Ask HN: How to cope with job hunting and depression?

I am in your situation as well for almost over an year now. Been through 2 severe panic attacks and 2 times at the ER. Nothing helps more than hope and doing something (Don`t drinkg though!)

There was a time I was applying for jobs as a Job... 9 to 5. Drinking heavily beer and coffee. My wife left and I fucked up so much more than the stupid concept of a "job". I didn`t give up... I set down and drew a line... than set priorities and Goals. I started looking less into Job openings, started working out (not in the gym, nature is the cheapest gym - running, hiking etc.) Than when in a month or two when my mind and organism cleared from the "fog" innovative ideas started to come. In another half an year (a bit financial help here from parents and friends) and after some reading, I started my own Business.

In another 1 year, found the most amazing woman...

What I am trying to say is that EVEN when you can`t see any light, it doesn`t mean there is none! You are in a "storm" right now, and as every storm it will pass! Sometimes the only but vital effort one Needs to do is to Keep it all togehter! Don`t give up, and try to twist your mind into a positive loop by Setting small Goals and making small steps. You will get there!

As you say, doing new hobbies, meeting people etc. They all trigger the "honeymoon phase". Your body literally creates chemicals that turn off any depression.

The key would be for depressed people to keep changing it up and finding things they like instead of sticking with the same.

The vicious cycle occurs because a depressed person doesn't bother looking for anything, so nothing changes, so they get even more depressed.

Even if they do become self aware enough in order to make a change (as you did), they still have the mindset that "I'm doing this because I am depressed".

This means they are still not enjoying the full experience of life, as they are predisposed to failure.

A depressed person requires a hard emotional trigger to "snap" them out of it, something unexpected, something that invokes basic instincts, something that even their depressed mind can't ignore.

A simple example could be triggering survival instincts invoked by physical pain - this causes the body to take over and force the brain to engage.

The brain is no longer catatonic - it is forced to deal with the issue at hand (survival). There is no room to "be depressed". It's act or die.

This invokes instincts that activate the adrenaline in the system.

After the danger is resolved, the body relaxes and there is relief, adrenaline high. The brain realizes "hey that wasn't so bad". This high is what needs to be exercised again.

This activates the mind to start finding ways to get that high.

TIL: Depressed people need to get their first hit on getting high on life.

This will help you get back to a stable state where you'll be able to slowly work your way back "up". People who do that usually end up way higher that originally planned, when they fight back after a good recovery. You need a change of scenery.