How do I make myself happy? Sounds like a really dumb question, but when I think about what makes me happy it is other things or people. What makes me happy? My son, the OM, my parents. Hmmmm.....other things make me feel nice, but not happy....like hot baths, candles, drawing, watching movies, shopping, getting my nails done, pink, stationary, etc. etc. I really don't' know how to make myself happy......Right now I am probably depressed so it seems hard to answer that question. Where do you start?
If you don't know how to make yourself happy; I really think that is something you need to work on! I do see a therapist, and that has helped. I take AD's and I know that has helped. GALing has helped; finding something like musicals that make me happy (it's hard to be depressed for some reason when you're singing and dancing with a bunch of goofy people.)
But you do have to find out and figure what makes you happy. I would recommend trying different things you haven't done before. I had never done a musical before this past year, and found it made me happy. Before this past 6 months, I spent most of my time, almost all of my time with my kids, and that wasn't good. It's been good for me to develop my own activities/interests and friendships. For me, being involved in a good church makes me happy too, but that might not work for others.
I'm reading "the Happiness Handbook" now by Timothy Sharp, and I find it interesting with some good ideas. Any good therapist should help too. Believe me I was seriously depressed (acc. to my C) last year. Some things I was doing weren't helping: not spending time with or talking with my friends; not doing fun stuff; letting my H run over me, etc. I have also stopped most of the negative stuff I was doing and that helped. It's also a way of looking at things: I find myself finding good/positive about everything that happens now instead of doom/gloom thinking. I think I could write a book about this, and I just did sorry! Karen
Karen