If you suffer from depression, you already know how difficult it can be to manage the condition. Part of the problem is that it makes you not want to do anything! There is hope for you, however. Read on for some tips to help you start to feel better.

When you are trying to improve your depression symptoms, remember that it is a long road. Some people think that depression can be cured right away, and get disappointed when their symptoms do not go away right away. Stay focused and be proud when each symptom slowly does go away.

Do not depend on herbal alternatives to medication like St. John's wort. trials of herbal remedies show that they are far less effective than pharmaceuticals, especially for moderate to severe depression. If you are wary of using medication to treat your depression, try talk therapy as a first-line treatment.

Challenge your depressive thinking patterns. If you are thinking something about yourself, consider if you'd ever make that statement about another person. If the answer is no, you're probably being overly hard on yourself. Try to reframe these types of thoughts in a more realistic and constructive manner by making statements that provide suggestions on how to fix the problem.

Make sure you're getting about eight hours of sleep a night. People with depression tend to either sleep too little or far too much. In either case, both your mood and your health will suffer. Schedule your sleep patterns so that you're getting just the right amount of sleep each night.

Remember to keep a positive attitude. Studies show that people who are depressed often minimize their talents and accomplishments, instead focusing on the negative aspects of their life. Take a page out of the classic children's novel Pollyanna" and make a game out of positivity. In the novel, Pollyanna forces herself to find something good about every situation, no matter how small it may seem.

Avoid caffeinated beverages such as coffee, tea, and soda. Caffeine has been shown to decrease the amount of serotonin in your brain, which can depress your mood. Caffeine will also make you jittery and anxious, adding to your depression. Finally, caffeine can affect your sleep schedules, causing further problems with an already disrupted system.

Never underestimate the role of diet, exercise, and good sleep in staving off depression. If you are feeling depressed, a quick fix may be a swim, bike ride, run or brisk walk. In the long term, avoiding processed foods, getting light exercise daily, and being certain to get 8 hours of good sleep every night may permanently chase away your blues.

If you have medical depression you should anticipate that many people won't be able to understand it. Most people think that depression is just like being really sad but true sufferers know that this is not the truth. If people say things like "just chin up" to you, try to realize that they mean the best and just ignore it.

Diet can be a real factor in your depression. Eating healthy food can decrease the symptoms of your depression. Stay away from foods that are high in fat and try to keep a diet that is healthy.

Do not use the words "depression" or "depressed" in your vocabulary. Labeling yourself with a vocabulary that specifies depression will exacerbate the stigma attached to them. When you are struggling with a spell, consider it a period of low mood instead. It's easier to ponder simple mood elevation than to worry about combating an entire condition.

The hardest part about curing depression is starting to work on it. Depression can make you not want to do something about your condition, but it's so important for you to fight through this. Try these tips NOW, to start on the path toward a happier life without depression.