Sunday, September 29, 2013

Three ace ways to distract yourself from depression

If you haven't noticed on my blog or on any of the other online places I haunt, I've been going through a pretty shit time. In medical terms I'm currently suffering from major depression combined with a shitload of adverse side effects from the medications I've been prescribed. Woohoo!

My life has been like clenching onto the side of a cliff with white knuckled determination not to fall into the abyss. It's been fucking hard work, and my hands are cracked and bleeding, but there's way too much good shit on top of that mountain. So much to fight for. Everything to live for.

I'm in hospital right now. At this moment I'm feeling ok but there have been moments in the last week where I've cried so much I've been almost inconsolable.

"Why are you so upset?" the well meaning psych nurses ask.

"Is there something your [doctor, family, group therapist] said to trigger you?" they want to know.

"You're not going to hurt yourself, are you? You are feeling safe... right?"

Yes! I'm safe from harm. This much I know is true.

But no! Nothing has triggered the flood of tears. I'm just fucking crying! I want to scream it at the world. I just don't know why I'm crying. The tears come out of my eyes as my heart is squeezed by the black hands of an unnamed doom.

The brain is a wondrous yet ill understood organ. My doctors don't know what's wrong with mine. They can't give me a neat little diagnosis. They don't know what pills to put me on so it feels like they are giving them all a go. One drug at a time, sometimes two.

Over these almost five months since the Black Dog came to take residence in my soul I've found a few cool ways to distract myself from his howling. I thought I'd share them with you. Don't tease me because I've been partaking in a fair bit of low brow entertainment. It's just for cheap laughs!


Big Brother


I love this show! (picture source)
OMG! I love this show. I've watched every episode from day one and I can't get enough. Weekends are hell because the show doesn't air on Saturday and Sunday!

Watching these Gen-Ys bitch and moan and scheme and backstab each other is so much fun! I feel so involved in their lives. I've cried at times while watching BB. I usually never cry at TV shows or movies! And how hot are Ed and Drew? OMG! Such eye candy. Some of the girls are pretty hot too.

Even Noo has got into it. Although he doesn't really understand what's going on. Noo just likes the characters that are nice to people. Noo's favourite is Drew and my favourites are Tim and Ben. Tim and Ben are not boring pretty boys there to be ogled - they actually have really interesting personalities and don't feel the need to conform in order to fit in. I like that. Tim is a bit of a schemer and you could say he has a bit of a nasty side, but at least he tries to stir things up in the house. Makes for much better entertainment for us watching at home.

I know the show is quite mindless but such a great distraction from the guilt and negativity whirling around in my head. It really is a worthwhile escape. I miss them all like mad on the weekends. Seriously. Noo says after the 6pm news every day "It's nearly Big Brother time!" and is devo'ed when I have to break it to him that it's Saturday so no BB.

Goodness knows what we will do when the whole season is over. Noo and I wish we could go to the final eviction. Won't happen. Maybe next year!


Candy Crush Saga


So addictive! (picture source)
Talk about addictive! For a long time I saw Facebook requests from friends asking me for 'lives' or publishing notifications of how they'd cracked another level. I saw status updates from friends expressing their frustration at not being able to pass up to the next 'episode'.

I resisted for as long as I could. Knowing my addictive nature I thought CCS could have the potential to take over my life. I've not been that wrong!

It was actually my Shrink who said I should play CCS as a way to distract myself from negative self-talk. It definitely works but crushing those bloody candies can also distract you from other things like - blogging, household chores, sleep....


Cat memes on Pinterest


Even when I'm feeling 100% shit just having a scroll through Pinterest cat memes can crack me up. This sort of thing would usually not make me laugh but for some reason these days cats make me LOL!

You can't tell me these aren't funny....


Hilarious... right?



So what do you think about my depression distraction methods? Funny ha ha or funny it's a good idea you're in the crazy house again Vanessa?


How do you cheer yourself up when you're feeling blue?



V.


Disclaimer: Clearly I am no doctor! I have had no training in the treatment of people with mental illness. This is just a post about what helps me sometimes forget my woes. I make no promises that anything I have said above will help anyone. In fact it could hurt you. For all I know you may be allergic to cats. 




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25 comments:

Mrsceeeceee said...

Think of you lots. Stay strong x

Didi LeNoir said...

Internet cats get me through the toughest of days too.

Salwa said...

I love the cat pics and candy crush. I draw the line at BB though hahaha. Glad that they are distracting you.

Jeanie said...

I introduced a friend to cat videos recently - I consider that I have done my good deed for the week!!!


Hugs to you - I understand the feeling of despair for no actual reason!

♥ ★Mitzi D★♥ said...

Firstly sorry to hear your in a bad place at the moment. But sending you positive vibes from over the pond.

My distractions ~ well I am with you on Big Brother. We not long had a Celebrity BB just finished, I love those more, always drama on there.
My other distractions are soaps, namely Eastenders, cause when lifes shit ya cant get any worse than some of the stop the families goes through on that show. It makes MY life just wonderful and perfect :-).

