Anonymous asked this question on 4/17/2000:

Is there anything I can do to allay my depression? Somedays are better than others,but sometimes I find it hard to even get out of bed in the morning.

Theresa57 gave this response on 4/18/2000:

Hi Anynymous. To treat depression it is very important that you be involved in counseling with a licensed and trained therapist. To locate someone in your area, you can contact the social services department at a local hospital to get information of available services, contact a mental health center or psychiatric hospital to get the same, look in the Yellow Pages of your local telephone directory. Depression is not easy to treat without therapeutic intervention. Even if you are on medication (antidepressants) for depression, the therapy is needed to help you work through the issues that is contributing to your depression. It is also good to have a complete physical examination by your primary care physician to make sure that there are no medical issues that are not being addressed. If money to pay for therapy is a problem, there are usually some counseling centers that provide services on a sliding fee scale that is based on your income....these are usually much more cost effective that seeing a therapist who is in private practice for themself.

Now, I would be curious to know if you are having any thoughts of harming yourself or suicide. If you are, then you need to immediately see someone or go to a local psychiatric hospital for assessment.

To help combat depression, there are some things that you can do in addition to therapy that can help make you feel better to a small degree. Proper nutrition is very important. Also, excercising several times each week for at least 30 minutes each time will promote the release of good endorphins that will help improve your mood some. Also, keeping a journal and writing down your thoughts and feelings is a good idea to get out what is now rolling around in your mind. By no means should any of these things take the place of a therapy. These things should be done in conjunction with therapy. Many times, if the depression is bad enough, medication will also help along with therapy. Please remember that none of these things will cure your depression if done by themselves. Working through depression is a complicated process and requires the combined benefits from all available techniques.

I hope you are able to resolve those things that are contributing to your depression. Good Luck.

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