Living life with depression

Develop supportive relationships

Isolation and loneliness make depression even worse, so maintaining your close relationships and social activities are important.

1. Turn to trusted friends and family members.

2. Try to keep up with social activities even if you don't like it.

3. Join a support group for depression.

Take care of yourself

In order to overcome depression, you have to take care of yourselfs. This includes-

1. Aim for 8 hours of sleep.
2. Expose yourself more to sunlight everyday.
3. Keep stress in check.
4. Practice relaxation techniques.

Challenge negative thinking

Negative thinking leads to dangerous consequences like self harm and low confidence. Ways to challenge negative thinking:

1. Think outside yourself.
2. Socialize with positive people.


Get regular exercise.

When you are depressed, exercising may be the last thing you feel like doing. But exercise us a powerful tool for dealing with depression:

1. Take the stairs rather the elevator.
2. Park your car in the farthest spot in the lot.
3. Do some gardening.
4. Pair up with an exercise partner.
5. Walk while you're talking on the phone.

Aim for a balanced diet of low fat protein, complex carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables.

1. Don't skip meals.
2. Minimize sugar and refined carbs.
3. Focus on complex carbohydrates like lentils, skimmed milk.
4. Boost your b vitamins like whole grains, potatoes, bananas, lentils.
5. Try super foods such as bananas.
6. Alcohol/ tobacco acts as a depressant on the brain. If you drink too much or too often, you are more likely to become depressed.