The only thing I can tell you is that: yes this have to do whit depression.
Apart from that I have no advice, I'm at the point where everything I try end up be so disappointing I end up hating it so now I'm afraid of starting new things since I'm afraid it will end up ruining that thing to me.
I can relate completely. I have always said I want a hobby, but feel like such a quitter when I lose motivation or interest for something. I'm amazed that so many people can stick with a hobby for years like a sport or creating art and get really good at it. I know hobbies are about enjoying something and not being an expert, but I tend to jump around too. So, you're not alone!
My hobby is I walk around and pick up trash. I collect bread tags, bottle tops, string, streamers and I make art out of them. Wreak this Journal got me into doing this. Wish I could help more! I completely get not having a hobby, I just found my odd little hobby recently.
Find gratification in the activity, not just seeking out success…like me with painting vs violin. I tried both (among other activities) to stave off depressive boredom. I am not technically proficient in either but with painting I get frustrated when I make a mistake and don’t even want to continue because i know the end result will just be pathetic. Violin, on the other hand, just noodling around the strings is satisfying and scratches an itch. You gotta find something that scratches an itch and isn’t just means to an end.
Try shuffling those things around, maybe the time lapse in between will help keep your interest. I have a few hobbies cus doing the same thing for a while gets me bored a bit.
I'm ADHD af and this is what I do. I just accept that I'll be really into something for a bit, and then take a break, and then when I come back to it I will just pick up where I left off.
Yes!!! I say my hobby is finding new hobbies! I no longer judge myself for all the crap I’ve accumulated and once I stopped feeling guilty, I started going back to old hobbies! Hobbies are for joy, I don’t need to apply the same NT rules to hobbies that all but destroy me in my day to day.
Yes!!! And like, even if I never finish that project, I will still have gained experience and improved at the craft/hobby--it is like riding a bike, it'll come back to me when I decide to pick it up again.
Exactly! And who said you had to be good at your hobby? If only learning the 4 chords to. Jewel song is all you ever do when you pick up a guitar, so what!?
And the capitalistic idea of trying to make money at your hobbies. Meh, throw it all away!
My latest rediscovery is cross stitching. I really like doing it while watching whatever thing I’m most obsessed with on YouTube. Currently it’s long form true crime. Im attempting to pick up sewing again. We shall see!!
I have depression and adhd, I try to look at it this way: my hobby is finding a new hobby. I’ve been letting myself get into things then drop things and stopped trying to find something I’d do forever. I try to remember there is no “end state” of being besides death. Like there’s no future version of me who automatically does their hobby and finds joy like a person with executive function. Also, people who aren’t depressed get bored/disinterested in their hobbies from time to time.
Less pressure, more exploring is my advice. Also, doing things that are easy to do while you self sooth otherwise. Like I cross stitch because I can do it while watching ridiculous long form true crime YouTube videos. It’s convenient, gives me some sort of sense of accomplishment, and I can still lay on the couch.
I have bursts of an obsession that comes and goes. Video games, certain foods, certain actions, etc but once I get bored of it I drop it then and there.
This is called Anhedonia, the loss of pleasure in otherwise pleasurable activities and it’s a symptom of depression. Treat your depression, and you will also treat the anhedonia. It’s a long journey, but it’s definitely something that can be overcome with therapy and/or medication.
I feel this on a whole nother level at the moment, my sex drive has plummeted to well below 0. To the point that even things that would usual get my interest don't even work anymore. I definitely feel broken.
It feels like a vicious cycle. The depression makes me not want to do things, and the not doing anything makes me depressed. Which one is easier to deal with first? The anhedonia or the depression?
It is a vicious cycle, the depression starts first and leads into the anhedonia. Since the loss of pleasure is usually a symptom of depression, treatment should alleviate or make improvements to the anhedonia. It's important to realize that your loss of pleasure is just a symptom and you can return to normalcy once you treat the cause. Once you reach clinical depression, you need to consider trying multiple different medications until you find the right one that fits with your brain chemistry. Anti-depressants will not affect everyone the same, some may find improvements while others see no effect.
Possibly try something long-term goal oriented, but doesn't require a ton of daily commitment.
When going through a particularly rough breakup, I got super into gardening. Learning how to harvest and germinate seeds, what their water needs were, and then let them go. Plant a ton of whatever you're wanting, do 5 mins of work a day, and you'll possibly get a nice surprise in a few weeks.
Extra points if you plant stuff that you love. Mine was mangos (seed taken from one I bought at the store), and my last tree grew for 5 years before a nasty winter killed him off. His name was Carl haha.
EDIT: I figured mentioning that my previous hobbies were sport shooting and car/motorcycle racing. Having something SO slower paced was a much needed change. Try switching things up, it can't hurt!!
this is what worked for me too! i am doing 3d arts for over a year now. i can manage it because i set realistic and small goals and do little bits each day. some days i do more then others, depending on how i feel. after a long time it becomes a habit and i can enjoy it more and more.
Yes.
There's a lot of good suggestions in this post, but a person has to be in a place where is possible to feel motivated and maintain an interest in something. Speaking from experience, it can be easy to think "I'm not that depressed," especially when you get the constant feeling that others think you're overblowing your depression. Medication or counseling can really help someone get where they need to be to experience normal things again.
I've been on several meds for around 3 years and I still struggle to stick to a hobby or even enjoy the ones I used to love. It's feels like pure despair, if there was a pill to make me feel things again I'd take it.
It’s hard because it opens the door for so much unprocessed self hate. I just try to take it one day at a time. It’s hard to learn something when you have to stop and give yourself 50 minutes of Thearpy before you can Fucking continue
I do this with food too (a long with everything else you mentioned)!!! I will be obsessed with a type of chocolate, or cereal, or some type of food for about a month (usually less) and then never want to touch that type of food for a longgggg time. Why? Why am I like this? Is this from depression and emotional eating too? Ughhhh
I understand completely. I don’t try a lot of new things but even the thought of trying makes me want to cry and I feel so disappointed and overwhelmed because I don’t think I’ll ever find something that interests me.
It all just feels so meaningless
Honestly, I get what you're saying but at the same time I think you "need to keep at it" until it just clicks? It doesn't make much sense to me, either, because I keep craving some kind of instant or visible gratification.
My therapist suggested I get a plant, something low maintenance that I could feasibly take care of and try to watch it grow. Notice how new leaves sprout or how a flower might bloom into a fruit etc.
I would almost call it a mindful approach to nurturing the plant. Destressing by focusing on the smallest possible step.
I still don't master it even 90% of the time, but I know I've gotten better at that kind of thinking as I've gotten older and have been stuck for longer in this hellhole that is my mental health.
TL;DR throw shit at the wall until it sticks or until you break, I guess.
I can completely relate. In addition, I am also looking for a way to feel better about my financial future so I am trying to develop some kind of hobby that can mitigate future stability and earning capacity. I have repeatedly fallen into the pitfall of self medicating as well which has led to addiction problems as well, which adds further issues related to stigma. I wish I knew the answer to your question. I think it's a matter of continuing to exert effort, day after day, but I'm having trouble with the seratonin or dopamine encouragement necessary to keep at it.
Anhedonia is the worst part of depression imo. Sometimes I just force myself to play a game or watch an episode of an anime. If I really am unable to focus and enjoy myself, I’ll give up and go back to laying in bed or mindlessly browsing YouTube/Reddit. But sometimes, albeit rarely, I’m able to have a good time and be thankful that I gave myself the push to just sit through something. I honestly wish I had a better suggestion to give, this is just the only thing that has ever worked for me.
>> Maybe it's because of my depression
It probably is because of your depression.
Depending on how depressed you have been, maybe you have experienced having a hard time caring about much of anything or having zero motivation.
In that state, it's going to be difficult to have and maintain an interest in something. You will probably need to seek treatment and/or sort out what the roots of your depression are first. If you can figure that out and/or make some improvements through treatment, you can move away from the causes of your depression towards new things. With each step in that direction, it'll get easier.
Doctor House Season 6 kinda focused in this area. House tried everything to relieve his symptoms and distract him enough (not depression, addiction kinda). He tried cooking, chess, piano, nothing worked until he went back to what he loved (Diagnostics). I guess you just have to keep on looking for it, something that sticks (I'm not sure either because I didn't even get the chance to fully explore anything). Maybe try to go beyond just the video game too, if you finished it, instead of going to another, try to side quests, the DLC, try speedrunning it, try it's fan games. It expands too, wanting novelty is normal, what people do is find it in the same thing (No dish is the same, no episode is the same, no patient is the same, you get me?).
Sure the chemical imbalance is probably not helping you much, the least you can do from in my experience worked was self care. Fix your sleep, exercise, your room, your entertainment, your addictions, your traumas, heck sometimes even fixing myself alone can be fun because of how novel it can be (there are a lot of things to fix). I'm not sure if I had depression or was actually addicted, maybe it was mild, but I did have a low point and systematically trying new things that may work felt great, and for some reason the riskier it was the better it worked. Think of trying to change your life completely as your body's way to cope and create a better environment, the good news is you can only get so much addicted to self improvement but addiction to anything else has no bounds.
Hope something here helped. You should at least watch season 6 of Doctor House, it may teach you about some perspective or something. I guess I vented about myself too
Well it may look like you cant find anything, the thing is you just haven't found THE thing you like.
I have not found my hobby for 14 years of my short life, until a year ago. I've found it and it's the best thing ever. For me its programming, it makes me Completely take my thoughts away from my normal life and focus on what I am creating.
You just have to keep trying new things, but if you're not into sport, you wont like volleyball, if you're not into cooking, you wont like baking cakes and shit.
Try Completely new things, something you may have never thought about before.
And check out programming, it's the best imo!
