ways to cope with depression

I thought I'd write a little about ways to cope with depression. Using these coping skills have helped me so much.

It helps to have a regular set wake up time and bedtime. This gets you and your mind into a routine.

Think about the foods that you are eating. Are you eating healthy? Are you drinking enough water? Eating and drinking healthily enable your body and mind to function the way they were made.

Speak positive self talk to yourself. If you're constantly being negative about yourself, then you will tend to be hard on yourself which causes more depression.

Don't sweat the little things. All of those little annoying habits that people have or incidences that happen that get on your nerves treat them as if they are flies and brush them away. The more you focus on the little things that go wrong or irritate you the more that you will miss out on the good things.

If you are a woman, have a routine of self-care for hygiene and/or personal beautification. Wash your face morning and evening. Wear jewelry and makeup if you prefer, keep your fingernails neatly trimmed and clean, and occasionally pamper yourself by:
Get a massage
Get a mani/pedi
Visit the hair salon
Exercise
Sunbathe

If you are a man, have a routine of self care for hygiene. Shave. Use aftershave and deodorant. Even if you aren't going out I  public, the simple act of having a daily routine makes it easier to get your mind set in a positive place. So if you want to stay in pjs, ok, but maintain cleanliness. Plus, girls like when men smell good. :) Get together with your buddies and do guy stuff. If you're a gamer, play the games but get out and shoot some hoops too. If you're a computer guy, same for you,  enjoy it, but go to the library or for a walk. Don't get stuck at home because that is isolating and depression feeds off of isolated people. If you have a special girl in your life,  even of it's just your mom, do something nice and spontaneous for them. They won't see it coming and I'm sure it will keep the peace as well.

If you're a child or teenager, it's ok to feel sad, lonely or confused. You're going thru many changes as you grow up. So here's a few suggestions:
Don't drink any caffeine or energy drinks after 5pm. Trust me,  you'll sleep better and be able to get better grades. Plus you won't look like a zombie the next day. Which isn't cool. Lol
Eat your vegetables. I sound like your mom for a reason... She's right. Vegetables are good for you and whether you believe me or not, chances are that when you become and adult, you'll like them better. So get a jump start!
Do your homework! Bad grades mean upset parents and that causes tension and depression loves tension.
Spend time with friends. Ha! You didn't think I was going to say that, did you? Spending time with the people you like gives you positive feelings and keeps the negativity away. Unless your friends are negative,  then you need better friends. If you don't have any friends, it's ok, I understand. The scariest thing to do for a shy kid is to walk up to someone and say "Hi, my name is...." But that's the only way you're going to make a friend.
Think about someone you'd like to be friends with and go introduce yourself. Once you are past that step, the rest comes naturally.
A few more tips:

Find someone that you trust that you can talk to about anything. Knowing that someone's got your back is the most amazing thing to feel. Because you know you're not alone.

If you can, get a pet. Even if it's a goldfish, the routine of taking care of a pet causes a person to have a reason to get up in the morning. Plus pets are rewarding.

Get outside! The sunlight gives off many vitamins that our bodies need to function. Just don't get sunburned.

Join a social group. Find people who have like interests and hang out with them! Even if it feels like you can't be around people, get around people, because the more that you are around things that you enjoy,  the more you are further away from negativity.

Parents:
Depression is not a topic that is encouraged to talk to your kids about. It is stereotyped as an adult issue. Sadly, it is an all ages issue. The more that you open up to your kids about what depression is, the more comfortable they will be in seeking help. Be encouraging to your children. Let them see how you handle your depression. Good days and bad days. It will make it less scary to know that their parents struggle too. Depression comes in many forms. Study them so you recognize the signs. Seek help from treatment centers of family doctors. There are all kinds of resources out there if you just look. Remember that having a child with depression is not your fault. Depression  is cause by many factors and you are not the singular cause.

Most of all, remember the positives and let go of the negatives.