how do you stop depression or feel happy?

Answer 1

In my experience, you cannot 'cure' depression - you can make it easier to live with though. These are the things that help me live with my depression.

1) Talk - bottling things up doesn't help. Externalise your emotions. Work through your thoughts, and try and understand why you are having them, and if they are helpful or not.

2) Keep a diary - work out what 'triggers' you have, make lists of things that make you feel good and things that make you feel bad. Look at your lists often.

3) Eat healthily - don't drink, avoid caffine and sugar. Lots of fresh food, fruit and vegetables.

4) Stick to a sleep pattern. Go to bed at the same time each night and get up at the same time - even if you don't sleep at all in the night. Stick to 8 hours and don't sleep in.

5) Get outside for an hour a day - walk in the fresh air and clear your head.

6) Socialise - keep in touch with friends and family. Get out and meet people.

7) Set goals. Set realisitic, achievable and positive goals. This are personal - I set goals such a doing a course, joining an exercise class, sticking to my diet etc.

8) Give yourself a break - you aren't going to get better overnight, you are allowed slip ups. REmember that no one judges you as harshly as you judge yourself.

9) Talk to your doctor - ask what help is available and take it! Talking therapies help a lot of people, and CBT or conselling or something similar may help you. Medication is an option, but remember that it is your body - you can decide what goes in.

10) Talk to people who understand - it can be isolating feeling like you are the only person in the world with this awful illness. Talk to people who understand that some days it is too hard to get dress and who understand the reason why you stand in the supermarket crying over which tuna. It is liberating to know that other people are in the same boat - share tips on how to keep positive.

Answer 2

Everyone is different...so what worked for some people might not work for you. If you feel depressed more often than not, you might want to go to your doctor and talk about it. He would then refer you to a mental health professional.
Depression is serious and you should seek help. I don't think it's as simple as forcing yourself to "feel happy". Depression is caused by a mis-firing of neuro transmitters in your brain. That mis-firing disrupts your emotional balance. Medication is often prescribed in order to redirect the transmitters. A lot of times, it's a chemical imbalance that you just really cannot tackle on your own.
Before you see the mental health professional, do your research. Some anti-depressants cause feelings of suicide, extraordinary moodiness, weight gain, anxiety, etc. Familiarize yourself with which meds do what and have a serious talk about those before you automatically take the script and run.
Good luck!

Answer 3

if you are clinically depressed then you need to go to a doctor. There are groups for depressed people, look in the phone book or ring the Samaritans. write a list of all the good things in your life and try to concentrate on those things rather than those that are making you feel bad about yourself. You could volunteer to help out at a hospice or old peoples home that can bring grate joy into peoples lives. I hope you feel better soon

Answer 4

Happiness comes from positive action, its not a goal in itself. Get a positive routine of good things you like doing. Cut down on vices (things which feel good at the time but have a negative effect on tomorrow), stock up on virtues (things which take a bit of effort now but will make tomorrow better). Don't dwell on negatives. Thinking about bad things is depressing so don't. Deal with it and move on. Daydream about pleasant things. Learn to love all of yourself including your imperfections. Accept your weakness, find them cute just like you would in someone you are attracted to.
etc etc etc

Answer 5

You can't cure it but you can learn to live with it. If you have a good sense of humour then use it to your advantage as humour and depression cannot co exist so whilst you are being humerous you will fell a lot better. Medication helps I have been on it since the 1980's.

Answer 6

Stop relying on people and know that God is the only one who loves you the way you are.
I was cured after ten years of depression.
I am happy with my family life in a pokey council house with no money. But with the love of God I can do anything and today He healed another 'incurable' schitzo depressive.
Know Him and love Him.
I love you.

Answer 7

well i was depressed but i dont think i am anymore all i did was get involved in after school clubs and make new friends and got my mind set on something else so it takes my mynd off depression! then i stopped cutting my self and i got on with my life! good luck x x x x x x x x

Answer 8

Anyone who is depressed should seek medical help unless its a few bad days.I get out & keep busy this helps to keep my mind occupied.

Answer 9

Sometimes you can't stop it. Sometimes you have to go on meds(I did) I do find that the sun( or a light therapy lamp) helps allot.

Answer 10

lots of happy thoughts and a sense of humour