For me, the only thing that works is spending time with my partner or friends and taking the edge off with cannabis. During the work day, I have felt a lot of despair for a long time. Trump fans and the public’s reaction to vaccines and COVID in general lead me to believe that there’s just no such thing as peace on a societal level. I’m not sure that ever existed in any way, but I think it used to be incredibly easier to delude yourself into thinking the state of humanity is much better than it is, or at least much better than this.
And I don’t think deluding ourselves is even slightly a solution. In fact I think that’s a major source of why society is so fucked today. People tuning out and letting shit get worse. Capitalism running wild while most people just shrug their shoulders if forced to address it, but typically never even thinking about it or how things could be better.
We aren’t cut out for this shit. The effects of bad news streamed 24/7 like an IV drip has got to be worse for our health than smoking. I suspect I will die 15 years prematurely due to stroke or some other blood pressure related failure.
Another exacerbating factor is vocally negative people. No matter what happens, even if something good happens, there’s always someone lurking in comment sections telling everyone how stupid they are if they see anything positive about that news. Some days I really think I need to be a hermit in the woods with no Internet. Because the load of the modern world is just too much to bear.
I’ve tried therapy and various drugs. Nothing’s helped much or for very long. I think about changing careers but that has a lot of risks I’m unsure are worth it. In fact I’m not even sure it would help. Has anyone successfully changed careers and gone from feeling how I describe here to a much healthier state of being? Or have you found anything else that helps? I know hobbies can help, but I’m at the point today where I just have no motivation to get back to mine.
Become a dog. They’re the happiest people I know.
Also, read the Power of Now. I guarantee it will help you.
Sounds like you need to get off modern tech.
Plus in a ps2 to a non smart tv, read some books, shut off the phone, unplug the router.
24/7 news is horrible for us. And newsflaah (lol) you can’t do a single thing about the state of the world, so do what you can, be nice to neighbors (even magas, if theyre not violent), go to spaces with like minded people in your area if you can, etc.
I’ve been situationally depressed about greedy human nature and monopolies, unconstitutional laws for 20 years. As you said what works best was slowly vaporizing medical cannabis and doing pushups, walking (runner’s high), or yoga for at least a minute during each exhale. See a nutritionist. It’s worth it to go through 90% bad news stories to find good news https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/
Shark Tank/Dragon’s Den was on TV yesterday. The only way to guarantee you will be in a happy career is to start your own small company, if applicable. It can be a non-profit with a salary or B corp. My disability support dog encourages exercise and has improved my mood.
You can be as right as rain but it will only reaffirm your reaffirmations. Delete your digital accounts and treat the internet like it never existed for the next 72 hours. I bet you’ll smile more times than you did making this post. 🙏
A low-dose Bupropron prescription and getting at least seven hours of sleep every day.
Thanks for the response. Unfortunately that is one of the drugs I tried for a few months. It didn’t seem to help. I have been getting more sleep lately but it hasn’t made any noticeable difference either. My brain is stubborn.
It doesn’t do anything for the malaise side of my depression but it’s pretty effective at managing my intrusive thoughts. I only have to say “no” to them once a day instead of every two minutes for hours at a time.
I hope you find something that works for you.
I think you’ve identified some areas that are causing this. Intense vocally negative people, really traumatizing and disheartening world events. Watching the world change for what we see as for the worse IS depressing.
I’ve felt this about climate change, and tried medication and education and being informed. None worked like taking action. Going to restoration events, taking part in community events and making small changes to my environment. When you find small ways to take action, you can relieve the feeling of helplessness and then your surroundings yourself with positive change. Whatever your cause is, whatever makes you sick and want to turn away, find a cause that combats it and take action.
Not a sure fire thing, but it’s a start.
Transitioning helped a lot, I do still feel depressed occasionally, but it’s more passing and related to hormones.
Switching from a career where I was on call nearly all the time for immediate issues for one where I have more flexibility and don’t have to drive as much was a big help.
I still mask and feel really alienated being around people who don’t, but that sentiment was not new to me being vegan and trans and an anarchist. Those orientations don’t always lend themselves to being understood by others who aren’t.
I don’t spend much time online. Organizing with like-minded individuals in real life is way better for my mental health.
I do smoke a lot of weed, but it’s because I enjoy it rather than because I feel bad or am trying to self-medicate.
Get out into nature. Take frequent walks.
Be social, even if you don’t want to in the moment.
Have a goal to work towards that doesn’t have anything to do with employment (learn to draw, or play piano, or cook).
Be patient with yourself and others. It’s rough out there.
What helps short term for me are workouts, mostly strength training, and playing board and role-playing games with friends (often online), a nice combination of socializing and concentrating on something. On bad days I’m ignoring the news even though I like to keep informed. For long term improvement I’m looking at getting more into Buddhism, which has shown some promising early results. It’s all about alleviating personal suffering, basically a system of therapy so effective, people made a religion out of it. (The religious trappings can easily be ignored and usually are outside of Asia.)
Report, block, and moving on. I’m happier knowing I will likely outlive those MAGAoids.
I try to enjoy the outside and read books I like that don’t make me actively feel negative. I try to talk with IRL friends.
Oh, and getting railed by my bestie also helps, but that’s on me personally.
I find sunlight and hormones helps for me, but that doesn’t mean it will for everyone. And it’s not about ignoring all the suffering in the world, it’s just about seeing it through a different filter. When I’m depressed my filter is more negative and I notice the suffering more and feel more despair, but I have a more positive filter, seeing how things are better than ever before and getting better, when I’m not depressed.
Back when I could it was hot baths and walks. Appreciated when I had time to experience my surroundings.
5-MTHF.
I took up the stance of - I would rather be minimally informed than misinformed. Anytime I saw a peak of the news, it was just a bleak reminder of how shit this country has gotten and let itself sink to. Anything short of knowing Trump has finally died or anything, won’t suffice. The good news I hear about aren’t good enough, like knowing some animal species is discovered or some child recovered from an injury or something. It’s like a water drop to me compared to knowing how utterly shit everything else remains.
Distraction is a tool necessary for these kinds of mental issues. Don’t got enough, mind wanders and you feel miserable about everything.