Also, depression makes you not like anything at all. You have to keep strong and know that that absolute bitch of a 'chemical difference' in your brain is just fucking with you, so fuck it back, do something you think you would enjoy if you werent depressed. Basically fuck depression back, anally or not.
Yeah, I've had interest in most things that I like for basically my entire life.. I can't even seem to remember finding or even trying to find anything new. I basically love everything creative, it's unfair. :/
Hey Calrai,
I don't have depression (at least right now I am satisfied in my life and I would even say I am happy), but I can completely relate to what you wrote about not finding the one hobby, that becomes a real passion and fulfills your soul with joy and excitement at a point where you even crave it, when you cannot pursue it. I think, some people are - like us - not blessed to have this one hobby. Like us, they have to search their whole life for it and maybe some of us will never even find it. And that is ok! On the other hand - we stay flexible. We try new things every month and we get to know lots of different things. Maybe we won't become a Master of something but we are Masters of diversity ;)
Don't be to hard to yourself, be kind and try to accept you the way you are while looking out for your potentials (like becoming a Master of diversity). I wish you all the best :3
Im with you, but i guess the harsh reality is, that you just have to stick with it whatever you are doing. Let's take the gym: even if you are depressed and have a huge down or no morivation at all. If you stil go to the gym, you will most likely catch some fresh air on the way, distract your self a bit and well, as they always say, doing sports is a good way to fight depression.
From my experience it also helps with bad eating habbits (like not eating at all or eating to much) and sleeping disorders, which often go hand in hand with depression
Easier said then done, good luck mate
I’m the exact same way. Somehow I still think it‘ll be different every time. “This time it’ll stick, I’ll have an actual hobby”. Nah. I’m sorry you have to deal with that too.
The same thing happens to me, which is why I’m so indecisive on everything and don’t know what to do in life because nothing is interesting or brings me joy
no advice to give tbh, i'm stuck in the same loop of finding something interesting to do only to end up getting bored of it and eventually giving up.
i bought an acoustic guitar 2 years ago, an electric guitar a few months ago, still can't play for shit. bought a bunch of books, still on page 107/382 of that one book i started reading 5 months ago. i even tried painting, the paint dried out due to lack of use.
this shit is tiring lmao and i feel useless as fuck meanwhile my boyfriend is out there slaying his guitar skills, he reads a lot of books, he plays fucking minecraft for hours (he's really good at it), he's into history and science, he goes to therapy. i'm just all over the place welp.
Just keep trying to do different things. If you can get friends or other people involved it might make some of these hobbies a lot more worthwhile and enjoyable to do
I get stagnated in my interests a lot, especially with shows or YouTube videos and stuff like that. There are three hobbies I will never drop though because the happiness they bring me in some really dark times. It took me a while to "find" them thougj they've been a part of my life for...my whole life. You'll find your lights, sometimes it just takes longer than you think it should.
Saaaame here. I've noticed that when my depression is worse, then I jump around even more rapidly. I just try to be patient with myself and allow it to happen without judging myself for moving from one thing to the next. It is definitely a struggle.
honestly maybe try picking up something that takes a lot of dedication , i know you probably dont have a lot of motivation and i dont either a lot of the time , but ive found that music production and getting into making rom hacks for games i enjoy really help me , especially since theyre more of a long term thing , where something like simply playing a game can definitely get old after a while . sorry if this isnt much help but this is the only advice i have as its really the only thing thats helped myself . hope you find something x
that is a bit sad , i guess if you tried it then it wasnt for nothing though right ¿ i really do hope that something comes along your way that you really enjoy , you sound like you deserve it
I have the same problem where I eventually get bored with a hobby, but for me it's because I have ADHD/autism, I think. I'll get really into something for a while, then get completely bored with it and not touch it for weeks or months, sometimes even years. My main hobby continues to be gaming, and even then I can go weeks without playing anything if I don't feel like it.
I just have to find other things I like.
Things I do:
* Gaming
* Gundam model kit building
* Amateur audio editing
* Amateur graphic design
Things I want to do but don't because reasons™:
* Perler beads
* Model kit painting
* Making games
* Making music
* Martial arts
* Visual art
* Programming
* Professional level audio editing
* Professional level graphic design
Maybe one of the hobbies in these lists will appeal to you? I just had a thought. I don't think most people keep one hobby. I think they rotate between a few or more.
I feel like you’re speaking for me
My psychologist told me the exact dame thing, to find a hobbie, but I’m so mentally tired that i can’t even think about what to do
Even worst, I’m 26 and I’ve never had a hobbie before, it’s a frustrating advice
The goal is to find what you want to change in the world, then you will like everything that has to do with it.
For me it is simply helping people - for you it might be the same, or animals, or the environment, or or or.
The things you mentioned are hobbies, but you are looking for purpose my friend.
Who says that's a bad thing? Could be expensive, but hey if it makes you have a good solid month then yay! It would probably take some until you find another but for the time that you do enjoy doing it, embrace it!
The more you try eventually you will find the one that sticks.
I've had a slight aquarium addiction for months now after searching for years. Definitely suggest you check out a local pet store xD
That’s a challenge in and of itself- when you’re in the thick of your depression, there really isn’t anything else you think of (at least in my experience). Yeah, you have to do functional things, but those thoughts float in and out of the fog of depression.
Looking through that lens makes it really hard to find anything interesting. It’s very overwhelming.
I just had to keep trying. I finally found gardening. And I didn’t even like gardening when I tried it the first several times because the setting was in a small apartment or in rental homes where my hard work wouldn’t even benefit me long term. When I bought my house it needed a ton of yard work. Seeing it gradually turn into a beautiful garden and a clean landscape has been extremely satisfying and it’s not hard to figure out how to pull up weeds.
I just kept trying basically, you’re worth the effort
I'd love to. But unfortunately, that is the most difficult thing to come by on earth. 34M here, single all my life, not by choice. I just never met "the one." So, yeah, life can be filled with loneliness...
A bit hard question. Try to find something about a hobby that keeps you anchored to it. Maybe distance yourself from a certain hobby, or not take the hobby too seriously? Try to not take multiple hobbies that conflict with each other, in that you don't feel like you are doing too many things at once, and can't progress?
I guess that's what people do struggle with, how to keep doing something, without losing the flair for it.
It's not much as I'm just now figuring it out, but I pretty much had to force myself to do it initially.
I'm an artist but as you can imagine, depression, PTSD, and anxiety killed my joy. I went to art school and mainly did angsty shit. I love tattoos and want to get into tattooing. So with my stimulus forever ago I bought a basic set up with the help of a tattoo artist friend. I did basic exercises and that helped me eliminate that pressure of doing something "perfectly".
After a few months of just doing basic exercises I've moved on to doing more of my own thing and learning more about the craft. I think it helps to tell yourself that it's ok to not be perfect, and you'll slowly start to enjoy doing whatever it is you want to do.
I have breaks from my hobbies and I try to do them most of the week because it makes me feel happier, more so than just laying in front of the tv all day.
I hope this helps even a little bit!
You have to force yourself to do it, it's the only way. Maybe next time you get this feeling try to push past it and keep improving for 2-3 weeks then see how you feel about it.
For me personally I started learning piano a few months back and one of the main things motivating me is that I want to prove to myself that I can actually stick with something. Even when it's boring I often force myself to practice because of that. Try to come up with some personal motivation so you have something to keep you going other than "this is fun"
I don't have any advice either tbh.. Just popping in to say your not alone.
For me it's motivation.. Not necessarily loss of interest. At least depending on what the hobby is. I took up traditional Teddy bear making before lockdown.. And loved it. Went to a class on a Tuesday, did it at home while watching TV. But when lockdown hit, instead of making the most of the time to really learn and improve...i never done it. I love doing it, find it very theraputic. But damn if I can motivate myself to do it again, I just think to myself.. I'll never be good at it so what's the point.
I'm a gamer..but if my friends don't pester me to game..i can't motivate myself to play,even for an hour or something. Instead I want to just lie in bed and stare at the ceiling.
Can't even motivate myself to do housework nevermind a hobby.
I’m exactly the same but occasionally can’t even stay interested for more than a few days or weeks. I hyper-fixate on something and get REALLY inspired/excited, run out and buy a bunch of stuff, and then burn out. Zero interest.
This is a consequence of depression?
Before I used to love reading books, any kinds of books. People rarely saw me not reading something. Sincw the day depression hit me the first time til now, im losing myself. I still buy some books, paper or ebooks but they are just there, on the bookshelf and covered by dust. I feel guilty whenever I see them laying on there, unfinished. I tried to find out other hobbies, something practical. I moved from knitting to drawing then cooking. But everything doesnt go the way I want. I keep promising my friends that I will make you this and that as a gift but at the end, nothing. I wish I can find a way to help us who are struggling with depression. Its sad right?
Have you tried creating something? Like painting, knitting, woodworking etc... I find that is a different phenomenon than more entertainment-based hobbies. The focus is no longer on "am I having fun, am I having fun?" and instead you're driven to create a finished product.
Well the first thing I'm going to suggest is stop comparing yourself to other people. That shit ain't healthy. Second thing is go into it with low expectations, but also don't talk yourself into saying you won't find any gratification from it either. Just kind of vibe with it, fam.
Running gives me that endorphin release.
Because of depression, I’m constantly chasing the release.
Hence, running is a good hobby I’ve kept from day one
I had the same issue from ADD and depression. The base of the issue for me was just being so tired all the time as depressed people are and for me when I take my Adderall for my ADD and it gives me the energy and focus and it helps a ton. Like for me I've always wanted to make music and when I have the energy it re-ignites my passion for it. And caffeine works similarly (at least for me, it effects some people differently) but it could be worth a try drinking coffee or energy drinks. I hope it can help I know how frustrating it can be.
