How do you get over a severe depression?
343741
Severe depression will usually require the help of a medical professional.  Please seek one, and you'll be much better for it.
467964
Keep fighting! You can't give up, no matter how hard it is. You are loved, and there are people who would miss you, no matter how bad it looks. And truly, if you haven't already, do get help, because as humiliating or weak as it may sound, it is not. I got help and you will never know how good life is until you have lived without depression. If you had a disease, would you feel shame going to the doctor for it? Depression is a disease, and you don't have to fight it alone. Please, don't give up.
678047
I think the most important thing you can do for yourself is accept that there are no magic pills. If you put too much faith in medicine, chances are you will be disappointed because pills do not always address the underlying causes of depression.\n\nThings that you could try instead:\n\n1. Examine your diet. Is it healthy and balanced? If it isn't, think about taking supplements for a while. I know everyone booed Tom Cruise when he suggested vitamins as a cure for Post-partum depression but, actually, he made an important point badly. Poor nutrition is a factor in a vast number of mental illnesses. If you want to get serious about nutrition, buy a book called 'The Optimum Nutrition Bible' and follow the supplementation regime for depression. It will work - promise!\n\n2. Another thing to try (in conjunction with 1) is to take more exercise. It's the last thing you feel like doing, I will bet. But exercise gets those serotonin and endorphin levels elevated and you come out on a high. Even if you are unfit, you come out feeling like you have achieved something when you finish a class. Think about taking up aerobics or using a cross-trainer regularly\n\n3. Try to talk about your feelings. Depression is often caused by repressed anger. Women, in particular, tend to suffer from depression because we tend to internalise stress. The best way to not get depressed is to get used to expressing and asserting yourself. If you type 'depression and anger' into Google, you will be surprised by the amount of material on the web about this.\n\n4. Try to get enough sleep. If you prop your body up with lots of cigarettes, coffee, alcohol or soda (or even recreational drugs) try to cut right down. Try to cut out alcohol as it is a depressant. You know by now that trying to bury your feelings in unhealthy habits isn't working. In fact, it may be making you feel worse. It's time to give up all those bad habits for good.\n\n5. Do what you can to shift your mindset. If you sit there all day saying 'I am depressed', you will feel depressed. I guarantee it. Instead, wake up in the morning and say 'it's a gorgeous day today. I think I'll go for a walk'. Then do it. Or look at your feet and promise to paint your toenails a pretty colour. Listen to some music (no mopey love songs or funeral dirges - listen to upbeat tracks that make you want to dance or sing along). \n\nI too have suffered from depression, for many years. It has only lifted in the last 6 years. I did the pill thing, the alcohol thing, the hospital thing and therapy. But what really helped me was a determined effort to change my mindset - from cup half empty to cup half full. I try to be positive but I keep things real. I think about how I feel about things a lot. And if I am angry, I express it. Why shouldn't I?\n\nIt will not be easy but make a commitment to yourself to take some of these steps. Only then will you position yourself to be free of this burden forever.\n\nTake care and good luck.
674064
I am not sure that you CAN cure depression.\n\nAs for St. John's Wort, be careful with that because it can cause reactions with other medicines you may be taking.  Such as birth control pills.\n\nKnowing you have depression is the first step to feeling better.  Talk with a doctor to discuss medicine options, see a counselor/psychologist, try a self-help approach and do some research on your own.\n\nDepression is something that can be dealt with and you can learn to cope with it.  The main thing to remember is that however bad things get, it will pass.\n\nHang in there and Good Luck\n\nP.S. Don't let others tell you that medicine isn't the way.  Depression is a sickness and should be treated as such.  If you are Diabetic you need insulin, if you are depressed and there IS a medicine that can make you feel better, why wouldn't you take it?
1033441
That really depends. You could try something like caffeine which MIGHT offer a temporary surge of energy which might get you to feeling a bit better, but professional care is really the best way to go if you are feeling very depressed, especially if it lasts any length of time (over a week or so).
1009229
I too suffer from depression. When I was really bad I had a hard time explaining how I felt to anyone. I found that journaling let me get my feelings out. Just put the pen to the paper and write...don't think about what you are writing...just write. You will be surprised how much this can help.\n\nI hope you feel better.
404009
First of all you need to get over your depression mate, nobody wants a depressed person around.\n\nDepression is all in the mind and doctors and phsycies like to go on saying it's an illness or whatever to make money out of you, making things worse on the person.\n\nYou are depressed? Yes I believe that you may be depressed, but to stay that way is unacceptable!\n\nWhat is getting you depressed? Right now it's you wife being unhappy right? You need to find out what got you depressed before!\n\nE.G:\nIs it cause you don't get paid enough? If so go ask your boss for a boss for a raise, if you haven't asked cause you afraid, get over it, go ask and you'll sort this problem out, or even get another job.\n\nAnother E.G.\nAre you depressed cause someone died and you can't get over it? Well the answer is simple... GET OVER IT! Cry, shout, scream whatever, get the F over it!\n\nIf you are seeing a doctor or Phsycologist for your problem, trust me, they don't work, get rid of them and it's you and your mind, the gloves are off! GET THE F OVER IT!\n\nMany people go on to wimper "I can't do it, I need help" Of course you can, you can do anything, I can you can he can she can, we can.\n\nStop being a baby, if you still think you can't get over your depression, or give up trying, then you should just give up your wife, I know it's gonna be hard but just do it, don't think about it!\n\nNEXT... Why are you even entertaining the fact that your wife is talking to her ex? Where are your balls mate? You should be in charge, get up and get some life into yourself, and you'll stop being depressed and your wife will love you, be happy and respect you.
