Chase away the Blues

Nobody can feel happy all the time. Even an energetic and vibrant girl like you obviously. But in the end it’s not that hard to do something that makes you feel better, right? Like dancing around like a mad woman when I hear a song I love on the radio or preparing some scrumptious sweet treat like the raw brownie batter dessert I mentioned a few days ago (if you are still interested, it’s on my blog). Little things can do wonders 🙂 .

Have a really happy day, Katie!

thank you, katie, for this! as you know, i’ve suffered from severe depression going along with my eating disorder. some of the things you mentioned helped me, but some of them i never even thought of!
and thanks for admitting you sometimes get depressed or unmotivated too. sometimes i am so jealous, thinking “how is she always energetic, running even when it’s cold etc?” it’s comforting to know you struggle with feeling tired or unmotivated too. i always want to curl up and sleep when it’s cold. stupid SAD!

On days I don’t exercise, I do feel more tired, depressed, lack of energy. I know that when I work out, I feel so empowered — like I can take on the world. It is such a mood booster.

No, you’re not alone — I get really excited too when I hear I song I know. 😉

I ABSOLUTELY POSITUTELY agree with you that CHOCOLATE IS THE REAL SECRET TO HAPPINESS!!!! 🙂

This is awesome! I have a friend who is suffering with depression, and I never know how to help her. I’m going to suggest maybe we go to a nursing home or soup kitchen together and help out. And I’ll also show her this post in case she can get some inspiration from it. I always feel so awful that she’s so sad :(.

I’m feeling a little winter bluesy myself these days. Cuddling with my pups is a definite must, and super hot showers make me feel great too. And I *totally* get excited when I hear a song I know all the words to too!! 🙂

Exercise usually cheers me up. Well, except for yesterday. It was freezing cold & I got an earache, that made me pretty sad. 🙁 Baking, yoga, family…all make me happy! Good subject. I’m a very positive person but I do have my “sad” moments. (Especially when my ear is KILLING me.) 🙂

Thanks for your honesty! When I’m feeling down, I force myself to get dressed and ready. Even if I don’t go anywhere, I feel so much better!

I have a lot of problems with depression, and thus I have tried an array of things to make me mood higher-which makes many things easier on me. The main thing I have found that helps me is the simple act of cooking. Not eating exactly, but just cooking. Cooking for other people. Trying wonderful new recipes. It has always been one of those things that just makes me happy. Especially recipes that take a lot of concentration, or are very time consuming and have several parts.
The other thing is reading. When I am reading nothing matters, and it puts me into a good mood with ease. I go into my own little world, and just immerse myself into the book.

Katie this is one of the best posts I have read. Thank you so much for addressing this topic and for bravely even embracing occasional depression (or rather stray from happiness). One of the reasons depression becomes chronic and problematic is because it coincides with loneliness and that feeling like you’re the only one with these feelings. I think people are afraid to admit these feeling because they’re embarrassed or afraid, when in reality we all have these days. So again, I thank you for discussing this and pointing out this it is a “natural” human emotion that is really inherent. I guess it’s a bit comforting to know we all suffer from this. I love all of your suggestions and would say that surrounding yourself by people (be they friends or strangers) is one of the best cures, because hermiting yourself only feeds the depression. Also wanted to add something that I recently learned at work about Goji Berries. They are actually known as the “happy berry,” and have done experiments treating treating depression with goji berries. I never knew this and thought it was pretty cool!

http://superfoods.genesistoday.com/products/supplements/goji-supplement

I eat chocolate, talk things out with my sister and friend, and exercise!!!!
Great post! =D

You should hang out with some philosophy students and artists. They respect a good bout of depression. 🙂

Everyone should be allowed to be sad when they need to sometimes. Stifling those emotions usually makes them harder to address.

As for me, I usually go on a walk (even if it’s freezing–it clears my head!), listen to music, watch something funny, or call a friend. Writing or doing a hobby really helps too. Anything that makes you happy even when you’re not particularly sad!

I love to bake for people when I’m in a bad mood, it always cheers me up. Doing service, forgetting yourself and helping others is an excellent way to combat depression.

Also, I like to make sure I’m eating enough veggies, I always feel happier when I eat my vegetables! 🙂

The weather can really bring me down too. For me, exercise and being with friends and family always cheers me up! And of course eating chocolate. That goes without saying!

