How to manage depression during COVID19 age?

I love it Zep!! And also just smiling at yourself in a mirror or just smiling. Laughing is the best. You are the best! @lilypaws

@lilypaws - Why thank you, lilypaws! You just lifted my spirits a great deal. And that is what we all need desperately right now. (especially now since the advent of MONSTER HORNETS!) eek!

I assume my meals and sleeping hours are not perfect but good enough to sustain a high mood during the normal situation before COVID-19 crisis. @colleenyoung

You have unhappy Bumblebees who now have no home in your Burberry .....and no Bee stings because you have no Bees.
Blessings,
Barb
My husband did not think I should post this, but I thought it would give you a chuckle.
🤞🙏

@zep Yes those MONSTER HORNETS are pretty scary. My husband has different ideas about this Covid-19. He thinks every one will get it eventually. Maybe it won't be bad like it is now. I don't believe him. I hate to complain, but he thinks the mask does no good. And I know he can't understand why he can't be in my room after my surgery. I fill it's for safety reason, he could bring the virus into me after coming in and out of Mayo Hospital. It's all for our safety. But he's a good guy, and does so much for me.

@fiesty76 Thanks for responding; your post has a positive effect upon me actually. I am considering trying a new home exercise; it is, surprisingly, boxing. Boxing seems to be effective when used to elevate mood or fight anxiety. More information is available online about that. Thanks again.

@fiesty76 Hi, I haven't communicated lately. I think that sounds like fun and good for you. I can't wait till after my surgery. It takes a year to heal, but I think they want you to walk. Have fun. You are one of my favorites. Love, Jeanie You are fiesty!

Hello @aliali I commend you on your decision to reach out to Connect. It’s not easy dealing with depression even without Covid19. I’ve been dealing with it for 26+years. It’s hard work! Are you on any medications to help you? Do you have someone, like a therapist, that you can talk to?
I became so depressed when I got my autoimmune illness, but a therapist really helped me. I know you can’t to to someone’s office, but maybe a telephone conversation with someone would help. Is this something you would think about?

@lioness, While a couple of my docs had asked if I had Phys. Directives (P. D.) and medical POA’s but made no mention of the VIAL Gave copies of these to all my docs and hospital when I had surgery but hadn’t thought of a copy for med. ins. provider, Humana. Got a chuckle out of your “good to go”. Thanks for the smile.

The binder suggested by @ginger and the one I put together is comprehensive and thick so The VIAL is a great quickie reference for EMS. Really appreciated her suggestion because as @contentandwell mentioned, three of my docs have since retired or died and changes for other providers need to be updated. Fiesty, take binder out and start update! Just do it! sigh

@contentandwell, Thanks for the Apple info. and suggestions which I’ll share with neighbor.

@sueinmn, Like you, early start-of-the-day walks work best for me as well. My best energy is in the morning and also the walks tend to start me off on a positive note for the day. It is so strange that during this time, I am so otherwise lethargic. Feel like I am in a fugue or dragging through a vat of molasses. The 3 goals/day written the day before at least help me shoot for some “accomplishment” but otherwise each day just seems to be melting into the next. Wonder if other usually active “doers” are experiencing this?

@merpreb, As others have responded, I am also going day-by-day on rescheduling all med. appts cancelled due to covid.
I would be making the same decisions as you @rosemary and @sueinmn for the med. treatment you are needing now. It is tough because so many in our state are flooding back out now that the state is again wide open. I do trust that my dentist would take every possible precaution and I would certainly want to keep my thumb dexterity at its best.
An acquaintance who had hip replacement surgery several months ago refused to go for p.t. following her surgery. As a result, she now has to use a cane. Others who’ve had knee and hip replacements and ff’d with p.t. are moving naturally again.