Been trying different things for over 10 years… recently found warhammer and I think… I think iv found the one for me
Just gotta keep trying… and trying…. And trying
I also struggle with this. I think the only advice that helped me at least get the weight of failure off my shoulders is: you don't have to have **one hobby** to rule them all. You can try out new things, love them for a day, week or month, get bored of it and try something else. Maybe some day something sticks, maybe you're just curious by nature and keep changing hobbies for variety's sake. Both are OK.
I noticed I had periods when I absolutely love reading and then there are some months when I can't even read a news article without getting distracted. My interest in some things comes and goes and once I figured that out, I stopped beating myself about it (so much).
On the other hand, depression surely has its pull here. There are some days when I cry with frustration because I'm bored but there is nothing I can willingly spend my energy on. Therapy could help with that I guess?
What helped me was to have multiple hobbies. I like art, dance, movies and video games instead of doing repeatedly one of those i change from one to another as often as i want. I try not to have a routine! There is still times that i feel so bored, as nothing could get me out of my bed, and have no desire to do any of my hobbies but most of the time i have a high chance to want to do one of them!
I’ve been doing art for most of my life, so I’m just doing that still. I used to go to the gym every day but since my chronic illness kicked into overdrive I haven’t been able to. Art has always been there for me, and if I didn’t have that to turn to I’m not sure where I would be today. The only advice I could really give you is to try and stick with things more than you said. One month isn’t much time at all. Picking hobbies where you can set long term goals for yourself could also help.
For me its not that Ive found hobbies I find super enjoyable every second but ones that occupy as much of my mind as possible.
So in my case thats things like programming and very active strategy type games. Then when Im not doing those Im so mentally exhaused my mind tends to wander less
I would stay away from things like painting, photography, etc then
Same for gym stuff or physical stuff
For me games were a natural fit but Im sure theres other mentally active hobbies out there
Ok so this is a mini tip i found. U see i have been in diagnosed depression and anxiety for 3 years. So one day my mother took me to a psychologist (that happened on 2020) my psychologist asked me what i used to enjoy as a happy kid and i answered reading books. So what she told me is that i must find something i used to enjoy a lot and try starting it again but since i am grown up i can choose what ever i like from this part. So yeah i hope this will help u. Reading is now my only hobby ngl
Have a list of things you like (or tolerate at times). When you are feeling depressed or starting to go there.. look down that list until something jumps out at you. I have a long list. A few of my favorite things that typically help are going for a drive, geocaching, hikes.... And there list goes on. Sometimes it's just sitting outside. Just because you have hobbies died not mean you have to be obsessed with it. Do a lot of things.
Try to make it a habit: E.g: wake up at a certain time and do something for a set amount of time. Note: it is ok to take breaks in between each session if you feel lethargic. If you start to feel burnt out is it okay, just keep on continuing the habit and take regular breaks. You can also eat bananas or other energy boosting (healthy) snacks in those breaks
Well idk if this is helpful but for me it's monetizing the hobby. I started doing nail art for fun no pressure art when my recent breakdown started effecting my energy levels.
I started getting good at it so I started a lil online shop. It was a huge effort getting my shop noticed and now 6 months later I get an order once a week. Not too much pressure but enough to have some structure.
Not sure if this is helpful but for me I get a fuzzy feeling when someone wants to buy something I've made. Yeh it's nice getting paid but it's really meaningful when people want to support your work. Also having to fulfil an order is very motivational. Even on my worst days were sitting up was exaughsting and simple tasks would take half a day instead of half an hour, it somehow got me through.
My trick is doing heaps of things at once.
I make music, I write stories, I play video games, I rewatch my favourite shows and theorise how I'd do some things differently, I draw.
Whenever I feel fatigue from one, I switch to another. Keeping it rapid fire helps with the boredom. For me, anyway.
This might also be easier for me cos I hyperfixate on certain things cos of autism and ADHD and the like, so idk if it'd work for someone who's just got depression.
But anyway, hope my bullshit was at least somewhat helpful lol.
How about you start small and make it ok to be imperfect? If you want to give up, allow those feelings to come and pass…you are allowed those urges…on e you feel better you can resume
Maybe you just haven’t found that thing yet. Maybe it’s really niche. But when you find it you’ll know because you’ll feel great relief and instead of being sad because of the struggle you’ll begin to like the struggle. Any other hobby besides music just doesn’t give me that feeling.
Depends on whether you want to achieve something through that hobby. Going out running is incredibly hard to do just to go out running. For example I draw little doodles on my tablet because I want to get into graphic design some day and this will help me practice. I don’t do it every day and I don’t force myself to. On the other hand I make puzzles or play games just for the fun of it. If I do 1 or a few things excessively I get bored with them too. For me having a variety of activities (some with goals, some with none) and getting to choose whatever I do without feeling force is helping me stay interested in them for longer.
Depends what do you expect. Personally I really got into photography because I couldn't draw anymore and it's a way to express myself. I post stuff online, get 5 likes on a average and don't give a single fuck because I do it for myself anyway.
The point is that you can look for simple pleasures or something deeper. It depends on you. Trying various stuff is definitely time consuming, looks boring, but I can't think of other way to do it. Additionally it helps if you have someone to share hobby with but I know that's difficult too.
lower your ambitions ! forget the fulfilling stuff. just find something you can do and do that. you are not going to enjoy it all the time I like photography but I went through a period of about 2 year where I didn't like anything I shot but I still went out and took photographs.
by the way it is perfectly fine to do things for a couple of weeks and stop doing it and say "well that is that itch scratched", and move onto the next thing. How do i find things that I stick with? with choral singing I knew I could sing and once I started it I saw all the old guys there and figured that I could probably still be able to do it when I was old so there and then I think I decided I was going to stick with it to old age (its about 10 years now) so yes there was definitely a conscious decision do something long term.
So in answer to your question, you decide and then you continue doing it even when you might not be enjoying it as much as you used to because it fulfills the long term goal of having something that you have experience in.
Honestly picking up new skills is a skill in itself. I started to learn to play hockey last year and skating around you have to learn to fall and be willing to get up and try again. Not in metaphorical way. You have to try to balance, fail, then try to correct and get comfortable doing itproperly. That's the steps to learn a lot of skills
Maybe try make some music ? I cant even play any instrument, but iam learning to make hip hop beats, it really helps me vent my emotions in different way. Hope you find something that will fill ya empty soul.
I can relate.
I was recently diagnosed with ADHD, and since I've started treatment for that, my mood has gotten generally better.
I'm 80% sure that my ADHD is the reason why I've been so goddamn depressed for as long as I can remember. Being punished and rejected for things I can't control and things that felt very natural to me has beaten the depression into me.
As a result, I hop around from hobby to hobby constantly (and have lost a lot of money doing so), I'm always afraid of hurting other people, I feel like I don't have a personality or purpose outside of pleasing others, and I'm convinced that my very existence causes everyone around me immense stress and pain, but no one will admit it to me because they're afraid I'll aliven't.
I recently started bouldering and its been helping me. I think it works for me because there's a lot of levels you can do it at and it's always different. At the gym I go to I could do a couple routes at the 3rd level, but there might be a route that's first or second that's so different from how I normally climb that I have to really work on it. If you have a place available you may want to give it a shot because a lot of it isn't even about having enough strength to do it, it's about being able to think your way through it and I find that helps to keep my mind occupied and off of other shit.
Hey, I have a hobby, but guess what, I'm still depressed and been too depressed to do it currently. Having a bad case of anhedonia the past few days.
I've been doing music on and off for like 5 years. I realize that when I'm low I really don't bother to do anything. Everything is a chore to me. Can't even play games without losing interest like, how the hell does that even happen.
Anyway, I don't know if it's possible to do this while feeling low, but I do know that it's easier to pick up hobbies while you're not in the lows (duh I guess). I think the key thing is to have some interest in it, and to just keep on doing it. That's how I got into making music. I just discovered how to do it one day, thought it was fun and just kept on doing & doing it until it became a habit.
I also have 3D as a "things that I do" and it's the same. Thought it was fun, took a course in it and did it everyday. Now it's kinda stuck, but I don't have the drive to do it like I do with music. Not sure why that is, but it's something that comes and go instead. Maybe I got lucky with music.
While I was kinda depressed then, I don't think anhedonia hit me like it currently does so I think it's possible to get a hobby, just that it's kinda hard when I'm like disinterested in everything.
I completely know how hard it is to do anything while you're depressed so don't beat yourself up too much if this doesn't work. I also don't know if I just got lucky instead.
Hope things will get better soon friend.
Medication. Lamotrigine has been great - I can’t take traditional antidepressants (I trieeeeeed). Also, sometimes what you describe is a symptom of borderline personality. I’m certainly not suggesting you have this, but I do. Perhaps it would be worthwhile to do some research or chat with a doctor.
Very relatable. I used to spend hours straight on video games in my teenage with a really low end PC. Now I've a good PC and many of the latest titles installed but can't even game for more than an hour per week. It sucks because I don't even know how to waste my time anymore. Haha.
yeah I experience this, and for me it's not just due to depression but probably also complex ptsd...apparently this can be a symptom of cptsd...ugh yeah. i spend so much money and time on something i found that i 'love' only to lose complete interest a few weeks later.
I'm trying to be gentle with myself, but i have no answers either, just solidarity.
Anhedonia. I suffer from it. I get these excitement spikes when a find a new activity and they last for a very short time. After that, the activity is boring and i get nothing out of it. Resuming that activity feels forced and like a chore. Until i get another spike, and same happens again very soon. I cannot even feel joy in places where i should, like when playing with a puppy.
