How to fight depression

Depression. How to Fight Depression?

Depression. Signs of Depression. Depression Test.

Depression is an adequate behavioural reaction in response to severe stress (such as divorce or the death of a loved one). It is characterised by negative emotional behaviour, expressed in a pessimistic mood and emotional instability. The person feels frustration, low spirited, melancholy, fear, loss of interest in life, suicidal tendencies, etc. As a rule, depression passes over time, after rest and natural restoration of the central nervous system. However, in some cases, it is fixed in behaviour as an emotional disorder and becomes chronic.

The depression test shows the level of emotional distress. Based on it, you can decide whether you need any professional help. If the test results are high and suggest that your depression has become a secondary benefit, then some help from a behavioural specialist is required to bring your depressive behaviour back to normal.

Antidepressants. Depression Treatment. Depression Tablets. How to Get Rid of Depression?

Medicine considers depression a psychosomatic disease.Depression is treated in medical clinics. Pharmacological therapy shows low efficiency as depression has psychological causes. Antidepressants, depression tablets, and vitamins for apathy hardly help. That is why depression becomes chronic.

During therapy, clients with chronic depression ask the following questions: “How do you get out of depression on your own?”, “How can I get rid of depression?”, “How do you fight depression?” Behavioural psychotherapy treats chronic depression through teaching a new type of appropriate behaviour.

Psychological Help. Online Training.

We teach how to get rid of depression online, so all you need is a smartphone or a computer and internet access. There is no need to waste time going out, just get connected to the website and have the session at home, sitting in your favourite armchair or lying on your favourite sofa. The period of training is 2 to 6 weeks. After completing the training, you will be able to control your emotional behaviour without any assistance.

9 Important Ways to Fight Depression

Finding ways to fight depression isn’t the hard part. But implementation: that’s another beast.

As author Jeffrey Eugenides writes in The Marriage Plot, depression “is like a bruise that never goes away. A bruise in your mind. You just got to be careful not to touch it where it hurts.”

Why would we want to fix depression when confronting it hurts so much? Why not just pretend it isn’t there?

The reality, we know, is depression doesn’t just leave its victims alone. It eats away at happiness while pretending if we do leave it alone, everything will be fine.

Overcoming that mindset is the first step to healing.

To help, we’ve put together a list of important ways to fight depression. So let’s lace up the gloves, and start swinging.

1. Establish Routines

A common refrain among our patients is depression makes them feel helpless, like they’re not in control.

Routines can help eliminate this feeling.

There’s a reason child psychologists recommend routines in early development: routines help to establish predictability and order.

They also give children feelings of security and self-worth, which continue into adulthood.

Whenever conferencing with a patient, we recommend finding the parts of their lives they can control:

With a structure for these things in place, it’s easier to keep depression at bay.

2. Set Daily Goals

Daily goals fall into two camps:

Most of the time, ours start out in the first camp. Sometimes they stay there, and we get to cross them off the list.

Other times, however, we either run out of time or realize there’s more to the goal than initially thought.

Either way, setting daily goals leads to making progress. And making progress in any area of life is one of the more effective ways to fight depression.

3. Push Beyond Boundaries

People suffering from depression often feel stuck in a rut. Ruts are fuel to depression.

Getting out of them requires thinking bigger.

We believe everyone should find a long-term goal for their lives. Marathon runners don’t start out saying, “I think I’ll go run 26.2 miles.”

They dig in with one-, two-, three-mile runs. They add a little to it each day. They push beyond their own boundaries.

Setting a goal you know can’t happen in a single day will provide vision for your life, and it also will give each day a sense of accomplishment.

4. Get Active, Stay Active

According to The Mayo Clinic, exercise improves feelings of depression and anxiety.

Best of all, the benefits are there whether you follow an established exercise program or just increase your levels of physical activity.

Being a fitness guru isn’t necessary, though it’s a good idea to stay informed regarding health and fitness.

Just spend more time on your feet. Walk on your lunch break. Work up to your 10,000 steps, and go from there.

5. Avoid Isolation

It’s not being alone that’s the problem for most people suffering from depression. It’s loneliness.

What’s the difference?

The other is a feeling.

There are times when being alone is just what the doctor ordered. You watch what you want, eat what you want, go to bed when you want.

