what helps depression?
117917
Depression is something that should be evaluated by a health care professional, to begin with.\nBe meticulous about taking the medications as prescribed, if that is the case.\nHowever, there are many things you still can and should do, to get a grip on it. \nFirst of all, following the advice from the health care professional, get involved with counseling. \nA therapist, who I would suggest to be a Psychologist, should help you to sort much of the mind confusion that accompanies depression. \nA Christian counselor, will guide you to seek help from the spiritual realms, since most depressed patients feel very lonely and also feel that their prayers are not answered.\nRelatives or very good friends should keep you company as much as possible to handle the oppressive loneliness that comes with it.  \nPrepare an agenda of things to do, the previous night. Stay busy. Do not overwork yourself. Measure the workload as much as possible.\nExercise. Include that in your agenda. \nSet up goals. Adjust your goals accordingly with the results you will be achieving. \nDo your best to get a vision for your life. Usually (not always), depression is the result of a traumatic event that threw you off the path you had for your life, and you find yourself in a situation where you feel your life has no purpose anymore.
128532
Make sure you're taking care of yourself.  Do some self care, whether your a guy or girl, it can help you feel better.  Get your hair cut, take a long bath, soak your feet, use some lotion on your dry skin, better yet, get a massage!  Take time to let yourself relax and help yourself to realize that you are worth taking care of yourself.  If you take care of things on the outside, you'll feel better on the inside.\n\nYour depression could be seasonal.  Think about spending time outside when it's sunny, if it's ever sunny this time of year.  You could also purchase a full spectrum light bulb at a health food store.  They're usually about seven dollars, but they are so worth it!\n\nMake sure you have someone to talk to.  Try to talk out your problems, but also develope positive friendships.  Get out and do something, even if it's just taking a walk.\n\nTry to control your thought patterns.  It's easy to get in a rut of thinking bad thoughts about yourself and thinking about making bad decisions to hurt yourself.  Feed yourself positive thoughts instead, even if you have to force them at first.\n\nGood luck with everything, being depressed is not fun at all, especially if you've been feeling this way for a long time.  Just remember that you have to be proactive about your mental health.  Don't let yourself lie around and cry all day.  You've cried and moped enough, it's time to try to make yourself feel better!\n\nPS make sure you're eating good food.  Lots of veggies, maybe think about taking vitamin suplements or talking to an herbal specialist.
89646
you can always talk to your doctor about anti-depressants, or if you know you or someone you know is depressed then find what makes him/her depressed and keep them away form it and lead them towards things of a fun and loving nature. If it is you yourself then find friends of a positive attitude to keep you mind off the thing that dpresses you and try to look on life with a positive attitude. Depression is like a major sadness that leaves you stripped of all desire to do anything, so the best way to cope with it is to stay active and deny your brain the though of the act that depresses you.
878756
Pray......ask someone to pray with you.........i'll say a prayer for you!\n\nOtherwise.....get together with some positive and uplifting friends.....go do something fun......\n\ndo something good for someone else.......its odd how that will boost your spirits........\n\nsmile at someone!\n\nif it gets too bad.....see your doctor about a possible antidepressant to get you through a slump......or maybe a counselor to help you resolve whatever is making you so unhappy\n\nMay God bless you with His love and happiness!
