If you're an Atheist, what comforts you?

[Rahn127]

I find it hard to be depressed when I'm around people.

Depression hit me the hardest when I was alone with my own thoughts.

Avoid thinking at all costs. Get out and do things.
Go walking / jogging / swimming.
Listen to great music.
Make videos with your friends.
Interview a random stranger and listen to them.

Often our own problems aren't as bad as we think they are.

Do something for someone else.
When you stop thinking about yourself and think more about others, you will find a peace within yourself you didn't know was there.

[brewer]

Any particular form of meditation that helps you? Or is that what you meant--mindfulness meditation? 

I don't think the gratitude lists are stupid at all.

No particular meditation, just shut's off my brain, makes my problems seem small and insignificant.

[arewethereyet]

My critters.

Listening to music.

Lexapro.

In that order but in differing amounts depending on how much comfort I need and for what.

[Minimalist]

Red wine, either Italian or French.

[chimp3]

Exercise
Work
My own cooking
My nephews cooking
Good books
Red wine
Fishing holes deep in the woods
Cognac
Amongst other things!

Not necessarily in that order

[Marozz]

Family, walking my dogs and listening to music. I also like to relax with few beers and watch  an old Laurel & Hardy movie. One of my favorites being Laughing Gravy.

[Mr.Obvious]

heroin.

No seriously. Partner. Hobbies. Exercise. Companionship.

I don't have a written or 'fixed' bedrock to go back to.

[Brian37]

I'm someone in transition who's pretty close to being an atheist, so I would not suggest that atheists have nothing to live for or some of the other ignorant ideas people have about atheists. Just wanted to get that out of the way. 

That said, I am having a lot of depression and anxiety that, back when I was a believer, I'd be coping with by praying. Now prayer is out, so I wanted to ask a general question: 

What brings you comfort when life is hard? I'm especially interested in any book recommendations or videos that I can turn to repeatedly when times are tough. They don't have to be by atheists or about atheism. Any secular source will do. 

thanks

Regardless if you are a theist or an atheist, EVERYONE has ups and downs in life, even atheists. The only thing "off" means is that you don't assign good or bad happening to fictional characters. 

There is only one reason you reject any claim, and that is lack of evidence.

FYI even lifetime atheists can have mental health issues. It is common in our species. It doesn't make you evil. 

I'd say knowing how your brain works, and knowing everything about your particular condition can help you cope. 

I know that merely taking time to do things I like doing, like debating, and writing poetry and watching football help. Having like minded friends helps. 

But as far as books. If you want two really good explanations as to why god belief happens, and the reality of where our species morality is really coming from.

Richard Dawkins, "The God Delusion" explains in an evolutionary context why god claims happen.

Victor Stenger, " The New Atheism" not only says science does have something to say about god claims. In later chapters it gives many examples of the similarities of religions claims that lead them to claim to be good, as well as do bad. It says to the author, as well as me, that our morality isn't in the writings fo antiquity, but have always been in us. 

But in daily life, think of it this way. My late mother had a famous saying she printed out for me, "Don't cry because it is over, smile because it happened". You go to a movie knowing it ends, but you still go and enjoy it. You go to a music concert knowing it ends, but you still go and enjoy it. You go to a sporting event knowing it ends, but you still go and enjoy it. You don't need a forever to do good, and be good and enjoy life with the finite time you have.

[Angrboda]

I don't tend to need much comforting.  I enjoy good food and discovering hidden truths about the world, via philosophy.  Though since you ask about books and videos, I can pass along a few recommendations.  I find the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu and the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius quite stabilizing (the Gia Fu-feng translation for the former; the Stephen Mitchell translation and the John C.H. Wu translation are also good).  I don't remember it much, but my recollection of Markings by former U.N. secretary Dag Hammarskjold offered considerable wisdom concerning the existential situation.

I also find Thomas Cleary's translation of Sun Tzu's Art Of War with commentary comforting, but that may be just me.

[Whateverist]

I'm someone in transition who's pretty close to being an atheist, so I would not suggest that atheists have nothing to live for or some of the other ignorant ideas people have about atheists. Just wanted to get that out of the way. 

That said, I am having a lot of depression and anxiety that, back when I was a believer, I'd be coping with by praying. Now prayer is out, so I wanted to ask a general question: 

What brings you comfort when life is hard? I'm especially interested in any book recommendations or videos that I can turn to repeatedly when times are tough. They don't have to be by atheists or about atheism. Any secular source will do. 

thanks

In dog I trust.  Get a dog.

Number one book recommendation for when in a depressed state, especially in relation to losing faith:  Alan Watts' "The Wisdom of Insecurity".  Works every time or your money back!

---

What brings you comfort when life is hard? 

Meditation, mindfulness and knowing that the religious are wrong. 

The thought that tomorrow can be different. 

I know it sounds stupid but gratitude lists sometimes work.

This.  But what the religious are not wrong about is being open to insight and understanding that isn't cobbled together with a fevered brain.  What religion has going for it is the thought that answers can come which we don't consciously put together ourselves.  You can still have that without the god-stuff.  If you realize how much processing goes on beneath the surface of your conscious mind you might find that by dialing back the angst some comfort may be found there.