How to be less depressed?

Question

I think i have depression im not feeling good at all all the time. I'm always sad for some reason and i dont know the reason. I'm gonna talk to my counselor and try to get some help but for now how do i lessen the depression? It's really killing me right now.

I'm 16 years old by the way im gonna be 17 in January

Answer 1

There are many ways to feel less depressed. One is to spend about 20 - 30 minutes outside each day. Even on cloudy days, this seems to help. Part of the reason is fresh air and exposure to sunlight. Another thing to do is to wear colors like yellow and orange. A third thing to do is to look up. Depressed people tend to look down alot. Looking up is the opposite and seems to increase mood.

Answer 2

Ah yes, the depression mode.

When that feeling comes upon me, I think of how lucky I really
am, how very lucky.

My parents are of average stock, Quakers on my mom's side,
Bavarian German and lower Dutch, on my dad's side, so there
is a stubborn gene in my DNA makeup, but I try to work with it.

How do I do that? Well, I think about all the many sacrifices
our brave men and women in uniform have given and those
civilian souls who distinguished themselves well, and are for
the most part unsung heroes, who get no official recognition,
except whatever God provides.

I compare my life to theirs and I have to say, I guess I must be doing something right, as I am still among the living.
But, I must go back and count my blessings however small.
I remember the passage from Alfred Lord Tennyson's" The Charge of the Light Brigade"
"Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do or die,
Into the Valley of Death
Rode the six hundred."

No one expects you to place yourself in harm's way, thats not
the point I'm driving at, and I bring out Tennyson's poem only
to illustrate this side of my opinion.

Depression can be very shallow, or very deep depending on
how you allow it to affect you.
Some get depressed because they don't have a wealthy bank account in comparison to Donald Trump, don't worry millions
of other people don't have a wealthy bank account either.
You don't have his worries and frustrations that he doesn't show
the general public, either, and there are many.

If you are jobless, and homeless, and have many health issues to deal with, you probably let yourself slip into a state of non-caring, and hung around people of the same ilk.
These conditions for the most part can be avoided, but you must fight for what you want, not with an M16A2 assault rifle, either.
You must fight through education and experience, and maybe a little luck thrown in.
Hang around people who care about themselves, put yourself out there, and expect nothing in return, and don't embrace the me first attitude, the attitude of the 1960s and 1970s, thats
all history now, so let it be, permanently.

And, when the holidays come around, start helping out the
charities, do something for some one else, recording
stories for the blind, setting up and serving the rescue missions
and Salvation Army facilities, help others to help themselves,
being charitable has a plethora of rewards, if you get out there
and make it happen, quit thinking about how bad off you are, and
start thinking how well off you do have it, soon it will become second nature to you, and you will get great enjoyment over each
time you volunteer, and look forward to the next time when you can offer your services to those less fortunate then you are.

Think about it, I have, and I have found more peace and tranquility
then unhappiness and frustration, but remember, don't lose your common sense, there is still a real world to deal with , and has
real and current ramifications.


Thats my message, good luck and enjoy your life!!



Donald H. Sites
[e-mail]

Answer 3

Yeah I am bi-polar, so I can sympathise with your situation. Depression is a curse, it casts a shadow over all areas of thought (as some famous guy said sometime), contaminates and degrades your life. Talking to a counselor is FANTASTIC, but it's important you find one with whom you can share rapport and trust indefinitely. Otherwise, it will be useless, you won't open up, connect or solve any of your problems. So as convoluted as it can be, 'shop' around until you find a counselor you can relate to and trust like a family member. Every person's depression is different, but mine was a result of ecstasy abuse and family predisposition. I am not on medication (an individual choice), but have abstained from such destructive influences for years now. I still have manic depression, but I can control it through positive thought and regular sessions to my counselor. One of my friends committed suicide last year as a result of depression - so my advice for you, FOR NOW, is to STAY THE F*CK AWAY FROM DRUGS and understand that you will be ok. You are a fantastic, limitless human being who is capable of anything they set their mind to. Remember, that life is cold and meaningless - but we can let this bring us down, or we can invest in the abysmal possibilities we are offered every day, and make life glorious - a treasure. Also, try helping other people through charity work. It is EXTREMELY rewarding and can relieve you from your own problems, and can help you put them in perspective. I know its really hard, but you can make it, you just have to try the hardest you have ever tried and be open to any kind of help. Talk to your friends and family, they are invaluable. Good luck my friend, I wish you all the best.

Answer 4

my dear man. there might be several reasons.

you might want a change in life but i have felt rally bad dep. for 2 whole months and know that it feels like just rejecting this answer.

Believe me man, the best thing to do is meditation. Just do it for 10 min. some guided meditation (audio is played and you do as told by that) and i guarantee you you'll feel much better.

Meditation is the best counter for depression. It attacks it very strongly. I felt quite good after it.

Answer 5

Try to not be in a situation where you feel like that. If you're bored with nothing else to think, go to a gym, exercise releases endorphins which are a natural anti-depressant. You'll feel good about yourself and it'l distract you.

Answer 6

Try to be optimistic. Think about all the things you have to be thankfu for. Do things that you enjoy. Talk about what troubles you with someone you trust. And if your a Christian, pray about it.

Answer 7

talk might be ok for some things or people.
but what really helped me was yoga.
or martial arts, like aikido or judo.
because it involves your body, not just your mind like talking.
i think you should take yoga or judo right away.
the process/discipline works to make your life happier.

Answer 8

Think of people in Iraq and Darfur...