Distraction Techniques

[Angie]

Working
Making my art
housework

[Emmie]

lolcats
I enter lots of competitions, it has the upside of sometimes you win (every few hundred anyway!) so you get something!
Fantasy shopping in the ikea catalogue

[Aspasia]

http://pinterest.com/

^ be warned, it's so distracting it's potentially addictive sometimes, but it's *really* distracting!

[itscindylou]

http://pinterest.com/

^ be warned, it's so distracting it's potentially addictive sometimes, but it's *really* distracting!

Definitely one of my favorite distractions I've also started listening to soothing instrumental music to help keep me calm. My youngest daughter asked me, "What's up with the music mom?" but it really seems to help. My favorite: Claire de Lune by Debussey.

[Scarlet Devil]

Couldn't agree more. I find it great for procrastination, had never really thought of it as a 'distraction' when I'm feeling low though ....perhaps actually baking all the yummy stuff I pin would be good too!

[sidney]

Sometimes nothing will distract me - I try to avoid the news etc - this usually depresses me. I used to meditate, but now it makes me angry.If the depression is really bad I try pornography or booze. Music usually helps.

[redsky]

my distraction technique is my pets.....

i keep snakes, everytime i get really low i get a new one. i have 120 now. all are immaculate as i am very OCD about them. it wasnt until recently i realised it though.

people have a go at me for keeping them, they dont understand that they are my one and only passion. they just say to get rid of them etc. i dont want to, the more i have the more time they take up in care etc and the less time i have for thinking about my depression.

but no one understands that

[Aspasia]

but no one understands that

I understand I don't understand why you chose *snakes* (shudder) but I get how important they are to you.

Just be careful you aren't using them as an excuse to avoid other things, like getting out and being social etc.

[Dina]

nothing REALLY helps distract me, but I found things to do that give me strength to go on..

~So really, what "helps me" is, clean my apartment (it's become something I look forward to do.. "clean house, clean soul"- so they say!!)

~Draw and paint gives me the opportunity to express my feelings..

~play with my dog and go for walks with her

~friends can help me be distracted in some ways sometimes by being around me and doing things with me

[moakley64]

I don't call them distractions, I call them my "happy places". Computer games (hidden objects ones are my favorite because I really have to concentrate), Pintrest, facebook, TV shows. Depending on how I'm feeling, cooking or baking makes me feel better.