This person wants advice on how to deal with depression.

Hey,

First of all, I'm really glad you reached out to us and please don't hesitate to contact us or anyone else about this. Dealing with depression and these kinds of thoughts are never easy to deal with on your own.

I strongly advise you to talk to someone else, whether that's a parent, school counselor, friend, or any other trusted person in your life, about your thoughts and emotional baggage. Talking to a therapist or joining a support group are good ideas too. You cannot and should not deal with this on your own. Look for support from people who you feel comfortable with. Whoever you turn to justs need to be a good listener and supporter—someone who'll listen without judging you.

It might be challenging to retain a positive outlook and the work necessary to overcome depression on your own is not easy. At the same time, it might be challenging to ask for help due to the very nature of depression. When you're sad, you have the habit to withdraw and isolate yourself, making it difficult to maintain relationships with even your closest family and friends.

You can be feeling too socially drained to chat, ashamed of your situation, or guilty for putting off some connections. Yet, this is only the depression speaking here. Reaching out doesn't indicate weakness. Nor does it make you seem like a burden to others. Your loved ones want to support you in any way possible. However, if you don't have someone to turn to, it's never too late to expand your support system and make other connections.

Make face time prioritized. While texting, social media, and phone conversations are all excellent ways to remain in touch, face-to-face interaction with loved ones cannot be replaced. Talking to someone face-to-face about how you're feeling can be a very effective strategy to both treat and prevent depression. Even if you don't feel like it, make an effort to stay involved in social events. Being alone can often feel more comfortable when you're depressed, but being among other people will make you feel better.

I have been in a situation similar to yours, where my mental health had been declining, but I was lucky to have such supportive people around me. If it wasn't for them, I wouldn't be here. Speaking from personal experience, it does get better. It really and truly does. Find your support system and try some coping methods. Journaling, listening to music, exercising, unplugging from technology—whatever works for you. Try to limit your caffeine (through tea or coffee) intake to a certain amount (maximum 3 cups a day). Getting enough sleep is also necessary.

Another trick to making yourself feel good is to treat your body or inner self as a different person entirely. People are usually nice to others than themselves. You would always rush to help others or be nice to them. Try doing that for yourself. Give your body the good good it deserves, the rest and exercise it deserves, the skincare it deserves, the movies and shows it deserves.

I wish you the best of luck in everything and feel free to contact us again!

Best,

The Advice Column Team