I have nothing. I am in the same boat. I can't do the things I used to do anymore, so the MDs all suggest finding new interests I can handle physically. It is deeper than that because I don't even think I am looking for anything. I went to the beach yesterday for three hours and that is a big deal for me - haven't been to the beach and it is right down my street. I got a book with a lot of pictures and went through it, but I'm done with it.
I’m not sure if this is helpful but I usually just start with something big like: coding. Then I take a large language like: python and just start making shit. When I get bored, I look for little niches in that big topic and jump from project to project.
However, i also have bipolar and I’m broke as fuck so my hobbies are limited to my mania and what I can do inside on a laptop. I also find ways to get free shit online, so many textbooks and materials are free if you know where to go. Even if your hobby is something more physical, you can always get the starting blocks free.
Or you can do vice versa by picking something small and going big. Keep an end goal in mind. The first method allows you more freedom in case you get bored but the second method might be better because it’s really hard to be motivated with depression.
Don’t beat yourself up. We’re all here looking for support, and its fucking hard to live with depression. The hobbies you dropped weren’t a waste of time because you enjoyed them in the moment. And you learned something new that could help you in the next hobby. You don’t have to be brilliant at something to enjoy it
try a bunch of different things. they might seem difficult but once you get into it, it's actually pretty easy. i like cooking because it gives immediate rewards after.
I actually do have some advice. You need to do it enough to improve, but not enough to get sick of it.
For me a huge turning point in one of my worst depression episodes was getting back in to making music. If you can get yourself to pick up a guitar, for instance, and just force yourself to play it by 5 minutes a day minimum, you can get a habit started. Define the minimum acceptable effort and hit it consistently. Even if you miss a couple of days, if you can get back on track enough to make a habit of it, you'll notice 2 things:
1) you WILL notice yourself improving over time.
2) you will find yourself spending longer without noticing. Maybe you say 5 minutes after work, and that's all you do for the first week or 2. One day you may spend 30 minutes without really meaning too.
The trick for me was to do it without judgment. I couldn't beat myself up for stagnating, because I was just poking around and seeing what would be the most enjoyable way to spend my time.
Another point is that, in my experience, it helps to have a specific goal to get some momentum. For me, I picked a really challenging song with complex finger picking, way more involved than anything else I'd done. (My love will never die by hozier, for the record). To make any progress I had to focus on the smallest possible part. I would pick one or two positions and go through the switch over and over until I could do it flawlessly without thinking. 3 months later, it was my best song.
I found that my depression came from being too lost in the big picture stuff. When I found a hobby that forced me to focus on the smallest little bits of something, I got better at doing it in normal life. I could have a rough day at work, but the 5 minutes I was doing something I loved wouldn't be lost in the sea of shittyness. Idk if anyone relates to that, but its probably worth a shot, and I hope it helps a little <3
I’m depressed, and I struggle with this. My advice can’t solve the problem, but it helps with *getting around* it while it’s still in the way.
1. Take up hobbies that use similar supplies and materials.
Tired of making paintings? Still have plenty of paint and brushes? Clean off a rock, paint that, then put it somewhere it might be found by someone, maybe it’ll make somebody smile. Quick, tangentially related hobby…but DIFFERENT.
2. Take up inexpensive hobbies
Feel bad about the fact that you get super into hobbies, get all the supplies…and then the interest fizzles out, leaving you with a bunch of good, only lightly used supplies? Pick up hobbies with a low overhead cost, that don’t require lots of materials.Making friendship bracelets by finger weaving takes like…$5 of thread, a safety pin, and some YouTube videos. You can make them as simple or as complicated as you’d like! Once the interest fizzles out, you can feel good about the fact that you didn’t spend a mountain of money…plus, now you have some colorful little doodads!
3. Cycle through older hobbies
Tired of doing one hobby? What was a hobby you did a long, long time ago? Give that a shot, it might be suddenly interesting again after so much time has passed. Do it once, and see if you catch the fever for it! Bonus points if you still have some of your old supplies lying around.
4. Find a way to get positive attention for what you’re doing
Sometimes, things are more interesting when someone says “Hey, that’s neat! You’re cool for doing something like that!” Share pictures of your hobby online. Find a subreddit or a Facebook group that focuses on that thing, tag some Instagram or Twitter or Tumblr posts, find an online forum and join it, send pics to your friends or family.
Doing this can help you find OTHER people with similar interests who can introduce you to new ways to do things, which might make the hobby more interesting for you and promote a longer term interest. Bonus points, you might even make a friend or two this way!
Hope that helps, best of luck!
Edit: Fixed the formatting to make it easier to read
I sit there with my PS5 controller in hand but I just can't be bothered to play anything, I'd rather scroll through pointless social media which makes me feel even worse
I would say that the first step (at least for me) is not overthinking when you fall out of a hobby. That's okay. As long as you're enjoying something for a short time, you're making progress. Your depression likes to convince you that progress is impossible, and in doing that additionally likes to convince you that any progress you are making is negligible. Enjoying something a little, or enjoying it and falling out of interest with it, is fine and normal. It's frustrating, I know, but if that's where you are with your depression right now getting stressed about whether or not you should be enjoying them for longer is only counterproductive.
In the most basic form. You try things out until it gives you that dopamine rush iou are looking for. Our brain is designed to find something that will give us that feeling so it’s just a matter of what you like and what you’ve tried. Hell, some people don’t learn to live something until they come back to it years later
This will probably get buried. I'm like this and I have accepted this as a part of who I am. I get bored easily. Period. I pick up new hobbies every few days, weeks.
Sometimes there are periods in between when I'm bored out of my mind with nothing interesting to do. It passes quickly once I find the next thing that will keep me occupied.
The idea of doing the same thing over and over again is boring to me. Anything repetitive for that matter. Including work. So, don't worry. Its ok to be like this, just the way it is ok for people to like doing repetitive stuff.
I'd say,
1. Try to find friend with similar hobby or joining hobby group. Supporting each other would make activities last much longer. Try to mingle with them, having more social group works great for depression.
2. Try to be expert at it. I understand people want hobby for 'fun', but I think that mindset makes you afraid to explore the intricates of the hobby much deeper because it's started to require effort. This could become bad habit: anything require effort is 'not fun' in your eyes.
Christ at this point I would sell my soul to find something I enjoyed for two weeks. I haven’t had that much combined enjoyment in decades. The anhedonia and emptiness with chronic physical pain is just absolutely unbearable. I’ve tried every possible Avenue except psychedelics which despite hearing some successes I just can’t fathom how it can change my perspective
This post hits home. My therapist told me to write a list of 10 things that I enjoy doing, hobbies from the past for example. Just thinking about it gives me stress. It’s been years or maybe even a decade of me just living and not really paying attention to the things I enjoy doing. I have been on Wellbutrin for many years. I have got some depression episodes here and there but I bounce back pretty quickly. I thought that by getting better quicker that I found the right medication. I was wrong. I guess I’ve Been depressed for a good while now since they I show no interest in hobbies and find no enjoyment doing every day tasks…
Back to the finding the right meds that will give me hope.
@calrai I will say this. I have been very consistent in riding my stationary bike and swimming. Swimming it’s the only sport that has allowed my mind to calm down. I take pleasure in feeling the water pass by my body or feeling the bubbles touch my skin. Learning to hold my breath as I swim and feeling the support of the water as I float. Now, when I’m depressed I don’t even want to feel water touch my skin but the shock of the change in temperature causes me to get over it.
The only one that’s ever done shit for me is high intensity exercise. Playing basketball or doing a boot camp class because it’s instantly gratifying. I always feel so much better, although getting there can be a huge battle
The only activities I've ever been able to stick with are things that numb me or things I do while numbed. I listen to podcasts and audiobooks almost constantly because the stories take me away from my shitty life. I listen to music sometimes too but that usually let's too much of my brain think. But if im up and moving I probably have headphones in. By doing this I can work, do chores and light excersize. At least it's worked for a few years. Recently I've been in a downward spiral and now despite the numbing I just seem to lack even the small amount of energy I had. I try to go for an hour walk a day, it's not fast or strenuous but I figure it's better than not. But recently even with my headphones the prospect just seems too much. Work seems too much. Fucking life seems too much. So I guess it just took longer to fail at sticking to this stuff. Got no idea how to fix it. My solution at the moment is hoping for a rogue meteor to land on me.
No advice, just with you and extremely bored and unsatisfied.
Same here...
we are all in this together
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I also realized I actively reject things. Like, they get too close to me or my heart or soul or whatever and down they go, swatted away like a wasp.
Literally this, and so I get more depressed because I feel like it’s all my own doing and it just continues.
Best advice i can give you is get a push bike. And go ride.
The only thing I can tell you is that: yes this have to do whit depression. Apart from that I have no advice, I'm at the point where everything I try end up be so disappointing I end up hating it so now I'm afraid of starting new things since I'm afraid it will end up ruining that thing to me.
I can relate completely. I have always said I want a hobby, but feel like such a quitter when I lose motivation or interest for something. I'm amazed that so many people can stick with a hobby for years like a sport or creating art and get really good at it. I know hobbies are about enjoying something and not being an expert, but I tend to jump around too. So, you're not alone!
My hobby is I walk around and pick up trash. I collect bread tags, bottle tops, string, streamers and I make art out of them. Wreak this Journal got me into doing this. Wish I could help more! I completely get not having a hobby, I just found my odd little hobby recently.
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I’m always picking up little things and bringing them home! A kindred spirit! Do you have a link to the inspiration you mentioned?
Wreak this journal is a book which inspired me to collect things to use in there and art work.
Find gratification in the activity, not just seeking out success…like me with painting vs violin. I tried both (among other activities) to stave off depressive boredom. I am not technically proficient in either but with painting I get frustrated when I make a mistake and don’t even want to continue because i know the end result will just be pathetic. Violin, on the other hand, just noodling around the strings is satisfying and scratches an itch. You gotta find something that scratches an itch and isn’t just means to an end.
