Depression: It’s one of the hardest and most common problems for any one to deal with in this life. It sends us in a downward spiral into a hole that we can not climb out of. No one is safe from this affliction and it can hit us at any time. This brings me to my first tip.

Tip#1 Understand that you are not alone!
So many times we feel like we are fighting a losing battle and you are the sole defender of your happiness. But there are an estimated 7.3 billion people on this earth. Reach out to them! You will find life will be a lot better when you know someone is on your side.

Tip #2 Answer When, Who, What, Why, and How. 
Use this formula to figure out what your triggers are. I learned this in an addiction class one day and you can actually apply this to depression. When you feel the initial onset of a depression episode answer these questions. When refers to what time; this can be time of day, season, or even day or night. Who refers to who you are around. Some people can trigger a depressive episode because of their mood which can affect your mood. What refers to what you feel; ask yourself exactly how you feel. Reflect on this for a second and ask yourself if you feel anything such as: anxiety, confusion, panic, etc.. Why refers to why do you feel like this; reflect on why you feel this way using the answers to the previous questions. Try to learn to view the feelings objectively. View your feelings but don’t identify with them. An example of this would be taking the feeling of depression and viewing it as if it is an object. Don’t say “I feel depressed” or “I am Depressed”. How refers to how you got out of the depressive episode (if you did, if not view the next tips). Reflect on how you got out of the episode and implement the actions you took and eliminate the triggers that caused these feelings.

Tip #3 Push yourself out of your comfort zone.
I know that when I get in a depressive episode I end up in my bed for days or weeks on end. I shirk responsibilities and academics because I emotionally and mentally can’t stop being depressed. It limits me and my life in all aspects. This tip is really important to me and it is probably the hardest one to follow, but it is amazingly effective. When you feel like you want to stay in the bed; DON’T!!! Get up and get out. Write poetry in a beautiful spot on campus or in the city you live in. Meditate in the park around others because you may not realize how much the sun and social interaction can benefit you. “Social Interaction, Kurt? I’m just sitting in the park and not talking to anyone; that’s hardly social interaction”. And to anyone that just said that or any version of that let me introduce you to one very powerful psychological tip. Being around others, even without a single word spoken can enhance your mood. Even if you have social anxiety; this is a great first step to beating anxiety in social settings. So yes, push yourself out of your comfort zone.

Tip #4 Keep a journal
It is important to keep a journal of your happy times. If you keep track of the good portions of the day and actually write these times down you can change your perspective of your overall day. Include the good things that happened during your day and the things you are grateful for. Maybe even include goals for yourself each day that you can achieve. Start with small goals such as going out and visiting a park and slowly work your way up to having conversations with random strangers. Accomplishing these goals will not only give you a visualized purpose to get out of bed but checking these off each day might even give you a little happiness boost.

Tip #5 Go to a professional
If you feel like you can’t do it all on your own and you need someone to talk to make the decision to go to a psychological specialist. Some problems are physical and you may need medication to help you through the problems you are facing. I understand that there is a stigma around mental problems and going to a psychiatrist, but it is not a weakness. And if you are dealing with depression, let me tell you that you are already very strong. It is a debilitating affliction, but if you had a broken arm or leg wouldn’t you go to the doctor? So treat mental health problems the same way you would a physical problem. 

I hope these tips help a bit on your journey and on that note..
YOU CAN BEAT THIS!!