Better days are coming... Day 3 inside

Hey, try to not push yourself, and certainly don't add to your worries by caring about people on the internet demanding giveaways. You're not obligated to do it, you're sharing on your own free will and if for some reason you can't do it, that's ok. We're thankful if you choose to do it, but no one's entitled to your games.

I know depression is a problem that is hard to share and hard to deal with. I get the feeling that modern times create very big expectatives from others towards people, partly caused by and reflected in social media. We also get bombarded with news creating alarmism and worry, which only adds to our stressful lives and ruins our mood. Thus I think it's a good idea to disconnect from all that even if by some amount, in order to better relax. Going outside and doing exercise is usually a good way to release stress and getting our minds out of our worries, so beyond gaming, I would suggest that you join a gym and go there a few times per week.

Also, while there's toxic stuff in the internet, there's some nice people out there too, so if you want to, there's the You're not Alone thread to talk about your worries any time you need to.

Thanks for the gibs. Wish you all the best.

It sucks that help isn't more readily available but at least you're taking steps in the right direction :) keep up with it and you'll see a massive change ^.^

Keep yourself safe 💪
Best wishes 🙏

Thanks for the generosity, Viking4King. It's great that you are willing to seek help for your depression. Best of luck :)

You can get through it. You got this!

Problems like this are, in a sense, negative feedback loops, i.e. The more down you feel, the more anxious and 'de-motivated' you feel, which in turn makes you feel more down, and so on. Which is why they are so difficult to get out of. But remember, difficult does not mean impossible.

A small point of advice I can give, is to try changing up your lifestyle, just little by little. I understand this is much much much easier said than done, but it is important to try. Something as little as doing a single excercise routine once a day, starting with something as small as maybe 5 jumping jacks or situps once a day, at a consistent time, and slowly growing the routine, by adding maybe even just 1 extra situp/day, or every couple days. It can help through routine, getting into doing this specific thing at this specific time, and slowly help regain motivation, through seeing yourself progress. Where you maybe could only just get through the first few situps in the first week, you absolutley blast through them a couple weeks later.

Set small goals, and work towards completing them, don't set large, barely achievable goals, which could make you feel worse if you can't achieve them. Set a small goal, which will give you an increased sense of the large amount of progress you're making, and in turn, these small goals will chip away at the big goals.

A fantastic display of this is the (true) story, 'Touching The Void', written by Joe Simpson. This is a book (a film was also made off of this book), where Joe Simpson (the author of the book), an English mountaineer slipped and fell into a chasm, held by just a rope, attached to his mountaineering friend Simon Yates. After waiting for nearly an hour, trying to pull Joe back up, Simon was forced to cut the rope, or risk freezing to death and/or slipping himself.

The book (and film) tell of the hardships Joe faced after the 46 meter (150 foot) fall. After having broken his right leg in the fall, being surrounded by nothing but darkness and miraculousley making his way out of the chasam, he discovered that he was still 8 kilometers from base camp. After which he spent 3 days without any food or water, crawling and hopping back to base camp over the glacier, arriving at the camp only hours before Simon and their other companion had planned to leave.

Joe spoke of how he didn't set any big goals, of course, the big goal was always to make it back to base camp, however, he talks about how he would see some sort of landmark, say, a rock, and set that as his goal to reach. Then time himself on how long it would take to reach that landmark. This gave him a sense of progress, driving his motivation up to continue further.

After making it back to civilization, and undergoing surgery, he was told he will never be able to climb again, and will likely have trouble walking for the rest of his life. 2 years later, he returned to mountain climbing after making a near full recovery.

Now, sorry for the wall of text, but I thought it is worth sharing this motivational true story, as I feel like it demostrated how useful setting small goals to chip away at a large one can be beneficial.

Overall, just remember, you are not alone, we as a community are here for you, just look at the amount of fantastic replies!
Sometimes just talking to someone (even through a text chat), will make you feel even a little bit better, and you sharing this also shows that you are already making great progress towards getting better!

