[One]

As a victim of depression, I'd like to help spread the word on how I cope with it everyday by creating this thread and sharing it with all of you, hoping it doesn't lead to anything suicidal.

Here are some great ways to cope with depression:

1. Exercise
2. Laughter
3. Friends & Family - Communicate with them!
4. Reading
5. Working

My personal favourite would have to be laughter, as they always say laughter is the best medicine.

[Vitani]

You should add 'Communication' to this list as well!

[Feat]

I'd say Laughter and Talking with other people are the best ways to get rid of depression. I hope you have helped some people out, and Vitani, I wish you the best of luck with your depression.

[OversouL]

As a victim of depression, I'd like to help spread the word on how I cope with it everyday by creating this thread and sharing it with all of you, hoping it doesn't lead to anything suicidal.

Here are some great ways to cope with depression:

1. Exercise
2. Laughter
3. Friends & Family
4. Reading
5. Working

My personal favourite would have to be laughter, as they always say laughter is the best medicine.

This is really true. When I get depressed I always do a happy activity and try to control my feelings. < _<

[One]

You should add 'Communication' to this list as well!

Thanks for the advice, I will add it now!

[thatguy1232123]

As someone who was diagnosed with depression and put on anti-depressants about 5 years ago and 1 year after taking the medication was taken off because of improvement in my emotional functionality, I'd like to say how I did it.

I started taking the pills and immediately hated being on them. They didn't make me any happier, they just made me eerily calm. I was a freshman in high school and that was when my grades plummeted. I wanted to get off of the pills so I just pretended to be happier around everyone. Eventually I did it enough to the point where my doctor took me off of them and my two therapists said I was pretty much fine and I could stop going to them if I wanted to.

The funny thing is though I was pretending to be happy, I actually became happier. I learned over the next 4 years that happiness and depression is largely a choice. If you're sad, you're usually allowing yourself to be sad. That's not always the case, of course, such as when a family member dies or something. That's something that's just going to make you sad regardless. What I mean is that you can make yourself happy if you want. What worked for me the most was going to see my friends and family and talking and doing fun things like playing video/board/card games, going out and bike riding or swimming, or just generally doing something I liked to do. I got more into drawing and writing and into my studies. Eventually my grades picked up and I got into college and now I have maintained a 4.0. Can't complain, right?