16 Ways to Get Over Depression

We all encounter situations in our lives that can make us feel miserable. It could be a bad day at school, a bad break-up, or the loss of a dear pet. We become depressed and we think that all the happiness has been drained out of us. Sometimes, we might think that there’s no way out of that state of depression and nothing can make us feel better no matter what; but that’s not true. There are many ways to get over a bad mood, a bad day, or even a temporary state of depression. Here are 16 simple ways where you can get over depression without having to consult a therapist or take any medication.

1. Happy Anchor. You should always have a happy anchor so that whenever you feel slightly depressed then you’ll think about it. You usually don’t want that happy anchor to depend on people, because maybe your depression is associated with that person. Your happy anchor could be a memory of something that made you feel extremely happy, a trip that you’ll never forget, a quote that always makes you smile etc. It could be anything that makes you feel happy no matter how simple it is. So whenever you’re feeling down you’ll think about it and it’ll put a smile on your face.
2. Listen to Music. A lot of people don’t know that, but scientists have proven that the music we listen to definitely affects our subconscious. You can experiment that fact by creating a playlist with a certain theme (death, suicide, happiness, love, etc.), and after a week or so you’ll find yourself thinking about that a lot without realizing it. Now you should prepare a playlist and call it your happy playlist, or maybe even give it a name that will make you smile or laugh when you read it. Add your favorite songs to that playlist, and make sure you don’t have a single sad song on there. You’re trying to put yourself out of that bad mood, so you most definitely don’t want sad songs on there. You can add party songs or happy songs or songs that are associated with good memories (not memories that will make you cry though). Add anything that you know will put you in a good mood when you listen to it. So whenever you’re having a bad day or you’re not feeling very good, you listen to that playlist knowing it will change your mood.
3. Eight Hours of Sleep. Surveys have proved that people who lack sleep or oversleep are guaranteed to suffer depression. If you’re feeling depressed, you might want to make sure you’re getting your 8 hours of sleep every night. Most of us, as teenagers, have a bad habit of sleeping late; and that results that we end up in a very bad mood in school. So that’s why it’s important that you keep track of your sleeping hours, in order to establish a healthy, depression-free life.
4. Watch Something Funny. Having a good laugh is always a great way to overcome a period of depression. You can watch a comedy movie or series; that will definitely get some things off your mind. A personal recommendation would be an Adam Sandler movie, or even more preferably an Adam Sandler and Jennifer Anniston movie. Also, a highly recommended series that is guaranteed to make you laugh is the Friends TV series.
5. Mingle with Nature. Another good way to enhance your mood is to be one with Mother Nature. You might wanna leave everything behind and go for a walk. Most definitely leave your phone, as it’s nothing more than a cause of distraction. Grab your iPod and play your happy playlist. You can grab a good book if you want, and look for a quiet place to read. You can even just go for a walk or sit anywhere and have a clear mind. It’s a great way to get your mind off things and most importantly make you feel better.
6. Exercising. When you’re depressed, exercising sounds like the last thing you would want to do. But in fact, it’s been proven that exercising helps relieve stress. You could do something as simple as taking the stairs instead of taking the elevator, or walk while you’re on the phone.
7. Keep A Diary. It’s good to keep a diary and write about your daily encounters, but there are specific things that need to be written so they can help you when you feel bad. You should start by making a list of things you like about yourself. It’s not as self-centered as it may sound. The purpose of this list is that whenever you read it, it would make you feel better about yourself. It will definitely boost your self-esteem no matter how you’re feeling. Another way to reduce times of depression is keeping a negative thought log. So whenever you’re in a bad mood, you should write about it and write what triggered it. Later on, you should read that entry so that in the future you know how to prevent it, avoid it, or handle it.
8. Buy Yourself Something. Personally, whenever I’m feeling down I like to buy myself something. As ridiculous as it may sound, it actually does make you feel better. Had a bad break up? Why don’t you go buy yourself something? It’s like a gift, except it’s from you to you. It’s a great way to get through depressing situations. You don’t have to buy yourself something expensive. You can buy a top, necklace, video game etc. A place that interests every one of all ages is Virgin Megastores. They always have something interesting for you. It’s a good way to keep yourself busy and happy.
9. Eat Ice-cream. Ice-cream is probably the official depression food for people of all ages. It’s always associated with happy memories for almost everyone. Also, the sugar in it increases endorphins in the brain, which makes you feel happy. It’s good to always have ice-cream at home, so that whenever you’re feeling down, you know ice-cream is going to be there to turn that frown upside down.
10. Do Something Spontaneous. It’s always good to do something fun if you’re not feeling very positive. Do something enthusiastic that you would enjoy. You can go to an amusement park, restore some childhood memories and release your inner child. Travel somewhere not so far away, even if it’s a day-trip. Go on a road trip with your favorite people. Do anything spontaneous that would get your mind off things and make you feel better.
11. Set Daily Goals. You should always set daily goals for yourself. If you’re feeling depressed then you’re most likely to spend the day doing nothing. You should have goals such as finishing a few chapters in a book, study for a quiz, and clean your room. It doesn’t matter what your goals are, but it’s good to keep them simple and realistic. You should make a schedule that organizes your day until you go to bed. The more work you do, the better you’ll feel.
12. Surround Yourself with Positive People. If you’re being around people that don’t make you feel very good about yourself, then it’s probably time to say goodbye. Say goodbye to all the people that cause you drama and walk away from them. By logic, if you want to live a happy life then you should surround yourself with positive people. Don’t expect not to be depressed if the people around you give you a hard time.
13. Care for a Pet. One of the best ways to get over depression is to show your affection towards a pet. I’m not sure why it helps, but I can assure you that it helps. If you don’t have a pet, then buy one. Buy a goldfish, a turtle, a hamster, a tortoise, etc. If you have a dog or cat, then play with them. You will definitely notice an improvement in your mood.
14. Practice Relaxation Techniques. If you think you’re filled up with a lot of negativity, then the best way to get rid of it is by practicing relaxation techniques. Meditation and yoga are the most common relaxation techniques. If you don’t know how to do them, then search them and spend at least half an hour practicing them. You might also want to try taking a long hot bath. Just relax and focus on nothing else but the sound of water. They’re both great ways to help you clear your mind and think straight.
15. Talk It Out. Sometimes keeping everything to yourself would cause you to feel stressed out or overloaded. It’s good to talk to someone about how you feel or anything that’s going on in your life. You will feel less stressed about something if you talk to someone about it. They might not be able to help you but you feel like a huge burden has just been taken off your chest.
16. Read a Book. Books can sometimes our escape of reality. Grab a good book to read and look for a quiet decent environment to read in. You will definitely get lost in the book, which will take your mind off things.
17. Emergency Sadness Kit. This Emergency Sadness Kit is a very famous thing on Tumblr; it’s actually what inspired me to write this article. Your Emergency Sadness Kit should include everything that makes you happy. My best advice is that you make a list of the things you think you should do or use when you’re sad. This list should have things like what to eat, what to drink, what to watch, what to listen to etc. The whole point of this article is to help you get through tough times and always try to put you out of a bad mood.