Don't let up, you got this! <3

Hang in, things WILL get better!

But it takes time, effort and work (and maybe even medication)
It's sad that the waiting lists are so long when you need help now, but that's the case in many countries.

Just talking to people can help get you out of the vicious circle depression puts you in.
It won't cure your depression, but staying in contact with others does help.
If only to lift your mood slightly for a brief period of time, so take time away from your computer.

Go for walks, or some other form of mild exercise.
It's not a cure either, but it does help and you might meet someone for a small talk.

It's good to be open about your problems, many people are willing to hear you, give advise (sometimes not the best, but all well meant) because many of us have gone (or are) through a similar phase in life: you are not alone!

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Depression is tiring and a long term battle, I feel you.

I hope that we'll beat our demons soon.

Cheers, mate. Don't get too upset about that delay. Maybe seek help from a clinic. Dunno how healthcare works in UK, but we have 24 free visits a year in public clinics. So I mustered up my whole courage and went to see a psychologist in December, then made an appointment with psychiatrist and now I'm drinking my meds. Don't know how much time I wasted by delaying and thinking if I should visit and get diagnosed or is it even worth it, because of possible closed doors in the future. It was stupid of me, but now it's getting better, hope I can recover what time I lost and manage to finish my studies properly.
Once again, take care of yourself and don't let your illness beat you, fight back.

Congratulations on looking for professional help, that is a really important step. I know that it is frustrating to not receive a satisfatory help from the doctor, but try to look up for other professionals in your area, maybe try to get some references so you find someone who can really help you.

it took me 3 weeks to build up my courage

That's the real you. Hold your hands with the real you and let him lead.
Just let them both sync and go with the flow. You still are in the control. :)

hopefully itll get better for you.
i know how that struggle seems often unbearable and you just want to hide away... but if you have ppl that you can count on, its already a big help.

Just remember, in life as in gaming, you haven't really failed until you give up.

The very fact that you realised what your problem is, means everything.

You're gonna get there, good luck!

thanks, bump

I bump this thread with hope that you can get the help that you failed to get before. Do not give up! =]

Thank you for the giveaways,
I'm glad you are seeking professional help, That act alone shows you have the determination to get through these problems.

Games are a great outlet to decompress, what games are you playing lately? Any recommendations?

bump!

Buddy, hold on! I understand you, and I know how hard it is.. =(
I wish you very much that every new day will be a little easier... I know this feeling and trying to overcome it myself day after day.
You just have to know that I'm with you, and there is at least someone who understands you and worries about you.
I hope, that one day it will be better. For sure.
Here is a hug for you.

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Today I will buy a new Ori.
(March 11)
Because it is sad and beautiful.

I have been waiting for it for 2 years.
And I hope that this game will give a little peace to my soul, and a drop of light for my feelings...

It tells you that you are not alone.. And there is a little-little hope, almost always )

If you have not played yet, I would recommend you at least try this wonderful game.
It is sad at first and sometimes not easy, but in the end you can cry, because it is so beautiful and kind =)

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I think I'm going through my down times right now too. I haven't been in a relationship in ages and I don't feel like socializing with my friends. So I just go to work come home and thats life for the past couple years. But games and watching people on twitch is helping me cope. If you need a friend feel free to hit me up.

Don't give up Viking4King, i hope you will find the help you need and fell better. Good luck :)

Congratulations on working up the courage to see the doctor, even though there was not really much help... I know it is hard to start on that road, and that a bad result (or even an appropriate response that you just don't feel to be the right one) can throw you back a long way.

Don't give up hope and here is hoping you can continue to look for help. Get better!

I'm glad you can find some way to soothe your soul. Depression can stop people in their tracks, but life keeps going...
I'm still fighting my depression, but the worst days of my life were the days I couldn't leave the bed nor do something I liked. It was a vicious cycle of terrible days that I'm glad are something of the past. At least now I'm learning something, and actually finding solutions.

Hope you can learn more and more about you, and find a way out. I wish you the best