21 Things to Do When Depressed

So you’re not happy, in fact you feel downright depressed. Most of us feel this way at one time or another, for short periods or long ones. I’ve been depressed many times during the course of my life and found many different and varied ways to feel better. Below are twenty-one things to do to feel better. Don’t let depression take control of your life!

Doctors do not know the exact causes of depression. It is believed that chemical changes in the brain are responsible. Depression may be triggered by stressful events in your life that you are resisting or suppressing. More likely, it is a combination of things so work on de-stressing your life, loving yourself more, and also seek medical professional help for chemical or hormonal imbalance.

In this blog we will talk about ways to re-pattern the brain to see things more positively. Depression can change or distort the way you see yourself, your life, and those around you. With depression, you often see everything in a negative way. It is hard to even imagine that a problem or situation can be solved. But you don’t even need to find an answer–just begin to choose thoughts that make you feel better. Things will seem to shift in a positive way on their own. Read “How to Choose Your Thoughts.”

You may intellectually know that you have a pretty good life. It may even be a great life compared to many people you may know or see on television news. (I would recommend not watching the news or any depressing television until you feel better.) Thinking that you don’t have reasons to feel depressed feels even worse because now you are adding guilt into the mix. Don’t choose to feel bad, just take the steps needed to feel better!

Here are twenty-one things you can do right now to feel better:

1. See the Doctor and test your hormones and glucose tolerance.
2. Change your diet to natural healthful foods, eat “clean,” drink lots of water.
3. Detox, or lose some weight (you may feel worse at first so do this with professional help).
4. Eliminate foods that you might have a negative sensitivity to like sugar, gluten, dairy, eggs etc.
5. Change your thinking to positive thoughts with affirmations. Affirmations link
6. Do what you love, stop doing things you hate.
7. Be grateful every day, look for things to be grateful for and make a daily gratitude list.
8. Listen to uplifting music, make a happy music list on your phone.
9. Surround yourself with soothing aromas.
10. Do Yoga, Tai Chi, Qigong or other exercises that move energy.
11. Quiet your mind for at least 15 minutes a day in some kind of meditation.
12. Be aware of happenings that “push your buttons.” Feel the feelings in your body then consciously breathe into that place until you feel better.
13. Try the Emotional Freedom Technique (ETF) tapping.
14. Understand what causes suffering: it is resistance to what is, accept what is.
15. Help others. It actually causes “feel good” hormones to be released in your brain.
16. Cultivate intuition and worthiness.
17. Pray for strength and guidance.
18. Trust that there is a higher plan at work in your life and the world.
19. Use forgiveness, not for others sake but in order to heal yourself.
20. Connect with Spirit, Source, God, or Higher Self and turn unsolved problems over to a “higher power.”
21. Find your true self. Sometimes depression is about not being who you really are.

Probably some or most of these things feel impossible to accomplish right now in your depressed state. Just take one positive step at a time as you are able. Even if these seem like baby steps, you will gain momentum. Step by step you can change your body, mind, mood and outlook on life; one thought, one action, and then one day at a time.

This blog will give you the practical information, easy to understand steps and do-able action plans. Believe that you will feel joyous again.

First and foremost, make the decision to feel better and make that your first priority!

Have you subscribed to this blog for ongoing coaching to a more fulfilling and joyous life? More detailed information on taking each of these steps and how they helped me will unfold one by one. Subscribe today.

Please Note: Clinical depression is a serious mood disorder in which feelings of sadness, loss, anger, or frustration interfere with everyday life for weeks or longer. If you suffer from clinical depression be sure to see a trained professional.