How To Instantly Feel Better When You Are Depressed

October 27 by | 88 comments | Lifestyle | Tags: , , , , ,

How to Instantly Feel Better WHen You're Depressed

Life is full of setbacks and heartache.

The difference between unsuccessful people and successful people often comes down to one thing: mental toughness.

You can be someone who lets failure derail you, feel like a victim, and tell “your story” of defeat to everyone you know.  Or you can do the most difficult and healthy thing of all: move on and try a different approach to accomplish your goals.

Here are three mental tricks I use to feel better when I want to give up.

1. Give Someone A Genuine, Massive Compliment

The reason this technique works is that it takes the focus off of yourself.  It’s easy to become self-centered and overly focused on your own problems until you realize something very important: EVERYONE feels like this at times.  EVERYONE is insecure about something.

You aren’t alone, and I’ve found that one of the most therapeutic things you can do is make someone’s day.  Totally out of the blue, give them a massive, genuine compliment.

It can feel a little bit weird to do this over the phone, so I usually cheat and send a text message.

To someone I go running with who is trying to lose weight, I might say “I’m so impressed at your determination, you’re getting faster ,keep it up!”.

To someone I saw at a party last night I might say, “I don’t know what it was about you last night, but you looked really classy/confident/beautiful/etc for some reason. Whatever you are doing, keep it up!”

To someone who has an important interview/game/speech coming up I might say, “You’re going to do great, you’ve worked really hard for this and you deserve it!”

Your goal should be to make them blush or fill them with confidence.  Make someone else’s day with a massive genuine compliment to take the focus off of yourself and you’ll start to feel better right away.

2. Be Thankful For What You’ve Learned

No matter how bad it is, now matter how much it hurts, no matter how much money you lost….the lesson you learned from it is FAR more valuable, even if it doesn’t seem like it at the time.

Even if someone TOTALLY took advantage of you or did you wrong, take a minute to actually thank them in your own mind or out loud.  You can bet it will feel strange and it will go against every instinct in your body, but thank them for teaching you such a valuable lesson.  It will make you that much stronger next time.

When an unscrupulous contractor took advantage of me on a real estate deal, I was filled with anger and frustration.  Most of all I was mad at myself for letting him do it.  I ended up taking him to court which caused even more frustration and lost sleep.  But in the end I was able to thank him for teaching me such a valuable lesson.  If I hadn’t had this setback, I would be just as naive.  I wouldn’t know to get a rock solid contract next time.  I wouldn’t know to inspect the property more thoroughly before making the last payment!

The money I lost on that deal has taught me enough to make it back ten fold down the line.  It was worth every penny in education.

3. Read Some Quotes From The Greats

Finally, when I’m feeling down I like to read some quotes from some of the most successful people of all time.  This is a great reminder that EVERYONE must face setbacks.  In fact, it is a pre-requisite for success.  There is no record of anybody accomplishing anything without MANY setbacks and failures along the way.

Setbacks let you know that you’re making progress.

Here are a few of my favorites:

Success is the ability to move from one failure to the next with enthusiasm.
- Winston Churchhill

Most people give up just when they’re about to achieve success. They quit on the one yard line. They give up at the last minute of the game, one foot from a winning touchdown.
- Ross Perot

Every single peak performing human being, every single high achieving man or woman, has been a person who has thrown off the natural tendency to play it safe and stay within the comfort zone, and has continually tried to exceed their previous levels of accomplishment, has continually moved forward into the risk zone, to try something more and bigger and better and more important. Every single accomplishment in the history of man, has come from men and women who have had the courage to take the risks, to step out even though they had no guarantee or assurance of success…

In studying the lives and stories of the most outstanding men and women of all of history, we find that every single one of them has been a great failure. People do not understand the importance of failure in achievement. The fact is that it is impossible to succeed without failing, that failure is an indispensable prerequisite for success, and that all great success is proceeded by great failure. Every single person who has tried to accomplish something outside the ordinary has suffered setback and obstacle and defeat and adversity and disappointment and heartache over and over again as they have moved toward their goal. There is no record of anybody ever having achieved any kind of success without having failed over and over again. The only difference is that the winners continually pick themselves up and carry on knowing that ultimate success is inevitable as long as they keep on going on.
- Brian Tracy

Feel free to bookmark this post for the next time you feel like crying and giving up. It may come in handy. Life isn’t an easy journey, and the measure of a true champion is not how far you go, it’s how far you bounce back after facing defeat.

