Camming when depressed

[CurvyVi]

I have found that the hardest thing for me in camming is getting myself to do so when my mental illness spikes. Due to that wonderful mental illness, i am unable to work full time in a "real" job. Does anyone have advice on how to work around this?

 

[AudriTwo]

you gotta work through it. you have to figure out how to leave your real world problems at the door. On days where you can't, underrstandable. but when you are on cam, try to be the most POSITIVE person you can be.

 

[Clarissax]

It sounds bad, but I need the cash (regardless of my anxiety)
I get up, yoga, do my face and prepare my room because if I don't cam... I don't get paid.

Top Tips
- Motivational Speakers
- Red Lipstick
- Garters
- Clean Cam Space
- Banging Playlist.

 

[Shy Cam Guy]

It sounds bad, but I need the cash (regardless of my anxiety)
I get up, yoga, do my face and prepare my room because if I don't cam... I don't get paid.

Top Tips
- Motivational Speakers
- Red Lipstick
- Garters
- Clean Cam Space
- Banging Playlist.

Hi Curvy and Clarissa
Can't offer tips in the Camming side but I'm in a similar boat having to perform in public in front of a crowd tomorrow with a very serious mental illness and anxiety myself. Im feeling sick at the moment. Its not always possible to psych yourself up with anxiety disorders. If you really have to do it all you can do is be as well prepared as you can, do all your usual prep, and go into some type of performance mode.we have to pretend don't we that everything is ok. Easier said than done but I'm just hoping I can do it tomorrow in front of a crowd too.good luck to you too

Love and best wishes
SCG

PS somehow you have to just believe in yourself and not care what anyone else thinks. Maybe try and become someone else when performing. That's what I'm going to do. So it isn't me on show

 

[Ann_Sulu]

One thing that "can" help with camming is taking small breaks here and there. Tell yourself to cam for as long as you can, then give yourself a 15 min or so break (say you need lunch or something). Be sure to get back on though. If you don't you'll feel worse about yourself, and it's harder to motivate yourself to go back...otherwise there's a good chance you'll find yourself trying to make excuses to take days off.

The more you avoid something the more it becomes a phobia. Once you realize you've accomplished being on at a regular rate, you'll likely be able to easily get through your camshift (with or without breaks).

 

[StripStripSkylar]

Hey, sorry to hear you're going through this! I am depressed right now too and I find the best thing for me to do in terms of getting online is not overthinking it - ;like not thinking about what's going to happen once I get online or how I'm going to get customers to get privates or whatever, but just literally focusing on doing my makeup and turning my webcam on. I find that's the biggest hurdle for me.

 

[Lelo1]

Having a routines helps.

• Get up and get ready for the day
• Eat well, breakfast, lunch, dinner
• Physical exercise (release endorphins)
• Cleaning (it gets you moving, and you end up with a more welcoming space)
• Shopping for food
• Washing clothes
• Get out of the house, set it up so there is a self enforcing reward. (like getting coffee, fresh fruit, extra) It doesn't need to be far, it could just be the corner quicky mart or what ever.

Things worth doing.

• Have some people to talk to. Like actual talking, not chat. It doesn't matter if it's family, friends, or random people you play a game with online, strangers at a coffee shop, or a support group.
• Keep Busy
• CaseyNeistat
• Seize the moment, if your not feeling well and the TV is on. Maybe you can watch tv and clean the room. If you look at the dishes and think, these dishes need to be washed. Maybe that's a great time to wash the dishes.

 

[CottonKitty]

Im in the same state rn and that's why i didn't even started yet, even after creating a bomb profile and spending a lot of time thinking about it, and investing in buying all the things needed, i also can't have a full time "real job" cos of mental and physical illness and + i can't even cam in my own house so doing it implies going outside, a thing i don't do a lot and cam in my ex house lol, but we are strong girl and we can get things done, its rough sometimes thinking that you can't get stability in anything you do and even less build a schedule but we have to try and make it work, remember why you are doing it and why is worth it!

 

[AkelaJohns]

Here is my tips for you , how I'm use to deal with these days.
1.I'm practicing mindfulness and meditation, or at least I'm trying
2.I'm listening Upbeat Music
3.I'm trying to not take my thoughts seriously when I'm feeling low
4.I'm eating well and I'm trying to sleep as much I can in my free time.

