fighting depression

Fighting Depression by Restoring Your Routines

"5) Eat sensibly. A loss of ones appetite, especially for sensible foods, is very common. Make the effort to eat as much fresh fruit, vegetables, fibre and nutrients as possible. If you find that your stomach is in a knot and the thought of eating fills you with dread, try taking these things in the form of a drink. Use a food blender, juice extractor or similar. There is a wide variety of these machines on the market. Adding an appropriate multi-vitamin supplement to your daily diet can also help. Don't be afraid to allow yourself a food treat now and again, just be careful not to overdo it. "A little of what you fancy does you good", with the emphasis on "little".
6) Get out as often as you can. Even if, at times, all you think you can manage is going out into the garden, then you are, at least, getting some fresh air and a bit of sun on your face. Exercise is a great way to lift your spirits, so even going out to post a letter will help.
7) Keep in touch with family and friends. Losing touch with our loved ones leaves us feeling more isolated so make the effort to meet up with those people you care about and who care about you. Even if you feel that you can't manage to see anyone face-to-face, phone them, write a letter or use email. If you don't want discuss your life with people you know, you could consider the likes of internet forums as an outlet for expression. Talking to strangers is often easier.
8) Look after your personal environment. Housework not only improves the look of your surroundings but also provides good, low level exercise.
9) Don't get bored. Do ANYTHING to fill in that gap. Do a crossword, read a book or magazine that you find interesting, polish the silver, polish your shoes, shave the cat. Just do SOMETHING. Make it an activity you have to concentrate on so that your thoughts are, at least temporarily, distracted from the depression. Even 5 minutes of concentrating on another subject is a welcome "holiday"."