I wanted to share some things that helped me:

Mental health
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Right, so I realised I can't help everyone, though I'll keep trying. I wanted to start a discussion where people share similar things that helped them with the aim of including everyone who wants to be. For some I'll explain why, but others I'll just list. Hope this helps someone!

-Cardiovascular exercise: Releases endorphines, reducing anxiety. Ever heard of a 'runner's heigh?'

-Affirmations: When said with genuine expression, pretend at first like you're acting if you have to. Set a timer for 5-10 minutes and do it each day for olne month at a convenient, scheduled time. Simultaneously visually imagine that affirmation eg 'I love myself', imagine having warm loving feelings for yourself, perhaps looking in a mirror and smiling.

-Smile, it releases good chemicals. Sit back with a straight back (not essential if you have back problems), assume a confident posture. Watch comedy-same reason, laughing is good. Will help you see a funny side to life events-which are often focused on by comedians, who incorporate a sense of shared knowledge or behaviour etc

-Find a hobby: If you don't have one think of one. I like origami, yoga, meditation, martial arts etc. Art and instruments are good.

-Talk to someone about how you feel and if you can't think of someone, find a professional and write how you feel in a diary.

-Set a scheduled time to worry each day for about 10 minutes and let go of other worries during the day.

-Watch an upbeat film.

-Listen to upbeat music only, resist listening to radiohead in times of need, don't be melancholic, it's not cool to be miserable-In the sense that you could be listening to 'Outkast:Hey Ya' (Personal taste may vary)

-Volunteer-Helping others can give a sense of self-worth. You can make a difference.

-Give blood if you can. Certain medications need to be mentioned, but giving blood every now and again is important. You might be the rare blood type that saves someone's life. Even if you're a commmon type like me (A rhesus +) your blood could be detrimental to someones survival. Only about 4% give blood regularly in my country (UK). This is a really basic way to help others.

-Warm baths: Relieve muscle tension and help you to relax.

-Look after yourself. Bath, shave, get a hair cut. You are important and your image is too

-Meditation: Alters brain structure: Promotes calm. Mindfulness has been incorporated into mental health service treatment programs. It promotes calm and feelings of joy. It can be like experiencing life in HD if you get good at it.

-Instead of 'I feel sad' think 'How can I get better?', that's exactly the attitude that won us the war!

This post IS CHEESEY, but just try some of the things I've suggested and see if they help. I'm not an oracle or some sort of bible-throwing manic preacher, I'm not religious, but have leanings towards Buddhism. This doesn't mean that meditation won't help you: you can be Islamic, Christian, Hindu, Sikh or you can even worship the Sun God Ra for all I care; Meditation can be practised across all religions as it is linked to the mind. From my knowledge it has been mentioned in Islam, Christianity, Buddhism and a whole host of other religions. Meditation is about clearing your mind: Cue epic Matrix Dojo scene and cheesey Kung Fu moves. Hope others can contribute and hope I've helped someone,

thanks for reading,

Al

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*runners high. Please ignore typos.

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Thank you for posting It wont help me yet but I will keep reading it over and over till I have won my fight little battles every day

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No problem. It will help, keep telling yourself. Might help to ask how you can make yourself feel better. I like cooking and making coffee. A good tip is the affirmations and setting small achievable goals(-eg force yourself to get up in the morning), if you say them with conviction it really helps. Feel free to post things you're greatful for too: Here's some of mine

-My cat

-My cousin acting like a crazy cat lady

-My best friend

-Videogames

-Music

Seems cheesey, but it helps. Also forcing yourself to do these things is good too. I forced myself to work as a waiter for 3 years. Volunteering is good too for experience if you're after work like I was. Watching comedy and funny videos really helps. (For some reason 'Ostrich Racing Helmet Camera' on youtube makes me laugh every time)

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I work but I am on the sick and we only have fish lol

There my sons

I play video games and listen to music and my best friend is always there for me I do try and force myself today was hard felt really anxious for some reason cant shift it today very little sleep but I have just started medication so hopefully it is that before it starts to work properly and I am a chef by trade but been uncreative for quite some time were I work is all bought in but it is just a job of convenience but I have a recipe in my head I woke up with it this morning so gonna go get the stuff on Tuesday and try it