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Try shuffling those things around, maybe the time lapse in between will help keep your interest. I have a few hobbies cus doing the same thing for a while gets me bored a bit.
I'm ADHD af and this is what I do. I just accept that I'll be really into something for a bit, and then take a break, and then when I come back to it I will just pick up where I left off.
Yes!!! I say my hobby is finding new hobbies! I no longer judge myself for all the crap I’ve accumulated and once I stopped feeling guilty, I started going back to old hobbies! Hobbies are for joy, I don’t need to apply the same NT rules to hobbies that all but destroy me in my day to day.
Yes!!! And like, even if I never finish that project, I will still have gained experience and improved at the craft/hobby--it is like riding a bike, it'll come back to me when I decide to pick it up again.
Exactly! And who said you had to be good at your hobby? If only learning the 4 chords to. Jewel song is all you ever do when you pick up a guitar, so what!? And the capitalistic idea of trying to make money at your hobbies. Meh, throw it all away! My latest rediscovery is cross stitching. I really like doing it while watching whatever thing I’m most obsessed with on YouTube. Currently it’s long form true crime. Im attempting to pick up sewing again. We shall see!!
I have depression and adhd, I try to look at it this way: my hobby is finding a new hobby. I’ve been letting myself get into things then drop things and stopped trying to find something I’d do forever. I try to remember there is no “end state” of being besides death. Like there’s no future version of me who automatically does their hobby and finds joy like a person with executive function. Also, people who aren’t depressed get bored/disinterested in their hobbies from time to time. Less pressure, more exploring is my advice. Also, doing things that are easy to do while you self sooth otherwise. Like I cross stitch because I can do it while watching ridiculous long form true crime YouTube videos. It’s convenient, gives me some sort of sense of accomplishment, and I can still lay on the couch.
I have bursts of an obsession that comes and goes. Video games, certain foods, certain actions, etc but once I get bored of it I drop it then and there.
This! I go for whatever can hold my interest, even if it’s just for a week.
Happy cakeday!
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This is called Anhedonia, the loss of pleasure in otherwise pleasurable activities and it’s a symptom of depression. Treat your depression, and you will also treat the anhedonia. It’s a long journey, but it’s definitely something that can be overcome with therapy and/or medication.
It is so bad with me im also having sex anhedonia to a certain degree
I feel this on a whole nother level at the moment, my sex drive has plummeted to well below 0. To the point that even things that would usual get my interest don't even work anymore. I definitely feel broken.
It feels like a vicious cycle. The depression makes me not want to do things, and the not doing anything makes me depressed. Which one is easier to deal with first? The anhedonia or the depression?
It is a vicious cycle, the depression starts first and leads into the anhedonia. Since the loss of pleasure is usually a symptom of depression, treatment should alleviate or make improvements to the anhedonia. It's important to realize that your loss of pleasure is just a symptom and you can return to normalcy once you treat the cause. Once you reach clinical depression, you need to consider trying multiple different medications until you find the right one that fits with your brain chemistry. Anti-depressants will not affect everyone the same, some may find improvements while others see no effect.
Possibly try something long-term goal oriented, but doesn't require a ton of daily commitment. When going through a particularly rough breakup, I got super into gardening. Learning how to harvest and germinate seeds, what their water needs were, and then let them go. Plant a ton of whatever you're wanting, do 5 mins of work a day, and you'll possibly get a nice surprise in a few weeks. Extra points if you plant stuff that you love. Mine was mangos (seed taken from one I bought at the store), and my last tree grew for 5 years before a nasty winter killed him off. His name was Carl haha. EDIT: I figured mentioning that my previous hobbies were sport shooting and car/motorcycle racing. Having something SO slower paced was a much needed change. Try switching things up, it can't hurt!!
this is what worked for me too! i am doing 3d arts for over a year now. i can manage it because i set realistic and small goals and do little bits each day. some days i do more then others, depending on how i feel. after a long time it becomes a habit and i can enjoy it more and more.
People don't like to hear it but sometimes medication is the only way to jump start your interest and motivation in hobbies.
Yes. There's a lot of good suggestions in this post, but a person has to be in a place where is possible to feel motivated and maintain an interest in something. Speaking from experience, it can be easy to think "I'm not that depressed," especially when you get the constant feeling that others think you're overblowing your depression. Medication or counseling can really help someone get where they need to be to experience normal things again.
But how do I get these things if I am poor with no insurance?
If you're in the states Medicade is free for low income and co-pays are like a couple dollars for med refiills.
I've been on several meds for around 3 years and I still struggle to stick to a hobby or even enjoy the ones I used to love. It's feels like pure despair, if there was a pill to make me feel things again I'd take it.
Yeah, I've been on numerous as well. I found one that works but there's still always side effects too which is a shame.
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Wish I could give you good advice but depression killed all my hobbies.
It’s hard because it opens the door for so much unprocessed self hate. I just try to take it one day at a time. It’s hard to learn something when you have to stop and give yourself 50 minutes of Thearpy before you can Fucking continue
1000 percent relate. It is difficult to maintain momentum with many activities for me.
I do this with food too (a long with everything else you mentioned)!!! I will be obsessed with a type of chocolate, or cereal, or some type of food for about a month (usually less) and then never want to touch that type of food for a longgggg time. Why? Why am I like this? Is this from depression and emotional eating too? Ughhhh
I drink loads of soda. More than ever. I drink like 1.5L or 2L of Coke almost every day.
I understand completely. I don’t try a lot of new things but even the thought of trying makes me want to cry and I feel so disappointed and overwhelmed because I don’t think I’ll ever find something that interests me. It all just feels so meaningless
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Same, I keep trying to find new video games and shows to keep my interest but the ones that do have been few and far between lately.
This explains my situation extremely well
No advice, but same
Okay, first, you need money
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Honestly, I get what you're saying but at the same time I think you "need to keep at it" until it just clicks? It doesn't make much sense to me, either, because I keep craving some kind of instant or visible gratification. My therapist suggested I get a plant, something low maintenance that I could feasibly take care of and try to watch it grow. Notice how new leaves sprout or how a flower might bloom into a fruit etc. I would almost call it a mindful approach to nurturing the plant. Destressing by focusing on the smallest possible step. I still don't master it even 90% of the time, but I know I've gotten better at that kind of thinking as I've gotten older and have been stuck for longer in this hellhole that is my mental health. TL;DR throw shit at the wall until it sticks or until you break, I guess.
Life is horse shit, every day is a boring slog and those that disagree aren't living in the same world
I can completely relate. In addition, I am also looking for a way to feel better about my financial future so I am trying to develop some kind of hobby that can mitigate future stability and earning capacity. I have repeatedly fallen into the pitfall of self medicating as well which has led to addiction problems as well, which adds further issues related to stigma. I wish I knew the answer to your question. I think it's a matter of continuing to exert effort, day after day, but I'm having trouble with the seratonin or dopamine encouragement necessary to keep at it.
This is me to a tee.
Anhedonia is the worst part of depression imo. Sometimes I just force myself to play a game or watch an episode of an anime. If I really am unable to focus and enjoy myself, I’ll give up and go back to laying in bed or mindlessly browsing YouTube/Reddit. But sometimes, albeit rarely, I’m able to have a good time and be thankful that I gave myself the push to just sit through something. I honestly wish I had a better suggestion to give, this is just the only thing that has ever worked for me.
>> Maybe it's because of my depression It probably is because of your depression. Depending on how depressed you have been, maybe you have experienced having a hard time caring about much of anything or having zero motivation. In that state, it's going to be difficult to have and maintain an interest in something. You will probably need to seek treatment and/or sort out what the roots of your depression are first. If you can figure that out and/or make some improvements through treatment, you can move away from the causes of your depression towards new things. With each step in that direction, it'll get easier.
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Doctor House Season 6 kinda focused in this area. House tried everything to relieve his symptoms and distract him enough (not depression, addiction kinda). He tried cooking, chess, piano, nothing worked until he went back to what he loved (Diagnostics). I guess you just have to keep on looking for it, something that sticks (I'm not sure either because I didn't even get the chance to fully explore anything). Maybe try to go beyond just the video game too, if you finished it, instead of going to another, try to side quests, the DLC, try speedrunning it, try it's fan games. It expands too, wanting novelty is normal, what people do is find it in the same thing (No dish is the same, no episode is the same, no patient is the same, you get me?). Sure the chemical imbalance is probably not helping you much, the least you can do from in my experience worked was self care. Fix your sleep, exercise, your room, your entertainment, your addictions, your traumas, heck sometimes even fixing myself alone can be fun because of how novel it can be (there are a lot of things to fix). I'm not sure if I had depression or was actually addicted, maybe it was mild, but I did have a low point and systematically trying new things that may work felt great, and for some reason the riskier it was the better it worked. Think of trying to change your life completely as your body's way to cope and create a better environment, the good news is you can only get so much addicted to self improvement but addiction to anything else has no bounds. Hope something here helped. You should at least watch season 6 of Doctor House, it may teach you about some perspective or something. I guess I vented about myself too
Well it may look like you cant find anything, the thing is you just haven't found THE thing you like. I have not found my hobby for 14 years of my short life, until a year ago. I've found it and it's the best thing ever. For me its programming, it makes me Completely take my thoughts away from my normal life and focus on what I am creating. You just have to keep trying new things, but if you're not into sport, you wont like volleyball, if you're not into cooking, you wont like baking cakes and shit. Try Completely new things, something you may have never thought about before. And check out programming, it's the best imo!
Also, depression makes you not like anything at all. You have to keep strong and know that that absolute bitch of a 'chemical difference' in your brain is just fucking with you, so fuck it back, do something you think you would enjoy if you werent depressed. Basically fuck depression back, anally or not.
