Coping with Depression

About 1 in 10 adults in the United States experience depression.

The most difficult thing about depression is that it affects every part of the suffering individual's life, from employment and relationships to motivation, patience, and more. A 2013 study performed by the  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that the most likely to be depressed included:

• persons 45-64 years of age

• women

• blacks, Hispanics, non-Hispanic persons of other races or multiple races

• persons with less than a high school education

• those previously married

• individuals unable to work or unemployed

• persons without health insurance coverage

Coping with Depression at Home

Tamara Hill, MS, a therapist specializing in child and adolescent behavioral and mood disorders including trauma, recently put together a helpful list of things that someone suffering from depression can do to help cope with it at home. We've pulled out some of her helpful tips and listed them below.

Is it Truly Depression?  Oftentimes, depression can actually be a medical condition. A few examples include:

• An under-active thyroid or thyroid disorders (causing poor metabolism)

• Cancer

• Heart problems

• Alcohol abuse

• Chronic debilitating physical pain

• Migraine headaches

• Anemia

• Chronic fatigue syndrome

• Medications taken for other conditions

• Poor sleeping patterns

Change your diet. Try to limit unhealthy foods that can slow your metabolism.

Educate yourself. The more you know about depression, the better you can identify it. Feel free to look to the 3-C site, as well as other reputable sites like PsychCentral.com, NAMI and WebMD.

Engage in activities. Whether it is yoga, taking walks, talking with loved ones, watching a movie or taking a warm bath, treat yourself with things that can make you feel good, even when you might be feeling depressed.

Are there any other things that help you feel better when you're depressed?