What steps do I take to deal with my depression?  Are there free services for relatively low income people?
340882
C you briefly tell us where do you live? it's hard to tell you where you can get help, if we don't know where do you live.\n\nIf you live in US:\nhttp://www.troubledwith.com/\ntell them your low income situation, and see what they can arrange for you
292510
I understand your desire to understand depression, and to search for a remedy. When it\ncomes to your health, remedies that are stronger are\nnot always better. I have three things that have\ngotten me through times when I've been depressed, and\nthey're all gentle solutions that I think will suit an\nintelligent person like yourself. \n\n1 - The first is what Freud calls the "talking cure".\nHe insists that it must be performed by a\npsychoanalyst who you are paying for, but actually\nI've performed it by writing in a diary. The key is to\nbe very honest, and try to find connections that you\nmight otherwise be supressing, because these are the\nareas that need work. For example, what's the first\nthing that pops into your mind when you think of\n"depression"? If the answer is "flying a kite", then\nfollow the chain... What do you think of when you\nthink of "kite" and "flying"... You'll be surprised\nhow quickly this takes you right down to an event in\nyour childhood or an unresolved conflict that might\nhave happened a year ago.\n\n2 - Looking for lies. A chair cannot make you\ndepressed. A lampshade cannot make you depressed. Only\nanother person can make you depressed. I believe it is\nbecause a chair and a lampshade cannot lie. Only a\nperson can lie. Depression, it seems to me, comes from\nbelieving a lie. That conflict (between reality and\nthe lie) takes up so much mental energy to maintain,\nit drains you as a whole. You may find, after using\ntechnique #1, that it leads to you to this conclusion\n#2. For example, after free associating your way to an\nevent, you might find that it was when someone told\nyou that you weren't worth a hill of beans. The\nproblem is not that they insulted you, the problem is\nthat you believed the lie. Beware, giving up on a lie\nthat we've believed in for a long time is tougher than\nit sounds.\n\n3 - This one is going to sound goofy, especially after\nwading in deeply with the other two techniques. Get\nsome light to shine on the cells in the back of your\neyes. Go outside for an extended period of time\nwithout sunglasses (no need to stare at the sun or a\nlight-bulb, indirect light will do). Use one of those\ngentle light therapy products like www.everlyte.com .\nTake a trip on a sailboat. Spend a few hours in open\nfields on sunny days. It's those cells in the eyes\nthat produce much of the chemical that pills and\nherbal remedies seek to replace, but the cells in the\neyes put the chemicals where they are needed, in your\nbrain, and not in your stomach and everywhere else.\nThis third technique will help you with the other two,\nallowing you to think clearly, and get out from being\nstuck in a loop.\n\nI hope this "whole-istic" answer is as helpful to you\nas it has been to me over the years. A gentle look at\nthe whole picture is often better than a sledgehammer\nto just one piece of the problem.
616255
You definitely need to see a doctor before it gets worse to determine whether therapy, medication or both are the best route for you to take. Also, a quick fix that I found is eating dark chocolate - it gave me just enough to get over the depression feelings - but it doesn't last long - maybe a couple hours max.\n\n\nwww.mommastayshome.com
489856
Activity - stay out of the bed, talk to a trusted friend.  Do not dwell on the probleml make do-able plans for your life and do one of them everyday.\n\nFor example you may want to take a course, call the school and get costs. Each day do something even the smallest thing.  But you must do something.  \n\nSometimes you may need medication to get ot of it, because the serotonin level in your brain can drop low enough and you will not get out of depression by yourself.
83212
Talking to trusted family and friends, moderate exercise (brisk walk, 30 min/day), and daily exposure to sunlight can help.\n\nIf depression lasts more than a couple weeks, you should see a doctor.  It is best to talk to a psychologist or social worker.  Psychiatrists do a better job than family practitioners of prescribing medicines for depression because they have so much more experience with it.\n\nAlcohol is a depressant, not a stimulant.  It is best to stick with drugs prescribed by a psychiatrist.
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.
1055087
I understand completly what you are going through.  Be sure to recognize symptoms of advanced depression and age-related depression.\n\nIf you have thoughts about suicide or if it is effecting your daily life dramatically you must seek help.\n\nDepression will not go away, there is a chemical balance.
133679
Libby, try self help books. Often no one can help you better than yourself. Also try books written by Jiddu Krishnamurti. His books are not self help - psychology books. They are mostly about philosophy of life and self realisation. But his books have helped me to completely overcome my depression, and as a psychologist I use them with my clients.\n\nAlso have a look at this website:\n\nhttp://www.puresilence.org/\n\nOne more thing, try natural medicines. Your mind and body are so closely linked that it makes no sense trying to fix one without the other!\n\nAll the best!