Loneliness, on the other hand, is an emotional state where you feel isolated and disconnected — from others, yes, but also from your own happiness.

In this case, avoiding isolation can be among the most effective ways to fight depression because human interaction prevents sinking into that unhealthy thought pattern.

6. Watch a Favorite Sitcom or Movie

Too much TV or movies can be unhealthy, but so can too much of anything.

Don’t let it replace your social life, but don’t beat yourself up if you find yourself slinking away to watch Netflix at the end of a long day.

We recommend favorite sitcoms or feel-good movies — the viewing equivalent of comfort food, if you will — while understanding “feel-good” can vary wildly among tastes.

7. Write It Out

Journaling, or writing out thoughts, is one of the many accepted ways to fight depression many patients either don’t consider or actively avoid.

They tell themselves they’re not good writers, or they imagine nightmare scenarios where their personal diaries fall into the wrong hands.

The reality: most licensed psychotherapists recommend it, and studies have even demonstrated the effectiveness.

Journaling specifically can help in the following ways:

8. ‘Constructive Wallowing’

The bestselling book Constructive Wallowing: How to Beat Bad Feelings by Letting Yourself Have Them (author Tina Gilbertson, LPC, DCC) tells you most of what you need to know in the title.

Of course, Gilbertson isn’t saying to wallow without purpose.

She recommends constructive wallowing through her TRUTH strategy to keep things constructive.

9. And One of the Most Important Ways to Fight Depression: Seek Help

Look, depression is a spectrum, and not everything you try on this list will be enough.

Beverly Hills TMS, treats patients with Major Depressive Disorder. They need more than routines and sitcom reruns.

For more severe conditions, patients may receive medications, psychotherapy, or even invasive procedures like Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT), more popularly known as “shock therapy.”

One technique employed by us and a few others known as Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) offers a newer, FDA-approved and non-invasive solution.

TMS uses short-duration pulses of magnetic energy to alter activity of nerve cells in the brain.

Regardless of where a depressed person falls on the spectrum, they should speak to their doctor about treatment options and not try to “go it alone.”

Hedging Against Negativity

How you address depression will differ depending on the situation, but any of the suggestions above will help hedge against negativity.

From there, it’s easier to see yourself and the world in a more positive light.

For more suggestions on how to do this, check out these recommendations for improving self-esteem — a much-needed tool in the fight against depression.

And let us know what’s helped you in the comments section below.

How to Fight Depression Without Medication

Nancy Schimelpfening, MS is the administrator for the non-profit depression support group Depression Sanctuary. Nancy has a lifetime of experience with depression, experiencing firsthand how devastating this illness can be.

Daniel B. Block, MD, is an award-winning, board-certified psychiatrist who operates a private practice in Pennsylvania.

Verywell / Bailey Mariner

For many people living with depression, prescription medications can be life-saving drugs. Antidepressants, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like Prozac (fluoxetine) and Zoloft (sertraline), are the most widely prescribed medication for depression, and while they are often effective, they can have side effects and be expensive depending on your health insurance coverage.

There are many ways to counter some of the symptoms of depression that don’t involve prescription medications. If you have depression, you might like to try managing it naturally without medication or supplement your antidepressant with other options. If so, check out these natural alternatives and then talk to your doctor about which might make sense as part of your treatment regimen.

This article discusses some natural treatments that may help fight depression including lifestyle changes and supplements. It also covers other strategies you might try such as practicing mindfulness or enhancing your home environment.

Get More Sleep

Sleep and mood go hand in hand. Get too little of the former and the latter is bound to be affected whether you have depression or not. To support your emotional well-being, make sure you have what sleep experts call «good sleep hygiene.»

This means you keep consistent bedtimes and wake-up times, your bedroom is set up for sound sleep (it’s dark, quiet, and uncluttered), you have a relaxing bedtime routine that doesn’t involve sitting in front of a screen, and so on.

The relationship between sleep and depression can be complex. Not only is poor sleep thought to contribute to the onset of depression, but depression may then cause low quality sleep.

Whether you can’t seem to get any sleep or can’t seem to stop sleeping, there are steps you can take to try to improve the quality of your sleep:

Also, try to spend a little time outside each day, even on days when you are tempted to draw the shades and hide indoors. Light plays an important role in regulating sleep cycles and circadian rhythms, so a lack of sunshine may be making it more difficult to sleep at night.

