<ol><li>How you think (your ability to concentrate or make decisions)</li><li>What you think about (thoughts of failure or pessimism about the future)</li><li>Your body and behaviour (lack of energy or poor sleep)</li><li>Your lifestyle (sleeping routine)</li><li>Lack of yoga in your life </li><li>Tons of stress about small things</li></ol>

Depression is equal to death.....

Experts give advice about steps people can take to help ease their depression. <div> Reviewed by <a href="https://www.webmd.com/brunilda-nazario" data-metrics-link="0" dir="ltr"> Brunilda Nazario,&nbsp;MD </a> on August 22, 2005 </div><webmdbutton> From the WebMD Archives </webmdbutton>Recovery from depression can be a long process. A variety of <a data-crosslink-type="article" href="https://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/depression-treatment-care" data-metrics-link="" dir="ltr">treatments for depression</a> exists, but they may take time before an effect is noticed. Weeks, if not months, may pass between the time when you see a health care provider about <a data-crosslink-type="slideshow" href="https://www.webmd.com/depression/ss/slideshow-depression-overview" data-metrics-link="" dir="ltr">depression</a> and when your mood starts to lift.While some improvement may be seen after starting <a data-crosslink-type="article" href="https://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/depression-medications-antidepressants" data-metrics-link="" dir="ltr">antidepressants</a>, they can take at least three weeks to start having an effect on your mood. What's more, the first medication or combination of <a data-crosslink-type="article" href="https://www.webmd.com/drugs/index-drugs.aspx" data-metrics-link="" dir="ltr">medications</a> you try may not work for you; in that case you'll have to start over.In the meantime, there are things you can do, as well as things you can avoid, to help yourself feel better, or at least keep from sinking deeper into <a data-crosslink-type="tools" href="https://www.webmd.com/depression/depression-assessment/zz-expire" data-metrics-link="" dir="ltr">depression</a>.You are somewhat responsible -- but not entirely responsible -- for your state of mind, says <a data-crosslink-type="article" href="https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/guide-to-psychiatry-and-counseling" data-metrics-link="" dir="ltr">psychologist</a> James Aikens, PhD, an assistant professor of family medicine and psychiatry at the University of Michigan."You're not responsible for being depressed. Your responsibility is to make some reasonable efforts towards feeling better," he tells WebMD.<h2>Baby Steps</h2>When you are deeply depressed, you may not feel like doing much of anything or being with anyone. But rather than hiding out and doing nothing, it's best to be active, even though you may not want to.Ask yourself, Aikens says, "not what do I feel like doing, but how much am I capable of doing?" But don't overreach, or else you may end up feeling worse if you don't accomplish what you set out to do. "Aim for 80% or 90% of that goal," Aikens says."The tendency to take on overly ambitious goals right away is actually quite common in people who are depressed," says Dan Bilsker, PhD, a clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of British Columbia in Canada. Bilsker co-wrote a self-care guide for people with <a data-crosslink-type="video" href="https://www.webmd.com/depression/depression-tv/default.htm" data-metrics-link="" dir="ltr">depression</a> that is freely available online from the university's Mental Health Evaluation and Community Consultation Unit.Don't assume you will be able to leap out of depression and turn your life around immediately. "Start with some very small, detailed, specific goals," Bilsker tells WebMD.<UL><LI>1</LI><LI>2</LI><LI>3</LI><LI>4</LI></UL><div pager="5"> View All</div>

Experts give advice about steps people can take to help ease their depression.

mentalhealth

Mental Health

Experts give advice about steps people can take to help ease their depression.

Recovery from depression can be a long process. A variety of <a href="https://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/depression-treatment-care">treatments for depression </a>exists, but they may take time before an effect is noticed. Weeks, if not months, may pass between the time when you see a health care provider about <a href="https://www.webmd.com/depression/ss/slideshow-depression-overview">depression </a>and when your mood starts to lift.

While some improvement may be seen after starting <a href="https://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/depression-medications-antidepressants">antidepressants </a>, they can take at least three weeks to start having an effect on your mood. What's more, the first medication or combination of <a href="https://www.webmd.com/drugs/index-drugs.aspx">medications </a>you try may not work for you; in that case you'll have to start over.

In the meantime, there are things you can do, as well as things you can avoid, to help yourself feel better, or at least keep from sinking deeper into <a href="https://www.webmd.com/depression/depression-assessment/zz-expire">depression </a>.

You are somewhat responsible -- but not entirely responsible -- for your state of mind, says <a href="https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/guide-to-psychiatry-and-counseling">psychologist </a>James Aikens, PhD, an assistant professor of family medicine and psychiatry at the University of Michigan.

"You're not responsible for being depressed. Your responsibility is to make some reasonable efforts towards feeling better," he tells WebMD.

When you are deeply depressed, you may not feel like doing much of anything or being with anyone. But rather than hiding out and doing nothing, it's best to be active, even though you may not want to.

Ask yourself, Aikens says, "not what do I feel like doing, but how much am I capable of doing?" But don't overreach, or else you may end up feeling worse if you don't accomplish what you set out to do. "Aim for 80% or 90% of that goal," Aikens says.

"The tendency to take on overly ambitious goals right away is actually quite common in people who are depressed," says Dan Bilsker, PhD, a clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of British Columbia in Canada. Bilsker co-wrote a self-care guide for people with <a href="https://www.webmd.com/depression/depression-tv/default.htm">depression </a>that is freely available online from the university's Mental Health Evaluation and Community Consultation Unit.

Don't assume you will be able to leap out of depression and turn your life around immediately. "Start with some very small, detailed, specific goals," Bilsker tells WebMD.

Help Yourself out of Depression

Depression is equal to death.....

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