Hugs & Kisses to You all

 

[Natalia Fatale]

i have the same exact problem,it really fucks my flow up,and i end up not working for days,or trying to work and failing miserably because im visibly not happy- while i dont have a solution to the problem,it does make me feel a little better to know other girls have this same issue...

 

[IntravenousFlytrap]

I feel ya on this one. I have a very chronic form of depression right now, but honestly, camming kind of distracts me from it most of the time. Especially when I'm feeling particularly irritable with my surroundings in life outside of the computer. If I get on a camsite and get a good conversation going, it kind of relaxes me and makes me forget why I was angry, irritable, or depressed in the first place.

Other days, though... camming can just exacerbate my depression. Especially in dead quiet rooms.

 

[Hereiam]

Camming can be good and bad on mood. Sure empty room make us feeling bad and asking why i'm here for 10tok in an complet evening ... but .. some days are better, some guys speak and have fun and make us feel good and that help for changing mind. Sure at first we are here for earn as much tok as possible, it's hard but we have to forgot that and try have fun and give good show. Sure bad person asking for free show or complaining are bad for mood, but ... what can we do ? Need be strong and try let it go, it's not easy be a camgirl/boy ...
have fun, smile, be strong

 

[Hereiam]

Girls ?? never give up !!!

 

[lil_purrmaiden]

Sometimes I find myself getting to focused on being prepared over actually getting online because im afraid i wont be sexy enough or interesting enough etc. I've had a bad cam time today but fuck it it happens to everyone! I'm gonna go get back online and be the person I want to feel like and you can do it too if you are in the same headspace as me rn. We got disss!

 

[UniversitySmiles]

While camming I feel like what helps make you stand out from everyone else is staying true to yourself. Porn is easily accessible nowadays. People watch us on cam partly for our nudity, but also the personal connection they feel from getting to know you. Having the direct personal connection is what separates us from watching porn.

Because of this, I suggest you stick with your gut. If you are depressed, do something that gets you out of your funk. If it hits you while you are camming, log off early. Your bank may not appreciate this, however, your body will. You need to be able to take care of you first and foremost.

 

[_pilya_]

Not having any work or income depresses me... So I do go in front of a cam I'm so happy I'm able to work. When my guest contribute for me to earn a little income I get so Happy, I mean I genuinely get so happy when i get tip just because I know that less I have to be depressed about. So its goes hand in hand with me, I'm happy, cheerfully when I am on cam and get extra happy when i see my guest contribute. So being on cam is one was to relieve one's depression.
Another thing being on cam, .. .guest seems to like a different kinds of moods or how one acts in front of a cam, so be yourself, if you are not in the mood, just say it so and let it loose on cam... it worked with one of my cousins and her guest loves that about her. We can't change who we really are, we just have to match our self to who likes us for who we really are.

 

[LylacDoll]

Something that helps me when I'm having trouble being motivated to do anything (the act of getting ready for camming can take a lot out of me at times) is not telling myself, "I should get ready to cam, I should clean my room before camming, I should..." is rephrasing how I think about it. "I can get ready for cam now, I can clean my room before camming, I can..." has a lot more positive effects on me than feeling like I "need to " or "should" do something. While I'm doing things I'm also using a lot of positive self talk "I can do this. I've gotten x done. I have accomplished so much. I can keep going."

Then once I get started I try to make an effort to not stop moving or progressing in some way because slowing down can quickly turn into just outright stopping for me. As for staying online with cam, that one's harder. Finding something that interests you that you can talk about and can fall back on being amused by on a show is helpful when depression makes everything boring, so sometimes you just have to pick something to be extremely amused over. For example tonight the prop I picked was scarves. I dressed entirely in scarves so people could "unwrap me like a christmas present." Did I find it all that amusing at the beginning of the night? Not really, it was okay. But once the show started, and people could feed off of my "enthusiasm" for it I did wind up finding them just as amusing as I pretended they were.

So basically it's just faking it till you make it and as many positive thoughts as you can muster. It's not as easy as it sounds, but it does get easier.

 

[Ryuki22]

I have found that the hardest thing for me in camming is getting myself to do so when my mental illness spikes. Due to that wonderful mental illness, i am unable to work full time in a "real" job. Does anyone have advice on how to work around this?