869695
Here are some tips for self-help treatment to reduce depression. \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. \nSome nutritionists say, "Yes, this really should be considered," and others say, "No, this is not a good Idea." You can try some and decide whether or not it helps you. If it does help, then perhaps you should consult a
1117412
1. Depression is far too complicated a subject to role it all up in a single answer.\n2. Aim to work on the causes of your personal depressive feelings and thoughts.\n3. Most of the time finding someone that you can trust to talk with helps.\n4. Faith helps many people and it gives them something to take their minds off themselves.\n5. Some depression, but by no means all, is caused by chemical imbalances. Get to the doc and try some antidepressant an drug.\n6. Sometimes this can be caused by brain tumors or gland disorders.\nIn short you are due for a complete check up and be sure you tell the Doctor about the depressed feelings.\n7. I worked in a gas station at 16. How about a job. That will keep you busy.\nloligo1@yahoo.com
624080
its sad to hear all ur problems, but there is always a solution for every thing. though what you said sounds like constant depression but usually close to each menstural cycle it is normal to feel down and just to look at negative points of life.\n for short time you can elevate your mood with relaxing and enjoying yourself with simple and cheap ways. some thing like a nice choclate with tea(earl grey,is my favorite for this times) realy helps me a lot.beside that you can stop thinking about the world for some hours and enjoy your self with may be a nice bubble bath , or something which you usualy dont do much and will not cost much too.you can light on some candles and put nice relaxing music with headfones so it will shut the sounds of neighbors lye down on your bed and close your eyes ,and try relaxing yourself part by part of your body. starting from your toes contract them and relax them and move up to your leg muscles , thighs, till you reach your head,take nice deep breaths and only concentrate on your body parts you are relaxing. when your whole body is relax try to count backward from 20 to one in your mind and try to imagine each number in your mind.and go to sleep. \n\nfor long term solution you should sit and see what are real problems and what are looking like problems.\nthough the neighborhood you explained doesnt sound nice at all but always try to look at the positive point of things, atleast you have a home to live in, and you sleep in your bed not in the street,bad things can happen to any one , but till you would be able to save up some money to move to a better place, its good to have a shelther rather than nothing.\nsame goes for your job, so many people would be happy to have your job and will not mind any hardship.try to see if you can get a better job but dont leave this one with the hope of something which doesnt exist. the main problem of yours which might be also having effect on your performance at work is your depression. which you can try solving it .\n\nwork on interior of your home. its not neccesory to have expensive things , its just how you arrange them. try to get some plants ,or flowers and keep them on your window in your bathroom and in your kitchen, taking care of plants is very effective and relaxing,\nfor praying it helps me alot too, cause god is the only one who doesnt leave us at all. but you dont need to go to church to pray, you can pray any where, cause he is every where.and he hears every thing we say. \nif you realy tried all this and it didnt helped you try to get advise from a physician.\nmean while avoid foods which are having phenyl alanine, as it increases depression, things like milk and turkey meat are rich in it. instead try things elevating the mood like cocoa, choclate and coke. my best wishes for you.
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.
304844
call your local mental health department.  they should be able to get you hooked up with help.  in my state, if you don't have the money to pay for a doctor and meds they put you on an indigent program and pays for your treatment
83549
I know this can't help you much, but you can try this online depression test, just to see how would your results look like.\n\nhttp://www.lessons4living.com/depression_test2.htm\n\nPeople arent always aware that they might be depressed. Denying things isn't good, people should confront their problems and try to solve them.\nIts not always easy, but with right help and support, things can get better.\nI was wondering myself what are the symptoms of depression and they vary from person to person and depend very much on persons entire life ans circumstances.
479314
Meditation is one good solution for anger/depression as it relaxes the body and mind.15 minutes of meditation in the morning can change the way you take each day.This is my personal best, cuz am experiencing it.\n\nAnd when you get angry,try to calm yourself by telling your inner self to cool it or calm down.......believe me it helps,after all our body does listen to us\n\n\nSix Simple Steps to Help Fight Depression by Dr.O'Connor\n\n• Get help. Don't be ashamed of needing medication, and don't give up until you find something that helps. And see a therapist.\n• Identify your feelings and moods. Depression is a self-destructive effort to avoid feeling. Accept that emotions are natural and helpful. Learn that mood changes don't come "out of the blue" — they are always started by an event, a memory, a dream. Use the Mood Journal to identify what starts your mood changes.\n• Challenge depressed thinking. People with depression remember and blame themselves for bad events, while they forget about and give others credit for good events. Their low expectations mean they often don't prepare adequately and give up too easily. Worst, they think they are essentially different — damaged somehow — from other people. These are all learned habits of thought that can be unlearned. Pay attention to your assumptions and beliefs.\n• Let others know. Depressives fear intimacy more than most people. We put on masks for the world, because we believe our true selves to be shameful, unworthy. But this belief is wrong. When we're with someone we can trust, sharing our thoughts and feelings — even if they seem unimportant — is good for us.\n• Take care of your self. Learn to pay attention to messages from your body. Depressives abuse themselves by not eating right, not exercising, then expecting to work 12 hours straight. They will deny a minor ache or pain until they have an ulcer or a chronic back condition. Take time for moderate exercise, eat healhy but delicious meals, and allow yourself some pleasure in life.\n• Practice detachment. We spend far too much time and effort trying to control things that aren't worth the struggle. Many things that worry us are really unimportant; we've just gotten overinvolved and lost our bearings. We may find that we're trying to change things that we realistically cannot change. Instead of battering your head against a brick wall, learn to walk away.
562326
Get a purpose in life - eg. a job you enjoy, take relaxing walks in the nearby areas, or make friends...\n\nIf you are unable to get over the depression, you might benefit from seeing a psychologist: sometimes depression originates from chemical imbalance in the brain, which can't be helped by anything but medications. It is not a sign of weakness to see a professional before it's too late!
272126
exercise is known to greatly decrease the symptoms of depression.  develop a strong network of friends and family that you feel comfortable sharing your feelings with.  find a counselor (therapist) that you like and trust, talk to them, they can help (ask people you know for suggestions of who to go to, if you're comfortable with that).  eat a healthy, well balanced diet (consult a doctor or other nutrition expert if you're not sure what this means for you, or how to improve your diet safely).  check any medicines/supplements for side-effects that may include depression or similar conditions, but consult with your doctor before discontinuing any medications, as this can also cause problems.  some people find that accupuncture or accupressure work well, but this is not for everyone.  the most important thing to do is to talk with your doctor and a therapist, they can help you a great deal.  Remember, talking is natural, and you can tell them if you don't want to take drugs.\n\nFind friends, Exercise, Eat right, Talk with your doctor/therapist, Become active in your community (such as volunteering, chuch)