Depression is a warning sign that something is wrong. It is a symptom that something is out of balance in your body, in your environment, or both. Know that you are not insane. You are reacting to the insanity outside you.

1.    Eat life-giving foods.

If you eat devitalized and lifeless food, it makes sense you will be devitalized and lifeless. Your body has nothing on which to draw to keep it energetic and vibrant. If you do not feel like cooking, then eat apples or other fruits or vegetables, sliced or whole. Even though you may crave sugar and junk food, these foods not only do not help in relieving depression, they make it worse. Buy and eat organic foods, if possible. It has not been determined how chemically treated and genetically altered foods affect us, so best to avoid them.

2.    Know that you are not insane.

Depression is a warning sign that something is wrong. It is a symptom that something is out of balance in your body, in your environment, or both. We live in an environment filled with toxins. There are wars, inequitable laws, financial pressures, and media overload. The list is unending.

We are natural beings living in an unnatural world. This is the insanity. Our bodies, our minds, and our spirits are reacting to this insanity. Know that you are not insane. You are reacting to the insanity outside you.

3.    Turn the TV off.

Take a break from media overload. Turn the TV off and do not read the newspapers. Most of what you hear on TV and read in the papers is not good news. This is not the time to read and listen to sad stories and ponder devastating events you can do nothing about.

4.    Fake it till you make it.

Sometimes you need to work from the outside in. Act as if you are not depressed. How would you walk, talk or sit if you were not depressed? What would you do if you were not depressed? If Publisher's Clearing House came to your door right now with a $5 million check, would you tell them to go away because you are too depressed? Fake it till you make it. Your brain does not know the difference between what is real and what is imagined. Imagine you are not depressed.

5.    Dress up.

Wear your good clothes. Do what you can to make yourself look and feel attractive.

6.    Count your blessings.

When you are depressed, sad and perhaps angry, being grateful is not the first thought that comes to your mind. However, this is the perfect time to count your blessings. This is the perfect time to remember there are people who would gladly trade places with you. We have so many things to be thankful for; however, we often take them for granted. With an attitude of gratitude, depression cannot thrive.

7.    Drink water.

You can survive many weeks without food, but only a few days without water. Dehydration will cause your body and your brain to shut down. Being happy and having a great attitude is impossible if your body is dehydrated. Drink plenty of water. One rule is to drink half your body weight in ounces each day. That is, if you weight 200 pounds, drink 100 ounces of water. Drink filtered or spring water if possible. The tap water in many of our cities contains chemicals and, again, we cannot be sure how these chemicals are affecting us.

8.    Listen to motivational tapes.

Do not leave your mind alone to do its "own thing." Obviously, your self-talk is not serving you well at this time. Therefore, this is the perfect time to listen to someone else's talk. Listen to motivational and inspirational tapes and music. Bombard your brain with uplifting thoughts from others. If you feel like reading, read uplifting and inspiring material.

9.    Dance.

The body needs to move. Get that blood flowing through your body and your brain. Your brain needs a good supply of blood in order to work properly. But when you are feeling depressed, the idea of exercising is not appealing.

So, dance! Play uplifting and happy music. Play music that reminds you of happy times. Stretch out those parts of your body you are able to stretch. Move, move, move. Dance, dance, dance. Your body, your mind, and your soul will thank you.

10. Remember who you are.

You are a precious entity in this great cosmic universe. You are a representation of God. There is nothing true of the greatest among us that is not true of you. You are magnificent. Sometimes we forget how wonderful we are. Have you?