What do I do in situations like these? I put on my favorite upbeat songs and dance. I fish for hours and then toss the catch to the cats. I paint everything I can find around the house. I watch YouTube videos of poor stray animals being rescued. If I have slipped further down, I watch funny Korean dramas until I am sick of them. I put myself into a sugar coma. But when I am at rock bottom, all I want is to crawl under the duvet and never come out. Which of these is your reaction to low spirits, stress or depression?

When something upsets me deeply, for instance, I break everything I pick up. Things just slip out of my hands. The ground seems to slide from under my feet. I sprain my ankle far too often. My eyes cloud over and I do not want to see anyone.

So what do scientists recommend in situations like these? Are you curious about what people actually do?

Some apparently walk around the house stark naked, seeing it as a form of cleansing and relaxation. There was an older gentleman in the building across from ours who did exactly that. Please, if you are going to try it, close the curtains. And do not step out onto the balcony like that. It is not a pleasant sight for anyone watching.

There are those who put on masks to scare their neighbors, or who play funny pranks. I have heard of people who had heart attacks and died because of hidden-camera pranks. I cannot say I found that one advisable either.

Some people lie to themselves and build an imaginary world. The trouble is, you can also end up lost inside that imaginary world.

Writing funny song lyrics has been suggested too. Let us just say that singers who write strange lyrics clearly make good use of their depressive phases. If only they did not make the rest of us listen to those songs and toy with our psychology.

They also say that hugging a giant teddy bear does people a world of good. That one might actually work — I am truly going to try it.

A few of these I genuinely liked.

For example, buying a bunch of balloons, writing the things that make you unhappy on them, and popping them one by one. Every pop feels good — as if you had burst your troubles and shrunk them down.

Getting into the water and telling your troubles to it. They say water carries away all that is bad, and I believe it. It truly has a very positive effect.

Going to one of those anti-stress rooms that exist in many parts of the world and smashing everything in sight. I would love to try this. But I could not find anything like it in Turkey — and it would be a shame to sacrifice the things at home.

Let me add an example of my own here. If you know a masseur with positive energy, a good anti-stress massage can be a lifesaver. Some people's hands and voices are truly healing. Once again, my thanks from here to my dear Emoş.

If you have suggestions of your own, you can always write to me..

Stay with love and joy.