Everyone knows the beast.  Burning with the flames of despair the monster rides on your soul and drags you under.  The beast depression, we all face it at one time or another and sometimes the beast wins.

The observer commands us to fight depression with trite commands like "cheer up" and get a hold of yourself. This is because they fear the emotions which bear down  upon their friends or family battling with depression and don't really know how to help them. And so it goes.

Now I'm not a professional expert on dealing with eotional problems so I just can say what has worked for me. Some of the time since I lost my job I just didn't want to get out of bed. I slept all the time to escape from my pain.  Guess what? It didn't go away. 

I stopped taking care of myself like I did before. You know how it goes, first you don't shave every day. Then it's showering that slides and exercise. Thats how i found myself a few months later. Dirty, shaggy and 40 lbs too fat!

One morning I stood in front of the mirror and took a good long look. Ugh! So I shaved ( well, trimmed my beard cause now that I have one I kind of like it) and showered and then I got an exercise bike and started using it every day. Lost 12 pounds and counting.

Structure is Important!

My life was getting better and the depression was less but something was still missing. About this time I started writing a lot more and I realized one day as I was outlining  my daily plan for research and writing that a plan is what I was lacking. People need structure and order in life in order to feel as if they are accomplishing anything.

Be Positive

I started a campaign to address my thinking. Working on what I was reading and this had a funny side effect. It improved my writing. Even my fiction work improved so I will keep on being positive and blessing the Almighty for my blessings while working even harder to turn me into a better me. Positive thinking really works. Read the Power of Positive Thinking, it will change your life.

So in conclusion the things I found that worked for me in battling depression are:

1. take care of yourself- don't let your personal hygiene slide
2. Give your lif some structure- organize your day and be productive
3. Be thankful for your blessings- God loves you
4. Think positive thoughts and your subconsious mind will reinforce it.

I hope this will help someone who might be dealing with depression in these hard times. God bless and keep you all.