Makes it tolerable in my case.