Cut Back on Caffeine

Coffee, tea, soda, and even chocolate are steeped in caffeine. It’s fine to consume a reasonable amount of caffeine in the morning if you enjoy it, but avoid it after late afternoon so it doesn’t interfere with sleep.

If you do tend to rely on caffeine, try cutting back gradually in order to avoid unpleasant symptoms of caffeine withdrawal. When you are craving a soda or cup of coffee, try going for a short walk around the block instead.

Get More Vitamin D

There’s some evidence that a vitamin D deficiency could play a role in depression. If you aren’t getting enough vitamin D through your diet and lifestyle (like sun exposure), ask your doctor if you should try taking a supplement.

Certain nutrient deficiencies can play a role in depression symptoms. If you are having a difficult time spending enough time outdoors or if overcast weather conditions make it hard to get sunshine, a supplement may be useful.

Try Natural Remedies

Some research suggests that there are natural antidepressants that may be helpful for reducing symptoms of depression. For treating mild to moderate depression, dietary supplements such as St. John’s Wort, S-adenosylmethionine (SAM-e), and 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) may be worth a try.

Research has shown that St. John’s wort is more effective than a placebo at relieving symptoms in those with mild-to-moderate depression.

Omega-3 fatty acids have also been investigated for their potential impact on depression. One 2015 study found that taking omega-3 supplements may help reduce symptoms of depression in both adults and children, although researchers are not entirely sure how or why.

While natural remedies can be good options for depression treatment, you should always consult your healthcare provider before taking them. Just because they’re available without a prescription and are touted as natural doesn’t mean they’re always safe.

Additionally, research on some of these natural antidepressants remains inconclusive and some may cause unwanted side effects or drug interactions. For example, mixing St. John’s wort with an SSRI such as Prozac can lead to a complication called serotonin syndrome. Also, SAM-e carries a risk for hypomania/mania in bipolar disorder.

Recap

Some herbs and other supplements may work as natural antidepressants, but that does not mean that they are safe and appropriate for everyone or come without side effects. The effectiveness of these natural remedies is also not always clear, so always talk to your doctor first.

Tap Into Your Spirituality

Religion can be an impactful source of support for many people dealing with depression, but there is no need to join a church, synagogue, or mosque unless you wish to. Simple daily practices such as meditation or adding to a list of things you’re grateful can help boost mood and overall well-being.

Meditation can have a range of beneficial effects such as lowering stress levels and helping people to become more aware of their thoughts and reactions.

Research indicates that an intervention called mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), which combines elements of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with mindfulness meditation, can be helpful in treating depression and preventing future relapses of symptoms.

Studies also suggest that different types of mindfulness meditative practices can also be effective in the treatment of depression.

There are many different types of meditation, but you can get started with a simple meditative exercise with these steps:

Get More Exercise

Getting more exercise doesn’t have to mean training for a marathon, but it does mean putting in a half-hour or so of low-intensity activity each day, which has been found to be effective in improving mood and quality of life. Even better, take it outdoors. Fresh air and sunshine are especially healing for folks dealing with a special form of depression known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

While research has shown that regular physical activity can be effective in both the prevention and treatment of depression, it can be hard to start an exercise habit when you’re depressed. Lack of energy and low mood may mean that you simply feel too fatigued to get up and get active.

Some things that you can try to stick to your habit:

Avoid Alcohol

Alcohol in and of itself is a depressant. Drinking can interfere with sleep, and quality sleep is a key to battling the blues. While alcohol might seem like a quick fix to escape what you are feeling, it can actually make many of the symptoms of depression feel much worse.

Not only that, but it can decrease inhibitions and potentially lead to risky behaviors and bad decisions that can have long-term consequences.

If you’re taking any sort of antidepressant, you really shouldn’t drink at all. Alcohol doesn’t interact well with medication.

If you have been misusing alcohol or other substances and need help quitting, talk to your doctor. You may also have an alcohol or substance use disorder. Withdrawal symptoms may temporarily worsen symptoms of depression, so you may need extra assistance as you go through the recovery process.

Eat ‘Good Mood’ Food

What you eat can have a direct effect on how you think and feel. Make sure to eat a well-balanced diet that’s rich in nutrients. A nutritionist or dietitian can help you analyze your eating habits and pinpoint potential nutrient deficiencies that could contribute to depression.