233192
try to find things that intrest u then start contrentrating onthings that help u keep ur mind off the depression if severe see a counseler talk to freinds and family get out of the house and do activites and enjoy yourself hope u get better and find some joy
676366
When depression strikes, the depressed person isn't the only one affected. Everyone around them -- family, friends, and co-workers -- feels the impact.\n\nHelping a loved one cope with depression can be key to his or her recovery. But it isn't always going to be easy. Here are some tips.\n\n\n\n      Get the facts. The first thing you should do is learn more about depression. Read up on its causes and treatments.\n\n\n      Get other people involved. You can't do this alone. Your friend or loved one may want you to keep his or her depression a secret. But that isn't healthy. It puts far too much pressure on you. So try to get a small circle of family and friends to help. That way, you can help look after your loved one together.\n\n\n      Ask what your loved one needs. Be direct. Unless you ask, you just won't know what your friend or loved one wants from you.\n\n\n      Don't try to solve the problem on your own. Your loved one needs professional help to get better. Depression is a real illness. You wouldn't try to cure a friend's diabetes on your own. You shouldn't try curing depression either.\n\n\n      Offer to help with the practical things. People who are depressed are easily overwhelmed. Everyday stuff -- dressing the kids for school, grocery shopping, or laundry -- may feel like too much. So pitch in. Sometimes practical help can make a big difference.\n\n\n      Take time for yourself. Taking care of someone who is depressed can be overwhelming. So it's key that you set aside time for yourself. Do things that you enjoy. Get out of the house on a regular basis. Take walks or go to the gym. Catch a movie or dinner with friends.\n\n      Given what your loved one is going through, you may feel guilty or selfish for thinking about yourself. But taking care of yourself is crucial. If you don't, you'll burn out -- and that won't help either of you.\n\n\n      Know your limits. There is a lot you can do to help your loved one. But you can't do everything. You can't make your loved one well. You can't watch him or her 24 hours a day. These things aren't in your power. In the end, your loved one has to want to get better, too.\n\n\n      Take threats seriously. Suicide is a very real risk of depression. If your friend or loved is threatening to commit suicide, take action. Don't leave the person alone. Remove any weapons or large amounts of medication. Call a suicide hotline or your loved one's therapist. In a crisis, don't hesitate to call emergency services. You can't keep something this serious a secret.\n\n\nI hope that helps, all the best to you and your friend!I went through a bout of depression, but didn't really tell my friends: I knew that they would say 'just cheer up!' or 'just don;t think about it' or 'snap out of it'... Those are actually the worst things you can say to someone who is depressed, as it makes them feel even worse that they cannot make themselves 'snap out of it'. I would advise you just to be there for her to talk to and do things with... and don't give up on her!
383640
go to www.beyondblue.com.au for some excellent resources on depression.
108026
many people find themselves depressed and fed up and some point during their lives.\n\nin some cases these feelings blow over in a few days; in others they can linger and make it difficult to function.\n\nthere are a number of things which may be helpful- you have asked us "what do it do?" and you may wish to dirrect that question at yourself in the form of "what do i want to do? how do i want to respond to my depression in ways that i'm not doing right now?" \n\nthere are many ways to approach depression positively. take up meaningful work or volunteer work, speak with a counselor, focus on your goals and positive assets as methods of healing... only you have the greatest insight into your personal situation, both inner and outer.\n\nwork with what you feel and what you would like to feel. look at avenues for change and growth (relationships, counseling, opportunities for enjoyment) and trust your heart.
466216
Well, provided that you have been properly diagnosed with depression, it's possible you need to be placed on some long term medication. This will help regulate your body and brain into a more happy state of mind. You may also want to try some counseling to see if there are any underlying problems that you need to address. Good luck.
37643
listen to some good music... *\ngo out with friends\nGo to some quiet place and enjoy the nature *\nTake some time off from work so that u dont get depressed in first place:)\n\n* these are the things I do
136076
I was terribly depressed and I found that medication helped me the most.  Depacote, Zoloft or Wellbutrin. They helped me immediately.
11327
go to depressionhurts.com. they have info. also, you could try accupunture. it helped me a lot.
235229
You need to be in therapy. Antidepressants treat the symptoms of depression, not the causes. I have been on anti-depressants and in therapy for years and years. Just now, am I really getting a grip on my thoughts. A therapist (you need to find a good one you can trust) can help you see how distorted your thinking is and give you a different way to look at things. They can be someone that you can talk to about anything at all. They should help you set up an emergency plan for those times when you feel suicidal or wanting to hurt yourself. That plan, you should act on if you start feeling this way. It may include calling a trusted friend, going out into public at a coffee shop or something. Many times it includes calling your therapist and talking to them about it. But at any rate, a therapist is a person who will go to bat for you (or should) and they are a needed tool on anyone's battle against depression.
