How to avoid going though depression , you feel like there nothing left can you fix it before it gets worse?

Sometimes depression is a physical disease, a chemical imbalance. There is hope. It does get better. We go through cycles in our lives. Times that we think things are at their worst and that it never will get better. The good news is that things get better. That one thing or person that your life has been missing may come along.

Medication is vital if you have a chemical imbalance. You need to see a Doctor. It takes a few weeks, but once your Doctor finds the right medication, it is like a miracle. It is important to catch it early. The longer it goes without treatment from a Doctor, the harder it is to treat. Therapy also helps.

"Although you may not be able to prevent an initial bout of depression, you may be able to prevent a recurrence (relapse) or keep your symptoms from getting worse by:

Taking your medications regularly as prescribed. Depression often returns if medications are stopped too early or are not taken as directed.
Continuing to take medications after your symptoms improve. Taking your medicine for at least 6 months after you feel better can help keep you from getting depressed again. If this is not the first time you have been depressed, your doctor may want you to take these medicines even longer. 9
Continuing with cognitive-behavioral therapy even after medications have been stopped. Research shows those who continued this type of counseling for 2 years after medications were stopped had lower rates of relapse.8
Eating a balanced diet.
Getting regular exercise.
Seeking treatment immediately when you first notice new symptoms of depression-or symptoms that are getting worse-such as feelings of hopelessness or sadness or loss of interest or pleasure in most activities.
Maintaining a regular sleep pattern.
Avoiding drugs and alcohol.
It is difficult to prevent all recurrences of depression. However, you may be able to prevent or reduce the severity of future episodes. If you are on a maintenance dose of medication to treat ongoing depression, be sure to take all of your medications as directed by your health professional. Keep your counseling appointments. Seek help when you notice the first symptoms of depression, especially if your depressive episodes are moderate to severe." source = http://www.webmd.com/depression/tc/depre...

Depression isn't always avoidable, biology plays an important role in it. There are things that you can do to possibly avoid, lessen, or shorten the duration of a depressive episode however. One of the best things you can do is exercise, join a gym (and go) take up running or a group sport. Exercise releases endorphins (a natural drug in your body) that act as a strong antidepressant. This really does work, the trouble you will find with this is getting someone who is depressed motivated enough to participate in physical activity.. If you can, however, they will thank you forever.

A couple of questions:
1) Have you seen a doctor or psychiatrist? I ask because there are several good antidepressants that can help.
2) Are you seeing a therapist/counselor? If not, perhaps you should consider this as well, since s/he could give you some tips for coping with your depression such as exercising (which releases neurotransmitters similar to what is in some medications, but do not overdo exercise,) journaling, positive affirmations (even if you don't believe them at first,) and more.

Good luck.

GET OUT FORM YOUR SHELL!!! involve yourself in outdoor activities, socialize with others, sweat it out, shout it out... don't take anti-depressants, you might just depend on it. you can do it!

The earlier you treat depression, the easier it is, and the quicker you recover, because depression compounds the situation: for example; not exercising, or eating properly.

Ask yourself: "Why do I feel depressed, and when did I first start to feel this way: can I associate this with any recent change in my life?" (if so, it is probably situational depression: counselling, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is indicated). Or, was it a more gradual thing, with no apparent cause? (nutritional deficiencies, hypothyroidism, environmental toxicity, or reactions to some medications, etc., becomes more likely as the cause).

Depression: I KNOW, from experience, how difficult it is, but once you drag yourself out of bed, throw on a dressing gown, and have a little time in the morning light, preferably doing easy stretching exercises, then have a shower, a cuppa, and either fish, or scrambled eggs, and possibly bacon for breakfast.

These provide a lasting energy boost: no carbohydrates for 2 hrs, or extremely little; a teaspoon of sugar is OK, but Xylitol is preferable, (health food stores) or fruit sugar (fructose, such as "Fruisana", from supermarket sugar aisles) or even a LITTLE honey. Splash cold water on your face, to revive you, as needed. No daytime sleeping; only 8 - 9 hrs at night. Overall though, low to moderate levels of protein suit most people best, with considerably more of the complex carbohydrates, preferably from wholefoods, and a smaller amount of fat, or oil.

Antidepressants work quicker than the following; 2 - 6 weeks, but you may have to adjust dosage, or types, whereas St. John's wort is effective for most people, tolerance doesn't develop, and the few side effects don't occur often, and even then are normally not severe.

