Living With Depression

When you're going through depression, you can't just shake if off. You might have a couple of good days followed by a bad day or a string of bad days. And you don't know how long it will last. Depression is not like the flu or a sprained ankle, where your doctor can tell you about how long it will take to get better.

When you're getting better, many experts call it recovery. Recovery is finding your path to the life you care about. There are 10 principles of recovery(What is a PDF document?) that can help you recover from depression on your terms. They help you gain self-confidence and respect for yourself.

During your recovery, be patient and kind to yourself. Remember that depression is not your fault and is not something you can overcome with willpower alone. You need treatment for depression, just like for any other illness.

Continuing your treatment, helping yourself, getting support, and having a healthy lifestyle are all part of your recovery. Your symptoms will fade as your treatment starts to work. Don't give up. Focus your energy on getting better. Your mood will improve. It just takes some time.

Your self-care

You can take many steps to help yourself when you feel depressed or are waiting for your medicine to work. These steps also help prevent depression from coming back.

• Be real in what you expect and what you can do. Set goals you can meet. If you have a big task to do, break it up into smaller steps you can handle. Don't take on more than you can handle.
• Don't blame yourself or others for your depression.
• Think about putting off big decisions until your depression has lifted. Wait a bit on making decisions about marriage, divorce, or jobs. Talk it over with friends and loved ones who can help you look at the whole picture.
• Get support from others. Your family can help you get the right treatment and deal with your symptoms. Social support and support groups give you the chance to talk with people who are going through the same things you are.
• Tell people you trust about depression. It is usually better than being alone and keeping it a secret.
• Build your self esteem and try to keep a positive attitude.

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• Try to be part of religious, social, holiday, or other activities.
• If you have any other health problems, like diabetes, heart disease, or high blood pressure, continue with your treatment for them. Tell your doctor about all of the medicines you take, with or without a prescription.