Depression is an illness that can affect any person from any walk of life. It does not distinguish between the rich, the poor, the young or the old. It can be as minor as a dose of the blues that will not go away or it can become so consuming that thoughts of self-harm can be entertained. Following is some advice on how to deal with depression when it strikes.

A great tip that can help you fight depression is to not spend so much time in doors. When we’re depressed we tend to isolate ourselves at home. The more time you spend by yourself indoors, the more depressed you’ll get. Try forcing yourself to go outside once in a while.

Be sure to discuss your depression with your partner. Involve your partner in your treatment efforts such as regular exercise and counseling. Working together in these endeavors will help bring you closer as a couple, and will also make your treatment plan more effective than if you were going it alone.

If you suffer from depression, it is important that you do not skip meals. Not eating anything can cause you to become irritable and tired, which can, in turn,cause your depression symptoms to flare up. Try to eat 3 meals every day, and space these meals about 4 to 6 hours apart.

If you are suffering from depression, you should endeavor to keep active in social activities, even when it is the last thing you would want to do. When suffering from depression, it usually feels more comfortable to withdraw from the world and crawl into your protective shell. Closing yourself off from others will not help you beat depression though. You will find that being around others will help you feel less depressed.

When you are experiencing a moment where the depression is less grave you should take out a notebook, diary or journal. In this book you should write a list of the things, memories, people and places that you love the most. When you are feeling exceptionally sad take out this list and read it.

While these tips will assist you to recognize depression when it appears, please make sure that you seek professional medical assistance immediately, if any suicidal thoughts arise. Depression can be treated with time and each day another step towards recovery can be made. With the support of family and friends, the sun will shine on your days again.