I think it’s great that you’re venturing near this topic at all, but I just think maybe you have to be a bit careful when using the word Depression. Capital D Depression, which is poles apart from SAD. I don’t want to undermine the effects of SAD at all or the right of anyone to feel sad, angry or just blue at any time for any reason, but until (and I hope you never do) experience clinical depression, it’s impossible to understand. I was an overall happy girl until I was 22 and then, with no initial trigger, I ended up clinically depressed. For about a year and a half, I literally didn’t smile once, let alone laugh. I lost all interest in the things that had previously given me pleasure, which is one of the hardest aspects of depression, and I could go for weeks barely talking to anyone. You don’t have the motivation or energy to do anything, talk to anyone, and the future seems nothing but bleak. You almost aren’t there anymore, it’s like existing in a black hole, where you can’t imagine being even a little bit happy or excited about anything ever again. This past year, I’ve been able to crawl pretty darn far out of that hole and am finding my real personality again, but while all of the above are great tips in general and certainly for SAD or everyday stress or the blues, they would be a drop in the ocean and sometimes not even an option for severely depressed people. I don’t want to sound critical, I really do understand the good intentions behind the post, I just think “Ways to Beat Depression” is maybe not the best title? “Ways to Beat the Blues”, yes, “Ways to Fight SAD”, definitely. Capital D Depression, no. Sorry to get super serious, but when a person, despite having everything to live for and being surrounded by the most loving family and friends, can still have lost themselves so much that they would contemplate suicide, exercise and chocolate aren’t really the most effective idea. For cases of actual depression, I really think there is only one option and that’s seek professional help. Medication is not always necessary; I honestly think counseling is ALWAYS necessary. Again, I don’t want to be overly sensitive or undermine the topic in general, I just think it’s important to differentiate. 🙂 It’s such a hot button topic for me that it’s no longer something I can take lightly.

When I lived in Iowa-I had extreme winter blues. I would crawl up in bed and do my homework I would get sick and depressed so often. I had my blood tested, and turns out I was EXTREMELY deficient in Vitamin D! I started taking a supplement, and I felt a whole lot better! Now in Florida, I feel great! But sometimes I still feel badly if I sit in front of the computer too much..blech…..

All in all, I am a pretty happy person like you! I figure that I only have so much time in this world. Why waste it being sad?

some good music always chases away my moody blues!! xx

Awesome list, Katie!

Beautiful post!!! Yes chocolate is great for everything 😉

I like to go outside or listen to my favorite song if I am feeling a little blue! And eating healthy foods I fee is really important as well!!!

I get those winter blues too–soup helps! But I know that one major thing that helps me is getting some fresh air and sun. That’s why running outside is something I love no matter what season of they year. Running in snow or rain.. it’s liberating and fun as well 🙂 I do some other things like listen to music, go out for a walk, light some candles, stretching… whatever I think may boost my mood at that moment 🙂 It’s also interesting that you mention taking a shower because in a magazine I read the other day it mentioned that too! It said the negative ions in water will instantly boost your mood! Cool, huh?

XOXO

Katie! you forgot to mention how happiness begins with a PIZZERT. nuff said

Hey Katie,
I love your blog! I’ve been reading it for awhile now, and finally decided to speak up. 🙂 This post is so awesome. Exercising (running mostly) is definitely at the top of my ‘get happy’ list! I definitely feel much worse on days when I don’t run and don’t eat enough veggies. 🙂

Great ideas shared by everyone. Depression is a very complex topic as it can range from the single episode of feeling sad for a day or two to the more serious types such as bi-polar. Not all types require medical intervention and research is even showing that for many types of depression, the anti-depressant medications work no better than a placebo.

I began experiencing depression at a very early age and was then prescribed an anti-depressant in my mid thirties. After twenty years of taking the medication combined with therapy, weaning myself off to only feel like I was falling apart, and then going back on the medication, a doctor told me that I was clinically depressed and would always be, so just give in to taking the meds. I did not give in to that way of looking at my life, and several years ago weaned myself off the meds again, and have found many alternatives for finding happiness.