I wish you the best.

Brian Armstrong is a 25 year old entrepreneur who achieved financial freedom working for himself! Today he seeks to help others do the same as a writer, speaker, and consultant. Prior to becoming self employed, Brian’s work experience ranged from fortune 500 companies, to several small startups with less than 15 employees. In 2001, he ventured out on his own with his first company and was instantly hooked, starting two more in the next five years. Brian currently resides in Houston, TX leading authority on how to quit your job to work for yourself.

  • Graeme Bullimore

    Depression is a mental illness. It is not something that can be switched on or off instantly, by looking at your problems from a particular angle. This article is referring to “feeling unhappy” or “dealing with failure”.

    • Oliv2

      its not an illness! That is the doctors way of saying “take this medication.” (Doctors get a percentage of certain med. companies. ) Depression is a natural human emotion, I know because i have taken many different meds before finding out that they make you feel worse and more disconnected. depression relates with disconnection You cant “cure” depression” but you CAN do things like the ones listed above to deal with it. I think feeling you have a purpose and finding something you love to do can help :)

      • Adorabledarcy

        Has Brian actually ever had depression
        If it was as simple as you make out…
        Then there would be no problem….
        This is where the Internet fails miserably and allows random people to make statements which may or may not be helpful or indeed true…
        Regards
        Susie

  • http://www.roperband.com Jesse

    Depression is NOT something that should be medicated. It’s a condition that is natural in everyone and it is important how we deal with it. Some people are clinically depressed, but that’s not what this article is referring to. We need to take normal steps like exercise, communicating with friends and family and eating healthy to aid in our depression rather than calling it a disease and resorting to medication.

    Good article and I had already bookmarked it before I got to the end :)

  • John Manuel

    This article does a grave disservice to people afflicted with depression. Depression is an often debilitating illness that cannot be pushed aside by simple exercises in positive thinking.

    Please consider reading a couple of articles on depression and then updating this LifeHack accordingly.

  • http://shanelyang.com/blogs/articles/ Shanel Yang

    Great post, Brian! Also, watch “We Are Marshall” — an amazing movie about a town that was spiritually dying after an entire plane full of its citizens (and almost their entire college football team) crashed and killed everyone in it — until a handful of individuals decided not to let that happen but to keep on going with life as much as possible by continuing with next season’s football program anyway against terrible odds, resistance by the townspeople, etc. I’m not a sports fan, but this one was truly inspirational. I highly recommend it for anyone who feels like they got a raw deal in life and want to feel lucky instead. : )

  • http://www.safeism.com James

    There’s a big a difference between feeling a bit down and depression. This is all great advice for someone who has a temporary setback. Not much use for those who have suffered true depression.

  • http://chromebits.net Kyle Maxwell

    It would be nice if these sorts of tricks helped those of us with serious anxiety and depression; it might work fine for somebody who’s just got the blues, and of course we all need our own ways to cope and try to look up.

    But implying that people struggling with these serious problems lack “mental toughness” is ignorant and rude. Speaking for myself and for friends and loved ones who fight with these problems every day, I can assure you that my “mental toughness” is, if anything, GREATER than it was before I started suffering from this. If it was that easy to just “feel better”, we would do it.

    This is the last straw. I’m tired of empty stories written to generate page views through formulaic, repetitive content but no real thought behind it. My subscription ends now.

  • http://www.highlandrealestategroup.com khighland

    The degrees of depression are certainly something that even experts disagree about, but we can all agree that everone has setbacks in life and depression is a natural emotional reaction.

    There are very real things we can do to combat the discouragement that we all face, these are some great tips. To me they seem to revolve around what I have termed a “sense of otherness”, something I have tried to impart to my children. When you are focused on yourself and your problems, its very hard to shake off the discouragement that leads to depression. When you lift your perspective to bless others and to see how much you have to be thankful for, you do great things to battle discouragement.

