Is it okay to spend money on things that help you cope with depression?

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Mysterious

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Seems like a lot of people do things that help them cope with their depression. I'm suicidally depressed (attempted many times, hospitalized once). Recently, I started going out to eat at restaurants with friends and collecting amiibo as ways to pass time and do it as a hobby. For some reason, I'm not interested in coding side projects, TV/Movies or Gaming anymore, whatsoever, but running around trying to collect amiibo is really fun. So is sitting down at a restaurant and trying new things and
Instagramming what I ate if it's at a fancy enough place
.

Is this a waste of money? Inside, I have a gut feeling that says it's a huge waste of money but outside, it makes me feel really happy. And gives me stuff to look forward too (have four dinner reservations for the coming week that I'm excited about and I'm excited everytime I hear a retailer receiving an amiibo shipment). I have no interest in the functional aspect of amiibo, but collecting them brings me back to my childhood days of trying to collect all the McDonald's toys whenever a "collection" comes out.
 
I think it really comes down to if you personally have the disposable income to do it, if you do and it makes you happy go for it!

I have depression too and sometimes I pick up a movie or game if I've had a rough patch or feeling down since those are hobbies I love.
 
Sounds fine to me, as long as you don't take it to extreme. Spending time with friends is probably one of the best things you can do to help cope with depression.

And you could have much more expensive hobbies than collecting Amiibos, trust me. :P
 
Can you afford your daily expenses? Can you live comfortably?

If you can, then who cares. People waste money on dumb things. Why buy an expensive car when you can buy a cheaper one and get to where you want to go? Why buy that expensive steak when all you're going to do is eat it? So on.

If you're responsible with your money, do what makes you happy.
 
Photolysis said:
Are you able to meet your obligations?

If so, I don't see how spending money on something you enjoy is a bad thing.
Click to expand...

Yeah. I just won't have enough money to save up thousands of dollars, and inside, I feel like amiibo is a complete waste of money. I have two friends who keep telling me amiibo is a waste of money, my other friend who appreciates collecting but can't afford it herself at the moment and my family (parents and sister) who are so ecstatic that I finally have a hobby to keep myself busy with that they're willing to go out buying amiibo with me lol.
 
Don't put yourself into poverty buying Amiibos, but if you can afford them and collecting them makes you happy I think that's totally fine.

Just have to have reasonable limits. Don't spend your food/rent/savings money on toys, but excess income? Absolutely fine
 
Not according to my wife.
And asking about it just gets me yelled at, which makes me more depressed.

To be fair, we are massively in debt, which is also depressing.
Will be filing for bankruptcy this year.
 
Not a waste of time/money at all.

Life is just a bunch of moments doing shit we don't like to afford us the time and money to do the things we do like.

Find the things you like and do it and enjoy.
 
My gaming laptop is broke. I am a month behind on my car payment but I am holding back on sending the money until I know if I have enough to get it fixed. I guess that's pretty stupid but I am super depressed without my gaming and streaming to take my mind off things.
 
I don't see why it wouldn't be okay.
As long as you don't exceed your means (which would just add to the problem long term) then go for it. What's the point of earning that money if you aren't going to spend it on something to make you happy? That's what you go to work for.
 
There's nothing wrong with spending money on things you enjoy if you can afford it.

The danger, though, is that you get used to spending money as a coping mechanism for depression. From what you've written, it doesn't sound like you're doing it as a coping mechanism.

I had a friend who would buy a ton of stuff when they were going through a depressive episode because it made them feel good. Then they'd regret it afterwards and end up having to cancel orders and return stuff because they couldn't actually afford it.
 
I think if you can afford it it's a great idea. It's nice to have things to look forward to. I know with depression sometimes the future can seem bleak and uncertain and having things like reservations or packages in the mail can be nice. They remind you that there are things to look forward to and the future can be an awesome thing to look forward to.

Trying new foods is also great. Expand your mind and pallet. I used to try all sorts of local restaurants that I've never been to. Now I usually cook new dishes using new ingredients.
 
The reality is nothing external will make us happy and it's sad to think that are happiness is dependent on something external. what happens when that thing becomes boring lost destroyed or stolen we become unhappy sad or depressed again.
 
No, do whatever makes you happy as long as it doesn't hurt other people.

If you can afford to eat out all the time and buy Amiibos without putting detriment on any dependents, then by all means, continue.
 
The thing about collecting Amiibos is that essentially, they are collectibles and not straight up junk. So regardless of whether you think you are wasting money or not, do take pride that say 5 or 10 years from now, when you are done with the collecting and want to move on, you can sell these to recoup some, if not all of your money back thanks to the fact that there are plenty of Nintendo Collectors.

Enjoy your hobby, have fun with it :)
 
Just as long as it's not as a plaster on a hemmorage it's fine.