Everything that has been mentioned so far is true because it is an individual experience. What Katie has done is terrific in that the dialogue and discussion is so important for someone who is sad or depressed. It is very difficult for most to admit to anyone how they are feeling, and it is even more difficult to know where to go to get help. Many treatments and therapies are quite expensive, even if you have insurance. There are many different types of therapists, many good, and many not so good. It is hard enough to open up and talk about how you feel, but it becomes even more painful when the therapist takes you in a direction that is not healing.

What Katie has listed as tips and other suggestions are all tools to support you in finding happiness, and isn’t that what we all want. Some may work for you and others may be more difficult to follow through or they may not even help you. The point is to be open to talking and to realize that your own thoughts will take you toward ‘recovery’ or will keep you stuck and lonely.

One area that has not been mentioned is meditation. When the mind is at peace, so will be the body. Calming your thoughts and knowing that you can stop the destructive rumination about the past or the incessant worry about the future is an effective way to find joy and gratitude in the present moment. There are also supplements such as amino acids that support the neurotransmitters in creating the necessary brain chemicals. So there are many ways to chase away the blues and it is a journey that is just as unique as you are.

Great list Katie! Very thoughtful discussion. We all have different bodies and personalities and experiences so I think it’s good to learn from other people’s wisdom, then choose and adapt what works for oneself. Two tips that work for me:
☆ I painted my bedroom bright warm slightly yellow green, the color of leaves when you look up into the trees on a sunny day. All of it, walls, ceiling, bookshelves…looks great with the wood trim and floors. It makes a huge difference for me because I think in winter especially I do miss sunlight and even more I miss brilliant rich summer colors. When I’m having an off day, I curl up with a book or my sketchbook, a cup of decaf or hot chocolate and snuggle down in my “virtual forest”.
☆ I give, give, give, somehow, even in small ways. I remember as a teen I used to bake on bad days…piles and piles of cookies, then watch my brothers gobble them down. It made me feel so good. I’ll do it for friends, co-workers, the UPS man, whomever would appreciate a little surprise cookie-buzz! And volunteering is great too. The local no-kill animal shelter is my favorite because you get to help the furry & feathery little guys with the assurance that they are not destined for an untimely end. It’s so nice to spend time with them and the super people that work there!
♥ Hugs to everyone ♥ because that helps too!

Hey Katie – you’ve contributed to a lot of great thought and discussion about this – thanks! I know this was posted a few days ago, and not sure how many peeps will read this now, but thought I would add my tuppence-worth anyway….

As others have said, your suggestions may not work to ‘cure’ depression but there is another angle to this.

I am a mental health nurse in the UK, and we repeatedly try to educate people about the PROTECTIVE EFFECTS that looking after ourselves in the ways you sugest can offer. Having a social network….taking exercise to move the body….eating healthfully and well…..taking good care of ourselves – even if we don’t feel like it….helping ourselves to relax and gain enjoyment in life with things other than street drugs and alcohol…..it’s been shown that doing these things can help the individual to become stronger, more resilient, and protect against mental health needs resurging so quickly/so intensely. Thought I would just throw that in there – so if peeps can’t do some of these things when really unwell, start doing them as soon as possible. It provides a sense of mastery and achievement each day, which also promotes good feelings!

I speak from experience….I am prone to the effects of anxiety and depression, and I take prescribed medication to help me keep well. I appreciate that some people are ‘allergic to medics'(!) but I would urge people to have a consultation to check that all else is well in the body. In the UK, if you’re not detained under the Mental Health Act then you do have a choice about taking prescription medication(or not).
As previously mentioned – untreated underactive(and overactive) thyroid can cause people to become very unwell – mine went untreated for a very long time and I was very unwell – I would get up at 1pm to be at work for 2pm…couldn’t stop sleeping…felt very sluggish and lethargic….felt very low in mood…poor motivation…and lots of other physical things were wrong. I couldn’t understand what was wrong with me – once I was treated, I was like a new woman! And all the antidepressants in the world would not have cured that.
Another physical condition – anaemia – can cause low mood too, so it is worth getting checked out.

Thanks for your blog Katie,

Pam

KATIE! you just made my day. i’m emerging from months of those symptoms. the weather has gotten nicer and i’m a much happier person, but your list really helped me to see things that i can control, rather than letting those things control me. so great! thank you!

