Is boredom causing depression?

[jy76]

Is it possible depression can be cured by involvement in some passionate hobby in which you reap a large reward?  For instance, some people might feel better by starting a blog project around some hobby they enjoy.  Often such projects, if done well, can be quite time consuming, but that's exactly the therapy the depressed need.

 

[Alex]

Boredom and depression aren't the same, but you can get distracted and that stops depression being so severe. There are many levels of depression, but each person has different triggers and reasons for how they feel.


Starting a new hobby and other things may work for a while, but not if there are underlying reasons. I went on a long trip for several months, and when I got back the issues I left behind crept back. You can't escape things or pretend they haven't happened though by covering them up. Eventually they will return.

 

[Azelma]

I think it might be the other way around. Depression brings boredom. When one is depressed, they have less motivation for things they used to (and new things too, of course). This is just my intuition, but I'd say the two definitely go hand in hand.


Depression is a chemical imbalance in the brain, so I doubt just boredom could bring about depression.

 

[Alex]

I think it might be the other way around. Depression brings boredom. When one is depressed, they have less motivation for things they used to (and new things too, of course). This is just my intuition, but I'd say the two definitely go hand in hand.


Depression is a chemical imbalance in the brain, so I doubt just boredom could bring about depression.

Boredom is when you can't be bothered to do something, or you haven't got anything to do. Depression is when you want to do something but can't as you are anxious or afraid. Depressed people want to do things, but get frustrated when they can't , don't have control, or when things don't work out. It's very different from boredom which is apathy, and when people get complacent.


As for motivation, I think people from all walks can lack motivation. People do need incentives at times, but that's how you motivate bored children. For a depressed person, it can be hard to give them any incentives when they are anxious.

 

[pwarbi]

Finding something to do that your interested in can certainly help hen it comes to depression but I wouldn't say that it can 'cure' it for want of a better word. Depression can affect anybody at any time and sometimes it's the people that have full lives and lots to do that are affected the most so being bored in your life doesn't necessarily mean that you are more susceptible.


When I was dealing with depression throwing myself into a hobby or pastime helped me to stop worrying and feeling sorry for myself, but it didn't stop the depression itself. That was only helped by the right medication and counselling. 

 

[biege]

Boredom won't cause depression unless you let it get into your head or you keep thinking about it, you know how powerful the mind is, yes?


Well, if you want to kill boredom, of course engaging in an activity that would let you earn something in return is helpful. Me, I don't easily get bored but if I do, I just either read something, watch something, or just say do something to keep myself busy and productive. If I don't want to do anything, I just take a nap or just do a complete sleep.

 

[tyche]

Yes, I think being preoccupied is the best way to counter depression, because if you are way too busy, then would you even have time to remember what is making you depressed in the first place? If you are busy then you would not have the time to dwell on it at all. You go home tired, (assuming that you work) then you lie in the bed and you immediately doze off. Repeat the "steps" the next day. If you don't work, then immersing yourself in a hobby is definitely a good idea.

 

[Alex]

I think people do get these confused at times, because to an outsider all they can see is a lack of enthusiasm and apathy. I had a friend who was severely depressed and her medication just made her so tired, she lost her motivation to want to do anything. I would suggest things to do and I know she wanted to do them, but physically just couldn't and I know how she felt.


Pushing yourself to do things doesn't always help, because you need to enjoy them too. I can get bored, but that stems from a different kind of lack of control when you can't do something because of money or where you are, rather than an inner lack of control where it's too much effort to do something that may cause more anxiety.

 

[Alexandoy]

Definitely a hobby can make boredom go away. And I believe that boredom can lead to depression when it gets control of the mood. A person with a hobby that he loves will always be occupied and his mind will have no time to think of sad things that can cause depression. 

 

[philomel]

The hobby will influence mood and of course the boredom. But, the boredom itself can't cause any depression if a person is not prone to that emotional setting. The outgoing  happy person can be bored by a frequent distasteful job or boring activity, or just lazy Sunday afternoon. But, it will definitely not cause any depression. 


A good hobby is always a suggested activity to beat depression, but in cases where a depression takes a very nasty episode even, a hobby can't make things better. Hobby is an escape panel, it does not prevent anything.

 

[pwarbi]

It doesn't even have to be a regular hobby though to fight depression and boredom, it can just be doing something that's a break from your normal daily ritual that can help. Doing something out of the ordinary and something that you can look forward to is also a way of breaking the boredom and the regular humdrum life that a lot of us live. If all we do is go to work and stick to the same routine every night when we get home, it's no wonder that more and more people are starting to become bored and that then leads on to depression.


Even if it's just going to the cinema or out for a meal during the week to break things up a bit, even something as simple as that can lift our spirits when we start to feel a bit bored with life, and it's better to do that when you first start feeling down than leaving it till you are already in that position because then it's even harder to make a change and get your self motivated to do something about it.

 

[Allenafaith]

As others have said, depression brings boredom. I do have to say that since I started dating again and I turned 16 and can actually go places instead of being stuck inside of a house 24/7 I am not as depressed as I used to be. It can be hard to come out of it especially if you don't enjoy things that you used to do but once you do, you're not as bored as long as you keep yourself busy. At Least that's how it was for me. 

 

[jy76]

As many on have said, simply doing something different is a big help in fighting depression.  In addition, perhaps watching some comedy and exercising would be massively beneficial.  In my case, jogging seems to relieve a lot of stress, anxiety, and depression.  Actually, even a good walk can do the same, somewhat.

 

[joshposh]

You need to keep your mind and body busy to not be in a depressive state.  Your bored because you chose to be.  You need to get out and do something.  Try cleaning the house sometime, or chores.  Yeah it might suck, but at least it's not boring.  It's productive and after completion, you have a sense of accomplishment.

 

[janemariesayed]

My depression is not a chemical imbalance but was brought about by events. It does help if I can keep myself busy but depression makes me feel lethargic and also lack willpower. This means that doing things can be difficult sometimes so boredom can set in.


I find that walking my dogs helps especially if I take them to the beach or a woodland. I think that having a hobby would help with boredom and keep the depression at bay. Doing chores is also difficult with depression. But when you are bored, you don't feel like doing anything at all. No matter what is suggested, you just don't feel like doing it.


The best thing for boredom is to wait for bedtime, go to sleep and when you get up in the morning it's a whole new day, and boredom is forgotten. 

 

[TheKnight]

I'm lonely and bored. I sometimes feel depressed because I'm lonely but I think that's because I'm bored. If I were having fun and I was lonely, I don't think it would be a problem. 

You're correct, though. Hobbies such as drawing help me be entertained and forget my loneliness. Watching videos or watching television is sometimes a bad idea because you sometimes see people having fun and being together and it makes you remember how lonely and bored you are. The only way to escape is to find a hobby or form of entertainment you can do on your own and are passionate about.