*hugs Curious*
I've been "there" for a little while now... for a combination of reasons (work, home, family, etc)...
It becomes overwhelming and confusing. I have found that the more I tried to figure out why, the further I fall into it. The darker everything gets. The harder it becomes to enjoy the things that I used to.
As I have been up and down (various lengths - including a few days, a week, a couple of minutes) I've instead started trying to find out why I was up at that point in time and what happened to make it stop, instead of trying to figure out what made me down and trying to place blame. 'Tis difficult and not always possible. I am still having trouble with it. But by finding out why I am up, I can try and make it happen again.
A hidden rainbow - no rain, just the ones that it's where the light hits the glass at the right angle - it made me smile. So I started looking out for them and "collecting" them (photos with my mobile's camera).
Dogs - I love dogs. So every time I see one I stop and watch him for a little moment. If the opportunity arises to actually get to talk to and pet him - even better.
If a bad train ride to work - the rest of the morning seems to have every little thing be negative. So instead of going straight to work, I sit out in the sun for a moment or walk around the block. Listening/singing to a few "calming" songs (usually the same one a few times). Or email a complaint email to rail company - venting my frustration (sometimes I send it, sometimes I just leave it as draft). Then, tell myself to leave the train trip on the ground floor - that after I exit the lift I won't think about it again and not let it affect my morning. I don't always think it works 100%, but I do think it helps.
Encouraging sticky notes at my desk (and also at home). Quotes, movie lines, lines of songs, etc. Sometimes I have them written in full, others only make sense to me and "outsiders" wouldn't know what it means. I have a new one to add on Monday - "LIGTTSP". Let It Go, This Too Shall Pass. [check out
YouTube - OK Go - This Too Shall Pass - Rube Goldberg Machine version - Official even if it's just for the video clip!]
One time, as I was walking to the train, I smiled that the blossom tree had finally flowered. So for a week I picked one blossom every morning to hold onto... it was my secret... my soft, delicate, pale pink flower...
Find something that you really, really like - my thing is dogs and I recently found a weekend seminar on dog training... something that I've been interested in for quite a while (over 7 years). Yes I hesitated for a few weeks - yes-ing and no-ing - the cost, the travel, having to do 5 days work then 2 day seminar then 5 days work... I was pulling it to bits finding every negative thing possible... but I booked in for it and now have something to count down to, plan for, and am now actually looking forward to it. I've even booked in to have the Friday prior off from work.
Other things that I have found helps includes singing along with favourite songs (right this very second I singing Dynamite by Taio Cruze) and journaling (venting and writing exactly what I want to tell people) but keep if safely hidden.
The dark is scary, but you are definitely not alone.
*hugs Curious*