Depression : Things You Can Do Before Help Arrives.

Depression is a state that requires medical intervention if it persists for more than three weeks and the sooner you consult your doctor the better it will be to come out of that condition. In case you are not able to meet your doctor for some unavoidable reason it is advisable to take the following steps which will make you feel better before help arrives.

- Do things that you know will make you happy. It could be anything, like watching a funny movie at home, buying new clothes, spending time with your children, having a cake etc.

- Look after yourself. Make yourself comfortable and if you feel you need to sleep and rest a lot, then do so. Take time to be outdoors if possible and get some sunshine and fresh air.

- Do some exercise daily, even if it is light and of a short duration. Exercise increases endorphins in the body and this is a chemical that makes you feel good.

- Try to maintain a regular sex life with your partner. This is another effective way of increasing endorphins.

- Eat meals that include a lot of green, leafy vegetables, complex carbohydrates like potato and pasta, and oily fish. Add nuts like walnuts and almonds in your snacks. Your depression may be due to nutritional deficiency and eating such foods can rectify this defect.

- Minimize stressful activities. Make it a point to avoid activities that induce stress. If the activity is an essential one and cannot be avoided, seek the help of your friend or relative to do it for you.

- Open your heart and talk to someone you really trust. Tell them about your fears, your limitations, and anything that bothers you. There is no greater technique to lighten your mind and heart than to pour out your problems to a loved one. But make sure that the person you talk to really cares for you.

- If the cause of your depression had to do with something someone said or did, it is better to talk to that person and understand the circumstance that made them to act in such a way. This will avoid needless bitterness and give you peace of mind.

- Avoid being alone. Have someone you know to be around just in case you need some help. Being alone may inviite thoughts of suicide or self harm in extreme cases.

- Avoid alcohol since it aggravates your depressive state even further. Also it is advisable to keep off recreational drugs.

- Stop watching news channels or reading newspapers if the negative happenings around the world makes you distressed and induces a sense of hopelessness.

- Some form of depression may highten in times when natural light is insufficient due to cloudy and overcast weather. During such times it is better to be equiped with special lamps that reproduce the beneficial effects of sunlight that you really miss.

- As much as possible, think positively. Do not dwell on negative thoughts and when they do occur, telling yourself that there is nothing useful that could be achieved out of it and trying to solve the problem is more important than mulling over it.

- If you are on medication for some ailment it is always wise to find out if such medicine has side effects, depression in particular.

- Avoid taking important decisions during this period of time and defer them till you attain a balanced state of mind.