How do you get yourself up when your feeling down

I know your friends mean well, I truly do, but you hear all the platitudes don't you, when you are feeling down, unless they have truly been in the same situation then you never know if they really really understand. I also lost my job due to ill health and together with an abusive relationship which I won't bore you with my confidence and self esteem vanished. It's taken me years to get back to where I was, but for me I found that both therapy and exercise worked. Do you have any interests? I think it takes your mind off what you are going through if you develop an interest, even if it's going for a bike ride or meeting people for lunch or doing something you enjoy doing. It's only a temporary stopgap and you will find work, but why not use the time to do something that YOU want to do that maybe when you were working never had time for!!! For me I go to the gym 5 times a week and has done wonders for me both mentally and physically. I was diagnozed with clinical depression in 2003, the only thing that has beaten the depression was going to the gym and now my confidence is returning, gradually. Don't see this as a time of despair see it as a time for healing and to get to grips with what YOU want to do. The very best of luck, the road won't be easy, but hey as we find out life is never easy is it!