None of these suggestions are scientifically proven to solve depression problems. If you're seriously depressed, get medication first and discuss your situation -- and options -- with a psychiatrist/expert in depression. However, I've found that the following helped my recurring problems with depression. I've also come to terms that it will be with me for my lifetime and that I'd better become very familiar with it and highly respectful of it, given it is CLEARLY more powerful than my efforts to manage or resist it.

1. Radically improve your diet/eating habits.

Eat super-healthy food and don't eat alone, whenever possible.

2. Remove all pressure to perform.

If you're a sensitive person, your body/spirit may feel undue pressure at work or professionally, and your body will react by shutting down and becoming depressed. Revoke promises, cancel stressful appointments, let go of difficult clients. Be radical and unrelenting in this area.

3. Simplify your life and keep it simple.

The point is to do less/be responsible for less than you "know" that you can handle. When you're not depressed, you'll feel like you can do a lot; when you're down, it all feels overwhelming. Better to keep it simple at all times.

4. Respond immediately to "down" feelings.

The MOMENT you feel yourself peaking/going down the depression track, remove all pressures and cancel all appointments and do only those things that are nurturing for you, whether it's reading, bon bons, travel, naps, walks, whatever. You'll get through your dips faster if you surrender to them vs try to fight/overcome them.

5. Identify the behavior or situation that gets you down.

Sometimes, depression is triggered by shame or feeling badly about yourself or by not measuring up. For example, if you don't pay your bills each month because you can't deal consistently well with paperwork, then outsource that monthly task to a bookeeper/electronic assistant. Even if you "should" be able to handle this, do NOT give your depression ANY opening!

6. Tell others about your condition.

Depression is embarrassing at first. But when you accept it and share it with key friends/family members, they'll respect you more for doing as well as you do/have considering how difficult it is to do well with depression. Taking about it reduces its impact, I'm convinced.

7. Stop striving to become someone or become a better person.

Striving is stressful. The key is to accept yourself as you are, weaknesses and all. If you can give up the "future," you'll put less pressure on your emotional system.

8. Work with a great therapist.

Work with a highly skilled/experience therapist to identify possible underlying or exacerbating causes of your recurring depression. Consider depression to be a symptom of emotional damage or stress and get to know yourself better along the way.

9. Remove all dangerous instruments from your home.

No guns or other weapons, please!

10. Exercise.

If you can, exercise; it will increase your metabolism which is healthy. However, if you can't/don't feel well enough to do so, do NOT make yourself do so.

Would you like to learn more?

For more information about how you might benift from coaching contact Greg at (760) 930-9604 or greg@zencoach.com.

Greg Clowminzer is a Business and Life Coach serving the needs of individuals in their desire to live a higher quality of life with a deeper sense of meaning and purpose. Greg Clowminzer www.zencoach.com greg@zencoach.com (760) 930-9604

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