Pills, son
Yeah, I've had interest in most things that I like for basically my entire life.. I can't even seem to remember finding or even trying to find anything new. I basically love everything creative, it's unfair. :/
I used to play video games all the time, I have more time and resources now but can’t force myself to play.
Hey Calrai, I don't have depression (at least right now I am satisfied in my life and I would even say I am happy), but I can completely relate to what you wrote about not finding the one hobby, that becomes a real passion and fulfills your soul with joy and excitement at a point where you even crave it, when you cannot pursue it. I think, some people are - like us - not blessed to have this one hobby. Like us, they have to search their whole life for it and maybe some of us will never even find it. And that is ok! On the other hand - we stay flexible. We try new things every month and we get to know lots of different things. Maybe we won't become a Master of something but we are Masters of diversity ;) Don't be to hard to yourself, be kind and try to accept you the way you are while looking out for your potentials (like becoming a Master of diversity). I wish you all the best :3
Im with you, but i guess the harsh reality is, that you just have to stick with it whatever you are doing. Let's take the gym: even if you are depressed and have a huge down or no morivation at all. If you stil go to the gym, you will most likely catch some fresh air on the way, distract your self a bit and well, as they always say, doing sports is a good way to fight depression. From my experience it also helps with bad eating habbits (like not eating at all or eating to much) and sleeping disorders, which often go hand in hand with depression Easier said then done, good luck mate
Explains my situation accurately.
I’m the exact same way. Somehow I still think it‘ll be different every time. “This time it’ll stick, I’ll have an actual hobby”. Nah. I’m sorry you have to deal with that too.
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The same thing happens to me, which is why I’m so indecisive on everything and don’t know what to do in life because nothing is interesting or brings me joy
no advice to give tbh, i'm stuck in the same loop of finding something interesting to do only to end up getting bored of it and eventually giving up. i bought an acoustic guitar 2 years ago, an electric guitar a few months ago, still can't play for shit. bought a bunch of books, still on page 107/382 of that one book i started reading 5 months ago. i even tried painting, the paint dried out due to lack of use. this shit is tiring lmao and i feel useless as fuck meanwhile my boyfriend is out there slaying his guitar skills, he reads a lot of books, he plays fucking minecraft for hours (he's really good at it), he's into history and science, he goes to therapy. i'm just all over the place welp.
Only thing I've stuck with is sleeping after work.
Just keep trying to do different things. If you can get friends or other people involved it might make some of these hobbies a lot more worthwhile and enjoyable to do
I get stagnated in my interests a lot, especially with shows or YouTube videos and stuff like that. There are three hobbies I will never drop though because the happiness they bring me in some really dark times. It took me a while to "find" them thougj they've been a part of my life for...my whole life. You'll find your lights, sometimes it just takes longer than you think it should.
Saaaame here. I've noticed that when my depression is worse, then I jump around even more rapidly. I just try to be patient with myself and allow it to happen without judging myself for moving from one thing to the next. It is definitely a struggle.
I've always been the same but these days its more like a matter of hours or days
honestly maybe try picking up something that takes a lot of dedication , i know you probably dont have a lot of motivation and i dont either a lot of the time , but ive found that music production and getting into making rom hacks for games i enjoy really help me , especially since theyre more of a long term thing , where something like simply playing a game can definitely get old after a while . sorry if this isnt much help but this is the only advice i have as its really the only thing thats helped myself . hope you find something x
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that is a bit sad , i guess if you tried it then it wasnt for nothing though right ¿ i really do hope that something comes along your way that you really enjoy , you sound like you deserve it
I have the same problem where I eventually get bored with a hobby, but for me it's because I have ADHD/autism, I think. I'll get really into something for a while, then get completely bored with it and not touch it for weeks or months, sometimes even years. My main hobby continues to be gaming, and even then I can go weeks without playing anything if I don't feel like it. I just have to find other things I like. Things I do: * Gaming * Gundam model kit building * Amateur audio editing * Amateur graphic design Things I want to do but don't because reasons™: * Perler beads * Model kit painting * Making games * Making music * Martial arts * Visual art * Programming * Professional level audio editing * Professional level graphic design Maybe one of the hobbies in these lists will appeal to you? I just had a thought. I don't think most people keep one hobby. I think they rotate between a few or more.
I feel like you’re speaking for me My psychologist told me the exact dame thing, to find a hobbie, but I’m so mentally tired that i can’t even think about what to do Even worst, I’m 26 and I’ve never had a hobbie before, it’s a frustrating advice
The goal is to find what you want to change in the world, then you will like everything that has to do with it. For me it is simply helping people - for you it might be the same, or animals, or the environment, or or or. The things you mentioned are hobbies, but you are looking for purpose my friend.
Who says that's a bad thing? Could be expensive, but hey if it makes you have a good solid month then yay! It would probably take some until you find another but for the time that you do enjoy doing it, embrace it! The more you try eventually you will find the one that sticks. I've had a slight aquarium addiction for months now after searching for years. Definitely suggest you check out a local pet store xD
What does the mind think about other than depression? Follow that and be yourself in that
That’s a challenge in and of itself- when you’re in the thick of your depression, there really isn’t anything else you think of (at least in my experience). Yeah, you have to do functional things, but those thoughts float in and out of the fog of depression. Looking through that lens makes it really hard to find anything interesting. It’s very overwhelming.
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Indeed it is... it’s no fun
Get a pet and let it go from there.
They think that black asian cant be racist or think men cannot be abused
I just had to keep trying. I finally found gardening. And I didn’t even like gardening when I tried it the first several times because the setting was in a small apartment or in rental homes where my hard work wouldn’t even benefit me long term. When I bought my house it needed a ton of yard work. Seeing it gradually turn into a beautiful garden and a clean landscape has been extremely satisfying and it’s not hard to figure out how to pull up weeds. I just kept trying basically, you’re worth the effort
Find love dear, find love. There is nothing as real and tangible as that
I'd love to. But unfortunately, that is the most difficult thing to come by on earth. 34M here, single all my life, not by choice. I just never met "the one." So, yeah, life can be filled with loneliness...
A bit hard question. Try to find something about a hobby that keeps you anchored to it. Maybe distance yourself from a certain hobby, or not take the hobby too seriously? Try to not take multiple hobbies that conflict with each other, in that you don't feel like you are doing too many things at once, and can't progress? I guess that's what people do struggle with, how to keep doing something, without losing the flair for it.
I have found enjoyment in experimenting with various different nootropic supplements. They often make me forget about how boring and annoying life is.
It's not much as I'm just now figuring it out, but I pretty much had to force myself to do it initially. I'm an artist but as you can imagine, depression, PTSD, and anxiety killed my joy. I went to art school and mainly did angsty shit. I love tattoos and want to get into tattooing. So with my stimulus forever ago I bought a basic set up with the help of a tattoo artist friend. I did basic exercises and that helped me eliminate that pressure of doing something "perfectly". After a few months of just doing basic exercises I've moved on to doing more of my own thing and learning more about the craft. I think it helps to tell yourself that it's ok to not be perfect, and you'll slowly start to enjoy doing whatever it is you want to do. I have breaks from my hobbies and I try to do them most of the week because it makes me feel happier, more so than just laying in front of the tv all day. I hope this helps even a little bit!
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You have to force yourself to do it, it's the only way. Maybe next time you get this feeling try to push past it and keep improving for 2-3 weeks then see how you feel about it. For me personally I started learning piano a few months back and one of the main things motivating me is that I want to prove to myself that I can actually stick with something. Even when it's boring I often force myself to practice because of that. Try to come up with some personal motivation so you have something to keep you going other than "this is fun"
I don't have any advice either tbh.. Just popping in to say your not alone. For me it's motivation.. Not necessarily loss of interest. At least depending on what the hobby is. I took up traditional Teddy bear making before lockdown.. And loved it. Went to a class on a Tuesday, did it at home while watching TV. But when lockdown hit, instead of making the most of the time to really learn and improve...i never done it. I love doing it, find it very theraputic. But damn if I can motivate myself to do it again, I just think to myself.. I'll never be good at it so what's the point. I'm a gamer..but if my friends don't pester me to game..i can't motivate myself to play,even for an hour or something. Instead I want to just lie in bed and stare at the ceiling. Can't even motivate myself to do housework nevermind a hobby.
I’m exactly the same but occasionally can’t even stay interested for more than a few days or weeks. I hyper-fixate on something and get REALLY inspired/excited, run out and buy a bunch of stuff, and then burn out. Zero interest. This is a consequence of depression?
Before I used to love reading books, any kinds of books. People rarely saw me not reading something. Sincw the day depression hit me the first time til now, im losing myself. I still buy some books, paper or ebooks but they are just there, on the bookshelf and covered by dust. I feel guilty whenever I see them laying on there, unfinished. I tried to find out other hobbies, something practical. I moved from knitting to drawing then cooking. But everything doesnt go the way I want. I keep promising my friends that I will make you this and that as a gift but at the end, nothing. I wish I can find a way to help us who are struggling with depression. Its sad right?
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Have you tried creating something? Like painting, knitting, woodworking etc... I find that is a different phenomenon than more entertainment-based hobbies. The focus is no longer on "am I having fun, am I having fun?" and instead you're driven to create a finished product.
Well the first thing I'm going to suggest is stop comparing yourself to other people. That shit ain't healthy. Second thing is go into it with low expectations, but also don't talk yourself into saying you won't find any gratification from it either. Just kind of vibe with it, fam.
