tips to cope with depression and anxiety

(taken from internet
Top Ten Tips to Cope With Depression and Anxiety
Feeling blue? Down in the Dumps? Anxious? Depression and Anxiety can be tough to take.
HERE'S HOW TO WIN OVER DEPRESSION&ANXIETY;:
1. Don't fight it; Acknowledge your emotion; allow yourself to feel your sadness . Fighting depression only strengthens it. As paradoxical as this seems, it works! You don't have to act on it; just feel what you feel–and then release it, like you do with catch-and-release fishing, or like you do when you're in an ocean wave. Like a wave, it will come and it will go.
2. Identify what other emotions you are also feeling. Do you also feel angry, scared; sad? What saddens you? Have you had some losses or disappoint-ments? It can help to Remember: in abnormal circumstances, abnormal feelings are normal.
3. Recognize what's happening in your life that is depressing. What events in your life are your emotions connected to? Does the intensity of your emotion match the events in your life? If not, what else could your emotions be about?
4. Does something need to be done about your difficult circumstances? Do what you CAN do; i.e. balance your checkbook, make a doctor's appointment, talk to your boss, call a plumber, apologize to your friend.
5. Let go of what CAN'T be done. Grieve the losses, forgive your mistakes,and forgive others' mistakes.
6. Don't wait until you feel good to treat yourself well. What would you do IF you felt good? DO IT NOW, even though you don't feel like it. Eat regular, healthy meals , call a friend, take a walk, clean your house, do your laundry, answer the phone, etc.
7. Express your emotions creatively. Play (or write) some music. Write an essay, story or a poem. Draw, paint, knit, carve, stitch, whittle–make something that demonstrates how you feel.
8, Turn your emotion into motion. Exercise, take a walk, ride a bike, go to the gym and work out, throw some ice cubes at a sidewalk, scrub your kitchen floor or bathroom; DO something physical, and do it often.
9. Give Thanks for what is going well in your life. Did you eat today? Do you have clothes? Do you have a roof over your head? Can you read? Did the sun come up today? Start with basics you are grateful for, and expand from there.
GET HELP: when none of these things work; when you do these things, and you still are sinking deep into depression; or when you try, but can't do what you know you could do,Get Help!
Please let me know which of these have been most helpful to you. Can I answer a question for you? I am happy to be of assistance.
Sharon M. Barnes, MSSW, LCSW