Bad times, bad decisions, bad relationships, bad luck, were all too familiar with these. At various times in my life I have battled with depression, anger, loneliness, and drug addiction. Hardly a candidate to write a self-help book, right?

Well, the fact of the matter is, Im still standing. Throughout all of the turbulence and my darkest of days, the things that have saved my life have been right at my fingertips. They are things that have helped me to heal and to grow. Simple activities that are therapeutic, and that feed my soul.

Let me make one thing perfectly clear: By no means is it my intent to discredit or invalidate the use of Prozac or any anti-depressant medication. I recognize that these are effective and significant tools in the treatment of many psychiatric disorders.

Thousands of people have been diagnosed with clinical depression, schizophrenia, manic-depressive/bipolar, and other significant disorders. In these cases, professional help and medication can be essential for those who are seeking treatment.

This book is not about those people.

There are also thousands of people that are depressed. Truly and deeply depressed. Theres a lot of anxiety going around right now. Things dont work out the way wed hoped or planned, certainly not how wed wanted.
Many of us have lost loved ones, lost jobs, lost our way. Bumps in the road send us off course, out of control. All of this leads to anxiety, and depression.

Well of course it does. Hello!! Were human!! We feel sadness. Just like we feel happiness, jealousy, anger, or excitement. These are natural emotions. Sadness is an appropriate response to things that upset us.
This is life. This happens to everyone.

The question is, how am I going to handle this depression? Am I going to handle it at all?
Will I take steps to find my way out of this darkness? Will I address my situation with strength and maturity?

Or am I going to introduce a chemical substance into my system? A chemical substance that may affect my entire being, physically, mentally, and emotionallymaybe even bring on an entirely new realm of issues to deal with.

Now more than ever, people are reaching to medication to help them get a grip on things. Some with positive results, some not.

Once again this is not an indictment of any type of medicine. If you are currently taking medication that was prescribed to you, I am not recommending that you discontinue usage.

However, if you are someone that has reached a point where you feel that the only solution for your current anxiety is to seek a regimen of prescription medication, or self-medication, heres what I propose

Wait 30 days, then make that decision.

During those 30 days, open your heart and mind to some of the things that I have set forth on these pages.
It is my sincerest hope that these things will help to augment your happiness to a point where it outweighs your depression, and finds you in a comfortable balance.

The answer is not in a substance, it is inside of you. The best cure for depression...is happiness. If youve ever felt happy in your life, then you know that it exists. You need to realize it and actualize it.

go for a walk
Take half an hour and go for a walk. Then you can go back to whatever else you had planned for the day. But dedicate thirty minutes to doing something good for your self.

A good walk, preferably in the daytime when the sun is out. Keep a good pace and take deep, strong breaths.
This will shift your energy into an active mode, and get you out into the world.create something

Our personalities are made up of many elements.
When we get depressed these elements begin to shut down. One, then another, until a chain reaction of closing doors leaves us blocked off from our true self.

We all possess a creative element on some level.
Unfortunately, its one of the first things to shut down during times of crisis. Therefore, it needs to be one of the first that we pry back open. This especially is a door that needs to remain open and utilized daily. So today, dedicate half an hour to your creative spirit.

not today
Two words: Not Today.
We control what occupies our thoughts and what dictates our moods. It is a choice.

It is inevitable that negative thoughts enter your head during the course of the day. Old habits are hard to break. When those thoughts enter your head, its time to choose. Am I gonna let this anger rule me? Not today. Am I gonna sink into that familiar misery? Not today. Am I gonna hold myself back from living and growing?

get in touch
with your spirituality.
If you know where your faith lies, go to it. If you dont know where your faith lies, then you may have greater problems than you think.

Faith is a great source of stability. Having faith in a higher power can help you stay grounded and confident. If you have faith, then you should know that everything is exactly as it should be.