Dealing with sadness

[BreakfastMan]

Well, I do two things. First, I tell myself that it is all in the past, and no matter what I do I cannot change it. I then sit down and figure out how to make sure it never happens again, so I am prepared for next time. <-- Note: Does not apply if talking about relationships.

2nd: Play games, read books, watch stuff till my eyes bleed. Just bury myself in that for a while. Not anything depressing or dark either, something light-hearted and funny.

And... That is the extent to which I deal with sadness/depression. Might not be the healthiest options ever, but they seem to have worked for me, so maybe they will help you.

EDIT: Also, avoid negativity. Never helps me when I am sad.

 

[museofdoom]

When I'm sad, I like to disappear into a good book, or have a Lord of the Rings marathon. Or sometimes I'll just pop in my ipod, hide under a bunch of blankets and let my brain run wild.

Also, sometimes I'll see how far I can get in Ocarina of Time in one sitting starting from the beginning. It's relaxing to me.

I usually cut off all contact to the outside world. Phone and laptop off. :3

The biggest advice I can give about sadness/depression is: don't let it swallow you. Let yourself be sad, but don't let the sad/depressed become the only thing you are.

I hope this helped in some way )

Ps: If you ever need someone to talk to, my inbox is wide open!

 

[Astoria]

Either try to distract yourself from it as much as possible and maybe get a new hobby or do things that keep your hands and mind busy. If you can't, then try to turn it into anger when it gets too much. Anger is easier to deal with than depression IMO. Unless you're the kind of person who can handle it, don't wallow in it. It'll eat you alive.

 

[Aerosteam]

I'd say the proper answer to that question would be to do/think of something that makes you happy.

Though I may be a terrible singer, I sing to make me feel better.

 

[Chasing-The-Light]

But if I want to stop feeling sad, I'll listen to some melancholic jazz songs and gradually move onto happier music.

This is what I recommend. It's what I do. Put on my sad music and as I shuffle through it, eventually I find songs that I just want to listen to that are more up beat and as I listen to those, whatever emotion I was feeling before goes away.

Other things that you can do is to write, or vent to someone. I've sometimes found that, when I can't talk to anyone, just going and writing it all down on paper and then burning that paper makes me feel like I got it out, but nobody had to see it.

Another thing I personally like to do is to just aimlessly ride the bus. Get on a bus and just ride around for a few hours. This kind of goes back to the music thing, though, considering usually I have my ipod with me. But either way, the change of scenery sometimes helps.

Best of luck, friend

 

[Smiley Face]

Mostly this.

Spoiler: Spoilered for ponies

It just isn't the same without the voice.

Personally, I just lose myself in a good TV show or film (not one that's all dark and depressing, that's really not going to help) - usually a TV show, because I can just spend HOURS on it, and eventually I'll just forget about everything else. Listen to upbeat music, because I'm REALLY responsive to music, or an audiobook, because it's hard to conduct an internal monologue of self-loathing when someone is constantly talking in your ear. So in short, I totally distract myself until I forget why I was supposed to be upset about whatever it is I was upset about.

 

[axlryder]

I just go super saiyan and blow shit up with my kamehameha

honestly though, I usually try to cry for a while, fail at it and then go exercise or write a story. Occasionally I'll go over to a friends place and get drunk and watch mystery science theater or something. Posting on forums helps too. It's actually the reason why I've spent half the day on this one.

 

[Dethenger]

When I'm in a particular mood, I go on walks, mull things over, draw back into myself. I listen to songs while I walk, usually whatever best reflects what I'm feeling. It's very therapeutic. It's best to do it at night, so that it's dark, and to listen to your music loudly so that you can just lose touch with the rest of the world. Your legs are so mechanical you only need a vague understanding of your surroundings. I play out scenarios in my head, or just think about shit, only caring enough to not stray too far from home. It's especially good on a cold winter night in especially tempestuous weather. The flurry of snow creates a sort of bubble around you, where you can't see very far in any direction. It's like being in some surreal, transcendental realm, separate from everything, alone with but your thoughts for company.

Note: I live in Utah. It's safe to be out and about here even at two or three in the morning. If it's not wise to walk around at night where you live, I'd suggest listening to a comedian. Any will do: I personally like George Carlin and Bill Hicks, because they remind me that nothing is so shitty that you can't joke about it.

 

[Xeraxis]

Whenever I don't feel so great, gaming is perhaps my best mood-lifting distraction. Along with that, usually a nice walk somewhere to think about things or listening to my favorite kind of music helps as well.

 

[zelda2fanboy]

David Wong wrote this really great article about being sad/hurt that helped me through some really hard times in my life. The most important thing is that life changes. It can always get WAY better or it can always get WAY worse. Instead of focusing on the shitty spot you're in right now, you may as well just trudge through it and hope your next turn takes you someplace great.

http://www.cracked.com/article_15658_the-ten-minute-suicide-guide.html

You never said you were thinking of suicide, but the above link is helpful regardless.

Thanks for posting that. You may have saved me hundreds of dollars on therapy to come to many of the same conclusions.

 

[Nouw]

When I'm sad, I try and be graceful. It's just another time I'm sad and I'm not going to let drag me down any further. Note how I say try .

 

[Sticky Squid]

I ignore it, no point paying attention to sadness.

 

[BakaSmurf]

I personally just find somewhere quiet to hide so I can wallow in my sorrows until they've regressed to the point that I can supress and lock them away. I can't make any friends where I live and writing/drawing/video games don't work very well anymore so it's not like I have much of a choice though.

 

[TheBritishAreComing]

I just isolate myself. I don't like spreading my sadness around to people so I just play video games or watch movies.

Dammit, I hate having clinical depression.

 

[DoomyMcDoom]

My life just took its first downturn, & I have no experience with dealing with my emotions. So how do you guys do it? How do you make something stop hurting?

Find an objective, a goal, something to push towards, then GO FOR IT push as hard as you can, challenge yourself, and you won't notice the sadness so much, then when you've attained said goal you should be out of your downturn and able to cope better...

Or for more temporary solution, smoke a lil "somethin", and buy your favourite pizza, this is the ultimate unsaddener in my experience, only lasts as long as your high and your pizza supply though... so as I said temporary... Best used to help getting over a rocky breakup, or the death of a pet.

 

[Chefodeath]

So wait, you're sad because an event has caused you to be sad? Consider yourself lucky. That suggests you have a base line attitude of not being totally miserable.

For someone like me, you can get thrown into a black depression for no fucking reason whatsoever and the only cure is to wait for it to go away.

 

[Soviet Heavy]

Stop dwelling on it... No matter how hard or sad the problem. No matter how long it takes, just accept it and move on with your life. Time can heal almost any wound*...
.
.
.
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[sub]*Except physical wounds...[/sub]

Oh don't be such a baby, ribs grow back!
[small]No zey don't[/small]

 

[Vault101]

DON'T listen to the soundtrack...

damn you clint mansell...you asshole

 

[Starik20X6]

Don't know if it works for everybody, but when I'm sad, I listen to this song:


I defy anybody to not smile while it plays.

 

[Phisi]

Sacrifice a goat to the gods, they cause sadness and if you do it they will make you happy.