Some foods that may be especially beneficial when you have depression include:

Change Your Thoughts

Pollyanna-ish as it may sound, thinking good thoughts can help you feel good. Your thoughts truly do have a direct bearing on your mood. If you’re struggling with negativity, consider seeing a therapist to help you learn ways to counter it.

One of the most popular and effective treatments used in the treatment of depression is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This form of psychotherapy focuses on identifying negative thinking patterns and then replacing them with more positive ones. There are different ways that you can practice some of these ideas on your own.

Learn to Recognize Negative Thinking

Sometimes these thoughts can be obvious, such as times when you berate or criticize yourself. Other times, they can be more subtle. You might find yourself engaging in things like catastrophizing or all-or-nothing thinking.

Catastrophizing involves always anticipating negative outcomes. All-or-nothing thinking means that you think of things as either successes or failures with no in-between. Once you get better at recognizing these cognitive patterns, you can start working on some healthier replacements.

Reframe Your Thoughts

When you find yourself having a negative thought, consciously reframe it in a positive way. For example, you might replace something like «This will never work» with something more positive such as, «Here are a few things that I can try that will help me get started.» Shifting your focus to your strengths and abilities can help you maintain a more positive mindset.

Recap

CBT is an effective treatment for depression that focuses on identifying and changing negative thought patterns that contribute to feelings of depression. You can try these strategies on your own by becoming more aware of negative thinking and shifting them to be more realistic and positive.

Get a Handle on Stress

Stress can drive up levels of a brain chemical called cortisol, which has been found to be higher in folks with depression. There are lots of strategies for coping with stress, such as time management, meditation, and biofeedback training.

Some stress-relieving activities that you might want to incorporate into your daily life include:

Learning to manage your stress takes time and practice. Talk to your doctor or therapist about other strategies you might try to minimize the stress and your response to it.

Add Greenery to Your Home or Office

You may also find it helpful to add indoor plants to your home or office environment. Natural settings are associated with improved mental well-being, so it makes sense that «bringing the outdoors in» might help improve your mood.

Studies have shown that adding indoor plants to your home or office can help in a variety of ways, including:

Choosing certain plants may provide additional benefits. For example, research suggests that the scent of a lavender plant can help people feel calmer and more relaxed. No matter what type of plants you choose, greenery can be a great way to beautify your surroundings and potentially improve your mood.

Tend to Your Social Life

When you’re depressed, there’s no reason to go it alone, and there are all sorts of reasons to reach out to friends and family. Make plans with loved ones and keep those dates. Join a club or sign up for a group activity such as a local dodgeball league or a French class.

Other things you might try:

The problem is that depression often causes people to withdraw, which only further exacerbates feelings of isolation and loneliness. Even when you don’t feel like going out or being social, try reaching out in whatever way is most comfortable for you. Enlist a few of your closest loved ones who understand what you are experiencing.

Doing the things you used to do might not bring you quite the same enjoyment when you are depressed, but getting out of the house and spending time with people who care about you can help you feel better.

Try New Things

Depression often zaps your interest and motivation to explore new things. You might find it helpful to develop a list of things you might like to try, then work through them one at a time. You might have to compel yourself to try them, and you might find that you don’t necessarily have the motivation to pursue new things beyond your initial attempt.

But over time, you might find that something sparks your interest or helps you feel more motivated. It’s not always easy, but consider making it a goal to try at least one new thing each week. It may help you fight off a sense of boredom and give you something to look forward to.

Have a Daily Routine

The symptoms of depression can also make it difficult to stick to a schedule, but research suggests that having a routine can be critical for mental health. Maintaining a routine can also help you hold on to a sense of normalcy and stability when you are dealing with feelings of depression, stress, or anxiety.

Not having a daily routine, on the other hand, can increase your feelings of stress and leave you feeling overwhelmed and unable to focus. So work on having a schedule that includes the basic things you need to get done as well as plenty of self-care.

Listen to Upbeat Music

There’s no doubt that music can have an impact on how you feel, so choosing the right music when you’re feeling down might be an effective way of lifting your mood.

Research has found people who are depressed may have a tendency to choose music that intensifies rumination, sadness, and emotion-focused coping. So while you might be tempted to turn to somber tearjerkers when you’re feeling down, consider listening to more upbeat songs to boost your mood and inspire positive feelings.

