Depression is a terrible affliction in our society. Approximately 16% of the population has suffered from depression at least once in their lives and it is expected that by the year 2020, it will be the second leading cause of disability behind heart disease and war wounds.

Although medications are often prescribed to treat depression, you may want to explore other options before taking this route. However, if you are currently suffering acutely, you should not feel as though you need to wait to seek a psychiatrist for a consultation.

This journey may be hard and in a society that considers depression equal to lunacy that stigmatization makes all the harder to bring it under control and probable cure.

Determine if you are really depressed, and what the problem is:

Do you lack motivation? Do you have trouble enjoying things that you used to? Do you cry a lot? Does it seem that nothing is really worth doing? Do you feel that your life is meaningless?

Did you just have a child and find it too daunting or uninterested? If so, it is possible that you are sinking into the psychological quicksand of clinical depression.

Get plenty of sleep:
In the modern world, there is an increasing problem of people not getting enough sleep.

Practice good sleep habits and try to get at least eight hours.

Depression and anxiety of any sort can interfere with sleep, so this may or may not be possible.

You will argue with the hassles of life and tight schedules eight hours cannot be found, if so do not sleep less than six hours and if you can do catch a ‘power nap’ during the lunch hour

Get out of bed in the morning:
Whether you have something to do or not don’t loiter in bed get out of it. You will be grateful you kept a routine of getting up.

Our bodies are creatures of habits and once they get into a disciplined routine they will obey it but if not in routine that ups and down of different hours will risk its reaction time and consequently thinking speed.

This may make the difference between being alive and dead .If this is something you are struggling with, ask a friend to call you in the morning to make sure you are awake.

Exercise and do it as long as you have the energy as well as like it not because you have been told to:

A recent study showed exercise to be as effective as anti depressant medicine in treating depression. Exercise is very good for your body and mind.

Depression can make it hard to work up the motivation and energy to do it, but it is well worth a try.

You may find long walks easier than other forms of exercise - put one foot in front of the other, and walk as far as you are able.

You might walk up to even 1 or 2 hours every day, but start off with shorter walks. Even if you can only manage a few minutes to start, that is still a good starting point.

This particular writer hated any draining exercise until she realized when she has done some she is more cheerful and ready to take on anything so there is some truth in exercise not only to keep fit but also to keep the brain serotins happy and oneself not depressed.

Watch your favorite comedy, TV show, listen to fun music or read a book:
Talk with people who make you laugh, visit your childhood play spots or do anything that helps you remember happier times.

Think happy thoughts: Focus on the details, of the events or things in your life that make you happy.

Go out and do something you enjoy:
 Buy yourself something nice, get a new haircut, or eat a good meal.

Whenever my girlfriends and I have a down moment or one of us is, we go out on an all girl outing that starts with serious self pampering at the spa, then the salon, then idyllic kind of tea break and usually ends up with a late dinner and dance if we still have energy.

The only rule is no children or the men in our lives just us girls and no mind boggling issues and you know what it works for us, so go out and do what’s fun for you and for that time it’s all about yourself and your happiness.

Be selfish with it very selfish, because it may mean the difference between your happiness and a bout of depression.

To get your mind off your own problems:
Try to think of some way (big or small) you can help someone else. It helps to remove the focus from you. This is the proverbial if you are worried u don’t have nice shoes, wait until you see one who doesn’t have shoes and your worries will look trivial.

Gove that helping hand and see where it leads because if your effort can make someone else happy so can it also make you happy.

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