I’m currently dealing with reverse-SAD. Winter doesn’t bother me one iota and I live in Michigan! I get terrible spring depression though. I’m working hard not to completely give into the urge to do nothing but sleep through spring.

Whoa! Some really interesting discussion here. I have to agree with some of the commenters and echo that these are great tips on how to deal with seasonal blues or those funky “off” days everyone has once in awhile.

As far as clinical depression – the kind caused by a chemical imbalance in your brain – probably wouldn’t be fixed by chocolate alone. With that said though, healthy eating, exercise, relationships — all contribute to making us feel better, whether we feel bad or not.

Sounds like you got a lot of people thinking here!

You are really, really beautiful. Lovely pic and fantastic blog for chocoholics like me! I find my moods are absolutely linked to too much sugar, so the recipes on here using such creative and alternative methods just rule. I’m surprised you don’t have you’re own cookbook/cooking show yet!

Just wanted to mention about the sleep thing. 7-8 hours may be enough for some people, but it is not enough for me. I need about 9.5 hours of sleep a night, and that is not “too much” for me because that is when I feel rested and energized and can stay awake the whole day. That is also when I naturally wake up (without alarms). Again, I think some people are too quick to judge other people’s sleeping habits based on their own experience. I know people who only get about 4-5 hours a night, and they say that is enough. In high school I used to be able to go on very little sleep (but ironically was also “depressed”), but ever since I had mono (8 years ago) the stereotypical 8 hours is not enough, I am still tired. 9.5 is my perfect number 🙂 I also have a very physically exhausting job so that may be part of it.

This post was just what I needed today! I have been having a very blah day, still in my pjs, lacking motivation, missing my bf, the weather sucks (I’ve been living in New Zealand and missing out on summer in the states)… blah! I was just browsing to see if there was something I could bake to cheer me up, and found this. Thanks! Proceeding to snap out of it! 🙂

Hi Katie!
Wow you sound so much like me, it’s weird! I agree with you nutritionally 100%. Peanut butter and coconut are probably my two favorite foods. And exercise always makes me feel better. I’m trying to bake healthy recipes, but my family always complains that my cooking isn’t sweet enough. I practically have no sweet tooth, though. And I refuse to use conventional cookbooks. I love your recipes and am going to try some out tomorrow. Thanks!

Sometimes I just own it, if I’m feeling down I say to myself, so what you have a right to be upset, I shove on a soppy movie and cry, it makes it feel better to have a good cry.
sometimes I cook Fajitas, with lots of veg and lots of salad and have a fruity dessert 😛 or chocolate 😛 good food makes me feel better
the third cure for me is a good book I sit down and just read
my final cure is talk about it, I talk to friends, or my fiancé. I also used to go bereavement counselling, if I feel really bad I’ll email my old counsellor

Hi Katie!!

I found this blog by accident when I was googling up an oatmeal recipe (LOVE oatmeal- yes, I’m weird =)) and haha, we have the same name!! AND you are so much like me!!!!! I love desserts and need to eat high- calorie things too and struggle a bit with depression and am normally optimistic and happy though… it’s so odd reading someone’s blog for ten minutes and realizing we share the same thoughts!
I hope this doesn’t sound creeper-ish. I don’t mean to be creepy… I just think it’s so cool that we are similar. If this is weirding you out than I’m sorry! =}
Thank you for this blog page and all your other great ones so far!!! I will keep reading your pages and think I’ve just found a new favorite site =)
-Katie =)

Dear Katie,

I like your blog a lot and I have copied many of your great recipes.
However, this post set me back quite a lot. It is nice that you share your personal feelings with us, but that you feel sad sometimes is just that – sadness.
However, being depressive (noted: the illness depression, not just a simple “blues”) I find it rather offensive that you pack together feeling sad sometimes with being really, really sick. I have had too many people giving me advices such as “exercise more”, “eat healthy”, or “be thankful for what you got”. This is no solution whatsoever and I rather wish those “you-can-cure-yourself-rather-easily-if-you-only-try-hard-enough”-wisdoms would stop.
They work for feeling sad sometimes, they do not cure depression.

I love your work, Katie, but this article reflected common knowledge more than actual facts about what depression really is.