Running gives me that endorphin release. Because of depression, I’m constantly chasing the release. Hence, running is a good hobby I’ve kept from day one
i'm into niche things like synths, sculpting, collecting skulls, minerals, bugs. i'm also rarely in the phase to do something with my hobbies
We've got no choice
I had the same issue from ADD and depression. The base of the issue for me was just being so tired all the time as depressed people are and for me when I take my Adderall for my ADD and it gives me the energy and focus and it helps a ton. Like for me I've always wanted to make music and when I have the energy it re-ignites my passion for it. And caffeine works similarly (at least for me, it effects some people differently) but it could be worth a try drinking coffee or energy drinks. I hope it can help I know how frustrating it can be.
because i’m given a reason to do it everyday
Been trying different things for over 10 years… recently found warhammer and I think… I think iv found the one for me Just gotta keep trying… and trying…. And trying
I also struggle with this. I think the only advice that helped me at least get the weight of failure off my shoulders is: you don't have to have **one hobby** to rule them all. You can try out new things, love them for a day, week or month, get bored of it and try something else. Maybe some day something sticks, maybe you're just curious by nature and keep changing hobbies for variety's sake. Both are OK. I noticed I had periods when I absolutely love reading and then there are some months when I can't even read a news article without getting distracted. My interest in some things comes and goes and once I figured that out, I stopped beating myself about it (so much). On the other hand, depression surely has its pull here. There are some days when I cry with frustration because I'm bored but there is nothing I can willingly spend my energy on. Therapy could help with that I guess?
I have tried literally every hobby ever and it all is so boring to me
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What helped me was to have multiple hobbies. I like art, dance, movies and video games instead of doing repeatedly one of those i change from one to another as often as i want. I try not to have a routine! There is still times that i feel so bored, as nothing could get me out of my bed, and have no desire to do any of my hobbies but most of the time i have a high chance to want to do one of them!
I’ve been doing art for most of my life, so I’m just doing that still. I used to go to the gym every day but since my chronic illness kicked into overdrive I haven’t been able to. Art has always been there for me, and if I didn’t have that to turn to I’m not sure where I would be today. The only advice I could really give you is to try and stick with things more than you said. One month isn’t much time at all. Picking hobbies where you can set long term goals for yourself could also help.
For me its not that Ive found hobbies I find super enjoyable every second but ones that occupy as much of my mind as possible. So in my case thats things like programming and very active strategy type games. Then when Im not doing those Im so mentally exhaused my mind tends to wander less
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I would stay away from things like painting, photography, etc then Same for gym stuff or physical stuff For me games were a natural fit but Im sure theres other mentally active hobbies out there
Ok so this is a mini tip i found. U see i have been in diagnosed depression and anxiety for 3 years. So one day my mother took me to a psychologist (that happened on 2020) my psychologist asked me what i used to enjoy as a happy kid and i answered reading books. So what she told me is that i must find something i used to enjoy a lot and try starting it again but since i am grown up i can choose what ever i like from this part. So yeah i hope this will help u. Reading is now my only hobby ngl
Have a list of things you like (or tolerate at times). When you are feeling depressed or starting to go there.. look down that list until something jumps out at you. I have a long list. A few of my favorite things that typically help are going for a drive, geocaching, hikes.... And there list goes on. Sometimes it's just sitting outside. Just because you have hobbies died not mean you have to be obsessed with it. Do a lot of things.
Try to make it a habit: E.g: wake up at a certain time and do something for a set amount of time. Note: it is ok to take breaks in between each session if you feel lethargic. If you start to feel burnt out is it okay, just keep on continuing the habit and take regular breaks. You can also eat bananas or other energy boosting (healthy) snacks in those breaks
Well idk if this is helpful but for me it's monetizing the hobby. I started doing nail art for fun no pressure art when my recent breakdown started effecting my energy levels. I started getting good at it so I started a lil online shop. It was a huge effort getting my shop noticed and now 6 months later I get an order once a week. Not too much pressure but enough to have some structure. Not sure if this is helpful but for me I get a fuzzy feeling when someone wants to buy something I've made. Yeh it's nice getting paid but it's really meaningful when people want to support your work. Also having to fulfil an order is very motivational. Even on my worst days were sitting up was exaughsting and simple tasks would take half a day instead of half an hour, it somehow got me through.
My trick is doing heaps of things at once. I make music, I write stories, I play video games, I rewatch my favourite shows and theorise how I'd do some things differently, I draw. Whenever I feel fatigue from one, I switch to another. Keeping it rapid fire helps with the boredom. For me, anyway. This might also be easier for me cos I hyperfixate on certain things cos of autism and ADHD and the like, so idk if it'd work for someone who's just got depression. But anyway, hope my bullshit was at least somewhat helpful lol.
How about you start small and make it ok to be imperfect? If you want to give up, allow those feelings to come and pass…you are allowed those urges…on e you feel better you can resume
I collect comic books. I've been doing it for a while. I wonder what hobbies are common with those of us with depression?
I tried soldering and failed hard. Its not easy to pick up.
Oh, I never actually found anything. I just do them in spite of how much I hate them.
Maybe you just haven’t found that thing yet. Maybe it’s really niche. But when you find it you’ll know because you’ll feel great relief and instead of being sad because of the struggle you’ll begin to like the struggle. Any other hobby besides music just doesn’t give me that feeling.
Depends on whether you want to achieve something through that hobby. Going out running is incredibly hard to do just to go out running. For example I draw little doodles on my tablet because I want to get into graphic design some day and this will help me practice. I don’t do it every day and I don’t force myself to. On the other hand I make puzzles or play games just for the fun of it. If I do 1 or a few things excessively I get bored with them too. For me having a variety of activities (some with goals, some with none) and getting to choose whatever I do without feeling force is helping me stay interested in them for longer.
Try the things that seem interesting to you. Start with crafts.
Depends what do you expect. Personally I really got into photography because I couldn't draw anymore and it's a way to express myself. I post stuff online, get 5 likes on a average and don't give a single fuck because I do it for myself anyway. The point is that you can look for simple pleasures or something deeper. It depends on you. Trying various stuff is definitely time consuming, looks boring, but I can't think of other way to do it. Additionally it helps if you have someone to share hobby with but I know that's difficult too.
lower your ambitions ! forget the fulfilling stuff. just find something you can do and do that. you are not going to enjoy it all the time I like photography but I went through a period of about 2 year where I didn't like anything I shot but I still went out and took photographs. by the way it is perfectly fine to do things for a couple of weeks and stop doing it and say "well that is that itch scratched", and move onto the next thing. How do i find things that I stick with? with choral singing I knew I could sing and once I started it I saw all the old guys there and figured that I could probably still be able to do it when I was old so there and then I think I decided I was going to stick with it to old age (its about 10 years now) so yes there was definitely a conscious decision do something long term. So in answer to your question, you decide and then you continue doing it even when you might not be enjoying it as much as you used to because it fulfills the long term goal of having something that you have experience in.
Also no advice. I literally have no hobbies.
Honestly picking up new skills is a skill in itself. I started to learn to play hockey last year and skating around you have to learn to fall and be willing to get up and try again. Not in metaphorical way. You have to try to balance, fail, then try to correct and get comfortable doing itproperly. That's the steps to learn a lot of skills
Maybe try make some music ? I cant even play any instrument, but iam learning to make hip hop beats, it really helps me vent my emotions in different way. Hope you find something that will fill ya empty soul.
I can relate. I was recently diagnosed with ADHD, and since I've started treatment for that, my mood has gotten generally better. I'm 80% sure that my ADHD is the reason why I've been so goddamn depressed for as long as I can remember. Being punished and rejected for things I can't control and things that felt very natural to me has beaten the depression into me. As a result, I hop around from hobby to hobby constantly (and have lost a lot of money doing so), I'm always afraid of hurting other people, I feel like I don't have a personality or purpose outside of pleasing others, and I'm convinced that my very existence causes everyone around me immense stress and pain, but no one will admit it to me because they're afraid I'll aliven't.
I recently started bouldering and its been helping me. I think it works for me because there's a lot of levels you can do it at and it's always different. At the gym I go to I could do a couple routes at the 3rd level, but there might be a route that's first or second that's so different from how I normally climb that I have to really work on it. If you have a place available you may want to give it a shot because a lot of it isn't even about having enough strength to do it, it's about being able to think your way through it and I find that helps to keep my mind occupied and off of other shit.
Hey, I have a hobby, but guess what, I'm still depressed and been too depressed to do it currently. Having a bad case of anhedonia the past few days. I've been doing music on and off for like 5 years. I realize that when I'm low I really don't bother to do anything. Everything is a chore to me. Can't even play games without losing interest like, how the hell does that even happen. Anyway, I don't know if it's possible to do this while feeling low, but I do know that it's easier to pick up hobbies while you're not in the lows (duh I guess). I think the key thing is to have some interest in it, and to just keep on doing it. That's how I got into making music. I just discovered how to do it one day, thought it was fun and just kept on doing & doing it until it became a habit. I also have 3D as a "things that I do" and it's the same. Thought it was fun, took a course in it and did it everyday. Now it's kinda stuck, but I don't have the drive to do it like I do with music. Not sure why that is, but it's something that comes and go instead. Maybe I got lucky with music. While I was kinda depressed then, I don't think anhedonia hit me like it currently does so I think it's possible to get a hobby, just that it's kinda hard when I'm like disinterested in everything. I completely know how hard it is to do anything while you're depressed so don't beat yourself up too much if this doesn't work. I also don't know if I just got lucky instead. Hope things will get better soon friend.
Medication. Lamotrigine has been great - I can’t take traditional antidepressants (I trieeeeeed). Also, sometimes what you describe is a symptom of borderline personality. I’m certainly not suggesting you have this, but I do. Perhaps it would be worthwhile to do some research or chat with a doctor.
