How to Distract Your Mind When Depressed

People who suffer from depression are often locked inside their heads with their thoughts. They suffer from an endless repetition of sad and unhelpful ruminations that control how they feel. One of the techniques to combat depression is distraction. If the mind is occupied with something else, then the depressive thoughts cannot take hold. There are many ways for a person to distract himself, but there are certain techniques that have been proven to help when the depression is at its worst.

Instructions

• 1

  Concentrate the mind on simple exercises. This may include such things as simple arithmetic, sudoku puzzles or crossword puzzles. Anything that forces the mind to concentrate on something other than the depressive thoughts will help.

• 2

  Focus on the world around you in great detail. Describe an object in the room in as much detail as possible. This can either be in a journal, or just in your head. Notice its color, shape and texture. Or focus on the people that are in the room and invent stories about them. Focus the mind on the physical details of the scene, instead of what is going on inside your head.

• 3

  Engage in a physical activity. Walking, biking or some other type of exercise is a great way of distracting the mind from its thoughts. Chores that require thinking and going to work are also ways to distract the mind from thinking about the depression that is plaguing it.

• 4

  Talk to other people. The simple act of having someone else to be with is often enough to break the spell that depression has on the mind. It takes you out of your head and makes you interact with the present world. Interacting with people, even on a superficial level, can make depressive symptoms fade for a while.

• 5

  Create distractions based on your own interests and hobbies. If you are good at art or crafts, then engaging in the activities you enjoy will help to pull your mind out of the depressive state. Anything that forces you to concentrate on something other than the repetitive thoughts is going to help.