It doesn't cause sleeping problems, or weight change, but usually takes at least 2, and generally 4 - 6 weeks to become effective. A recent, independent German double blind study showed it to be as effective as Sertraline (marketed in the USA as Zoloft: a commonly prescribed antidepressant) in cases of major depression, with far fewer side effects, and those were generally better tolerated, with a lower rate of discontinuation. Unlike antidepressants, where sexual dysfunction is a common side effect, it happens much more rarely with St. John's wort (I have noticed no effect in this area).

Remember back to a time when life was full of promise, or a day when you felt particularly good, or possibly excited from a good result. Emotional states are associated with memories, and if it isn't major depression, this method can help.

A multidimensional approach to treating depression without medication follows. All except for no. (7.) are safe to use with medication, but not St. John's wort, because of interactions, and it's sensible to check out anything else first with your doctor.

(1.) Take 4 Omega 3 fish oil supplements, daily: (certified free of mercury) it is best if consumed with an antioxidant, such as an orange, or grapefruit, or their FRESHLY SQUEEZED juice. If vitamin E is added, it should be certified as being 100% from natural sources, or it may be synthetic: avoid it. Also take a vitamin B complex which is certified as being 100% of natural origin; a deficiency in vitamin B9 (folic acid, or folate) is known to cause depression. Around 30% - 40% of depressed people have low vitamin B12 levels. Depressed females using the contraceptive pill may benefit from vitamin B6 supplements.

(2.) Work up slowly to at least 20 minutes minutes of exercise, daily, or 30 - 60 mns, 5 times weekly. Too much exercise can cause stress, which isn't wanted when dealing with depression.

(3.) Occupational therapy (keeping busy allows little time for unproductive introspection, and keeps mental activity out of less desirable areas of the brain).

(4.) Use daily, one of the relaxation methods in sections 2, 2.c, 2.i, or 11, and/or yoga, Tai Chi, and/or the EFT, in sections 2.q, 2.o, and section 53, at http://www.ezy-build.net.nz/~shaneris whichever works best for you.

(5.) Initially, at least, some form of counselling, preferably either Cognitive Behavio(u)ral Therapy, or Rational Emotive Behavio(u)ral Therapy.

(6.) Maintain a mood chart, and daily activities schedule, as per page R, in section 2, at ezy build.

(7.) As options, if desired, either a known, effective herbal remedy, such as St. John's wort, (the strength varies, but the supplier should be using a standardised hypericin content, so follow the directions) or supplements, such as SAMe, or Inositol (from vitamin and health food stores, some supermarkets, or mail order: view section 55).

If 5HTP is used to boost serotonin levels, (which are low in depressed people) it is best taken with a high carbohydrate, minimal protein meal, like pasta with tomato & basil, and avoid protein for 90 minutes, before, and after, to maximise the amount crossing the blood/brain barrier.

Also, 80% of people in the Western world have low magnesium levels, and these are known to cause depression & anxiety. Try the magnesium supplement types shown in http://www.real-depression-help.com/ Some of these will be available in pharmacies, or supermarkets. Low levels of calcium, and potassium can also cause depression. Have your blood tested, and correct any deficiencies, preferably through improved nutrition.

An improvement can be noticed in as little as a week, if a deficiency is the cause. Also, iodised salt is much preferable to regular salt (one of the treatments in books on depression is iodine drops).

Try to imagine, as vividly as possible, a time in the not too distant future, when you have overcome this temporary setback, and things are much better.

Most depressive episodes last for around 6 months, which is why treatments should be maintained for at least that long, and preferably 1 - 2 years. Then wean off medication, or herbal remedies, over at least 2 weeks, with medical advice, and see how things go, but I would maintain the other treatments, with the possible exception of therapy. Even then, realise that depression recurs in about 50% of cases: know your early warning signs, and be quick to act at the first hint of it returning.

This is a shortened version of the much more comprehensive post, which may be seen on page R, in section 2 of ezy build, above, but to gain full appreciation, it's really best to view the whole of section 2.
~~~ If you are already taking antidepressants, and want to use the wort, I suggest that you taper off the antidepressant, over at least 2 weeks, with medical advice as to how long to take, before beginning the wort, which is believed to act by increasing the availability of serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine, moderately, rather than selectively giving the serotonin levels of the brain a large boost.