Better to feel it or 'cheer up'?

@IndependentCityGirl Well continuing to stay in the depressed zone is never the better options. I'd go talk about your problems with a listener on here to help you think more positively. It's better when you have someone you know that will care about you and hear out your problems to figure out a solution, rather than doing it on your own. :) I hope this helps, best of luck.

@IndependentCityGirl

Hey, Independent!

I think you pose a very interesting question! I'll try to give my own insight and perspective about it. For myself, when I am depressed I feel like I am on a roller coaster ride. Some days I am not as depressed and then some days I feel like I'm going down a very long track. When I am having an especially bad day, I always try to just weather it out by allowing myself to feel how I do. I don't find being "positive" or trying to cheer myself up works. It's just not how I deal or what helps with my depression, so I allow my emotions to freely flow through me. Sometimes I like to speak with listeners, sometimes I like watching youtube and just being by myself.

However, we're all different. how I deal with my depression, may not be the same as you deal with yours. The best thing to remember is, you're allowed to feel however you want. If trying to cheer yourself up works, do it! If allowing yourself to feel depressed and to have a down day or week, or month helps, do it! If getting out and talking with others help, do it! If talking to listeners helps you, do it! I always encourage everyone to find what helps them individually, there is no "one size fits all" solution or treatment for depression. Experiment with what positive coping techniques work for you and remember them when you are going through an especially challenging moment.

If you haven't checked out our self-help guide on Depression, I'd read it! It has a lot of good ideas on how to manage depression.

I hope this helps, good luck and take care! xx

Is it better to feel it or cheer up? If you swim around in your depression until you feel like it's "where you belong", I say that isn't good. But, if you think sadness is an ilness that needs to be cured, and that (only) cheerfulness is the emotion we should all strive for, I think you're also mistaken. If you're feeling a bit blue, spend that tender melancholic moments with a friend, or family. From my expecrience, it is the only way to overcome depression.

Because, reading motivational books or listening to motivational speakers when I was feeling down only made me feel worse. Then again, everyone is different :) Go read Stoicism, if you have time

Love the different points made on both sides of this question. I think there is some merrit in trying to think positively, but we have to be careful that this doesn't turn into just pretending we are OK. Pushing the feelings aside and "putting on a happy face" is just going to make the feelings stronger when we do eventually attend to them!