Depression is a terrible affliction in our society. Approximately 16% of the population have 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. 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.

1. Determine if you really are 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? If so, it is possible that are sinking into the psychological quicksand of clinical depression.
2. Get plenty of sleep. In the modern world, there is an increasing problem of people not getting enough sleep. Practice good sleep hygiene 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.
3. Get out of bed in the morning. If this is something you are struggling with, ask a friend to call you in the morning to make sure you are awake.
4. Exercise. A recent study showed exercise to be as effective as Zoloft (a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor or SSRI) in treating depression. Exercise is very good for 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 work 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.
5. Watch your favorite comedy, talk with people who make you laugh, visit your childhood hangouts or do anything that helps you remember happier times.
6. Think about happy thoughts. Focus on the details.
7. Go out and do something you enjoy. Buy yourself something nice, get a new haircut, or eat a good meal.
8. To get your mind off your own problems try to think of some way (big or small) you can help someone else.
9. Talk to friends or anyone who will give you support. If you're feeling really down, have them make a list of your best qualities.
10. Find positive outlets and channels for your emotions: music, writing, whatever.
11. Don't compare yourself to other people. Compare yourself to you at your lowest point in the past and think about what's better now. Pat yourself on the back for it. If you think you're at your lowest point ever, then imagine one small thing (the tiniest thing you can think of) that you know you can make better. And then move on from there.
12. Don't obsess about it or be hard on yourself if you still feel depressed or aren't happy. Nothing's more depressing than being angry at yourself for being depressed.
13. Change your life. Often times depression results from a deep-rooted desire to be in a different situation than you are right now. If you don't like your parents, move out of your house. If you don't like your city, move to a different one. If you don't like your job, find a new one.
14. Avoid poisonous people. Although you may show your unhappiness by acting depressed, others may reveal it through negativity, treating others badly, exercising power over others, insulting others, etc. Also avoid other depressed people. Depression is contagious. It may be hard to find happy people who are willing to help you out of your funk, but it's worth it.
15. Seek counseling. High school counselors and University counselors are paid the same amount no matter how many people they see, so they have no incentive to keep you coming back to them.
16. Seek medical advice from a trusted family doctor if you have persistent depression. A doctor may prescribe an anti-depressant if appropriate. However, keep in mind that it may be more appropriate to seek the help of a psychiatrist, as family doctors are not as equipped to correctly diagnose and treat clinical depression, or to distinguish between it and disorders which may display similar symptoms but require different treatment.
17. Diet & Nutrion: Ensure that you are including in your diet healthy foods and proper liquids. Too often than not we either neglect eating all together when we are depressed as well as drinking fluids or we eat too much of our favorite manufactured, chemically engineered foods with no nutrional value as well as inadvertantly robbing us of our much needed nutrients to survive all the same with drinking too much of our favorite sodas, coffees, 'fake' juice like drinks or turning to alcohol to ease our depressed mood. The depressed person (testimony of personal experience) doesn't have to make drastic changes to their diet but just adding in a few will make a world of difference and the effects are amazingly positive and instantaneous. Add in some of your favorite fruits or salads. Try ice cold water with a bit of lemon if you have trouble drinking water. Even one glass of water is helpfull and istead of sodas try your favorite sports drink (i.e. Gatorade, Propel, etc.) these alone will replenish your lost electrolytes that your body must have and as mentioned earlier. The results will be instant and you'll be amazed wondering why you didn't do it sooner.

Tips

• Keep Breathing. Remind yourself—if you're breathing, you're winning. There is a path out of your depression, but step one is always: Keep Breathing.
• If you are part of a religious group, talk to your fellow members or leader for guidance.
  Spend one hour out in the sunlight every day.
• Avoid depressing movies, songs, art, and especially avoid depressing people.
• If you have thoughts of suicide or self-injury, get professional help immediately. If nothing's working, avoiding help can only be detrimental.
• Keep your surrounding warm and well-lit during the day. Prefer a well-lit room or open window curtains/blinds during the day.
• Stay busy with work that keeps your brain occupied. A recent study has proven that when you are wholly focused on the task at hand, you are physically unable to worry or think about your troubles. And staying productive is the best way to prove to yourself that you're not worthless and things can really change.
• In some women, depression may be caused (or worsened) by low hormone levels, most commonly progesterone. Progesterone helps keep serontonin levels from dropping too low, and low serotonin can cause depression. Doctors can test for low progesterone and prescribe it (though many doctors are unaware of the link with depression); it is even available without prescription, which gives you an idea how safe it is when used according to directions. Indications that a depression may be progesterone related are: symptoms get worse in the two weeks before menstruation, during perimenopause/menopause, or after giving birth. Anxiety-depression is most commonly seen, sometimes accompanied by severe mood swings and insomnia; some women may get more headaches/migraines. NOTE: synthetic progestins such as Provera, medroxyprogesterone, DepoProvera, and birth control pills can make these symptoms worse instead of better; when I refer to progesterone I mean that exact natural hormone specifically, not its "substitutes". Progesterone is available as Progest cream (a good brand) without prescription, and as Prometrium capsules with prescription; compounding pharmacies also make various dose forms (such as Progesterone 50 mg/ml Lotion, compounded).
• With all of the advice given here: REMEMBER that it does not have to be done in drastic measures. One glass of water. One apple. 15min in the sun. A half hour or more earlier to bed than before or half hour or more earlier getting out of bed. A short walk to the....? end of the block, walking a little further into the store by parking farther away... just any of these common sense activities and lifestyle additions/changes that EVERYONE needs to do in order to be more healthy & active will help the average person but more dramatically, will help the depressed person.
• If you have problems to grant yourself things or if you even think, you might not be worth to live on, try to think of yourself when you were a child. Don´t you think, this child would have deserved all the benevolence in the world for its future?
• Try and go outside. Take a walk and think about why you've became different than the person you originally were.Go over the good things in your life that you have.(ex. You have the ability to walk,breathe, able to see the world and that you have the power to change it).
  Listen to positive music. Listen to music that you can relate to but has a more positive moral to the particular song. In its own way it gives you support and comfort you may lack else were.

Warnings

• If you feel depressed for more than two weeks, you may have clinical depression. Seek psychiatric help and/or counseling. Clinical depression can be caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain (which itself can be caused by bad thinking habits).
• Suicide makes it impossible for things to ever improve. Something could happen tomorrow that feels good or that shows you the way out. Make sure you're there when it happens.
• Do not self medicate. Avoid alcohol, nicotine and illicit drugs. Try to avoid caffeine, or switch to herbal tea.