Heya love! I've only been at this myself for a few months so I could be missing a few points on this. However on your good days try to focus some of the time and energy on diversifying how you earn money from this, ie, make sure that you're earning money in other way than just sitting in front of a live cam. Photosets and videos for sale on your cam page, maybe offering the sale of underwear, listing both of these on manyvids as well.. it takes time and like I said I prob missed other and better things in the same vain but keep at it just expands the potential to make money even when you're not online. I hope you kick the illneses as tho, dealt with anxiety and depression for a long time myself it isn't fun, but you can get out and you're not alone. Much love.

 

[Lexi Dale]

When you are feeling down the best way to feel better is to not be alone... be social and interact with other people. That’s what camming is great for and why it is good to gain regulars. Sometimes I’m not feeling it but once I put on some lipstick and a great playlist I find myself feeling better.

 

[Hereiam]

I thing that one of the hardest thing to do for some is to ignore bad comments and bad people. It's guys bad comments and request for free without please without hi that harrass me more on slow night when my regular are nor there to speak me. Ok, freeloader and ok as long they didn't speak or ask nothing more fans in my room push me on first page so it's great. I think we need to have the ability to forget and ignore, guys in are always overexcited and want all for free, they are blind in front of our beauty and fantasies about us ... lol ... yes we are all beauty and all type of performer are the type for some fans, just attrack them in your room and get your piece of the pie ).

Quick slice of life about depress vs earning; saturday ive got 231tok and last night 3130 for avg of 2 hours broadcast .. so ... i just wanna say setup period goal, not daily goal maybe can help little.

And, i repeat it often, smile, have fun, make your rules it's your room. Guys come on cb for have fun and change mind no ? Suppose to be the same for us except that we (want) make money.

We are the best, never give up

( p.s. : list of some words to remember for camgirl/boy: positivity, fun, chill, smile, interaction, ignore )

 

[Amanda Lay]

When I have days like this I play my favorite music lay on my bed and just give a sexy show the way I enjoy... thinking of positive things I want in my life kind of like my meditation for clearing negative feelings.

 

[BambiBaphomet]

I also have issues with mental illness that keep me from being able to work an out of home job. Some things that help me when I'm in a particularly bad slump are:
Tell myself I'm going just do the first step of getting ready. Usually this is take a shower. Oftentimes by the time my shower is over I have enough energy to move on and do "just" the next step, and it keeps going from there.
Do something else! If I really really can't handle cam, I'll often spend the day doing offline work, making videos, etc. I can't always handle direct interaction with people without getting overwhelmed.
Listen to super pumped up music while I get ready. Even if it's not something I usually sit around and listen to. Lately female rappers have been giving me that extra pep I need.
If it's really really bad I just try not to be too hard on myself if I need a self-care day. This has been really important to me. When I first started, I'd force myself to push through and I got burnt out and even more depressed and ended up having to take 2 weeks off. Now I know that taking a day off every now and then when I need it is a much better option. Always have time for yourself. I'll usually put up deals for videos and other goodies on these days to boost sales so I don't feel too unproductive.

 

[DaphnyLewis]

When I feel in this way myself, I'm listening nice relaxing music, I go for a long walk with my dog. All my worries and bad feelings I use to write in my diary. I use to have long phone calls with my girlfriends and If we can ,we use to meet too.

 

[CurvyVi]

You have all given such lovely ideas and advice and i am so grateful for that since i'm trying to come back from a "mental health break" so to speak. it's a hard time of year for me so it's just something i will learn to cope with as i grow, but thank you all so much for these wonderful replies. much love, always.

 

[Hereiam]

You have all given such lovely ideas and advice and i am so grateful for that since i'm trying to come back from a "mental health break" so to speak. it's a hard time of year for me so it's just something i will learn to cope with as i grow, but thank you all so much for these wonderful replies. much love, always.

Just chill, respect your limits, kick/ban, ignore bad comments (i repat guys are over-excited and want all for free and sometimes be rude, really really need to have the ability to ignore and forget) and .. have fun !!!!!

Don't give up, live, love, life, have fun !!