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Sounds good, I always like to cook new things, especially curries due to the fact that it's hard to go wrong :D. Yeah fish are good too, you obviously can't stroke them but they're quite fascinating to watch. Don't think rely on video games too much if it can be avoided (this is only if you're using them for escapism or spending excessive time, otherwise its cool, I've got a mate who wants to go into videogame design so you can't really argue with him playing loads of games), can make you feel aa bit disconnected. If you can go out with friends more or watch a film. Learning a language is good too and really impresses the ladies-Spanish does anyway. Cheffing is a cool occupation, you could learn martial arts and be like a Tekken character :D One thing I've found too is seeing your life like a game, sounds odd but it can be pretty cool. It's like a version of mindfulness because when you're playing a game you're always focussing on the moment, more exciting that way lol

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Thats one way to look at it I will try that sounds good life like a game

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Thats one way to look at it I will try that sounds good life like a game

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Yeah, helped when I was low. You find work stressful? I was thinking of cheffing myself

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Not the job the people in it my ex is why I am depressed and she works there and staff members have stabbed me in the back to saying stuff to her that I have never done I have lost complete trust in the place right now

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Great post! Really loved the ostrich racing helmet camera recommdendation!

Never given affirmation or meditation a go, but will definitely try it!

I totally agree with you about running: I took it up several months ago as a way of dealing with my anxiety, stress and depression and it really helped! My improved fitness and weight loss helped boost my confidence, and while I do still have my down days (or occassionally weeks), I don't get as desperately low as I did before! 

I'd like to add that running (or even walking) outdoors is so much better than running on a treadmill in a gym/at home. I'm lucky enough to live near the sea where there are some beautiful walks and runs. I appreciate that not everyone has access to such amazing greenspace, but maybe going for a walk or run in a local park could help - use of greenspace has been shown to be beneficial for mental health after all  

Also agree with you on finding a hobby that you enjoy. When I'm not scampering around the countryside, I find doing artistic/creative hobbies very helpful. I took up drawing and knitting and get a real a sense of pride when I complete a project and think it looks really good, or get compliments from friends, family and even strangers on something that I've made with my own two hands! 

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Have you tried searching for another job? A change of scene might do you good. Also I don't recommend dating colleagues if you can avoided it. I dated someone from work, but it ended up being awkward when she got with another guy from work, she dumped me at a works party and we literally didn't talk to each other. Hence my advice being avoid at all costs haha. But looking for another job would be good for you and give you more hope. Get creative with your recipes, if you start thinking down thoughts, think about a crazy combo you could put together instead. Do a Heston Blumenthal. Might help?

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Yeah I have been looking and applied for 2 but never heard nowt back yeah not dating a colleague did cross our minds at the time but it just felt right we couldnt help it really but ill keep looking hopefully something will come up soon

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Thankyou, glad it helped. That's a great idea with the running! The outdoors is really helpful. Gardening is very therapeutic. Esstentially anything seniour citizens do can be seen as relaxing, this is quite a weird idea I came up with, I'm yet to try bowls and bingo! Have done some knitting in the past though and definitely think anything that requires your constant attention (otherwise you miss the loop in knitting) is really good. Keeps you in the present moment, my theory is that it's very closely linked into ideas of mindfulness (which many people experience at times, but don't know what it is unless they research mindfulness, usually by hearing about it through mental health services or sites. Have you ever been concious of your own blinking and it suddenly seemed like a weird concept, the idea that we blink? I think it's a similar concept to being concious of your breath and bringing your attention to your breath when your mind strays. I've experienced a meditative high through this technique, although this isn't the idea. You don't meditate to be happy, but for clarity and the happiness usually comes later as a biproduct. Sounds like you've got some talent for knitting; You might like to, if you haven't heard of either already; Google: 'Yarn Bombing' and 'Arigurumi' for ideas. Some really amazing artwork and ideas; The Wikipedia article on 'Yarn bombing' has some really innovative ideas and artwork attached to the bottom of the page!

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Do you live in the UK? If so that's the nature of the job market, so don't think it's your fault. You might just be competing with many people for the same job. Best tactic, personalise your CVs for each one and literally give one in everywhere, even if you don't think you'd like that job. You could deviate from cooking too if you want a change of scenery. It might do you some good and help you get away from problematic colleagues. However there are methods of dealing with workplace bullying, so if you feel people are going behind your back, bring it up with your boss, or their boss if you don't think you'll be taken seriously. Who knows, you might end up with their job!

