r/depression • u/Forward_Flow_7546 • 10h ago

Activities without hands

Hi. I'm feeling really desperate and depressed. I have a disability that makes it almost impossible for me to do things with my hands for longer than 25 minutes. My Arms, wrists, hands and fingers hurt all the time. I can't even use a gaming controller because the sticks and buttons hurt my fingers so bad. I also cannot do real sports because exhausting activities make my body hurt. Taking a walk is ok or dancing for a couple minutes. I have lost my job because of the disability so I'm just sitting at home every day, go to doctors appointments sometimes and read and watch TV.

I started hating reading, shows and music because I have no other ideas for activities with my disability. I also started hating walks. I'm so frustrated and unhappy and have lost my purpose.

Does anyone have any ideas for activities with these special circumstances?

For your information, I've recently started therapy but it's just in the beginning so it's not helping anything yet.

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4

u/Time-Ad-9022 10h ago edited 10h ago

Not quite the same, but I have degenerative disc disease top and bottom working its way to meet in the middle, 90% sure I’ve got arthritis in my hip, shoulder and fingers (awaiting follow up appointment).
Reading and TV shows have always been my go to but can’t bear either at the minute…..

I have taken up swimming, I try to do an hour twice a week, I swim like a turtle but that hour not holding my own weight is amazing.

Edit: swim like something very slow, my husband informed me that turtles, indeed, can swim fast 🙈

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u/Forward_Flow_7546 9h ago

I've considered swimming but it's so hard when you have depression. It has so many steps to it. Like pack your stuff, use public transport to go to the swimming hall, get a ticket, change, finally swim, then shower and dry your hair... It's like soooo many steps how am I going to do this... 😵‍💫 It feels impossible.

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u/Time-Ad-9022 9h ago edited 9h ago

I understand this…I wake up on a Monday and Friday and always make the reason sound fair in my mind, at least. “getting there is a pain” “getting showered after takes up too much energy” my favourite is “I hate humans”
I’ll be honest, sometimes…..I put it off….I don’t shower or wash my hair when I’ve finished (I rinse off before and when I get out im clean before I go!) then do it at home) the reason I push myself to go is I love the endorphin rush for the next 6-8 hours 🤣
I would love to go every day, but twice a week is good for now.

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u/Spiders_Please 8h ago

You could visit lonely folks in nursing homes, just chatting with them would mean a lot.

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u/Time-Ad-9022 7h ago

That’s a great shout actually

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u/TenNinetythree 7h ago

A mac computer can be used with a foot pedal as a switch. So maybe consider that? Also, you can sing. And dictate poetry.

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u/Particular_Vast_9038 5h ago

learn a language, it can be pretty engaging