 

[CamGuyTattoos]

I have found that the hardest thing for me in camming is getting myself to do so when my mental illness spikes. Due to that wonderful mental illness, i am unable to work full time in a "real" job. Does anyone have advice on how to work around this?

Everybody is different. I actually do camming for self care, it helps me helps me with social anxiety. But each mind and body is different. Listen to yourself and maybe see a therapist about it.

 

[LovelyLexie_]

Depression can be a real bitch honestly. I often find myself struggling to get much of anything done, much less trying to cam. But sometimes sitting down and thinking about the fact that it's impossible to make my night better if I don't try to change anything helps me. Also knowing that sometimes getting on cam ends up making feel better helps motivate me a little to get up and do my thing anyway. On the harder days, I tell myself I'm just gonna do a no effort look and get on for a few minutes. If after a little bit I'm still not feeling it, then I didn't waste a ton of time trying to look super nice. But sometimes you end up pleasantly surprised by where your room might take you that night and log off wondering why you felt crappy in the first place.

Hope everyone here practices a little extra self care and spreads a little extra kindness over the next couple weeks. Holidays can be especially hard for some folks.

 

[QuinnLane]

I'm dealing with this right now - mostly the reason why I stopped camming/making clips in the first place.
I'm on medication for it etc but it's just hard to get up, set up my room, put on makeup, get dressed nicely, etc.
I'm trying not to hold myself to such a high standard and not feel like I have to have full glam makeup on cam, and maybe save the big lashes and contour for HD clips.
Also sorrynotsorry for bringing back a month old thread, it's got a lot of good info on it & shows some real support I really do love the community here on this forum

 

[Hereiam]

I'm dealing with this right now - mostly the reason why I stopped camming/making clips in the first place.
I'm on medication for it etc but it's just hard to get up, set up my room, put on makeup, get dressed nicely, etc.
I'm trying not to hold myself to such a high standard and not feel like I have to have full glam makeup on cam, and maybe save the big lashes and contour for HD clips.
Also sorrynotsorry for bringing back a month old thread, it's got a lot of good info on it & shows some real support I really do love the community here on this forum

take care or yourself, never give up, you are stronger than you think

 

[DivineNemesis]

Depression is a bitch especially in the winter. I motivate myself by doing a few things.

Habits:
Waking routine. Take a vitamin burn incense of my favorite scent, have my cup of tea, do my goddess card reading. It helps to have my journal, pen and a glass of water with lemon at the bed stand
Every day I write three things I'm grateful for. It can be as simple as my favorite tea I had for breakfast or as corny as being grateful for my creative mind. But I make myself think of three things.
Next I write down literally why I should or did get out of bed. When I'm depressed it will usually say something like: I need to make some money today or because I haven't eaten in who knows how long and I'm hungry. Be honest with ypuryour, it's for your eyes only.

I have a depression checklist. It says: when is the last time I: drank water? Ate? Took a shower? Got some fresh air? Sometimes I haven't eaten all day or slept in over 20 hours and I'm wondering why I'm skipping into anxiety!

Spontaneous things

Procrasticleaning! If my home is less cluttered at least I have a clear mind and did something productive while procrastinating.

Promo pictures and ads. Sometimes it's easier to promote myself and edit pics than to go on cam. So I'll spend time doing that while I mentally prep myself for cam.

If I can't go on cam I try to do phone sex or texting.

Shaving. IDK why but shaving makes me feel more put together and sexy. When I'm depressed I feel unsexy and blah. Shaving and then following up with a rich body butter makes me feel sexy again. Find the thing that does that for you. It could be your hair, makeup, perfume etc. Or even something that isn't physical.

Change up your cam outfits. Do something comfortable that still makes you feel sexy. If it's winter where you are maybe try Velvet or velour. I love those fabrics in winter because I still feel sexy but not too cold. Some people feel sexy in a jumper and panties! Find your thing and wear the hell out of it.

Cleansing showers. Take a shower with something like lavender scent to calm, peppermint to refresh, citrus to invigorate. Imagine the water is washing away your anger, or the guys shitty comments. This is more of a spiritual/ritual tactic. I've been doing this since I started sex work and for me it's a ritual that helps me leave the emotional baggage with the clients.

These are the things that work for me. I hope there is something in there that can be useful to you.