I've been battling off and on with depression for a while now. Unfortunately it's come back, and it's starting to get pretty...depressing? :P Does anyone have any ideas? I've tried going shopping but I actually think I made myself feel worse (damn you, weight :P) and I'm kinda low on ideas. What do you do to get yourself back up?

(please don't say "maybe you should talk to someone" because that's a whole bag of shit I don't want to get into...)

When I'm depressed, I've learned not to vent because while it relieves me, I feel even worse because then I'm thinking about it.

I typically watch a movie, watch a show, read a manga, or watch clips with Zachary Quinto in it. Anything to make me laugh genuinley, and or distract me gets me up.

this always makes me laugh. :}

This might not sound like much, but stay in well-lit areas. Being outside on a sunny day is best.

When I am depressed, I usually do this: -Sleep. -Go to the movies -Call a friend -Eat junk food, then icecream. -If you can, hang out with many people or go to a party.

It really makes you feel better. I hope you'll feel better soon. :( -hugs and squishes-

I write down exactly how I'm feeling. It's just sort of liberating to have it out, even if it's just on paper.

Baths. With sappy music.

I really like being engulfed in water whenever I'm depressed. If I could, I would go swimming, but I can't, so I take a bath. Soothing, relaxing, and just feels good. Bubbles add a little extra too.

Kittens. They always work for me ,no-one can be sad around kittens!

Well, it depends. I was chronically depressed for 5 years, so I was used to feel depressed all the time. Now I've been better for a year (without meds or anything, yay), and whenever I get those down falls now I do something for me. Watching a movie, reading comics, whatever I like. What do you like to do? :)

Sunshine, it makes you feel better. So does volenteering.

My approach is to read depressing stories- it reminds me that life could be worse. I, uh, wouldn't sugest trying that, seeing as I am an extremely cynical person.

fmylife.com? XD

Sunshine if it's not too hot outside. Sunshine is happy. (: Or exercise. (: Releases happy hormones. So does chocolate. And talking. XD So maybe talk to someone? Or something. You can talk to a wall. :p

I second the exercise suggestion. Endorphins = good. I used to suffer from depression too, and purely by accident I discovered how good it felt to run. I'd just take off running. For a while I actually looked forward to gym class because I could run. Now when I feel it prickling in my brain somewhere, trying to get out again, I make myself play DDR. It's fun, it's a game, but it makes me move and helps me feel better. Sometimes it's really hard to just get up and start doing it (usually I just want to curl up and sleep), but it really is worth it.

Do something you want to do. Something that makes you feel happy and tranquil.

Personally I like to take walks in the park at night. I was once feeling shitty on vacation in New Mexico and took a walk in the nearby forest. I had fresh air, nice trees, and it was just very tranquil. I felt amazing afterward. :]

I'm on lexapro for my depression. When I feel sad, I eat. Eating always makes me feel better. or I read. I love to lay on the sofa and read a good book

Write something fluffy and soppy - you start to get caught up with your characters happy life and when you're done you feel better.

I really need some cheering up, too. D:

I've dealt with depression my whole life, and I've found these things to be helpful: sunlight (not kidding. The vitamin D and just the warmth are scientifically proven to help depression), movement (work out, go for a walk... even if you don't feel like it. Especially if you don't feel like it.), and music.

Also, a Dove milk chocolate ice cream bar is the best pick-me-up.

When I get depressed, I tend to curl up on the sofa and watch a film, or sit and draw something, or eat as much chocolate [proven to make you happier] and ice cream as I possibly can. I like to lay in the bath and relax, too, get some nice smelling bubbly bath with some candles and read a good book and play some music softly in the background. That's how I calm myself down and cheer myself up, it works stupidly well.

I've been depressed for a long time, and I've been to see a shrink. I know yours probably isn't that bad, but maybe sometimes talking about it to a close friend can also help you feel better. It's not right to bottle it up, because it makes it worse.

Besides going and talking to someone or seeking therapy for it if it's really severe, I suggest going out and taking a walk in the park if it's sunny. Maybe take a camera and take some pictures. Exercise. And cleaning. I know that last one sounds a little odd, but from someone who's also dealt with very heavy depression in the past, I tend to get really messy and stop caring about things when I get into a depression rut. Cleaning makes the space you live it look better and brighter, and you feel better about yourself for being in a clean living space, and for having done it yourself.

But I cannot stress enough that if you are depressed to the point where it is effecting your everyday life in major ways, then you should probably seek professional help (if you aren't already). I don't mean go find a doctor who's gonna dope you up on whatever the popular drug is, but I personally highly recommend a combo of therapy and psychiatry. It's these people's jobs to help you, and there's no reason to be embarrassed, shy, or resentful of them.

Along with what everyone else is recommending, I'd recommend playing music, not just listening, actually creating. If you can't create an original song, play a song you love, if you don't play an instrument, sing alongan if your not the musical sort, then I'd say you should draw, paint, write, or sculpt. Creating things does wonders for me when I'm depressed.