Top 5 Ways to Overcome Depression

Anybody suffering from depression will tell you that the highs and lows can come and go very quickly. For myself the lows come on particularly suddenly and usually at the worse possible times. I can remember being at a dinner party and chatting away happily to other guests and half an hour later I was sat on my own feeling incredibly down and low.

Overcoming depression is no easy feat, but learning how to manage the symptoms gets easier as you learn your triggers. I personally have many triggers such as financial worrying, alcohol and competitiveness.

Tip 1: Avoid the negatives - worrying about something endlessly can almost guarantee you a one way ticket to a bout of depression (even if its short lived). If you can see yourself getting deeply effected by something visualise yourself putting whatever is bothering you into a box to focus on later. When you take control of the timescales you can drastically improve the mood-swings that come with negative thoughts.

Tip 2: Avoid alcohol, and any other vice which you know will lead you down the path of worry. If you find yourself depending on alcohol to survive times of worry or anxiety try and find a replacement - for me its fruit juice and matchstick modelling - an odd combination but it keeps me away from the scotch.

Tip 3: Have an escape plan. I have a sign in the house that reads 'Back in an hour - thinking.' I hang it up in the kitchen when I am stressed or can feel myself sliding and it warns my family about a potentially fragile state of mind im in. I use the peace and quiet to get things done which have been bothering me and try to shift my focus away from whatever is eating at me.

Tip 4: Make a plan. Most of my bouts of depression come from worrying about a particular topic or job I have to complete, part of being depressed means I struggle to focus on what needs doing. Because of this I keep notepads and pens around the house so I can jot down quick and easy plans of attack to help regain my focus whenever I need.

Tip 5: Talk. Talking is the single most therapeutic method of dealing with stress, anxiety or depression. Whether its with friends or family members, providing you converse with them and not just offload you will usually find someone willing to share your problems and help you come up with solutions. At the very least your friends and family should be able to distract you for a short while.

For more tips and advice read the excellent eBook 'Understanding Bipolar Depression' available by clicking http://to.ly/gf1o