    I find that getting together with a small group of positive-thinking people and having a brain-storming session is a shot in the arm. I get courage from others who have not given up. Thank you for an uplifing article.

  • http://www.StartBreakingFree.com BrianArmstrong

    @Graeme & @James – you are right, this isn’t referring to clinical depression – more of the every day variety that we all experience, mental toughness if you will. I try to write the titles in a way that get people’s attention, so I was perhaps a bit over zealous there.

    @Shanel – have seen it and you’re right it’s a good movie, I like the idea of being the one who takes the difficult and necessary steps when everyone is stuck or paralyzed with fear

    Brian
    StartBreakingFree.com

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  • http://www.healthmoneysuccess.com Vincent

    Hi Brian,

    Great tips. I love Winston Churchill’s quote. Only if we keep moving forward despite the setbacks we faced, we are bound to meet success.

    Cheers
    Vincent
    Personal Development Blogger

  • http://www.codeflow.co.za Juliet

    hey

    I like the giving a compliment.

    Some of the things I do (when possible):

    do something for someone
    spend time with my dogs / play with them
    do an activity I usually enjoy (even if I may not feel like it) e.g. Get out into nature, browse through a bookstore
    yoga
    look at beautiful pictures (browse webshots etc.)

    Juliet

  • Christophe Keller

    +1 for exercise. I read somewhere that it is physically impossible to feel depressed when you are doing a torough workout, especially if it’s cardio. My preference is running. Running is movement and movement is life :-)

  • William

    Do what you love and you’ll instantly feel better. Trick is to write down what you love before you’re unhappy.

    eg. Dance!
    http://caramelmoiselle.wordpress.com/2008/10/28/dance-dance-dance/

  • lastminuteacademic

    Sorry, but everything except the bit about quotes was utter rubbish.

    If you are that depressed, apart from the fact that you probably woudn’t read this article on principle, those points simply won’t cut it.

    I am recovering from depression and know that feeling better is not instant. Probably the one big thing for many people including myself, would be a chat with a good friend. Then, possibly, laughter might flow. Contact with humans, depressed or not, is better than say, no contact, or computer based.

    Perhaps my comment seems more scathing just due to the title. That kind of automatically means that anyone with serious depression is going to do one thing: laugh.

    Then again, maybe this article was written by a once depressed person? I doubt it, but it could be possible – everyones different!

  • lastminuteacademic

    I just read the first bit of this article. Please let me reframe my comments with visible anger.

    MENTAL TOUGHNESS? Are you kidding me?

    Perhaps we need an article defining it for normal people, and for those who are so depressed they’re spending half their time in bed instead of working/studying.

    If I’d read this last year I’d have gotten so angry at the sheer ignorance of it, I’d have probably complained directly to the site owners. I generally love stepcase lifehack, but on this account they have really got it wrong.

    That doesn’t mean that the author in question is incapable of writing decent articles, but I suggest (LOUDLY) that he sticks to things he actually knows about.

  • http://www.StartBreakingFree.com BrianArmstrong

    Love the point about exercise too – I have used this one successfully.

    Getting into the gym, going for a run, or even just walking through a park can be therapeutic for me.

  • Dino

    Brain I am from Africa and I have noticed that the people in nice suites complain about the article however give no sollution that in it self is an illness. I believe that that attitude can cause DEATH. Thanks brian for the atempt to help others to the rest be angry to yourself. I came to this site and found some form of relieve, however the blogs below must be edited. Complement as the man says!!!!!!!!!!!! you might need it one day

  • green

    It looks like this post is not about depression but about feeling low or despondent, which is part of being human. Some of the advice will help with the blues, but I agree with James and John on this: depression is completely different. Using the word in this contexts is to trivialize a major illness which can sometimes be fatal.

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  • Janet

    Nothing wrong with what you said, it’s just an over-simplification, and for someone who is really down (situationally depressed, rather than suffering from a chronic mental illness) it’s not all that helpful.

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  • Gertrude

    I agree this isn’t the right article for helping people get out of depression – when I’m there I doubt I could come up with anything nice to say to anybody.

