Depression

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I’m having a lot of issues with my mental health right now, the main issues being depression and anxiety. I’m out of work for many reasons and my life is a non stop cycle of doing the same things each day. I have zero motivation to do much else. I want to but can’t bring myself to. I’m making myself more miserable by not doing the things I want to do.

I have forced myself to go on a diet and lose weight (I’m overweight) and that is going relatively well. That is something. I have chronic pain so exercise is difficult.

Any advice?

Celebrate the small victories. "Baby steps." The little things that you change in your daily routine are victories. You can feel good about them.

If I usually eat a lot right before bed, but one night, I get by with a bowl of cereal before bed... that is a victory. I find that I sleep better with a light supper than with a heavier supper.

If I never watch a TV show and months go by without watching a TV show, but one evening, I decide to watch Seinfeld, and it makes me laugh ... that is a victory. A victory over what? A victory over not-laughing, over being too-serious. Laughter is good medicine.

I have a 2024 calendar on my refrigerator. I try to write down something I did that day.

Have you tried medication for your depression? Have they worked in any way to decrease depressive symptoms?

What about exercise - do you do regular exercise? This can help with depression if kept up with.

I’m really sorry you’re going through this. It sounds like you’re facing a tough cycle, but there are small things you can do to start breaking it. First, try starting small—pick one small, manageable action each day, like reading for 5 minutes or trying a gentle movement for your chronic pain. Focus on making a simple routine that gives you a little structure, but don’t pressure yourself to do everything at once. If possible, find a way to reconnect with activities that bring you joy, even in small doses. DBT skills, like mindfulness and self-compassion, can be really helpful here—reminding yourself that it’s okay to feel stuck, and that even tiny steps forward matter. And don’t forget to prioritize rest and seek professional help if needed. You’re doing the best you can, and it’s okay to take it one step at a time.

I probably should have mentioned that I’m already on meds, duloxetine specifically. I’ve been on a lot of different pills throughout my life for this. They tend to work somewhat for about two months or so and then my body gets used to them. I am on a waiting list to see a psychiatrist again so hopefully they will give me something new.

Thanks all It has progressively gotten worse since 2012 or so.

2012? That is a long time to have been depressed. I totally relate though... I experience long-term depression too.

It’s odd, it’s like my mind is still stuck in 2010 or so in a lot of ways. The best way I can describe it is that I feel like I’m living in the future. Everything halted around then. One of the reasons I decided to post here is because it’s an old school forum, it’s like the forums I posted on in 2010. I have spoken to therapists about this but it’s such an odd specific feeling they don’t seem to know what advice to give me. I was 19 in 2010 btw, I’m now 33.