This is a serious problem faced by many in the world. Many suffer alone and some commit suicide. Very few seek medical treatments to overcome this. It is a pity that people do not consider mental diseases like physical ones. If we take action at the initial stage we will be able to get rid of it. I will try to explain few things one should do to fight against depression at the preliminary stage.

(1) Believe in yourself

When you are in a depressed mood you may loose self confidence. Don't allow that. Tell yourself that you can overcome the problem. Consider this as a cold. The difference is this has affected your mind and the brain. But with proper treatment we can heal it. If you believe in yourself you can get rid of this.

I read in a book on Buddhist Psychotherapy that when we try to suppress strong emotions like guilt, anger, fear, regret, greed, lust, hatred, jealousy and etc these defilements will get buried in our unconscious mind. Depression is a psycho-neurotic condition in the patient and unconsciously he/she is motivated to hide dominant defilements. In other words depression & most of the other mental diseases are defense mechanisms unconsciously used by patients to cover painful memories associated with defilements.

(3) Dig it out.

Try to recall unpleasant things you have experienced in the past. It is better if you can identify the emotions involved with that incident. I read in a book on meditation that you can easily pull out those hidden defilements using vipassana meditation. At the end you will be able to cure depression. Many around the world with different religious back grounds practice vipassana and they're benefiting. You can find out more about vipassana here http://www.dhamma.org/. But someone with a serious condition may find it difficult to sit in one place for a long period. So it is better to take medicine initially. Please mention your condition and the medicine you are taking in the application. If you complete a 10 day course and learn the technique with a sheer determination you will be able to meditate at home comfortably for shorter periods.

I recently came to know that some patients prefer depression to numbness caused by antidepressants. Some commit suicide unable to bear the pain.You can also try the following to get rid of the pain. This is what I do when I get a headache after spending few hours in front of the computer. I often forget to rest my eyes when I sit in front of the computer and end up with a headache. So, I make use of vipassana to get over that. This is not exactly the technique but can be useful enough to experience the impermanent nature of the pain. It's very simple. Sit in a quiet place with a straight back and close your eyes. Try to concentrate on the pain. Be equanimous and mindful. You will realize that the pain is increasing. It will stop at a certain point and disappear. Then again you will experience the pain. Again it will increase and disappear. This process will take place till the pain disappears completely. Sometimes you will get to experience very pleasant sensations like vibrations after that. Before you open your eyes count to ten. Move your attention to your hands, legs and eyes several times. I am not sure whether this will help you. But nothing wrong with giving it a try.

If it is not possible talk or write about your problem to a friend. Those emotions will come out and you will find relief. You can also try Samaritans. Find the nearest branch from this web site www.samaritans.org. They will not reveal your personal information to a third party. If you don't like to go there write a letter about your problem. I underwent training at one of their branches as a volunteer and we were given strict instructions on privacy of the callers. I couldn't serve them due to my tight schedule. But I know that they can help you. They undergo special training to help their callers to dig out the hidden negative feelings and buildup positive ones to replace the negativity.

Stop worrying about negative aspects. Just face it as it is and let go. Do not hold on to them. These problems will not be there forever. They come and go. Be patient. Look at the positive things in your life. Learn to appreciate what you have without thinking about what you don't have or what you've lost. Worrying about what we do not have will not help us in any way to get them but it is definitely enough to loose whatever we have.

If we live regretting the past or worrying about the future we will miss something very important. That is the present moment. Most of us make this mistake. But if we want to enjoy life we should try to make full use of this present moment.

(6) Be mindful

Practice mindfulness. Be mindful about what you do and say. Try to be mindful about your emotions. Meditation and yoga will help you to develop mindfulness. Sit in a quiet place and observe your breath for few minutes. Deep breathing exercises will help you a lot. Get the advice of a professional when you do that. You can also count 1-10, 10-1, ... till your mind is calm and quiet.

Do what you enjoy when you're feeling down to lift the spirits. Other than that join a gym or a sports club and have a full workout. Get some funny videos and have a good laugh. If you get a pet you will find yourself happier than ever. Try to appreciate the beauty of nature. Go to a beach or a place where you get a view of a beautiful scene. If you enjoy traveling select a country where you can enjoy sunshine. There's a belief that cold weather is not good for depression.

I found the following video from www.youtube.com . You will be able to download funny videos from youtube for free.

Think of the less fortunate ones in the society and try to help them. There're so many people with various disabilities who are facing life positively. Visit an orphanage to understand the loneliness of others. The joy we experience when we help others is unbelievable, but true. When we give happiness we get the same in return. But do not expect anything in return when you help. When you go home you can visualize their smiling faces to find real happiness.

At the initial stage the above should be able to help you to overcome the problem. Still if you feel depressed get the help of a professional. You can seek advice from Samaritans for free. There're others like counselors, psychotherapists and psychiatrists who can help. You can also take medicine to reduce depression while practicing the above. There're herbs like St. John's Wort, Ginkgo Biloba, Clove and Ginger to help you as well. Better to seek advice from a professional regarding the correct dose.

I must mention here that this is based on the way I look at it and anyone with a serious condition should seek medical advice without delay. Anyway, always try to look at the positive things in your life. Don't allow this depression to ruin it. Good Luck!