    When I am feeling better about the world – I find sometimes my compliments – especially big ones to people I don’t know all that well, either freak them out or their response is a little too much unbalanced love for me and freaks me out. Some people think that if you’re kind or nice to them this means that you want to be their life partner or saviour – and this response is guaranteed to freak me out.

    I’d like to know how to give a massive (any) compliment without giving the receiver the wrong idea about my intentions. Or at least deal with the misunderstanding gracefully and without being freaked out by it.

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  • bobbi gellatly

    depression is a sign that something is wrong in your life. you need to be able to talk to someone about it but dont worry if you cant talk to any one about it its only natural. i feel depressed most days and today is one of those days. i wont tell you why im depressed though as it will make you feel worse and so will i.

  • Justin

    Did you read the author’s bio? He advises on home business-building. What expertise does this all-american boy (stereotyping based on the picture) have regarding depression?

    I’ve about had it with the Lifehack formulas. Numbered lists on how to improve your life are inherently oversimplistic and fail to motivate. Having subscribed for more than a year, I can’t think of a single domain in which my life has been improved by following some formulaic advice column penned by these “life-coaches.”

    As for this article in particular… How dare you 1) claim to know how to make people feel better when they are depressed and 2) tell people it’s as simple as following your three-step plan?

    • Maddie

      Maybe he has a degree in something related. Or maybe this is just based on his personal experiences. Maybe he did his own research. Some people do research in their spare time and what better way than to try and give advice to people and share his lesson learned. If nobody shared their mistakes and lessons learned, even simple little things such as eating too much halloween candy as a kid and not brushing your teeth, everyone would have painful cavities… if any teeth at all. Why does it matter anyway. If its doesn’t apply to you or doesn’t help save your criticism and find another website. Got it?

  • http://www.StartBreakingFree.com Brian Armstrong

    A lot of strong comments on this one – just wanted to make a quick response:

    Sorry for the confusion! To reiterate, this article was not meant to refer to clinical depression and you are right it is demeaning for anyone to suggest there are such simple cures to a serious disease. I’ve known people who have battled clinical depression (and lost) and related conditions like schizophrenia so it wasn’t my intention to belittle it. I think this is perhaps a language issue because in colloquial American English “depressed” is often used just to mean “sad” and doesn’t have the literal (medical) definition.

    Anyway, the article probably should have been titled “How To Instantly Feel Better When You Are Sad” – so for that I apologize. Finally, I don’t think these tips will work for everyone but they have worked for me and my hope was that by sharing it could help out some others as well.

    Thanks for the feedback everyone – I’ll check my titles more closely in the future!
    Brian Armstrong
    http://www.StartBreakingFree.com

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  • Alexandra

    I feel better! Thank you Brian.

  • tayseer

    i thing the best way to seccessful is to make your own story, not to compare your self with others, becouse you’re always differant!

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  • Dany

    I need to know if this page have a relation with the Law of Attraction

  • my mom

    wow, there’s a lot of haters out there

  • Craig

    To all reading the comments about how this article does people a disservice – do not listen. The article NEVER mentions depression, only feeling depressed. They are different things, and the people insinuating that they are the same by insulting the article are doing YOU a disservice. I found it uplifting for my current feelings of being depressed. It is not clinical treatment, but even though I have been diagnosed with Acute Clinical Depression, I still found it rewarding to read, even if it was not an approved technique of fighting depression overall. It’s a pick-me-up, and that’s all it was designed to be.

    For God’s sake, lighten up on the criticism. Let people find some help wherever they can.

    • Psychotherapy

      Craig, you say “lighten up” yet you are the only one here getting at all angry… The comments left here are purely people’s personal opinions on whether the information helped THEM…

  • http://www.startbreakingfree.com Brian Armstrong

    Wow thanks Craig! Definitely appreciate that :)

  • hugo hagland

    thanks for the post!!! you really helped alot!

  • Carrie Suchar

    It’s not that simple; everyone is different; everyone has different circumstances. I tend to agree with the negative posts. Your suggestions are not going to make me feel better; however if I had less depression and more success in my life I would probably agree with you Brian, but then again it’s not that simple. Thank you for caring.

