Meaningful Hobbies and Depression
The last few years my depression has just been getting worse where all I want to do after work is just rot on the couch and smoke weed. I understand that the behavior leads to further depression, I need behavioral activation blah blah blah. Yes I’m in counseling and also see a psychiatrist.
My problem is whenever I try something new it just doesn’t feel meaningful like I’m just trying to kill time and I don’t enter that flow state. I tried coloring, puzzles, journaling, gaming, building legos, knitting, etc. I don’t hate them necessarily but it feels so pointless to do.
For work I’m a social worker. I’ve tried volunteering with Trevor project and don’t get me wrong I liked it but I don’t really want to do an extension of work in the evening. If I had a non patient facing role then maybe I’d go back. Even then, that doesn’t feel like a hobby per se.
So I guess I’m reaching out to ask if anyone experienced this issue and what are some things you tried? Some hobbies that worked better for you? Creating a new mindset that helped you become more connected to new hobbies?