873558
Never let anyone or anything make you lose your faith. Hold on to that - it's valuable.\n\nFriends come and go, all throughout our lives. You can reach out to someone and be their friend whenever you choose to.\n\nAs for the depression, I think these tips are pretty useful. Take care and all the best.\n\n"GET OUT OF BED: \n\nOne of the most important things you can do is get up at about the same time every morning (even week-ends). Preferably, that means about 7 a.m. or earlier. You might not feel like it but Get Up. Such regularity helps your body function more normally so you're more likely to feel normal. \n\nLIGHTS: \n\nLight helps your body function better. So turn on a lot of lights as soon as you arise. Open curtains to get more sunlight. Better yet, go outdoors into the sunshine as soon as you can. Remove any eyewear so light will enter more readily (glass cuts out some of the sun's rays). But don't stare at the sun, of course. \n\nMOVE: \n\nBe active right away -- oxygenate! That means getting up and walking around your dwelling for five or 10 minutes, or perhaps riding an exercycle. Mild exercise gets the blood flowing and transports more oxygen throughout your body (especially to your brain), helping you feel mentally alert and alive. \n\nMUSIC: \n\nSelect and play some energetic, happy music as you dress and have your breakfast. The audiovisual department of most libraries has albums and tapes you can check out. \n  \n\nBREAKFAST: \n\nBegin your breakfast with protein (i.e., meat, eggs, peanut butter, nuts, cheese). When you get up, your body chemistry is ready to convert food, especially protein,into longlasting energy. To balance your most important meal of the day, add an orange or other fresh fruit and whole grain cereal or whole grain bread. \n\nTALK WITH SOMEONE: \n\nOne of the quickest ways to beat the blues is to interact with others. You might not feel like doing that - you'd rather avoid people when blue. So make lt easier on yourself. Talk with someone you enjoy about a subject you enjoy so there is definite give and take. \n\nAnd, force yourself to say "hello" to the persons next to you in class, those where you live, anyone around. \n\nLIMIT CAFFEINE: \n\nThe long-term (four hours or so) effects of caffeine are depression. Try to limit coffee to no more than one cup in the morning. Coffee can make you more alert for an hour or so, but later you get an opposite reaction. Caffeine tends to increase the release of insulin in the blood, and insulin lowers the blood sugar level. When you have low blood sugar levels, you begin to feel less sure of yourself, and have low energy levels, which can lead to the blues or depression. \n\nLIMIT SUGAR: \n\nSugar might give you an initial rush of energy, but within an hour or so the blood sugar level can become low, and when it's low you may feel low, too. \n\nThe caffeine/sugar cycle. It's easy to get caught in the caffeine and sugar cycle -- having coffee, caffeinated soft drinks, or something with sugar every two hours or so to "stay up." For example, cola contains about 10 teaspoons of sugar plus caffeine equal to about half a cup of coffee. In addition to bringing on the blues, this cycle can result in dependence, poor nutrition. and obesity -- reasons to get down on yourself even more and feel blue. \n\nMAINTAIN FIBER: \n\nFiber helps food go through your digestive system at a proper rate, giving a more constant energy supply. Highly processed foods merely provide a quick surge of energy which can be followed by depression. You can maintain fiber in your diet by eating an orange or grapefruit rather than just drinking the juice. Eat fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, and whole grain breads and cereals. \n\nSTRESS B COMPLEX: \n\nSome persons report receiving help by taking a concentrated vitamin B complex. You'll find these called something like "Stress B" or "B 50." This is controversial.
