i need tips on how to keep myself from getting depressed?

Question

please help me find ways to help me from getting depressed. i want to be able to be myself again but i have to wait until my lexapro really starts to work and i'm doing a lot better then before, but i still find my self feeling down and thinking negetive a lot. if u have ever had it please let me know how u got through it. thank you sooooo much.

Answer 1

First of all, I went on anti-depressants when I was 16 (I'm now almost 22) and I still use them in my daily pill regimin. There is nothing wrong with admitting you have a problem and need some help. Thats a good thing! The first step to recovery is admitting the problem. Also, it is NOT a good idea to be around people that don't support you or drag you down. You know those people that make you feel literally drained after talking to them because they think its okay to dump their problems on you? Yeah...stay away from them.

What worked for me was very time consuming and hard - I'm not going to lie. But would you rather work hard and get something accomplished or sit around and mope about how things never go your way without ever even trying to help yourself?? So first of all, you have to be okay with you to feel any semblence of normalcy. I had a lot of image problems and anger personally. So in an effort to help this, every day, I would strip down and stand in front of a full length mirror and say to myself "I love myself and even though I'm not perfect, thats okay because this is me and I don't want to be anyone else." I know that this probably sounds crazy, but after a month or two, I started to actually feel better. Which brings me to my next point...you are living who's life? If you're bogged down with other's ideas of what and who your should be, then why don't you just crawl into their skin and be them?? Well you can't and I bet your wouldn't want to if you could. So why care about what they think? The fact of the matter is that the absolute best part about being human is what makes us all different. Individuality is what you admire in people isn't it? When you give up and let go of the idea of perfection in others' eyes, you'll be a much happier and laid back person - trust me.

About the anger thing, I just taught myself to step back from situations and look at it from every angle I could. I refuse to talk to people that I'm angry with until I calm down for fear of saying something that I might later regret. And what I learned was that if you sit down and talk to people rationally, you're better able to articulate your feelings and get your point across to them without them getting mad and defensive.

Now I know that this was never a consolation to me personally - it actually seemed like a sick joke people were playing on me to tell you the truth - but things actually DO work out the way they should. Don't get down on yourself for feeling the way you do because its absolutely normal to feel anything because we are feeling and affectionate HUMANS. And its okay to go two steps forward to feeling better and then taking one step back the next...hey, you're still further ahead than you were before aren't you? Recovery from something like this takes time so just do your best - which is all that a person can do - and know that there are people who care, even if you can't see that.

I hope everything goes well with your medicine because I know how hard it is for a body to get used to something new like that. But most of all, I hope you realize that what you're feeling is okay and its not 'taboo' to talk about it to anyone. Hey, if you really need some help, you can always send me an email if you want and I'll try to do my best to help you!

Answer 2

To a certain extent i guess it depends on the type of depression you have, Ie whether it's reactive to life events or if it's a cycle of an illness such as bi polar. For both it is important to understand your illness and try and look objectively at stressors that have led to your mood becoming low! It's also important to try and maintain a 'normal' routine and look after your body, so try and ensure you sleep for an adequate amount at night and not fall into the trap of day night reversal:- ie sleeping during the day as you can't face things going on around you and then being awake all night and face having long solitary hours to fill thinking about your situation and difficulties. Try and ensure you eat regularly and a balanced diet even if you don't feel particularly hungry and avoid alcohol and illicit drugs, which in the short term may help you deal with how you feel, in the longer time will only add to the problem. Try and find someone you trust to talk about how you feel, whether it be a professional or a friend. This can help you keep perspective on things going on around you that you may find difficult or confusing to deal with.
Also try and remeber that depression affects one in four people at some point in their life, and it is something that can be overcome.

Answer 3

What got me through more than one episode of clinical depression was to find a "cause". There is an almost-limitless variety of good causes that need dedicated, caring people to help spread the word. That cause might be anti-smoking legislation, the environment, poverty, combatting racism, struggling against facism, our flagging infrastructure, economic inequality, gender stereotyping, freedom of choice, First and Second Amendment rights...you get the picture, don't ya? What it does is connect you with others who're as thoughtful and caring as you and who will so deeply appreciate what you're doing to help the cause that you'll make a dozen new friends - maybe more! And you might even meet your future life partner - spouse - that way! Kewl, huh? Try it, I'm sure you'll like it.

Answer 4

Exercise regularly.
Eat better foods.
Drink water.
Go out with your friends, but don't get drunk.
Read a book.
Laugh.
Color in a coloring book.

These are very simple steps, but they can take the edge off easily. I've battled depression off-and-on for several years, and many times I can do things to improve my physical health, and that makes me feel better all-around.

Answer 5

Find a church get good christian counseling or if your not a believer, find a dance class, socialize in a positive way, no clubs or drinking, but constructive things like, art, dance, music, reading, excercise. go out, get a small dog, care, volunteer. there are so many things to do. Look up Time out magazine or citysearch for things to see and do. Defeat depression and you wont need drugs to do it.

Answer 6

Yoga. Take a yoga class and do yoga. Nia, aerobics, pilates or other things might work also but yoga is the best for depression.

Answer 7

Exercise, associate with positive people, go to work every day, know what is real and when your mind is playing tricks on you. Your head can be telling you lies like you are not a worthy person when it is simply not true. learn not to believe these lies.

Answer 8

Think positive, dont let urself sulk in the depressing moods, if u cant help it try talkin to someone about someone to talk about your problems with, it always helps...good luck...stay positive

Answer 9

eat more bananas they tend to numb the depression.