Keeping sane during times of unemployment

Yesterday was a bad mental day.  I barely was able to get out of bed.  I didn't want to run (which is not like me), I didn't want to clean (which is REALLY not like me), and all I felt like doing was sitting in front of the tube and being a couch potato.  I've had a few days like this, but yesterday, I felt like I was going to lose my mind.  First off, it's January, and it's Ohio.  Now, there is not tons of snow on the ground, but it's dreary and gray.  Secondly, I felt like the world was against me, that I had done something in my life that warranted not having a job for six months, that I committed some horrible sin that I was paying for. 

A psychologist I recently became familiar with talked about mental "garbage", which explains those people who are depressed often carry around thier "garbage truck" of poor past decisions, failed marriage, failed jobs, etc.  Depressed people more often carry this around with them than those who have not been depressed.  This was interesting to me because often times, when I am especially low, I begin to think of why I lost my job (was it me, what did I do), my past indiscretions (that night at the bar where I had too many), and my divorce to my first husband (again, what did I do).  Normally, I have these feeling contained, and I can push them out of my head fairly quickly and get back onto a positive note.  However, yesterday, I couldn't even look at myself in the mirror because I felt so down.

As someone who has a history of depression, I want to quickly offer some tips for keeping sane during unemployment.  Note:  you do not have to be depressed (clinically or otherwise), to benefit from these tips:

• Go to bed at the same time every night -- this allows to stay on the same schedule each day.
• GET OUT OF BED at a reasonable time (i.e. 9:00 a.m., not noon)
• Exercise!  Even if it is in front of the TV watching old episodes of Sweatin' to the Oldies with Richard Simmons! Moving your body is one of the best things you can do when you are down
• Eat healthfully -- try a new diet.  Instead of meat, try tofu.  Or, eat more greens.  Remember, your body fuels itself based on what you put inside it.  Hamburgers and french fries every day will make you feel sluggish - who needs that ?
• Keep a support system.  Who is in your life you can talk to / trust?  Family, friends, someone at church?  Now is not the time to "be tough" and tell yourself you can handle it.  You can't.  You need PEOPLE.  Don't shut yourself out from those who care and love you. 
• Push yourself.  I mean this with all my being. Getting out of bed every day can be the most trying thing you can do.  However, pull the inner strength you have inside and force yourself to do it.  You'll feel better, I promise. 

That's all for now.  I hope this blog helps one person out there.  If it does, I am a happy woman.