209174
Depressive disorders make one feel exhausted, worthless, helpless, and hopeless. Such negative thoughts and feelings make some people feel like giving up. It is important to realize that these negative views are part of the depression and typically do not accurately reflect the situation. Negative thinking fades as treatment begins to take effect. In the meantime: \nSet realistic goals and assume a reasonable amount of responsibility. \nBreak large tasks into small ones, set some priorities, and do what you can as you can.\nTry to be with other people and to confide in someone; it is usually better than being alone and secretive.\nParticipate in activities that may make you feel better.\nMild exercise, going to a movie, a ballgame, or participating in religious, social, or other activities may help. \nExpect your mood to improve gradually, not immediately. Feeling better takes time. \nIt is advisable to postpone important decisions until the depression has lifted. Before deciding to make a significant transition--change jobs, get married or divorced--discuss it with others who know you well and have a more objective view of your situation. \nPeople rarely "snap out of" a depression. But they can feel a little better day by day.\nRemember, positive thinking will replace the negative thinking that is part of the depression and will disappear as your depression responds to treatment.\nLet your family and friends help you. \n\nSelf help for depression\n\nEffective therapy needs to incorporate everything that works in lifting depression. You may be able to help yourself effectively, although often it is useful to get the help of a professional.\n\nHere we'll go through what you can do, as well as what you should look for in any therapy you choose to undergo.\nWhat you can do to help yourself\n\n1) Know about your condition - what you know about your depression has been shown to have an effect on well you respond to treatment. Take the Depression Learning Path - it's the best way to start helping yourself.\n\n2) Cut down on rumination. Do whatever you can to decrease the amount of rumination you are doing. (Ruminating is 'chewing over' emotional issues in your mind without coming to any decision to act.)\n\nIf possible, decide to put off difficult decisions for 1 or 2 weeks while you get your energy back.\n\nWays to cut down rumination are to:\n\na) Stop yourself when you spot yourself doing 'all or nothing' thinking. (See thinking styles)\nb) Read novels when you have nothing to do, to occupy your mind. (Make them exciting novels, not romance or self help books!)\nc) Do exercise (see 5)\nd) Work if you can\ne) Keep yourself occupied as much as possible in ways that stop you thinking too much!\n\n3) Find ways to assess and monitor your depressive episodes - The way depression makes us adopt all or nothing thinking is a unique and crucial part of understanding depression. The way depression makes us generate seemingly hopeless outcomes to our situation can make it almost impossible to see a way out of it. \n\nFinding ways to gauge your depression can help to show the shades of gray, that will ultimately defeat the black and white thinking on which depression thrives. This is often done in the form of a diary, where you grade how bad your days have been on a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 is the worst and 10 is the best. Then, after 2 weeks or so, you can look back and see how things have varied over that time. \n\n4) Lower your emotional arousal levels calming down emotions such as anxiety and anger helps your brain function more subtly and decreases the amount of catastrophising you do. Along with getting proper rest, being able to relax is incredibly important.\n\nRelaxation therapies are effective in overcoming some of the other issues that can co-occur with depression. The effects of panic attacks, anxiety and anger, etc can be lessened and overcome with the ability to relax properly and deeply. Physi
26516
Get moderate exercise and plenty of sunshine.\n\nA walk first thing in the morning is likely to help!\n\nIf you feel depressed for longer than a couple weeks, you should see a doctor or therapist.  Talk therapy and the right medicine are best for depression.\n\nSome nonpharmacologic methods of treating depression include psychotherapy, exercise, support groups, self-help literature, and light therapy. Patients shouldn't undergo nonpharmacologic therapies unsupervised or for prolonged periods because longer periods of depression are more resistant to treatment and 70% to 80% of patients respond to an adequate trial of pharmacologic therapy.7,12,16,17
521200
Try group therapy.  There are free ones.  Look in the newspaper under the community calendar.  There are ones through churches, different clubs and hospitals.  Being able to anonymously talk about things may very well help.  Also, you should try to exercise and eat healthy.  This certainly can affect your hormones, etc...  Search out things you've always wanted to do and do them.  Make an effort to enjoy yourself.  Even when you would rather just sleep, do something.  If the sun is shining, go outside.  It is not easy recovering from depression.  Half the battle is making yourself aware that the only true cure is making the choice to be positive and happy.  It is terribly hard to do.  I did have the help of welbutrin (anti-depressant) for about 3 months to help me through some serious depression.  It simply gave me more energy.  Other than that, I just had to realize that depression comes from within me.  There is no outside source.  I didn't become depressed because I was going through bad things.  Lots of people go through bad stuff all the time and they are not depressed.  It was my mind and heart.  I finally decided I wanted to be happy and consciously made an effort to be so.