Finding Hope in Depression

Environment

The environment you live in is very important. It can make or break you very easily. Its breaking me right now because my room is a complete mess and i don't want to tidy it lol-i have learned to try to procrastinate productively though by writing this.

1. rule --keep your room tidy and clean.It may be impossible for some of us it is for me. don't get angry or annoyed with yourself if you like mess you like mess. I personally love it but at times it gets too much. find the right level of mess and keep it that way. For example i have a window ledge with all my favorite things on it, including neon pink fluffy rave leggings-the colour cheers me up. These thing are arranged to look colourful but they are also in no particular order and look a complete mess -well someone else may think this but to me this is stuff i like to look at but am not using regularly. Mess, filled with pretty colors makes me happy and that is what this window ledge is. crazy right!  I recommend doing this though. Finding a surface which you always look at and put your favorite things on it. Family photos ,your favorite colors sparkly things anything you treasure. This space is just for you nothing stress related please though. Every time you look at it it should make you feel happier. Happy colours like bright neon pink make me feel happy so thats why i have the fluffy rave leggings on the window ledge. I'm sure you have a particular colour that makes you feel happy find it. it willl make a difference to your room. Also filling a shelf with things you like helps you to remember who you are. when you feel lost you and don't remember yourself look at the shelf.You are a person with basic likes and dislikes. your personality is made up of these likes and dislikes. That is you. Watch the movie inside out 2015. It looks childish but it gives you a good understanding of what depression is and what makes you you.

Another idea to make you room nice is to get something that smells nice for your room. perhaps a candle or incense or those smelly stick things. If you like the smell it will cheer you up or remind you of something.

Even if you like your room messy please keep it clean. wash your sheets and you will have a better sleep.This is really basic but it really helps you sleep.

The rest of the room keep in an order that suits you but put the items you use in a good order and it reachable places.Places where you can easily put stuff back.

Get a nice happy poster for your wall to cheer you up.

Ok enough about your room . Your environment also is you everyday life.#

You probably go to school or a job or do you stay at home. What do you do everyday and what makes you happy or unhappy about it.

Is the environment you live in clean or tidy or dirty or ugly. Try cheering it up. bring a pot plant to put on your desk ,a family picture or pretty picture or something you like but dont mind getting ruined. every time you look at it it should make you feel happy or loved. do not get anything attached to a painful memory we are trying to cheer you up a bit anyway.Even if you only look at it quickly throughout the day it will subconsciously cheer you up. animal or baby pictures work well for this as well.

Are you getting bullied. If so can you remove yourself from the situation. there will be more about bullying later.

Is your environment stimulating?? are you being challenged?? If you are bored you may be getting depressed. Go to a new club or society. If you have no money to do this go to your local community center there should be free things that you can do. Go to this once a week at least and keep going don't give up. You will probably meet new people and it will give you a perspective on your life.

Volunteer somewhere if you can. Volunteering can be very satisfying giving something or helping someone else it puts your problems in perspective. Working with children or elderly or animals is great. This can help stimulate your brain it may also be good to get in contact with new people. you may feel like you have achieved something afterwards. It really helps to keep you stable and also doing something different from normal can help get you out of your cycle of depression.

If you have a choice. If you are at college university or work you may have the choice to leave if you are not enjoying it and it is asking you depressed. I'm not saying moving will make you better it won't but a new environment might give you boost in the right direction.You may associate a place with a bad time moving away from it and going into a less stressful environment may make you feel better.

Make sure if you leave you have another place for you lined up. Do NOT drop out an just sit at home this will make thing worse. Make sure you have another job ,uni or college to go to.If you think you do need a break because you have been overworked and over stressed limit your break and make sure you get another thing to do. If can't get into another uni college or school or something. Do volunteer work. it will keep you busy and happier until you can find somewhere else to  go. It will also make your cv look great and develop you as a person.

Home. Is your home stressful. do you have parents or people at home which you find make it uncomfortable to live with. If you can move out do it. I know moving out is huge learning curve but it will be awesome when you get your life sorted for yourself. If you can't move out and feel trapped see if you can go round friends house at least once a week or aim to stay out of the house as long as possible.

Do not move in with a boyfriend or abusive relationship because this can make your life worse especially if you break up and have to go back home or you are in a an abusive and shit relationship.And if you need to stay out of the house find somewhere responsible to go. Go to the library or park. don't stay in the outside too long because you need to look after your basic need -eat sleep and warmth. Go to a community center or a church or some religious building. these places are great because they are people in them who want to help you psychologically. They also want to convert you but that is your choice. make sure yo are not being coerced into anything and make sure you know when to say NO. but generally people in places of worship want to help you so they are good places to go.

Is your house the problem?? do you need to redecorate ?? repaint?? or reorganize?? I have lived in a house which was very run down and had loads of problems with it and this was very depressing. Imagine your house is a dramatic set. set it up to look nice simply putting a blanket down on the floor or covering something ugly and depressing with a blanket can make world of difference.Maybe actually sitting down and tackling the problem will make you feel better if you are able to accomplish something but if that is not possible don't worry about it. hide it. make your house feel and look better so when you feel better in yourself you can sort out the problem.

Decorate your house with plants and flowers. these psychologically cheer you up. also put brightly color objects everywhere and happy things to cheer you up.

ok hope this helps this is all for your environment for now. ask if you want more tips.x