Depressed? Experts say these "embarrassing," "time-wasting" activities can make you feel better
SalonWhen Dr. Heidi Kar was a psychologist for the Department of Veterans Affairs, one of her patients was a veteran who refused to give up his gun — despite being so depressed that he had repeatedly tried to take his own life. "His wife came home to find him chopping the ice, trying to get to his gun," Dr. Kar told Salon by email. Traditionally there is a stigma around spending one's time doing "non-productive" things like watching movies or TV shows, relaxing to music, playing video games, LARPing and other kinds of entertainment. "People relax and let go of tensions and distress in many ways, most typically with distractions," Dr. Jill Harkavy-Friedman, Senior Vice President of Research at American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, told Salon by email. "Research shows that community connection is one of the most powerful antidotes to depression and suicidality," explains Dr. Laura Erickson-Schroth, Chief Medical Officer for The Jed Foundation, a non-profit that helps young people and teenagers dealing with suicidal tendencies and depression, in an email to Salon.
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