A little down and looking for some advice

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Hey everyone,

I just graduated college about 6 months back and had a good amount of friends there and enough motivation to do well and fight any kinds of feelings of sadness that came across me. I also was able to do so by the challenge of being as "NT as possible". It wasn't too hard too because classes were pretty easy and I was able to day dream alot. Now that I've graduated and have been back home working as a teachers aid in a special education classroom and seen how that class can be viewed by the mainstream school the stress has been building and I'm feeling a little more anxious than I'm used to. I has a couple of panic attacks recently and feel like there may be a little bit of a depression coming on in the future. Since I'm aware of it I would like to fight it as best as possible and wondering what people do to fight feelings of sadness or depression. I'm a regularly happy guy so these feelings are very different to me and the make me feel like i'm not myself. It doesn't help that theres less motivation in my life now than there was back in college. Any advice on how to fight a sadness that you know is coming would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

-Josh

Exercise. That's really the only thing I can suggest. Also, keeping up the act while trying to do professional work can be a lot harder than in a college situation.

Return to your passions... I find mine a wonderful, soothing antidote to stress. After an anxious day, there's nothing like spending some time in my garden or disappearing into a good book.

And a good therapist. Good to have one in place before the next crisis.

There are a few ways you can go about doing feeling better.

Exercise has a mood elevating effect. Lifting weights and aerobic exercise. I recommend both.

Feeling emotion and displaying it is a two way street. We display how we feel in our facial gestures and body language. But those same things can also change how we feel. If you act happy you will be happy.

Medication. Not everybody approves and it has its downside but it does work.

Get out and do things that make you happy.

Do things that scare you. You'll feel great afterward.

Therapy. Personal is probably better for Aspies.

Engage in activities that you feel motivated about.

Set aside time every day, at least an hour, two is better, to do something that is just to make you feel better (exercise, go to the movies, etc.).

Change jobs. I know that is very hard but do you really want to do something that depresses you for the rest of your life? You don't have to leave teaching but maybe get an advanced degree. Or work somewhere else.