Summary

Depression is a serious condition that may grow worse over time if left untreated. There are a number of natural ways to combat feelings of depression if you don’t want to take prescription antidepressant medication. These strategies can also be helpful when used to complement treatments that may include psychotherapy and medication.

You should talk to your doctor or therapist to find the best approach to treating your depression. Many lifestyle changes such as eating a healthy diet, getting regular exercise, and getting enough sleep may help improve your symptoms. Always talk to your healthcare provider before taking any supplements to treat depression, since these might have side effects of their own or may interfere with or interact with other medications you may be taking.

If you or a loved one are struggling with depression, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.

For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database.

A Word From Verywell

Always take symptoms of depression seriously as depression doesn’t just go away on its own. While there are many things you can do to support your mental health, don’t try to just handle your symptoms alone. Talk to your doctor and discuss some of the self-help strategies that may support your treatment.

Press Play for Advice On Managing Depression

Hosted by Editor-in-Chief and therapist Amy Morin, LCSW, this episode of The Verywell Mind Podcast shares how to find the courage to face depression, featuring Olympic gold medalist Laurie Hernandez. Click below to listen now.

8 Ways to Actively Fight Depression

Have you ever felt like the world is tearing apart in your mind? That every fabric of your existence is questioning why you feel like this? You shout inside your mind and all that echoes back is your depression prancing around like a demon.

Most of us confuse being sad and moody with being depressed. In clinical depression, all the symptoms have built up to such an extent that they break the ceiling of your threshold capacity. Feeling momentary sadness and being in perpetual torment in the confines of your mind are two different things.

Fortunately, therapy is a solution that can do wonders for people suffering from depression. Additionally, you could use some of these tips to build a better quality of life and cope better with depression.

Support Systems

One of the most important things you can do is open up and talk about how you are feeling and what is going on with you. Yes, it may be very hard in the beginning to open up to your loved ones or your family. However, it is important to understand that having a support system will help you in the long run. You will not only forge stronger bonds within your group, but you could also be a pillar of support to someone else in need.

Sleep Adequately

Sleep and mood are interlinked in ways you may not always notice. However, once you take a closer look it’s easy to see a connection between the two. When you are deprived of sleep, the moment you step out of the house you feel like you are already drained of all your energy.

Say No To Negativity

Ask someone with depression whether he feels sad and he will probably say he doesn’t feel that way. Rather, he has a pattern of thinking that is severely negative. For someone with depression it can be a mammoth task to shift one’s thought patterns and avoid such negative trains of thought.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) may hold an answer to this problem. This form of therapy primarily focuses on eliminating negative thought patterns, replacing them with more optimistic patterns of thinking. Additionally, you can take advantage of self-help books, online apps, and courses to change your thinking patterns.

Create a Wellness Tool Box

Having some self-care tools at your disposal is always one of the most effective ways to win the battle against depression. Wellness tools are a very subjective experience. Hence they should be personally tailored for you. It is advised that you list what makes you happy, engages you and promotes your own wellbeing. It could be riding a bicycle, reading a book, going on a trek, or gardening. Create your own wellness toolbox that you can use when you’re feeling depressed.

Beat Stress!

When your body is under immense stress, it produces a hormone called cortisol. This hormone could be a very effective tool for a short period as it prepares you to face sudden problems life throws at you. However, in the long run, it can cause damage to your body. Practicing yoga and meditation can be some of the most effective ways you to keep stress at bay.

Say No to Procrastination

Depression causes several symptoms like fatigue and difficulty concentrating on the task at hand. These make procrastination very tempting. However, you can get you stuck in a vicious cycle, as putting things off can cause you to feel guilty, sad, and stressed.

It is of paramount importance that you set deadlines for tasks and categorize them based on the level of urgency and importance. Working on short-term goals can help boost your confidence.

Do the Chores

Uncleaned dishes, messy floors, and an unkempt house can magnify your stress and depression. Get a hold of yourself, starting with the small things. Clean one dish, then work your way up the ladder. Seeing your progress unfold in front of your eyes is not only rewarding, but it also makes your house neat and clean.

