What to do When You are Feeling Too Depressed to Get Out of Bed
Are you lying in bed again, feeling too depressed to get out of bed?
Are you feeling badly about yourself, thinking that you are a loser and that the world would be better off without you?
That ‘ s just not true! It ‘ s time to get out of your bed and get on with your life. It will be worth it. I promise!
But what can you do to give you the energy to get out of bed? Let me help!
#1 – Get laughing.
They do say that laughter is the best medicine and it ‘ s true!
When we are depressed we tend to isolate ourselves. The prospect of getting out of bed and actually interacting with people is too much for us to bear.
This is just exactly the opposite of what we should be doing. The physical act of smiling has actually been proven to lighten one ‘ s mood. How amazing is that?
Picture this. You can spend the rest of the day in bed, covers pulled up over your ears, mulling about how horrible the world is and how you are never going to do anything ever again. OR you can invite a friend over and laze around on your bed, laughing about whatever it is that you laugh about with them.
So, do what you can do to get some laughter going. If the idea of friends is just too much to bear, grab your laptop and binge watch The Office or Parks and Rec or Insecure and laugh hard and long.
Get those smile muscles activated and lift your mood immediately.
#2 – Do just one thing.
When we are depressed the idea of getting anything done at all is completely overwhelming. And so, what do we do? Nothing. And then how do we feel? Worse.
Try this: from your bed try to do just one thing. Perhaps it ‘ s checking your email. Or doing some research on a weekend away. Or shopping for a dress for your friend ‘ s wedding. You will be amazed at how doing just one thing can give you the energy to get out of bed.
Remember, choose something that you really like to do because if you try to do something that you feel like you MUST do, instead of WANT to do, then you will fail and feel worse about everything.
So, choose one thing that you like to do, something you can do from your bed. And do it.
#3 – Have sex.
There are two things that happen when you have sex. The first is that you feel emotionally connected to someone and the second is that your orgasm generates all sorts of feel good chemicals – chemicals that once again counteract that depressed feeling.
The other thing that happens is that sex keeps your mind off your depression and an excellent way to get rid of depression is to ignore it completely. Without your attention depression tends to slink away, unhappy that it isn ‘ t occupying your every
thought.
So, you are already in bed. Have sex. It will be fun!
#4 – Be kind to yourself.
Okay. You are depressed. And it sucks. But it is what it is. But don ‘ t judge yourself for it. Don ‘ t think that you are a horrible person because you can ‘ t fight this off. Don ‘ t think you are a loser because your sadness has brought you way down.
Instead, recognize that you are depressed and that you will have to ride it out. That getting depressed is something that is a part of your life and that you are not alone. Many people suffer from depression and it ‘ s not a sign of weakness. In fact, those who deal with depression are often far stronger than those who don ‘ t because life is just a little harder for us.
So, be kind to yourself. Recognize that this depression will pass and that you will become your old self again. You just need to use your coping skills to ride it out. You have gotten through it before and will get through it again.
#5 – Just get the $*% out of bed.
I know, I know, the inclination to stay under the covers, in the dark, away from the stimulation of the world is almost irresistible when you are depressed. Bed is comfy and cozy and not going to judge you in any way for how you are feeling.
If you are trapped in your bed, and nothing else works to change that, just GET OUT OF IT!
I know it seems impossible but if you can just do it you will be amazed at how much it can help your mood.
Once you are out of bed it ‘ s important that you stay out of bed. People I know who are depressed go to great lengths to stay out of bed once they have freed themselves from it.
I have known people to take their mattress off the box spring and lean it against the wall. Some people pile their mattress with books. Others strip the bed of the sheets.
Whatever it takes to keep them out of bed.
Because, out of bed, it ‘ s way more likely that you will actually be able to do something other than lay around, ruminating about how horrible you feel.
Go make coffee. Take the dog for a walk. Make your bed. Even if it doesn ‘ t lead to doing another thing, at least you got one thing done!
Feeling so depressed that you can ‘ t get out of bed is a horrible thing.
Hopefully, for you, it is a thing that will pass and life will go on.
Unfortunately, for some people, being so depressed that you can ‘ t get out of bed is something that happens regularly. Without attention it will keep happening.
It ‘ s important that if you are often feeling so depressed that you can ‘ t get out of your bed then it ‘ s important that you do one more thing:
#6 – Call your primary care doctor.
For people who are chronically laid low in bed by depression, it is important that you pick up the phone and call your primary care doctor.
Tell her that you are depressed and ask for her help in dealing with it. You might have chemical depression which can be helped with medication and therapy.
If your depression is taking over your life and keeping you in bed, call your doctor right away. You will be glad you did.
Are you feeling too depressed to get out of bed?
Let me help!
Email me at [email protected] and let’s get started!
I am a NYC based Certified Life Coach and mental health advocate. My writing has been published on The Huffington Post, Prevention, Psych Central, Pop Sugar, MSN and The Good Man Project, among others. I work with all kinds of people to help them go from depressed and overwhelmed to confident and happy in their relationships and in their world.
