What is a hobby that will help me with depression?

I'm 17 years old. I've been depressed for the past month. Last week, I was fired from my job. I also can no longer run cross country because of my hip. I have a lot of free time on my hands.

I also don't really have any friends. I have a girlfriend who told me she'd do anything for me to help me. She said she would even let me talk to her psychologist.

I can't tell my parents that I'm depressed, because they would get angry.

I was thinking maybe a hobby could take my mind off of it. What are some hobbies that could make me happy, help me meet new people, and maybe just get me out of the house?

That's a really good idea. Try a few things out. If you can't run you could always try joining a walking group or swimming. Horse riding is fun too - exercise helps to lift depression. I love to cook, when I'm focused on that I forget all my worries plus it's fun to prepare and share food with others. If you enjoy art you could try something new and go to a class to learn. I don't know your situation but most parents would want to know if their child wasn't happy and would be concerned rather than angry. Perhaps you could mention it sometime when people are relaxed. Remember you can always talk to your G.P. and by the way, your girlfriend sounds lovely so things there sound pretty good!

I think since you don't have the confidence to talk to your parents maybe you should see a school counselor or talk to a good friend preferably an adult so that way they can help you with your problems...
You can do many things and since it's summer maybe you should go swimming and do things like go for ice cream, walks in the park or to the movies those are just some personal ideas
well I hope all goes well
=0)

Play guitar or sing. If that is complicated, volunteer with children or old folks, after the standardized background check. Join a church if you are so inclined, or think you could become interested. They automatically provide a super variety of activities, including trips, sports (sorry about your hip) and concerts.

Painting,writing poems,writing songs,listening to music(not sad music,that'll make u worse)watching your fave tv shows(Mine are anime),reading(I like reading manga.^^)Those are a few ways.I hope I helped^^

Painting, music, volunteering, drawing . taking black and white pictures or color, barber school,
welding art, making fountains, learn to fix cars because then you will have an end product, ebay things, exercises, helping smal kids in your neighborhood.

try card making you could sit in the gardan and make cards its with your hands so it keeps your mind busy from thinking bad things,

most shops sell card making bits search the net and look for ideas and stuff :)

your parents would not get agry if you tell them ,most parents believe it or not want the best for their kids ,so just tell them and get help or it will get worse

manga manga manga. when you get bored of reading just draw.

volunteer at a homeless shelter. You're life will be changed.

First of all, I think it would be a good idea if you spoke to your parents about how you are feeling. Why would they be angry with you for being honest? Do you feel that they have very high expectations for you, and that you wouldn't be living up to them? I would start with speaking to your parents. They love you, I'm sure, and would be relieved that you opened up to them.
As far as hobbies, have you tried jigsaw puzzles, crossword puzzles, or brain teasers? When ever, I'm feeling down, I find that anything that engages my mind and keeps it off my troubles makes me feel better. Whatever you choose to do, good luck!

Depression is a mental disorder. It's a physical illness. It can't be cured by a hobby, any more than having a hobby can cure diabetes. It's the result of a chemical change of the brain, like diabetes is the result of a chemical change of the pancreas.

Sadness over life changes is not depression, unless it goes on unremittingly which indicates not just normal sadness, but an effect on your brain chemistry as a result of the way you are handling the sadness. Medication & psychotherapy are the treatments that work together to fix this.

I can't HURT to have a hobby, meet new people, get out of the house, but sometimes when people are depressed, they are unable to DO that. That's kind of the difference between depression and feeling down. When you're depressed, the motivation is gone to actually DO it. That's because the chemicals that control motivation are out of whack.

So, if you can just get out and WALK or just go to a Tai Chi class, or something like that, and if it makes you feel better, you're probably not depressed, just garden variety, normal "down". This "pull yourself up by the bootstraps" approach works well for "down". A lot of people who have full lives are still depressed, though. It's not really a fix for depression, although it is part of a happy & balanced life.

If you find this approach doesn't fix what's ailing you, then you have a medical condition. Are you saying your parents would get MAD at you for having medical condition? They would deny you treatment for a medical condition? Are they neglectful/abusive, or just ignorant?

If you find your bootstraps approach doesn't fix what's ailing you, then you need to man-up and tell your parents that you need to see the doctor. If they get mad, then they get mad. It's more important that you take care of yourself, esp. if they won't, because the longer you let your brain be out of whack, the harder it is to get it back on track.

** peace **