bipolar depression

[beachchair1]

I had a severe depression in December due to my husband almost dying.  I was able to do it all while he was in the hospital.  I worked in the same hospital where he was a patient, so I was able to sit with him morning noon and evening.  I was totaling exhausted and did not even recognize it.  My husband survived thanks to God and all the staff, but that's when I became depressed.  I went to a psychiatrist and was diagnosed in February.  I began looking at my life and could see examples of this disease as early as 6 years old. Can anyone give me suggestions on how to  get through the down times.  I am on meds and  they help, but I know I will still hae low times.  thanks.

[therese83]

Be kind to yourself and accept your feelings and they will pass over you.

You see other people at their best, every body has down times, dont compare our private feelings to others public face.

Do fun things if you can !

Give to others.

[SurfRake]

In the nearly 30 years I've faced depression, I've found three essential tools when I'm so sad that I can hardly find the energy to imagine ever feeling better. They may sound simplistic, but simple is what I need when I'm really down.

1. I try to keep in mind every hour or so, sometimes writing it down for myself, that there was in fact a time when I wasn't depressed, so this time, too, I can expect it will lift
2. I talk to someone, especially a trusted therapist because they make no judgments, and find it helps just talking through and describing where I'm at
3. I clean, I garden, I scrub the floor. Somehow I find enough energy to clean something like a counter or sink or pull some weeds. I can ground myself physically and mentally with thoughtless work, which tends to continue for 30 or 60 minutes, distracting me into some simple meditative place.