"You are today where your thoughts have brought you, you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

According to November 2006 article by Fox News, about 15 million Americans each year suffer some form of depression, the nation's top mental health problem.

Akin to a blaring siren on a busy street, the term depression has been so commonly used that at some point people tend not to take it seriously anymore. Yet it is a very serious condition that could impair one’s well-being and life. Depression is very difficult to treat. It can debilitate one’s normal physical functions, making even the most mundane tasks such as getting up from bed or eating breakfast seemingly difficult if not impossible. It is sad to think that a lot of depressed individuals are not treated because of the high costs of therapy to include treatment drugs.

But there is hope. Coping with depression may be possible without professional help if one knows and applies depression management. Here are a few things that can help people deal with depression, it is important to note however, that professional therapy is still very invaluable with serious depression.

Please note one should always seek the competent advice from a medical professional before embarking on anything new or different.

These steps are merely suggestions and thoughts for alleviating the condition.

1. Stay Active. Staying active is one way to take one’s mind off depression. Primarily, activities help distract people from whatever it is that is causing their depression and it also helps channel unspent energies that build up when one is depressed. Keeping active also releases endorphins – natural mood boosters that somehow cheer people up.

2. Get enough Rest. It is also important to take a rest. Being depressed can be very exhausting, so it is essential to regain strength and energy if one is to deal with depression. Relaxation techniques can help one be more attuned to the self and be more at peace. When resting, stressors should be kept away from the bedroom so that ample rest can be obtained.

3. Depressed people should also express their emotions. Depression usually results from suppressed emotions. People who are grieving can be prone to depression if they keep their emotion to themselves. A lot of people avoid crying because they think it might be a sign of weakness. However, it is important to cry because it releases one’s emotions. When expressing feelings, it is important to avoid catharsis – venting up one’s anger by doing something violent like boxing, smashing things, and the like. Catharsis does not release one’s emotion, especially anger. Rather, it makes a person practice violence as an expression of emotion, and thus can be very dangerous.

4. Hang around with friends and loved ones. Depressed individuals need human support very much. Other people can distract one from stressors. People can also remind a depressed individual that there can be more to life, and it is worth living even if it is simply because of the company of wonderful people.

5. Lastly, it is important to believe in oneself. A lot of people get depressed because they put themselves down. It is important to satisfy oneself and gain a sense of self-worth. It is good to do something that would make one happy. Prioritizing one’s self can help one to believe that one’s own life is important and can be enjoyed. Being kind to oneself is one of the most important steps to get away from a depressive state.

Copyright © 2007 by Myles Saulibio. All Rights Reserved


Depression management is indeed possible and entails taking charge of one’s self. When dealing with depression however, it is important not to rush. Sadness does not disappear overnight; it takes time to get back on one’s feet. Little by little, one can get out of depression and have a normal life once more.

One source of depression is stress. The fast pace and demands of modern life are creating higher levels of stress than ever before. Almost everyone has some kind of stress: Money stress, Work stress, Relationship stress, Physical stress, Family Stress, Commuting Stress, Time Stress. Although not all stress is bad, the truth is that many of us have extremely high levels of stress and don't get a chance to alleviate it. And, stress can cause serious problems like depression, anxiety, fatigue, high blood pressure, heart attacks, overeating, lowered immune response, burnout, arguments, drug & alcohol abuse, & even suicide attempts.
In The Audiobook “The Healing Journey” David R. Portney presents an interesting approach to stress management. Portney is leading authority in the field of human awareness, change, and potential. David has conducted trainings and workshops for numerous companies such as Kenwood USA, Herbalife, Meadow Gold Dairy, and Wella-Sebastian. David regularly conducts workshops and classes for the Los Angeles Times and the Learning Annex of Los Angeles.
For a free audiobook sample, please click on the link below. All AD readers and visitors qualify for a special discount.