Has anyone else here been having feelings of complete dread lately?

[McKim]

114. Yes, of Course and Here's How I Combat It!

Yes, of course! Everyone I know has these moments or these days. It is a realistic response to our reality. Don't put yourself down for it! It can go away too.

Here's how I cope with winter during COVID: Reach out to others by cooking fabulous desserts and taking them around to friends. Go out to a produce farm stand and bring back fresh flowers and veggies and fruit and take them around to old friends and neighbors. Collect kitchen items from friends and neighbors for an Afghan refugee family. Start taking antidepressants. Put up an outdoor tarp and make an eating area and string it with lights, at a patio heater and now you can have guests over!

Take classes on line at the local university. The Great Courses are now on line and you can stream any of them for a mere $14 a month. We are halfway through a class on The History of India and we watch it every night before bed. Learning new things is good for you and better than watching the Great Battle of the Cultures on TV Cable News.

Scour the internet for local outdoor events that you can attend safely and get out, invite some friends and pack a picnic.

Get a daylight light and sit under it in the early morning to avoid Seasonal Affect Disorder.

I still get a lot of news, but on line only. I believe that the visual images on TV are more impactful and get into your soul doing damage. I daily read these sights: DU, The Guardian, NYTimes, Washington Post, Oregonian, France 24 and Aljazeera. I am well informed but don't let it into my soul. I do one political act every day: Donate to Democrats, Letter to the Editor, Volunteer for a local campaign for city council.

Fighting hopelessness takes ACTION!!! Some days it doesn't work but just keep doing it until it DOES!!! At least you will come out ahead in life for trying. If this list helps just one more person, I will be happy today! Love you All!!!