1. Take responsibility

   

   You need to take responsibility because that’s what makes life worth living.

   Not having any obligations might sound great, and as a very attractive alternative way of living, but it’s a trap.

   Without having any kind of duty, you have the advantage that nothing matters, so you can do whatever you want. But the big, largely unseen disadvantage of having no responsibility is precisely that nothing matters. How can you be content and happy when nothing in your life is valuable?

   So take some accountability for your own life. Take responsibility for your social life, your goals, what you need to improve on, and so on. Starting small, and gradually taking on more responsibility would be my best advice.

2. Set goals

   

   One of my best tips to cure depression is setting goals, no matter how small they might seem.

   That’s because it means you’ll have to take the necessary responsibility to reach them. They give your life meaning, and something to pursue.

   Everyone needs goals in their life because why would you come out of bed otherwise? If you are severely depressed, then there might be nothing that interests you anymore. As a result, it’s possible that you don’t have any goals, or will to live anymore.

   If this is the case, then I would say that you should set goals about the things you found important in the past. Like for example getting in shape, painting, gardening, or meeting with friends, for example.

   The only thing that truly matters here is setting goals for yourself that might be worth getting out of bed and living for. And if you don’t want to try the things you liked in the past, then try out some new things you think will bother you the least, even though you might not enjoy it in the end.

   Make long-term goals and split these up into short-term goals. Even better is to write them down somewhere, so you can evaluate how your progress is going and to have something to hold on to when times get tough. Writing things down is also a very useful measuring tool to see how far you’ve already come.

3. Exercise

   

   Every single person on this planet should exercise. It’s good practice to keep your body and mind in shape.

   Exercising releases endorphins, which are our “happiness” hormones. The same effect can be noted when we eat chocolate or drink alcohol. Exercising, however, is a lot healthier than both these alternatives.

   Why is this important? Because your endorphin-serotonin system is basically out of wack when you’re severely depressed.

   To combat this, exercising is a powerful cure since it releases endorphins. All forms of physical exertion are effective. Both for your general well-being and for curing your depression. The most efficient and healthiest way is to combine cardio with a form of resistance training such as lifting weights or performing bodyweight exercises.

4. Fix your sleep schedule

   

   This easy tip is hard to implement. Mainly because you have no goals in life anymore when you are severely depressed. This makes it hard to come out of bed in the morning because why bother to get up when there’s nothing you look forward to?

   It also doesn’t help that you are tired all the time because of all the negative thoughts and all the ruminating you’re doing. Factor in having a lot of trouble falling asleep and sleeping through, and you can imagine why it’s so challenging to fix this unhealthy sleeping pattern.

   Yet, going to bed and waking up at a fixed time does wonders for your sleep schedule. Being depressed means your biological rhythm is out of wack, so you’ll need to try to reset this and keep it nice and steady. Creating a good, healthy sleeping routine will aid you in keeping your biological rhythm and negative emotions in check.

5. Change your mentality

   

   Oftentimes, though not always, people who are depressed are overthinkers who focus more on the negative events than they do on the positive events. Or, they may see the faults and wrongs of the world more than other people who are oblivious to all the suffering going on.

   Sometimes, this toxic way of thinking is so pronounced that they can’t even see the optimistic events happening in life anymore, which leads to them becoming angry, cynical, and resentful of others and the world they live in. That’s why you should learn to control your thoughts to moderate your emotions to feel happier.

   Even a negative circumstance can bring about positive experiences and changes. So you need to actively try to look at the good things that happen in life, no matter how small those might be.

   I’m not asking you to renounce the fact that bad things are happening in this existence because that’s the harsh reality of the situation. But it’s also true that there are a lot of good things happening in the world at this very moment. You just need to readjust your mentality and perspective to find those positive things.

6. Medication

   

   Depending on how severe the depression is, you might have to take antidepressants to function somewhat. If your depression is not as intense, then it can be possible to beat depression without medication.

   Whatever reasons you have not to take antidepressants, they’re all moot when you’re dead. That’s why I think you should always take antidepressants when you’re suicidal, or at risk for self-harm.

   Whether it’s because you don’t trust the pharmaceutical companies, or because you view relying on pills as a form of “weakness”, that doesn’t matter if you are so messed up that you are going to harm yourself. This might sound harsh, but it’s true. All those points become invalid if you are suicidal.

   I’m not saying that medication is going to fix the cause of depression. But, it often decreases the harsh symptoms that depression brings with itself, which will help you to at least function decently enough to allow you to do other things to cure the root of your depression. In short, it can help to make the depression more manageable.

7. Seek help

   

   One of the most obvious, yet best things to do to treat depression is to seek help.

   Both professional help and support from close friends and family are invaluable to sustain yourself and get you through the rough patches in your existence.

   The reality is that everyone needs support and a shoulder to cry on from time to time. A good support network can help you to recover from depression by changing your mentality and the way you behave.

These are just some tips to fight against this debilitating mental disorder. But a more comprehensive guide to beat depression might be in order. Especially when you’re severely depressed.