Counseling:

The first thing I’ll recommend for more severe mental troubles Is counseling because I am not a professional, and someone who is trained in helping people defeat these things is far more likely to be a reliable resource for your individual needs. Although its not ideal for some, counselors can also provide an outside perspective based on your individual experience with the issue.

Meditation:

By far the most effective method of getting through mental struggles I've come across is meditation. Spending time focusing on your breathing, hanging out inside the place where the issue lies, and coming to peace through self awareness. It will bring you clarity and relaxation, as well as a method of learning your own mental function so your more able to condition yourself and know what type of assistance you truly need.

There are two types of meditation you can use: Guided and Instrumental.

Guided meditation involves a calming voice to instruct the process and create the vision, while instrumental gives you all the power in where you go and what you meditate on. For a beginner, I recommend starting with guided because it allows someone to escort you through your journey and advise you what specifically to be aware of on the way. For those who have meditated for longer periods before or used meditation as a resource before, Instrumental might be more suitable so you can go where you need to and find the answers only you have access to.

Below are a few guided and instrumental meditations that I've used specific to depression relief as well as a first time practice link for beginners.

Banishing Depression Guided Meditation:

Relaxing Guided Meditation to Help with Depression

5 Minute Guided Meditation For Beginners

Overcome Depression - Healing Music

Let go of Sadness & Depression | Positive Energy Meditation Music

Anxiety & Depression Relief - Binaural Beats & Isochronic Tones (With Subliminal Messages)

Socialize:

Socialization is scientifically proven to stimulate the brain and relieve feelings of depression and loneliness. Personally, I believe it is a great coping skill for many reasons. Being with friends offers moral support as well as a slight distraction which is healthy in fragments; allowing yourself a space of relief so your not getting lost in the feeling while not completely avoiding the problem. Even if its not hanging out with friends, taking a moment to be in a comfortable for you social environment, or observing a little extra in your day-to-day social groups, you'll notice many things about the people around you. Say your at school; take an extra second to really feel the energy of the class room. Pay closer attention to the people in the halls. You'll notice so many small things that will help register the fact that we are all human beings just trying to figure out our right way of life, and that none of us truly know what were doing. What I mean by that is you don't need to be so hard on yourself, simply trying for what you want is more than enough. Try it for yourself and you'll see what I mean. The last form of socialization I've found extremely effective in mood boosting is pushing yourself to conversate with people you wouldn't normally. Compliment that person, ask how their day was, ask to pet their dog, literally say hello. Putting positive energy out into the universe will always be rewarded. In conclusion, attempt socializing in at least one of these manners and see how it helps you. If it does, I would love to hear some feedback! Just remember, like I said before, time alone is just as important. Make sure your keeping up with your mental health and taking care of priorities in the mean time.

Animal Therapy:

My personal favorite, and another very effective method. If you already have a pet you understand how much they genuinely come to mean to you. When it comes to depression, animal therapy is most effective in giving one a sense of purpose. Having a pet who loves you and cares for you even if they can't express it through words is such an amazing feeling. Despite any living things lack of communication ability, they will find way to show you how much you mean to them. Overtime you learn to communicate without words and with the right care and attention paid they will serve as a powerfully reliable support system and best friend. In my experience, the deepest bonds come from animals you raise from a young age.

**If your interested in adopting a new best friend, click the button to the right and check out some of the adoption programs for animals in need or check your local shelter before visiting a pet store or breeder

Driving:

This is one that seems silly but is so helpful in certain situations that I had to include it here. I'm sure most of you can agree long drives with good music are therapeutic, but you'd be surprised how much it can actually help with subsiding depression, and its something you can do pretty much anytime. Taking a drive when your feeling down, especially if your able to drive somewhere scenic and in nature, will boost chemical energizes in your brain that are on low function in a depressive state taking you out of that "zone". Silent drives allow you to spend time with your thoughts and sort through troubles while being in a state of transition in your physical surroundings which encourages the same in your mental. If your choosing to drive with music, putting on a new genera or artist will encourage a change in your normal cycle. The other way to help is by playing happy music, whether it be relaxing, upbeat, or just a feel good kinda song, Music is one of the best things to help release dopamine in the brain

Dig for Joy:

This is the easiest method to battle your depression, anytime, anywhere. Something very simple I've found to help me in times where I felt like I had no resource, was to just sit there and think about things that make me happy. Manifest happiness, think back on good memories, think about your last interaction with your favorite person, think about things you loved as a child, build your goals in your brain, think about what you truly want in life and how good it will feel once your there. Physically digging for joy is a good one too. All though not always as accessible, another way to re-spark that happy feeling inside of you is to find actual objects that make you happy. Go through old photo albums or memory boxes, collect all your stuffed animals and lay with them on your bed, go sit under the tree you used to climb and read a book. Everyone's things will be to their own, its up to you to re-discover it.