782388
there are a number of things that may improve your general mood. But if you have depression you need to deal with it as well as the cause of it.\n\nIf you feel like you can't talk to your Doctor about it, register with a new one. Explain what you are feeling and they will support you.
291512
i think u need 2 get more involved in life. take up a hobby(one that involves other people), tell ur friends and family so that they  can support u through this confusing and difficult time and so that they can intervene everytime u feel a little down. u'r not alone in this world, u need 2 tell urself this everytime u start 2 feel desperate. no situation is hopeless. there are lots of people going throgh depression, so maybe u could find a support group if u dont have an understanding family. but in most cases, we tend 2 believe that our families will laugh at us or will think that we are freaks but they turn 2 be really undersatnading and caring. best of luck!!!\nps if u need a friend, mail me at shreyalovesmusic@yahoo.com. i'll be happy 2 help.
715119
I hope by go you mean to seek help. When we are deep in depression it is difficult to see things clearly or to be able to see far ahead. What you need to do is call 911 and tell them you need help. You need to take a break and go to a hospital where you can get the treatment you need. I urge you to please make the call.
222216
Look in the phone book under counseling, or something similar.  Most cities have free 24-hour services that can help you find someone to speak with.  That's if you feel you are overwhelmed with depression.  If it's minor depression, exercise.  Studies have shown that exercising can be just as effective as an anti-depressant for someone who is only moderately depressed.
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
976807
First off, I think you should go and talk with someone. A leader in your church, someone from a group, your friends, someone who will just listen to you. If you don't want to actively seek out someone, you can pick up the phone and call many of the free lines out there, as they have very caring people on the other end of the phone that can help you out. \n\nYou sound like you are suffering from a severe depressive episode, and I think your best course of action would be to talk with someone who can help you through this. \n\nI hope you do the right thing and help yourself out. Don't hurt yourself; you still feel emotion and pain otherwise you wouldn't be asking this question right now.
498260
if you feel this way often, you should get professional help from a psychologist or a psychiatrist, the latter is a dr. who can prescribe anti-depressants if necessary--a psychologist can listen and guide you or offer you ways to deal with your saddness or ways to change some outlooks of yours to erase your saddness- get some help ASAP--also, consider talking to a minister, or priest, or rabbi who has some background in counseling. get help ASAP so you can feel better and enjoy life and not be sad any more--good luck to you !!!
872329
do something during your free time. have fun with friends, read books, go shopping, listen to music, watch movies (not alone of course), try to learn something new (an instrument or maybe a sport), exercise, join clubs and meet new people.. and the list goes on..\n\nexplore. there's more to life...\n\noh, if you feel depressed or something, try writing it down. trust me, it helps. makes you stronger =)
798607
The best ways to rid yourself of sadness and loneliness:\n\nJoin clubs any hobby you are interested in (chess club, astronomy club, bridge club, womens club etc) you will make all kinds of friends.\n\nGet out of the HOUSE often. You need contact with people, any people (like at the store, library, swim center etc)\n\nGet lots of exercize, it promotes serotonin for good feelings (go swim at a pool, jazzercise, biking, hiking, walks, tae bo etc).\n\nEat healthy, very important to nourish the mind so you wont be depressed (lots of fruit and veggies and lean meat) Also take supplements (vitamins and minerals and herbs) Talk to someone at a herb shop or health food store. They have amazing stuff.\n\nRead Books (fiction for pleasure and non0fiction to learn about health, wellness, hobby, and more)\n\nGet involved (community service, find something you can help with) My best days were spent helping others. Very important for your well-being.\n\nMake contact with family and friends (make the effort to visit them, talk on phone and email them asap) See your child more often you are her mother and she needs you.\n\nHere is an important book I want you to read. It can change your life for the better.\nThe Luck Factor by Dr. Richard Weisman (amazon)\nTells you the steps to make your life better, more luck in every aspect of living, even how to pick a mate. This is one of the best books I have ever read. Please read it too.\n\nGood Luck & keep you chin up.
343647
With a psychaitrist and medication. Medication was like a miracle. Within a few weeks I was happy and content and could deal with anything and especially the cause of my depression.\nIt's really hard to get over this alone. The problem is that your mind is playing tricks on you, and you have unbalanced chemistry in your brain. Medication helps balance that out. \nThe medicine that they have today is incredibly good, and works really well.