Every day can feel like a struggle when you're depressed. Sometimes you dont want to talk to someone else about your problems either, although this can be the best thing to do. So here are some things that you can do to help yourself...
Set realistic goals. You may feel overwhelmed by everything you "should" be doing at home or at work. Try not to be hard on yourself. Remember that depression is an illness and that you can't force yourself out of it. Focus on small, realistic goals to ease yourself back into your work and family routine.
Do what you enjoy. Even if you don't really feel like it, set aside time to do things that you like. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Get together with friends. Go for a walk. Go to the cinema. Rent a video that you know you enjoy watching (a happy one!) Take up a hobby that you have previously neglected. Ring a friend who you know will cheer you up.
Hold off on big decisions. Since depression can colour your outlook on everything, it's best to avoid making any big decisions?quitting a job or moving, for instance?until you feel better.
Avoid alcohol (and illicit drugs!!). Although you might think it will help you feel better, alcohol can make your depression worse. Depressed people are at special risk of developing substance abuse problems, and alcohol interacts with many antidepressants if you are on them. Trust me-I myself can get extremely down after drinking alcohol. I?m *trying* to steer clear of it
Exercise. There's more and more evidence that exercise helps with mild to moderate depression. When you're considering an exercise plan, don't be too ambitious. Find an activity that you like, start slowly, and work up to exercising three times a week or more for 20 to 30 minutes. It can be difficult motivating yourself to do exercise, but trust me it does make you feel so much better about yourself.
Keep a journal. Keeping a personal journal can be a good way to learn more about your thoughts and feelings. It's not always easy?it can be painful and even scary to write about bad feelings?but writing a journal is one of the best self-help methods you can use
Tips for keeping a journal
Instead of just writing about events and happenings, focus on your thoughts and feelings about those events.
Write for yourself only. This forces you to be honest.
Set the stage for writing. Find a comfortable spot to sit, take a deep breath, and begin. Write for 20 minutes without stopping.
Write every day, if possible. It may help to write at the same time every day, maybe before bed.
Remember that the way you write doesn't matter. You don't have to use complete sentences, correct punctuation, or any punctuation, for that matter.
Buy a journal you'll enjoy using, perhaps with illustrations or coloured pages, better yet, add your own illustrations!! Use coloured pens or pencils if you like.
(Taken from depression.com. Modified by v_falling_to_pieces)