  • grace kelly

    I have been depressed for a while now. I left an abussive relationship. And found another by living with my son and his girlfriend she has bit me. Yes you read it right they have both been very nasty called me names all kinds of names. Uncluding crazy,whore,fucking bicth. How hey have no respect for me I should go back to the crazy Hospital. I know it is no wonder I am depressed most of my relationship have been very abusived. But my family has been the worst.
    Grace

    • Hellohelen92

      Hey girl, I really hear you out on that. I’ve had my share of abusive relationships as well. My ex to this day is calling me a cunt, sending me dirty messages when hes drunk, while telling me to stay away from drugs, and when I am honest and telling him how I slipped up a few times and got a little dope sick, he yells at me and calls me nasty names. Just know that no man has the right to treat you that way. I hope that you feel better. Keep your head up. I don’t know you, but I can already say that I love you the way I love everyone on this Earth. You’ll be in my prayers (:

  • Brini

    I stumbled across this when I was sitting in my car while in my work parking lot crying my eyes out. And I just kept reading it and eventually the crying stopped and I sucked it up and walked back into work ready to start my day better. Thank you so much!

  • shannon

    im on meds for depression, but that doesnt mean that the advice givin cant help.ive read the hole thing and in doing just that i didnt think of how i was feeling,so i know if i actualy try them it will help if only momentarily

  • Galabre

    My mother has been depressed for years. It was going up and down, up and down. She was on pills, spent a lot of time in bed and crying. I eventually grew out of my parents’ nest and got a place of my own where I didn’t have a TV. I realized that not having a TV is the best thing to be happy, cool, zen, relaxed… A few months latter I paid my parents a visit and tweaked their TV set so that it would not work anymore. Since then my mum has not felt depressed anymore (it’s been 1 year). I have shared this experience with a few friends, many got rid of their TV too. TV is the source of many issues, including depression.

    • madrab

      i agree but still watch, i cant get up on my day off from work :( i used to go to a camp in loch lomand every year for 6 weeks at a time, no tv best time of my life!!!

      • madrab

        sorry an activity camp doing outdoors stuff lol

        • Galabre

          Do you mean Loch Lomand in Delaware, PA? Being from Western Europe I had to use Google Earth to find out where that it.
          “i cant get up on my day off from work” … Have a look at this post http://www.thegrail.eu/archives/211
          A few ideas of what to do instead – How about you print it and stick it on your TV set?

    • Liv

      Really mine to honestly takes lots of Pills still she sits and sulks in bed it makes me feel bad even though I haven’t done anything I feel like I can do sommin but can’t try and talk to her I’m 21 I know u feel like

  • Cat

    This is really wonderful advice; a lot of truth & wisdom. It is helping me out during a very difficult time. Many thanks.

  • Jacobpassarelli

    None of this works!

  • MYSPECIALBOYMIKEY25

    I AM IN TEARS BECAUSE I’M UNABLE TO HEAR MY FIANCE MICHAEL MY TRUE LOVE’S VOICE IT HURTS SO MUCH WITH HEARING HIS VOICE ALL I CAN DO IS CRY BECAUSE I’M UPSET SAD DEPRESSED LOVESAD I CAN’T MAKE IT GO AWAY MICHAEL’S CALLS TEXT MESSAGES AND HIS VOICE CAN MAKE IT GO AWAY I LOVE MICHAEL DANIEL PINTO WITH ALL MY HEART SO MUCH I WOULD DO ANYTHING TO HEAR HIS CALLS AND HIS VOICE AGAIN I WANT MY LONG HAPPY LIFE BACK WITH HIM

    • Maddie

      Im beg your pardon but.. has he passed away? If he is I’m not going to lie to you and say he’s in a better place now, and im not going to say he’s just buried in the ground… truth is not one person living on this planet really knows what occurs when you die or where you go. Some people say they’ve had visions or heard things… but they have nnever ACTUALLY experienced the things for themselves.
      Anyway, the only thing anyone can do for there losses of loved ones is remenice on the most joyful and comical moments you shared together. And talk to people who have dealt with grievance. I just lost my love three weeks ago and of course im still mourning but we have to accept these things and deal with them the hard way. RIP A.J.D.