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Yeah I am gonna buy a new printer and get my cv in a few more places I do live in the uk and understand the job market trouble is my experience speeks for itself but I can only do part time work but my cv says I am over qualified for it so have to tone it down for certain jobs so its getting the right stuff down onto it

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I can see the positiveness in your post which is really good, however at the moment I feel so lethargic with the same thoughts spinning around my head night and day, I was really low this morning and have a sick feeling in my stomach that goes right up into my throat, (I started on Citalopram last Monday), the last time I was depressed was in 2006, I had a partner at that time who helped me through, I spent Saturday just laying in bed and just lay there for hours thinking, I finally put the tv on in the afternoon for a distraction, here's the good news in 2006 I didn't take any medication I excercised every day, concentrated on healthy eating and did things to take my mind off , crosswords, jigsaw puzzles, diary, I learned to cook, I cleaned the house like a demon, did a load of gardening and got it looking stunning, all these things helped, but now I seem to have to force myself out of bed in the morning for work.

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Yeah, the nature of depression can be difficult and I know the feelings you're experiencing all too well. You do, however have to force yourself, it will seem mechanical at first, but then you'll break out of the mould which depression puts your mind into. I think there's some cool ideas at the end there and you sound intelligent and creative and this will help you break it. If you want to talk about it feel free to message me personally. I recommend you go for some CBT, if you haven't had it already it's really good if you do exactly what the therapist says, including any home-based stuff. Have you ever seen someone who has a vibe about them, like a joy that you can almost feel yourself? You need to try and associate with those sort of people if you can, this really helps. The way they start out though is just like anyone else, the basis of anyone who is happy is thoughts and concious choice. If you think of joy and passion all of the time, or make an effort to think of good things, it becomes you. Maybe you can think of a time that you were drunk and just let go and have fun. I recommend that you be kind to yourself, however. Give yourself time, nobody is perfect and I'm sure as hell not. The people who are really happy, they don't brag, they're modest, but not to the point of serious self-deprication. Simultaneously they can laugh at their imperfections. There's a three pronged wheel in CBT: One prong represents your thoughts, the other your feelings and the third your behaviour. To change how you feel you would have to change how you behave or how you think and that would have a snowballing effect. There's free stuff online on it and I say why not? There's a website named 'Tryaudioselfhelp' which is a free NHS service developed my CBT therapists/aficionados-Not sure where you live, but if you can access it, it'll take you through some CBT programs which you can do yourself. The nature of CBT is that it looks daft and overly simplistic, but it was developed on an abundance of scientifically tested and approved principles. Hence it's well worth a go. AT first you'll be like 'can't be bothered', that's the feeling you're fighting. What you're suffering from is a disease, a disease not entirely understood by society, but nevertheless prevalent. You might encounter 'just snap out of it' type remarks from friendss and relatives, just ignore these, it's about you now and you're going to make yourself better. If this goes on I recommend seeing your GP and if you can afford it the private route is quicker. You're best to find someone local who charges about £40 a week, ideally someone who specialises in depression, and or its triggers. Triggers might be anxiety, relationships etc. Ps you could have all of the money in the world, but it wouldn't make you happy, working on liking yourself makes you happy. List n10 things every day, go for variety. Force yourself, it's a game. Maybe you're physically strong, have diverse taste in music, are politically active etc. Try to find something you're passionate about and expand it into sub-sections. (You'll usually like stuff you're good at and you'll usually be good at or can get good at because you are interested. I'd start with the list habit and find a therapist. Of course it's your choice, I can't force you to do it, all I want is to help people escape the things which have hounded me in the past. (Depression and OCD)

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Ps avoid alcohol, it's properly bad for depression, which already slows your mind down. COming off caffeine can help with sleep too.

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I have my assesment with CBT tomorrow, I don't drink (not since 2006), I go to meditation on Thursdays, on Tuesdays I go to group therapy called Pathfinders, (i am in the UK by the way), I used to love cooking but now just throw something in the oven for convenience, I am so tense all the time and have to stop myself doing this, however once I have recognised that I am tense, its back again within 5 minutes, I have lost over a stone in weight, the type of friends I did have are all drinkers and/or potheads, I distanced myself from them years ago, I am going out with new friends now yet I still find that I am tense and subdued in company, I feel like I don't fit in anywhere, I'll try a few things you suggested and let you know, thanks for replying.