I went video card and computer upgrade crazy and I regret it now, because I mostly use my PS4.

I think that if you are thinking about this while depressed, you are already one step ahead of where I was TBH.
 
This sounds normal?
I'd rather go out to eat and have a fun excuse to run around the city instead of coping with boredom by staying inside all day.
 
You got it figured out OP. Keep rolling with the punches. Collecting amiibo is great fun. I've got some pics of bad ass food on my instagram too!
 
As long as it's financially sustainable yes it's ok. And as long as you don't combine the two by bringing your amibos to the restaurant and sitting them down and ordering them food and talking to them.
 
Good responses in this thread. I agree as long as you're good with your money where it counts, do whatever you want with the extra.

Have you tried exercise? I was part of the exercise sucks camp but once I started seeing results my confidence went up and I'm like a new man now. I put a TV in front of my elliptical so I'm catching up on shows at the same time.
 
It's your money. It's your life. You can do about it what you want. So what if you somehow feel like collecting amiibos is a waste of money? You also feel that it makes you happy. What is more important? Exactly, that you're happy. That you have lost interest in your other hobbies just shows that you are a human being that is developing, isn't that great? Do what you want. Not what others tell you.

Also, as someone else has said: Spending time with people who are important to you (or even just people you care about) is the best way to lead a happy life. Happy life = no depression. As such, going out with friends is THE BEST THING you can do. So, if it "has to be" by going to fancy restaurants, so be it (as long as you can afford it).

Just live.

(also, as long as you don't unpack your amiibos it might even be an investment!)
 
isn't that all that life is? buying things that make you happy.

edit: beaten. Should have refreshed before posting.
 
If you can manage to pay your bills first then yes. Just don't financially fuck yourself significantly just to feel better. Small things go a long way so those things are fine but nothing too big if you really can't afford it.

I had a time period, after a really rough break up of 3 1/2 years, where I was living on my own, going to school + working 2 jobs and was battling anxiety with insomnia and depression. After paying what I owed in bills, I spent a good bit of money eating the healthy foods I loved but never could. I made myself really fancy dinners and took hot baths while blasting my favorite music. It was great for my depression because in that time, I learned to love myself and not blame myself for things I couldn't do anything about now. I spent money on some video games I really wanted, ate what I wanted, and got some small art prints from artists I admired for a long time. But of course, I only spent money when I was able to afford so and sometimes the things I did didn't even require money.

If you don't have a lot of money, just try to do nice things for yourself. Hot massive bubble baths or long hot showers, make yourself something tasty, try drawing or pursuing something you once gave up on, motivate yourself to do things that make you feel good. :)
 
Just a side note, I recently turned 20 and have an internship that pays decently well. So like, I don't have kids that would go hungry or anything. My only bills I pay on time monthly (rent, phone, metropass), and I still have some budgeted for school. This is just extra that I planned to spend on like... clothing... which I'm no longer interested in.
 
I'd be wary of buying things to address depression. Keeping busy is therapeutically sound. Chasing possessions is not.

A doctor can diagnose you and help you address the issues and imbalances that are causing your depression.
 
I'm not qualified to say whether it's OK or not, I'm not a therapist. On that note, are you in therapy? What does that person say?

As a completely unqualified, untrained, uneducated person in this regard, I'd personally be worried that you're not just masking a void but not addressing it. Spending money on frivolous items might be a form of seemingly innocent self-medication that, if taken too far, could be financially disastrous and more than that doesn't help you really get help with your depression.

But forget that last paragraph. I'd be far more interested, if I were you, in the opinion of someone qualified and experienced in these issues. I hope you have such a person on your side.
 
Mysterious said:
Seems like a lot of people do things that help them cope with their depression. I'm suicidally depressed (attempted many times, hospitalized once). Recently, I started going out to eat at restaurants with friends and collecting amiibo as ways to pass time and do it as a hobby. For some reason, I'm not interested in coding side projects, TV/Movies or Gaming anymore, whatsoever, but running around trying to collect amiibo is really fun. So is sitting down at a restaurant and trying new things and
Instagramming what I ate if it's at a fancy enough place
.

Is this a waste of money? Inside, I have a gut feeling that says it's a huge waste of money but outside, it makes me feel really happy. And gives me stuff to look forward too (have four dinner reservations for the coming week that I'm excited about and I'm excited everytime I hear a retailer receiving an amiibo shipment). I have no interest in the functional aspect of amiibo, but collecting them brings me back to my childhood days of trying to collect all the McDonald's toys whenever a "collection" comes out.
Click to expand...

As long as your able to pay all of your bills, its seems like its fine
 
InfiniteBento said:
make yourself something tasty
Click to expand...

InfiniteBento
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