What makes you feel better when you're feeling really depressed? I've been feeling incredibly depressed because of all the stuff that's been going on with my moms health & with finances. I'm not sure how to make myself feel better. I was wondering what others do when they're depressed. I'd love as many answers as possible, but please don't answer with answers about drugs & alcohol.

Thanks

I usually sit down and kill a few hundred zombies if i feel down or maybe just go to sleep, when i get stressed i tend to sleep alot. I also read sometimes too.

- a cuddle from someone cute.
- sitting anonymously drinking coffee by myself in a busy laneway watching the world move around me.
- some decent exercise or even just a long walk outside in the fresh air.
- sunshine.
- cooking a nice meal just for me, with fresh ingredients that i have to go find/pick/shop for first.
- lots of good music listened to on a great stereo system or high quality headphones.
- a long hot shower in the dark.
- crisp clean sheets.

I'd highly recommend exercise. I don't do this often but it really helps.
Take a long quiet walk.
Sleep.
Simply be aware of the feelings, acknowledge and allow those feelings. Don't fight them. Believe that they will be gone.

Talking about the past with my sister.

in the winter I like to get out in the cold air and shovel the walks get a good sweat going sort of energizes me

Listen to music - especially metal or gothic.

My traditional escape is reading some science fiction. I seldom read any fiction these days. I also seldom get very depressed. Instead, I go through periods when the world is seen in a gray mirk of colorlessness.

music, exercise, laughter

Wow Pandora, I didn't really expect you to listen to metal or gothic music.

music, anime, manga, books
they calm me down and I can forget about everything that makes me depressed or sad.

Hugging my plush rabbit which is around the same age. Best friend ever! :

When I’m depressed I think daydreaming really makes me feel better. Swimming helps a bit too.

i like to have a damn good shout. preferably to music, or the neighbours will think you're crazy. not that that hasn't stopped me before....
i'm learning how to do metal style vocals and it's both good practice and pretty cathartic. if you scream for ages you'll start cutting off oxygen to your brain and you get a kind of adrenaline rush similar to the kind you get after a tattoo, it really calms you down and mellows you out.
if that's not really possible to do then the walk suggestion others have made is really good. i never like walking paticuarly but it's definitely possible to stomp off a bad mood in my experience.

Being depressed is a process I have. Generally I simply need time to be depressed and then I feel better. What generally makes me feel better though is playing a game and then a small compliment like 'Wow soulless, nice sniping' always helps cures any blues I got.

just talking to people. that is always the best thing. but not talking to mom. has to be a friend.

there are a few people that irritate me with their lack of knowing what to say, but I have had people just say something nice to me, and it made me feel so much better.

man, this makes me miss my darling Ellu-chan, she made me feel better about everything...

Anime/manga and eating candy

Orgasms are the best cure for depression.

A good video game or sex.

I second that. >_<

games... suffering of other people

Yeah metal works for me too. I don't think metal has ever failed to pull me out of a dark mood.

Food helps as well, but metal is healthier. lol
Also Failblog.org and simialr sites give me a good laugh when I'm feeling down.

I prefer to evoke stronger feelings when i get into a really depressed state, usually by listening to specific pieces of music.

That extreme emotional response almost acts like a distraction and after a few hours i feel composed enough to return to normal distractions until my mood has lifted completely.

Plus i really enjoy it on some level, the same way that i enjoy the pain from pulled muscles or an aching body. It's refreshing and sets my mind at ease.

I have been incredibly depressed recently. Recently I have found that sleeping really helps. Just sleeping and sleeping and sleeping.

I wish I could have both... sadly I only have one... and that I have not been feeling like playing video games recently.

white chocolate
cake
sausages with mustard

stuffing your mouth with food in general omnomnom