@jakedduck, Well see what you started you rascal??? Leonard, all this talk of chocolate has me wanting to raid my stash. No 5 lb Hershey bars like @lioness, but can’t let a day go by without a bite sized nibble on something milk chocolate…saving the dk choc.’s for the really dire moments. Vbg

@johnbishop, Hope you’ll keep the lovely bird photos coming! The most colorful here so far are the buejays and CO. cardinals. Still too early for the female hummers.

@sueinmn and other gardeners, In the front, I’m excited to see the first zinnia, coreopsis and cosmos seeds sprouting above ground. While returning coreopsis are in full bloom, it is a thrill to watch the little new ones.
I had the nicest new neighbor experience yesterday. For those familiar with artemesia and yarrow, you’ll understand the labor involved each spring in severely trimming back the sprawl that starts to cover backyard paths. Yesterday I left the alley gate open while carting tons of the cut backs to the dumpster. While sitting on my rump and cutting away, two young dogs entered my yard and began exploring. When they saw me, they were curious about the human on the ground but were tooskittish to approach close enough for petting. I closed them in and walked to alley hoping to find their human in search of them. Instead, saw the wooden fence break which might have caused their escape. About to walk around the block to knock on neighbor’s door, he came out and I showed him the break and told him I the puppies in my yard for safe keeping.
As we became acquainted, I asked how he and his family were doing being new to our community and neighborhood during this time of virus spread. I offered to exchange names and numbers in case something like this should happen again. We did exchange info and he thanked me and also offered to pick up anything I might need because he made a daily trip to visit his elderly mom. Now how nice was that????
While my arms/hands ache today from all the physical work, my heart is so happy by his kind offer. Even during these stressful, restrictive times, gardening provides so many and sometimes unexpected benefits. Smiles to all.

Hi, @aliali, Glad that something I wrote might have helped. We are all in this together! Had to laugh at your consideration of taking up boxing. While there have been a few times during this virus that I would have liked to “punch” something in frustration, I hadn’t thought of boxing as a mood elevator or stress reducer.
My hubby used one of those huge hammers..like you see in carnivals where they try to make the ball go up?, and would use it to bang on a large tree stump in our bkyd whenever he got really frustrated. My favorite was to drive to a pond and throw rocks! Not driving now, so maybe boxing is the answer? Very big smile. Good to hear from you. Are you staying safe and well?

@lilypaws, I’ve been following your posts and wishing you the best with your upcoming surgery. Thank you for the kind words, Jeanie. Until you are able to resume walks following your surgery, I’ll send you cyber wishes for a happy recovery while on mine?

Hi, @tmvickery, I’m meeting you here for the first time. Like you, I am usually pretty sociable and outgoing. However because of the virus spread, I’ve become accustomed to not driving and staying home. My lung issues will keep me home longer than many because people in my area are not observing distancing or masking guidelines.
I also rely heavily on the internet to keep me informed and on nightly Netflix and computer games and reading to keep me entertained.
Being cyber connected with others through Mayo Connect groups has been an excellent boon for me. My walks and gardening keep me moving. Otherwise, I can find it all too easy to stretch out on the sofa for some mindless tv and unplanned naps. Are you finding other interests now that you are not enjoying being out in public as much?

@feisty76 I chuckled as I read "The 3 goals/day written the day before at least help me shoot for some “accomplishment” but otherwise each day just seems to be melting into the next. Wonder if other usually active “doers” are experiencing this?" I had just written down my (short because it's Sunday) list of things to try to accomplish. I have always been a list maker & organizer.

I wrote elsewhere in Connect that I am struggling with isolation right now. I am by nature very social and staying away from people is really hard (even though I know we must.) I am seeing that as things loosen up, some people are abandoning caution as though the virus is gone - even though it is still increasing here in MN. Like you, that means we have to double down on precautions and I am trying to see the light at the end of the tunnel, and even to guess when that might be happening.

So for this week, I have decided to make two lists - the usual task list in the morning, and a gratitude list near the end of the evening, the time I am feeling the most sad. What do you do to stay positive?

Sue