It has happened to nearly all of us at one time or another or maybe to some more than others, but humans do get depressed sometimes with reason and what is even more perplexing is when there is no reason at all, at least no reason that we can think of.

I myself suffer bouts but one time I got a more severe depression than usual. It was with an obvious reason as I had just got separated, had left my house, my security and was sitting in a small rented bed sitter and trying to work out how to start my life all over again. I was very frightened. I hadn't worked for over 20 years and suddenly everything was down to me.

I sat in an armchair in a daze. Didn't put on the television nor the radio and just sat there really not thinking any more about anything but just slowly succumbing to a feeling that was near like drowning. I felt myself going down and down and this went on for the whole of the day until towards the late evening without having had anything to drink or eat I suddenly began to think again. I couldn't let this go on and had to try and swim up to the surface as it were before it became too late.

I crawled out of the armchair and went to the bathroom and stared at myself in the mirror. I looked awful and my eyes were dull and my face was drawn and ashen. I thought then that what would my poor deceased father say if he could see me from where ever he was.

That was it. I was going to start on the face, then the body and then the clothes as if I were trying to remedy a smudged painting and get it to look good and vivid again. And to cut a long story short it helped me a lot. When I had finished with my beauty treatments, put on my best clothes and not to mention a lovely squirt of exotic perfume (very important for wakening up the nasal senses) I looked back in the mirror and couldn't help but smile out of satisfaction at what I had been able to achieve. I had probably taken off 10 years and I felt very pleased with myself which in turn started to make me feel happier so it's all a chain of positive things.

So since then I always do the following things when I feel as if I am starting to get the first few hints of a depression coming on and maybe if I tell you about them they might help you when you find yourself in the same position.

The first best thing is to have your hair done the way you like it the best, but just the fact that it is clean and fresh is a great start.

Have a warm bath with aromatic bath oils and candles lit around the bath and put some music on but make sure it is cheerful and melodious, and while you're lying there have a face mask on and some cool packs for your eyes or even two bits of sliced cucumber will do. Exfoliate your skin while you're still in the bath with a loofha so that the oils can get well in to do their work and soften your skin.

But don't stay in too long or else you will be wrinkled and might slide backwards down the slope of depression again when you see yourself!

When you come out decide which outfit you have that you always feel good in and put it on with your finest underwear. Don't leave these things for a special day because if all this achieves cheering you up then today is a special day. Put your favourite ring on, or necklace or whatever you like the most.

Start to put some make-up on. Not too much, just a little light foundation to even out your skin, a bit of blusher is very important to put colour into you and then some mascara and if you use it a soft moisturising lipstick that makes your lips feel soft and plump.

Do your nails and paint them carefully. If you don't like nail varnish put on a good hand cream and a light dab of nail gloss.

Then put on your favourite perfume or cologne. This will be lovely for you and is a kind of finishing touch to the make-up.

Tidy up your house or apartment as much as you can (no big spring clean, you can leave that to another day when you are feeling stronger). Just the fact that the things around you seem to be in some sort of order makes your mind feel more in order as well.

Make yourself a light salad and a fruit juice to give you some vitamins.

Decide to go for a walk in the fresh air and if it's a nice day look at all the beautiful things as you pass them by such as some pretty flowers, a flowing stream or if you are in a city a nice shop window with pretty clothes that you might one day go back and buy! Or even better still look at yourself in the reflection of the window and feel proud at the way you look and smile to yourself.

Sometimes we rush around so much in life that we take things forgranted. Maybe we've seen the same flowers every day but we never really stop to look at them properly and think how lovely they are - we just don't have the time, but today you are trying to cure yourself and so you have to spare a little time.

If you have a special friend or a relative, try to arrange to meet them and go somewhere nice for a coffee or a snack. If you have some special worries on your mind maybe you can talk them over, or if you prefer not to, talk about things that you like to try and take your mind off the problem.

Make a list of all the things that you would like to do in the future and put them into two columns. One headed Possible and the other Not likely but you never know! Try and aim to achieve as many of the Possible ones in the course of a year or two and as you go crossing them off you will feel that you are progressing with your accomplishments, and if you were able one day to cross one off in the Not likely list, well that would really give you a big 'wow' feeling.

If you have some spare money, which in these times of crisis is a bit difficult, but you never know, buy yourself something that you like. Nothing expensive, unless you're very rich, or else you'll feel guilty afterwards and that would be another backward slide! I don't know, but something like a pretty scarf or a new lipstick.

When you come to the end of the day, settle down with a good book or try to watch a comedy video. Have a light supper and make sure you've got clean and crisp new sheets on your bed as it's such a lovely treat getting into them. Go to sleep, hopefully have sweet dreams and tell yourself that you'll think about any problems tomorrow because after a good night's sleep they will all seem only half as big!

I hope this will help anyone who reads it or at least just a little bit as a small depression is better than sinking into a big one.

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