If you are depressed, it would be best for you not to hang around other depressed people. As the old saying goes, misery loves company. The last thing you need is someone rationalizing and promoting your misery. If you hang out with other depressed people, you will be down in the dumps forever, barring any kind of recovery.
Although it is obvious that depression typically leads to dark thoughts, you should do everything in your power to avoid letting yourself enter into these cycles. Once you start fantasizing about your own death or suicide it can be quite difficult to break out of the feedback loop that makes you more and more depressed.
Eat food that will make you feel positive about yourself. Eating lifeless and fatty fast food will make you not only look bad, but feel bad too. Do not think that the food that you eat has nothing to do with the way you feel and why you are depressed. Even if you crave the sugar or fat, these kinds of foods only lead to making you feel worse.
If depression is the only company you keep, you will keep yourself depressed! As hard as it may be to face the world or anyone in it when you are feeling depressed, seeing a friend or family member may be the best remedy. Even if it's just to take your mind off of your troubles temporarily, you will find the company of others can go a long way in making you feel better!
Beautiful fresh flowers, cut from your garden or purchased from the store, can be very effective in lightening your mood. The smells and colors of flowers are very pleasant. Remember this, and attempt to set out or view fresh flowers every day.
Do not blame yourself for your feelings of sadness when you have depression. Often times, people think that depression is their fault, when in fact, it is something that is beyond their control. The blame they put on themselves just ends up making their depression symptoms get worse and lowers their self esteem.
Do something that you truly enjoyed doing when you were a child. As we grow up, we sometimes try to act like we are too mature for certain fun activities. If you loved swinging on a playground or playing board games, feel free to let your inner-child out and do those things.
See your doctor. Not only is depression a real disease on its own, it can also be a symptom of other underlying illnesses. Only your doctor will be able to tell you what type of depression you are suffering from or if your symptoms are caused by another ailment. In addition, while many forms of depression can be treated without medication, it can also be caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain necessitating the use of medication for effective treatment.
Suffering from depression can be a very long, discouraging journey. One way to help yourself feel better is to get 30 minutes of exercise daily. Especially long walks outside in the fresh air can bring you home feeling refreshed and happier instead of sitting in same surroundings day after day.
If you see a therapist for your depression, it is important that you are honest with them about how you feel. By holding back or not telling your therapist the truth, you are preventing them from properly treating you. Remember, whatever you talk about with your therapist stays between the two of you.
Turn to family or friends who have suffered from depression, if you are suffering from it yourself. Many times, talking with someone who has or has had depression in your past can help you feel better, since they know where you are coming from. Also, they may have ideas on what you can do to control your depression.
Refrain from any negative thoughts, and be sure and write then down when they do come into your mind. In this way, you can re-examine just why you have these thoughts, how they make you feel, and how to substitute these distorted thoughts with positive, happy ones. Only when you understand your negative thought patterns can you rediscover positive thinking.