Overview

Depression can make someone feel exhausted, worthless, helpless, and hopeless. And those feelings and thoughts can feed on themselves, making a depressed person feel like giving up. It is important to realize, however, that negative thoughts and feelings are symptoms of the illness and typically do not reflect the actual circumstances of life. Indeed, this kind of debilitating thinking fades as treatment begins to take effect, but there are things you can do during this time to help manage depression.

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• Set realistic goals, and assume a reasonable, but not excessive, amount of responsibility.
• Break large tasks into smaller ones, and set priorities. Do what you can in the way that is most comfortable.
• Try to reach out to others instead of isolating yourself and being secretive about your condition.
• Participate in activities that make you feel better.
• Consider going to a movie or ballgame or participating in religious, social, or other activities. Mild exercise also may help.
• Expect your mood to improve gradually, not immediately. Feeling better takes time.
• Don't make important decisions until the depression has lifted. Before deciding to sell a house, end a relationship, get married, or change a job, discuss it with others who know you well and may have a more objective view of your situation.
• Remember that people rarely "snap out" of a depression. But they can feel a little better day by day. Positive thinking will replace negative thinking as your depression responds to treatment.
• Let family and friends help.

Having once suffered from depression can predispose someone to experiencing another episode. So if you've had an episode of depression, it is critical that you seek treatment at the first sign of a recurrence. Early, aggressive treatment can shorten the duration of depression and lessen its severity.

This section has more on how friends and family can help.