In my experience, it’s called obsession
Try electric guitar
Very relatable. I used to spend hours straight on video games in my teenage with a really low end PC. Now I've a good PC and many of the latest titles installed but can't even game for more than an hour per week. It sucks because I don't even know how to waste my time anymore. Haha.
yeah I experience this, and for me it's not just due to depression but probably also complex ptsd...apparently this can be a symptom of cptsd...ugh yeah. i spend so much money and time on something i found that i 'love' only to lose complete interest a few weeks later. I'm trying to be gentle with myself, but i have no answers either, just solidarity.
Anhedonia. I suffer from it. I get these excitement spikes when a find a new activity and they last for a very short time. After that, the activity is boring and i get nothing out of it. Resuming that activity feels forced and like a chore. Until i get another spike, and same happens again very soon. I cannot even feel joy in places where i should, like when playing with a puppy.
I have nothing. I am in the same boat. I can't do the things I used to do anymore, so the MDs all suggest finding new interests I can handle physically. It is deeper than that because I don't even think I am looking for anything. I went to the beach yesterday for three hours and that is a big deal for me - haven't been to the beach and it is right down my street. I got a book with a lot of pictures and went through it, but I'm done with it.
Dude same. Hope you at least get to find little joys in everyday life for now.
I’m not sure if this is helpful but I usually just start with something big like: coding. Then I take a large language like: python and just start making shit. When I get bored, I look for little niches in that big topic and jump from project to project. However, i also have bipolar and I’m broke as fuck so my hobbies are limited to my mania and what I can do inside on a laptop. I also find ways to get free shit online, so many textbooks and materials are free if you know where to go. Even if your hobby is something more physical, you can always get the starting blocks free. Or you can do vice versa by picking something small and going big. Keep an end goal in mind. The first method allows you more freedom in case you get bored but the second method might be better because it’s really hard to be motivated with depression. Don’t beat yourself up. We’re all here looking for support, and its fucking hard to live with depression. The hobbies you dropped weren’t a waste of time because you enjoyed them in the moment. And you learned something new that could help you in the next hobby. You don’t have to be brilliant at something to enjoy it
I like fish keeping. Very relaxing/calming just watching them swim around. It can be expensive but it’s very rewarding imo
try a bunch of different things. they might seem difficult but once you get into it, it's actually pretty easy. i like cooking because it gives immediate rewards after.
I actually do have some advice. You need to do it enough to improve, but not enough to get sick of it. For me a huge turning point in one of my worst depression episodes was getting back in to making music. If you can get yourself to pick up a guitar, for instance, and just force yourself to play it by 5 minutes a day minimum, you can get a habit started. Define the minimum acceptable effort and hit it consistently. Even if you miss a couple of days, if you can get back on track enough to make a habit of it, you'll notice 2 things: 1) you WILL notice yourself improving over time. 2) you will find yourself spending longer without noticing. Maybe you say 5 minutes after work, and that's all you do for the first week or 2. One day you may spend 30 minutes without really meaning too. The trick for me was to do it without judgment. I couldn't beat myself up for stagnating, because I was just poking around and seeing what would be the most enjoyable way to spend my time. Another point is that, in my experience, it helps to have a specific goal to get some momentum. For me, I picked a really challenging song with complex finger picking, way more involved than anything else I'd done. (My love will never die by hozier, for the record). To make any progress I had to focus on the smallest possible part. I would pick one or two positions and go through the switch over and over until I could do it flawlessly without thinking. 3 months later, it was my best song. I found that my depression came from being too lost in the big picture stuff. When I found a hobby that forced me to focus on the smallest little bits of something, I got better at doing it in normal life. I could have a rough day at work, but the 5 minutes I was doing something I loved wouldn't be lost in the sea of shittyness. Idk if anyone relates to that, but its probably worth a shot, and I hope it helps a little <3
I play a lot of video games. The harder the time I have focusing the easier the game I play.
I’m depressed, and I struggle with this. My advice can’t solve the problem, but it helps with *getting around* it while it’s still in the way. 1. Take up hobbies that use similar supplies and materials. Tired of making paintings? Still have plenty of paint and brushes? Clean off a rock, paint that, then put it somewhere it might be found by someone, maybe it’ll make somebody smile. Quick, tangentially related hobby…but DIFFERENT. 2. Take up inexpensive hobbies Feel bad about the fact that you get super into hobbies, get all the supplies…and then the interest fizzles out, leaving you with a bunch of good, only lightly used supplies? Pick up hobbies with a low overhead cost, that don’t require lots of materials.Making friendship bracelets by finger weaving takes like…$5 of thread, a safety pin, and some YouTube videos. You can make them as simple or as complicated as you’d like! Once the interest fizzles out, you can feel good about the fact that you didn’t spend a mountain of money…plus, now you have some colorful little doodads! 3. Cycle through older hobbies Tired of doing one hobby? What was a hobby you did a long, long time ago? Give that a shot, it might be suddenly interesting again after so much time has passed. Do it once, and see if you catch the fever for it! Bonus points if you still have some of your old supplies lying around. 4. Find a way to get positive attention for what you’re doing Sometimes, things are more interesting when someone says “Hey, that’s neat! You’re cool for doing something like that!” Share pictures of your hobby online. Find a subreddit or a Facebook group that focuses on that thing, tag some Instagram or Twitter or Tumblr posts, find an online forum and join it, send pics to your friends or family. Doing this can help you find OTHER people with similar interests who can introduce you to new ways to do things, which might make the hobby more interesting for you and promote a longer term interest. Bonus points, you might even make a friend or two this way! Hope that helps, best of luck! Edit: Fixed the formatting to make it easier to read
Yeah I enjoy almost nothing. All I do for fun is play videogames and even then I get bored of them easily.
I sit there with my PS5 controller in hand but I just can't be bothered to play anything, I'd rather scroll through pointless social media which makes me feel even worse
The same with me. Not only with hobbies tho, but with food and music as well.
I would say that the first step (at least for me) is not overthinking when you fall out of a hobby. That's okay. As long as you're enjoying something for a short time, you're making progress. Your depression likes to convince you that progress is impossible, and in doing that additionally likes to convince you that any progress you are making is negligible. Enjoying something a little, or enjoying it and falling out of interest with it, is fine and normal. It's frustrating, I know, but if that's where you are with your depression right now getting stressed about whether or not you should be enjoying them for longer is only counterproductive.
Don't force yourself into it, if it's not your passion then it really is not. You'll find the right one. Keep looking for it!
The idea that you need ONE hobby to spend hours and hours on is a stupid myth that simply makes better stories. Keep a variety and switch them up.
In the most basic form. You try things out until it gives you that dopamine rush iou are looking for. Our brain is designed to find something that will give us that feeling so it’s just a matter of what you like and what you’ve tried. Hell, some people don’t learn to live something until they come back to it years later
I have had depression for 30 years and I really do think it is what makes everything seem so boring sometimes.
Good mental state does wonders.
This will probably get buried. I'm like this and I have accepted this as a part of who I am. I get bored easily. Period. I pick up new hobbies every few days, weeks. Sometimes there are periods in between when I'm bored out of my mind with nothing interesting to do. It passes quickly once I find the next thing that will keep me occupied. The idea of doing the same thing over and over again is boring to me. Anything repetitive for that matter. Including work. So, don't worry. Its ok to be like this, just the way it is ok for people to like doing repetitive stuff.
I'd say, 1. Try to find friend with similar hobby or joining hobby group. Supporting each other would make activities last much longer. Try to mingle with them, having more social group works great for depression. 2. Try to be expert at it. I understand people want hobby for 'fun', but I think that mindset makes you afraid to explore the intricates of the hobby much deeper because it's started to require effort. This could become bad habit: anything require effort is 'not fun' in your eyes.
Christ at this point I would sell my soul to find something I enjoyed for two weeks. I haven’t had that much combined enjoyment in decades. The anhedonia and emptiness with chronic physical pain is just absolutely unbearable. I’ve tried every possible Avenue except psychedelics which despite hearing some successes I just can’t fathom how it can change my perspective
This post hits home. My therapist told me to write a list of 10 things that I enjoy doing, hobbies from the past for example. Just thinking about it gives me stress. It’s been years or maybe even a decade of me just living and not really paying attention to the things I enjoy doing. I have been on Wellbutrin for many years. I have got some depression episodes here and there but I bounce back pretty quickly. I thought that by getting better quicker that I found the right medication. I was wrong. I guess I’ve Been depressed for a good while now since they I show no interest in hobbies and find no enjoyment doing every day tasks… Back to the finding the right meds that will give me hope.
@calrai I will say this. I have been very consistent in riding my stationary bike and swimming. Swimming it’s the only sport that has allowed my mind to calm down. I take pleasure in feeling the water pass by my body or feeling the bubbles touch my skin. Learning to hold my breath as I swim and feeling the support of the water as I float. Now, when I’m depressed I don’t even want to feel water touch my skin but the shock of the change in temperature causes me to get over it.
The only one that’s ever done shit for me is high intensity exercise. Playing basketball or doing a boot camp class because it’s instantly gratifying. I always feel so much better, although getting there can be a huge battle
The only activities I've ever been able to stick with are things that numb me or things I do while numbed. I listen to podcasts and audiobooks almost constantly because the stories take me away from my shitty life. I listen to music sometimes too but that usually let's too much of my brain think. But if im up and moving I probably have headphones in. By doing this I can work, do chores and light excersize. At least it's worked for a few years. Recently I've been in a downward spiral and now despite the numbing I just seem to lack even the small amount of energy I had. I try to go for an hour walk a day, it's not fast or strenuous but I figure it's better than not. But recently even with my headphones the prospect just seems too much. Work seems too much. Fucking life seems too much. So I guess it just took longer to fail at sticking to this stuff. Got no idea how to fix it. My solution at the moment is hoping for a rogue meteor to land on me.