Your blogs always move me.

Take it easy V x

Marnie said...

Online shopping....ahhh, I think I have developed an ebay addition!!!

Marnie said...

addiction!!!

Debbish said...

Hope you're doing okay. Sadly I mostly use food to feel better!

Toni said...

I feel for you. I have post natal depression and was in hospital for it a few weeks ago. It took a couple of weeks to get my meds right.

I have totally become addicted to candy crush again. Be warned though you end up dreaming about smashing candies its bad, but good at the same time. I would also recommend you YouTube funniest cat videos. If you like cat memes that shit will keep you entertained for hours. Even when im incredibly sad those videos make me laugh.

I don't do big brother but I do watch the bachelor for the same reason. Theres something about watching desperate women bitching and scheming because they have a delusional fantasy that they actually have found true love on tv. Makes me feel a whole lot more sane ha.

Airlie said...

OMG! BB and CCS are my distraction tools too! They are both sooo addictive! I also love writing letters, reading blogs, cooking, shopping and facebook! But often I have no time for the stuff I should be doing!

babblingbandit.me said...

It's like that isn't it! CCS can totally take over my day if I let it. Especially if I'm on a level I can't crack. Reading blogs, cooking, shopping and facebook are also great distractions I also use. A bit too much shopping actually! V.

babblingbandit.me said...

Hey Mitzi! Oh man, I loved UK Big Brother when I lived there. So much trashy fun. Eastenders too is defo a great way to make your life feel better. Those poor locals at the Queen Vic sure do have a hard time at life! Thanks for stopping by. V.

Ss said...

BB is definitely my distraction at the moment! I used to hate it. Now i'm obsessed with it. Love Tim! Also the cat memes - love. I remember the floods of tears. There is no explanation, it's irrational. You can't verbalise why you're crying, because you don't even know.


You're doing so well though. Xxxxxx

babblingbandit.me said...

Hey SS. It is amazing how watching the boring goings on between people cooped up in one house together can seem so enthralling!


Yeah, the unexplainable crying sucks. I feel like such a baby when it starts ups out of nowhere. It's kind of ok to let it go in hospital, but when I'm out and about and the tears start to flow for no reason, well... that's not so nice.


Thanks so much for your comment. V.

babblingbandit.me said...

Hi Marnie! I am the same. I have a terrible shopping addiction. I just love it but so cannot afford it. I need to go to shoppaholics anonymous!

babblingbandit.me said...

Thanks Caroline!

babblingbandit.me said...

Neddy and I also love cat vids. This one is one of our favourites: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzzjgBAaWZw

babblingbandit.me said...

Come on Salz! BB is awesome! How could you not like a bunch of vacuous Gen-Ys sitting around a house in Qld half naked? It's awesome fun! V.

babblingbandit.me said...

Cat videos and other cat related memes should be prescribed by doctors to the mentally fragile in need of a laugh. I might just suggest it to our group therapist this arvo! V.

babblingbandit.me said...

Me too, love. Me too. I'd had to list to you what I've binged on since I've been back here. I ate a whole pint sized tub of Ben and Jerry's last night. Felt kind a guilty but it was oh so good! I ate it while watching Big Brother. Better than sex I tells ya! V

babblingbandit.me said...

I'm sorry you've had a hard time with PND but glad you're on the road to recovery. I never considered myself a cat person before my son, Ned, became obsessed with them. Now I love a cat meme of the picture and video variety.


I think with shows like BB or the Bachelor or the Housewives of All the Places (as Magneto Bold Too calls it) is that these shows are so far from reality that they provide the ultimate television escape.


Thanks for your comment and best wishes for your recovery. V.

26 Years & Counting said...

Brainless tv shows are a great way to distract yourself - if I want to fall asleep but I can't, I watch Gilmore Girls.

Jeanie said...

I don't know if this link will work - https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=551546091566924&set=vb.451367291584805&type=2&theater - but it might be the tipping point for the therapist!!

Momma007 said...

Our middle daughter shared the following Youtube video with the fam following our Canadian Thanksgiving dinner!! WE ALL DIED OF LAUGHTER!!!! (One of her sisters had to run and pee, because she laughed so much!!) And it did not lose its "hilarious-ness" no matter how many times we re-watched it!! Anytime you're feeling like you need a lift, the endorphin effect from the unbearable laughter this causes will make you feel like you've been lifted by a helium balloon!! Hope it makes you laugh as much as we all did! :D http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKffm2uI4dk

Evie Dawson said...

I am impressed! One more hing to do is reading.Grab a good book when you feel depressed. A book can take you to a fictional realm filled with fascinating characters, wondrous worlds, and incredible events. Reading is a great way to distract yourself from your depression, giving your mind a rest. You can also consult a doctor to fight the symptoms of depression on Online USA Doctors.

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