Helping Yourself When You Are Depressed :

Don’t bottle things up – if you’ve had a major upset in your life, try to tell someone how
you feel about it.

Keep active – get out of doors and take some exercise, even if it’s only a walk. This will help to keep you physically fit and you will sleep better.It can also help you not to dwell on painfulthoughts and feelings.

Eat properly – you may not feel very hungry,but you should eat a balanced diet, with lots of fruit and vegetables. It’s easy to lose weight and run low on vitamins when you are depressed.

Don’t get upset if you can’t sleep – do something restful that you enjoy, like listening to the radio or watching television. Use relaxation techniques – if you feel tense all the time, try exercise, yoga, massage, aromatherapy etc.

Do something you enjoy – set some time aside regularly each week to do something you really enjoy – exercise, reading, a hobb

Check out your lifestyle – a lot of people who have depression are perfectionists and tend to drive themselves too hard. You may need to set yourself more realistic targets and reduce your workload.

Take a break – this may be easier said than done, but it can be really helpful to get away and out of your normal routine for a few days. Even a few hours can be helpful.

Read about depression – there are now many books and websites about depression. Not only can they help you to cope, but they may also help friends and relatives to understand what you are going through.

Remember, in the long run, depression can be helpful – some people come out of it stronger and coping better than before. You may see situations and relationships more clearly, and may now have the strength and wisdom to make important decisions and changes that you were avoiding before.