  • Doerayme

    Great article!

    A valuable lesson for anyone who has experienced “true” failure.

    Get Up and Go!

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_XZLPNZGTCT6FBZIO7LQFMCLSXI Vinathi

    The 1st and 3rd are great tips, but the 2nd doesn’t always work. Say you were bullied. You don’t say, “Oh, I’d like to thank you for saying I was fat. Now I know that I should starve myself!”

  • Erin

    Tragic stories always set me in an odd mood. They make me turn at every creek, and feel cold. These tips totally make sence and I have found them INCREDIBLY helpful!

  • AE5

    So if I did these things before I read this, it’s almost guaranteed I’m depressed AND other people already knew it. AWKWARD.

  • Pooface

    did not help at all

  • Dave

    You don’t get how depression works. It’s not necessarily a response to some traumatic event. Sometimes it’s a constant state of mind. I’ve had suicidal thoughts since I was 10. I’m now 22. What have I learned? Not a whole heck of a lot. Give someone a compliment? They won’t appreciate it. You’d have to be really bad to give off vibes that you need me to like you. I literally can’t compliment someone without them taking it as an insult. Read quotes? All your quotes did was confirm to me that I’ll never be successful, whatever the heck that means. 

    I prolly deserve to be upset for being naive enough to read an article titled such as this.

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Taysa-Moore/100002332129947 Taysa Moore

      What you are talking about sounds like clinical depression- that is a chemical imbalance in the brain and one that doesn’t cure itself (kind of like a diabetic- they need help too).  Compliments and playing nice don’t get the job done.  I have fought the same thing since I was about 12 and am 40.  I am only okay when I am medicated, but then I feel better think I don’t need the meds anymore and go off of them. I then feel okay until I don’t- usually takes about a week.  It has affected every aspect of my life most of my life.  But I can’t stand letting it control me so I kick it to the curb by balancing my brain chemistry.  For some with the daily crap life throws at you- a compliment or just a good day can help.  For us, we just need a little help.  And a good psychiatrist to make sure the meds are right.  A family doctor can cause more problems with this if there is another issue- like manic depression.  An antidepressant without a mood stabilizer can cause the problems to escalate if you are bipolar/manic depressive  So there is help and life doesn’t have to totally suck- and it is often how we see ourselves that we see reflected in others responses than how they see us.  I know- I’ve been there! 

    • Djnewelly

      spot on man. many ppl have this assumption that one “didn’t get enough hugs by ma as a child” or suffered one HUGE massive traumatic event, but it’s much more than that. I can’t believe that people still believe that depression is a result of not “winning” enough or not having boatloads of money. bc life is always a fucking competition and material goods are a goal to strive for! lol reminds me of my favorite song by Boston with these lyrics: ppl living in competition, all i want is to have my peace of miiiiiiind  heeeeeeeaaahhhhyy.   you sound like a smart fella, dave.

    • Angel_63303

      I am biopolar and know how you feel.  Turning off the TV and a few compliments are not going to fix me.  I take meds, but I still have problems, but without the meds I’m really a mess.  I hope you can find something to help you.
      Good Luck
      keep the tv on!

  • SUPERSAYAIN

    It’s funny i was feeling sad earlier today and then i decided to give someone a birthday present (even though i’m a few months late), and i felt much better

  • SUPERSAYAIN

    It’s funny i was feeling sad earlier today and then i decided to give someone a birthday present (even though i’m a few months late), and i felt much better

  • tiffany

    Oh wow Galabre that’s great you helped your mom!:)  Great job!

  • tiffany

    Dave- not to be rude but I am just trying to help- I think you should get help or tell someone.  I know that sounds silly but really?  Suicidal thoughts since you were ten?  I hope you get some relief/help soon but don’t think so negatively.  You need someone to help you.

  • Determinedtolive

    I think this is a great advice to use when feeling bad. It triggers a belief in yourself, others and the motivation to move on in your quest for success. Take it to heart, believe in your ability to grow and make a change.

  • guest

    thank you v. much. You made my day today..

