"Lifestyle Changes for Depression
Lifestyle changes, such as making art, journaling, exercising more, and practicing yoga or mindfulness, can also alleviate depression and the stress that can heighten it. Alternative treatments like massage, acupuncture, and light therapy may also help.
Diet changes, too, can uplift your mood by reducing inflammation and helping to ensure your brain gets the nutrients it needs to function at its best.
One randomized controlled study, published October 9, 2019, in the journal PLoS One, found that self-reported symptoms of depression dropped significantly in just three weeks in young adults who changed from a highly processed, high-carbohydrate diet to a Mediterranean diet focused on vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, unsweetened dairy, nuts and seeds, olive oil, and the spices turmeric and cinnamon. In contrast, the depression scores didn’t budge in a control group of people who didn’t change their diet. (29)
Which Types of Talk Therapy Work Best for Depression?
The Society of Clinical Psychology rates several types of psychotherapy as highly effective treatments for depression: (30)
Behavioral activation therapy The aim of this type of therapy is to reverse the downward spiral of depression by encouraging you to seek out experiences and activities that give you joy.
Cognitive behavioral therapy(CBT) CBT focuses on changing specific negative thought patterns so that you are able to better respond to challenging and stressful situations.
Interpersonal therapy This very structured, time-limited form of therapy focuses on identifying and improving problematic personal relationships and circumstances directly related to your current depressive mood.
Problem-solving therapy This therapy is a form CBT that teaches take-charge skills that help you solve the real-life problems and stressors, big and small, that contribute to depression.
Self-management/self-control therapy This type of behavioral therapy trains you to lessen your negative reactions to events and reduce your self-punishing behaviors and thoughts.

Light Therapy
What’s the Difference Between Grief and Depression?
Given that the primary symptom associated with depression is sadness, it can be easy to think of grief or bereavement as depression. But grief is a natural response to specific experiences, such as the end of a relationship or the death of a loved one. While you might feel regret or remorse, and you might withdraw from usual activities if you are experiencing grief, you’re unlikely to feel the overwhelming sense of worthlessness, thoughts of self-harm or suicide, and other symptoms of depression. Another important difference is that in grief, painful feelings usually come in waves and are often mixed with positive memories.
In some cases, however, grief and depression do coexist, or grief can trigger depression, according to experts writing in the journal American Family Physician. (42) Having a mental health professional help you distinguish between them can ensure you get the support you need.
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Resources We Love
Favorite Organizations for Depression
American Psychiatric Association
The APA offers a wealth of information and resources for people who have depression. We love that you can easily locate a doctor who specializes in treating your condition on their Find a Psychiatrist page.
National Institute of Mental Health
The NIMH is the largest research organization in the world committed to understanding the treatment and prevention of mental disorders. Their site offers information about depression and also lets you search for clinical trials in your area.
Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA)
If you’re looking for support, the ADAA can help you find it. Search for a support group near you or start your own.
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
This organization provides hope, support, and inspiration to those battling depression and bipolar disorder. DBSA chapters offer support groups around the country. Most are volunteer-run and allow participants to meet with others who might have similar struggles.
Families for Depression Awareness
Families need support, too. This organization caters to family members, friends, and caregivers of those who suffer depression. Their free webinars cover ways to spot depression and intervene with those who are affected.
7 Cups App
If you’re feeling sad, lonely, or stressed, the 7 Cups app could provide you with online therapy and emotional support. With180 professional therapists and more than 300,000 trained listeners and licensed therapists, you’ll be able to speak to someone 24/7 in a confidential setting.
Happify
This app offers activities and games to overcome negative thoughts. You’ll receive a “happiness score” that you can improve each time you play. It’s based on effective, evidence-based psychological strategies. The company says 86 percent of those who use the app report feeling better about their lives after just two months.
Bright Light Therapy Lamp
If you suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD), bright light therapy may help improve your symptoms. We like the Verilux HappyLight Lucent 10,000 Lux LED Bright White Light Therapy Lamp. It’s compact and portable, so you can use it on the go. And it received an average of 4.5 stars on Amazon reviews. The cost is around
American Psychiatric Association’s Annual Meeting
The APA’s annual conference covers some of the biggest breakthroughs in the field of psychiatry. There are 135 sessions during the live, three-day conference, and more than 400 on-demand scientific sessions, many of which report on managing depression.
Anxiety and Depression Association of America
The ADAA sponsors an annual conference that brings together more than 1,000 clinicians and researchers from across the United States and the world. The focus of the meeting is to highlight improved treatments and new data on anxiety, depression, and related disorders.
Favorite Retreat
Sierra Tucson
Sierra Tucson, located in Tucson, Arizona, is a recognized retreat and rehab center for those battling depression and addiction. We like that their comprehensive program is based on individual needs and proven treatment modalities. They also work with insurance companies to try to keep your costs down." Reference
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