Introduction: How to Beat Depression

Depression takes away your energy, hopes and drive, making a person feel not themselves anymore. It is created when long-term negative thoughts occupy the person. He or she no longer see positivism in life and thus they feel sad and lonely. If you are amongst people who suffer from depression, then it's time to take control over your life. With the tips mentioned below, you will be able to cope and later overcome depression.

Step 1: Admit Your Depression

Admitting that you have depression is the first and most important step in the process. Most people stay in the shadows, closing themselves deeper and deeper with their thoughts and it's never a positive thing to do. Let your friends and family know about your situation and admit that it is not the world that is negative, but in fact your depression.

Step 2: Never Blame Yourself

Most depressions are created when a person thinks that he or she hasn't achieved any goals in life. It can be also due to rough divorce or a breakup. Never allow a single thought go through your mind that you can't fix how we perceive the world and situations around you. Clear your mind from those feelings in order to beat depression. If you will not be able to do this by yourself, then seek professional help.

Step 3: Set Your Goals

Setting your goals will allow you to keep a track of positive thinking. Make small steps, while making sure they are something you can achieve. Do not put the barrier too high, for example, if your goal is to become a professional actor in a week, then you are hurting yourself while feeding the depression. Instead, start small, learn how to make pasta carbonara or how to write your name in Japanese.

To find out ways on how to set small goals, check the article available on Forbes: http://www.forbes.com/sites/lewishowes/2012/07/06/why-thinking-small-is-the-secret-to-big-success/

Step 4: Exercise

One of the best ways to beat depression is to exercise. Try swimming or running as they are a great way to release stress from your body. Additionally, exercising helps produce more endorphins. These help you feel more energetic and happy when you exercise.

A long walk along the trees and fields can not only help you achieve your fitness goals, but will also provide you with the time for relaxation.

Step 5: Meditation

It is a known fact that meditation is a great way to beat depression. Meditation focuses on relaxing your mind from toxic thoughts. Try meditating to lift up your spirit. Find a peaceful spot where you won't be distracted when meditating. Listen to a relaxing tune or birds singing outside your window. Allow your brain to take a break from your negative thoughts and focus entirely on the meditation technique. This will also help you to release all the stress that you have.

There are plenty of relaxing music available on YouTube, try choosing one that's peaceful.

Step 6: Think Positive

Beating a depression can be a long process but it's worth it. Allowing further negative thoughts flowing through your mind will make the healing process longer. Always think positive and chase out the cloud of negativism in your life. Throw away your baggage that you carry. This step is mainly called "the spiritual spring cleaning" and this article http://www.psychicratings.org/6-steps-to-spiritual-spring-cleaning/ cover a full story on how to constantly feel positive.

Step 7: Socialize

Allowing your friends to help you beat depression is a great step forward in your progress. Try socializing with your friends in real life and make some amazing adventures. Whether you love shopping or camping, now would be a great time to take a break and follow your passion.

Step 8: Join Support Groups

If you live in a big city, you might be able to find many support groups for people struggling with depression. This is a great way to meet people who went through the same situation as you did. They will give you compassion and share their own experiences on how they beat depression. Opening up to other people that you don't know can be difficult at first, but through the experiences and understanding you can save yourself. Find out more on http://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/anxiety-support-group to discover the benefits of joining a support group.

All pictures used used in this guide are licensed under CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication. This article was created as a part of an educational program in overseas high schools aimed for improving English language. Thank you for reading!