  • sam

    sorry this doesnt help one bit whatsoever. number 1 is obvious but comparing depressed people to ‘unsuccessful’ pretty much shows you dont know what its like or dont even know anyone thats depressed

    • mars_barrr

      Yea depression is for self loathing individuals I grew up with one who was severly depressed and medicated constantly. You are as happy as you make up your mind to be. Forget about your own so called issues once and a while and make someone elses day/life a little better. Happiness is like purfume you cant pour it on someone else with out getting a little on yourself. 

    • Cathy Pasternak

      Agreed.  He’s 25 years old.  He doesn’t know what he is talking about.

  • cysquatch

    Hmm..well, I can understand the idea of hitting bottom before bouncing back up. I’m just now starting to lift my legs and put one foot in front of the other to get myself out. For me it was a big wall of doubt that kept me under. At 35 years old I can honestly say that I’ve never really tried to keep moving forward. In my current situation I don’t have much of a choice otherwise. I have a good feeling about it although I’m a bit nervous and I have a lot of catching up to do if I want to lose the regret of the last 10 years of my life. I guess the best thing I can do is start by moving forward and just keep the foot on the gas pedal.

  • Amy

    its pretty obvious the person who has wrote this has never been truely depressed

  • Jasongaines

    This is a major help for me….funny I have the habits of a winner without. Knowing.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Friar-Doughnut/1222735670 Friar Doughnut

    Watching Spongebob Squarepants has helped me through rough times…..I know it sounds insane, but it’s worked….the comedy is superb and the mood is truly elevating, even if it’s silly sometimes.  Patrick, Spongebob, Squidward, they all’ve helped me.  Try it!  I recommend SBSP as therapy!

  • http://www.gsmarttech.com global smart technology

    i like this build

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_A3P7OSFEAHMIFYWURHXXG6ZYJ4 Beast

    you know what, this advice is better than most advice out there even though it doesnt work completely.
    it is better because it actually gives STEPS on how to feel better whereas most people out there just tell you to “be happy” like all of sudden the depressed is gone.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_MB7TCKF4IF57SQBLKDM73OYHJE AbigailC

    Dude, you’ve clearly never been depressed.  There is a huge difference between disappointment at a setback or failure and actual full scale depression where your mind refuses to function and your body is exhausted even after sleep and just getting up and getting dressed feels like climbing mount Everest.  Learn a little compassion and stop telling people they are whining victims if they are depressed.

  • Anonymous

    It would help me if things would actually just work out for once! Everything I do fails – try to build a room so we have a bigger place, it leaks. Tear it off, re-do all of it the way it should have been done the first time, it leaks! Try to find a job to occupy my mind and time at the same time get some bills paid, can’t find one. I sit and wait for the phone to ring for an interview, no calls.
    When you can’t pull your mind out of a situation, how are you suppose to appreciate anything. Compliment someone? You have to appreciate what’s around you and actually have friends to give someone a compliment, then you have to actually mean what you say in order for it to make you feel good instead of a “Well, good for you that things are so perfect for you!” attitude, which is usually how I feel.
    Very rarely do I see a quote that inspires me. Most of them make me feel worse than I already am because they remind me of how many things aren’t working out the way they should! I try to imagine in my head what it will be like when I get that job, but then I just start thinking again about EVERYTHING all over again!!!! It’s a VICIOUS cycle!!!!! SO VERY frustrating. No one can say they understand till they’ve been in your situation.

  • Anonymous

    We have a tv but no sevice and I still feel like shit. Maybe my problem is this damn pc! If I didn’t have it though, what would I do? Think about everything that is depressing me! It occupies my mind so I don’t think of everything that won’t work out. Everyone has their own probablems that create their depression. I’m glad some people can just unplug the tube and be happy again. Wish it were that easy for me.

  • Anonymous

    Same for me too. It don’t work. I mean when you are so down like flat on earth down, how can I make some one ‘s day. I feeling hopeless and I don’t wanna do anything.And about the success thing. That donesn’t have anything to do with depress. Most people feel depress because of their life, family and feeling alone. For me I don’t depress about my life being successful or not. I am feeling down because of my family. So give some useful advice.