Part 2 of the Information regarding being proactive about warding off Depression, the Blues or SAD (seasonal affective disorder) This is just general information for your awareness. You should always talk to a health professional about any of this information, if you are feeling depressed.

1. Keep Breathing. Remind yourself—if you’re breathing, you’re winning. There is a path out of your depression, but step one is always: Keep Breathing.

2. If you are part of a religious group, talk to your fellow members or leader for guidance.

3. Spend one hour out in the sunlight every day.

4. Avoid depressing movies, songs, art, and especially avoid depressing people.

5. If you have thoughts of suicide or self-injury, get professional help immediately. If nothing’s working, avoiding help can only be detrimental.

6. Keep your surrounding warm and well-lit during the day. Prefer a well-lit room or open window curtains/blinds during the day.

7. Stay busy with work that keeps your brain occupied. A recent study has proven that when you are wholly focused on the task at hand, you are physically unable to worry or think about your troubles. And staying productive is the best way to prove to yourself that you’re not worthless and things can really change.

8. (This would be something to definitely discuss with your Doctor before you take anything) ....In some women, depression may be caused (or worsened) by low hormone levels, most commonly progesterone. Progesterone helps keep serontonin levels from dropping too low, and low serotonin can cause depression. Doctors can test for low progesterone and prescribe it (though many doctors are unaware of the link with depression); it is even available without prescription, which gives you an idea how safe it is when used according to directions. Indications that a depression may be progesterone related are: symptoms get worse in the two weeks before menstruation, during perimenopause/menopause, or after giving birth. Anxiety-depression is most commonly seen, sometimes accompanied by severe mood swings and insomnia; some women may get more headaches/migraines. NOTE: synthetic progestins such as Provera, medroxyprogesterone, DepoProvera, and birth control pills can make these symptoms worse instead of better; when I refer to progesterone I mean that exact natural hormone specifically, not its “substitutes”. Progesterone is available as Progest cream (a good brand) without prescription, and as Prometrium capsules with prescription; compounding pharmacies also make various dose forms (such as Progesterone 50 mg/ml Lotion, compounded).

9. With all of the advice given here: REMEMBER that it does not have to be done in drastic measures. One glass of water. One apple. 15min in the sun. A half hour or more earlier to bed than before or half hour or more earlier getting out of bed. A short walk to the….? end of the block, walking a little further into the store by parking farther away… just any of these common sense activities and lifestyle additions/changes that EVERYONE needs to do in order to be more healthy & active will help the average person but more dramatically, will help the depressed person.

10. If you have problems to grant yourself things or if you even think, you might not be worth to live on, try to think of yourself when you were a child. Don´t you think, this child would have deserved all the benevolence in the world for its future?

11. Try and go outside. Take a walk and think about why you’ve became different than the person you originally were.Go over the good things in your life that you have.(ex. You have the ability to walk,breathe, able to see the world and that you have the power to change it).

12. Listen to positive music. Listen to music that you can relate to but has a more positive moral to the particular song. In its own way it gives you support and comfort you may lack else were.