Improve Your Eating Habits

In a 2013 study, conducted on 1,643 patients living with clinical depression, it was noticed that the subjects with depression had lower levels of zinc compared to the control group. This study shows that eating healthy and mental health are linked. Improving your diet can play a crucial role in the betterment of your mental health. Sticking to leafy greens and fruits and cutting down on high sodium foods would be beneficial.

You may feel like the walls of depression are closing down on you from all the sides and you have no way out. It is crucial that you remember that there is always a way. Don’t miss your therapy appointments, follow a strict regimen of self-care and stick to it. These tips will go a long way in helping you battle your depression.

How to Fight Depression

There are millions of people suffering from depression in the United States that could benefit from learning how to fight depression. There are ways both medicinal, therapeutic and holistic that can help with how to fight depression. Keep reading to learn more.

Depression is a serious mental illness that can cause both emotional and physical pain to the millions of children, teens and adults that suffer from depression. There are many ways to go about learning how to fight depression, however. Generally using a combination of therapies and other medicinal approaches are often the best ways to help individuals learn how to fight depression. Unfortunately only about 20 percent of individuals suffering from depression actually ever seek professional help. Most individuals with depression may not even realize they have it or if they do, they don’t want to deal with it or talk about it. Fortunately there are other ways individuals that have depression can learn how to fight depression without necessarily having to seek professional help. However, it is also important to keep in mind that professional help combined with self-initiative are the best ways to effectively deal with depression. Most importantly, depression will not go away on it’s own. It needs to be addressed or will likely become worse. Continue reading this article to learn the most effective ways you can learn how to fight depression:

Therapy:

First, therapy or therapeutic treatments are often the most commonly used methods in treating depression. Trained therapists or psychologists will work with patients to help establish the emotional turmoil the individual is struggling with that might be causing the depression. For many, it is being unable to cope with certain life struggles or tragedies like death, divorce, poor self-esteem and other emotional issues. Learning to work through these struggles, accept them and move on is all part of treating depression.

Antidepressants and Herbal Remedies:

Some individuals will find success in treating their depression by taking depression medications or herbal remedies that are designed to help alleviate many of the troubles a depressed person struggles with like anxiety and prolonged feelings of sadness. However, these medications do not work for everyone, and cannot be taken with all other medications, so it is important to talk to your health care provider about this option to find out if it is right for you and your emotional needs.

Exercise:

Research shows that those who exercise and release those endorphins and other hormones during exercise are more likely to be happy. It is easier to fight off the stagnation of depression when the individual is working out as a distraction and is more likely to feel better about themselves. Getting regular aerobic exercise, practicing yoga or Pilates and making an active effort to work out is a great way to fight depression. Yoga and other similar workouts can help those individuals deal with stress, which can contribute to depression. Working out and feeling good through aerobics is also a great practice to engage in at least three times a week for an hour per day to help fight depression.

Proper Nutrition:

Like working out, getting proper nutrients through the foods and liquids you ingest is another way you can go about fighting depression. Getting a balanced diet also helps balance your hormones and keep your weight under control. Taking control over these two aspects of your life is a great way to learn how to fight depression.

Write It Down:

As a method of self-therapy, try writing down your feels and don’t bottle them up. Make a list of what makes you happy about your life and try to focus on the positive. This is a great way to get your sadness and other harmful feelings off your chest and analyze the situation. You might just realize things aren’t as bad as they seem. Keeping a regular journal is also a good way to ensure your thoughts are not bottled up or expressed.

Don’t Bottle Up Your Feelings:

Like with a journal, it is a good idea to get your feelings out. If writing it down doesn’t work, or if you need another outlet, find a strong support system to lean on. Talk to your family, friends or even a professional about your feelings. Sometimes all it takes is to get it off your chest to find that you will be able to better combat your feelings of depression.

Express Your Creativity:

Find ways to express yourself. You might be more creative than you realize. Examine your artistic capabilities. Try writing, singing, song-writing, instrument playing, painting, drawing, sculpting and more. There are tons of ways to express yourself artistically. Find what works for you and do it.

Focus on the Positive:

Try your hardest to focus on the positive. Try writing down all the good things about your life and focus on those. Put them down on a piece of paper and put them in a location that you will see often. When you are feeling down, read the list and remind yourself about the good things you have going in your life. Staying positive can be tough when you are suffering from depression, but trying is a good way to learn how to fight depression.