1. Take care of yourself

It is so important that you continue to eat and bathe and brush your teeth. Your body is important in its flesh and mind, and a lot of the times those things go hand in hand. Showering and putting on clean clothes can make a huge difference in your mood. Also, remember that sometimes your emotions can be the result of low blood sugar. I know that when my blood sugar is low I feel irritable and sad. Just an apple or a couple pieces of toast can pick you up and give you a mindset that is easier to manage.

2. Understand your illness

Know what depression is inside and out. You can’t help yourself if you don’t know what you’re fighting. If you can research and understand the disease you can help yourself to look at things clinically when you know you’re slipping.

3. Find an outlet.

As a former self harmer, I know how difficult it is to quit once you’ve started, and how easy it is to trip into that rabbit hole in the first place. For me personally, I harmed myself because I would get so overwhelmed with hopelessness that I couldn’t find a way to release it. A good alternative to cutting is drawing on yourself with a red marker, or putting ice over the spot. Having an outlet such as writing, or art, or even running, can really help clear your head and give you control over what you are feeling in a positive way.

4. Make sure you have a support system

Friends and family are incredibly important in this case. You need to surround yourself with people who build you up and remind you of who you really are, not what depression makes you believe. This being said, your biggest support system can come in the form of therapy.

5. Attend therapy.

Therapy is so important! You can talk to someone who has a degree in your disease and knows how to listen. They are there to hear what you’re going through and they are there to help you learn how to cope. Therapists are a lot like a personal trainer at the gym. They motivate you and keep you going and remind you of the outcome. Clicking with a therapist and finding one that you can be open with is amazing and can help a lot in digging you out of your hole.

6. Remember that you are still wonderful.

I know that there is a stigma with mental illness, one that people are constantly working to break down. But think of it this way. When you break a bone, you go to the doctors, and they give you a check up and measure you for a cast and eventually you are given stretches to do so once the break is healed you can work back to being 100%. Mental diseases are still wounds that need to be cared for and looked at by a doctor, healing just takes longer. You are still beautiful and strong and worth it.

7. Remember that healing isn't linear.

If healing were a line graph it wouldn’t be straight up and down. That’s because some days are better than others. There are always outliers and underlying factors that can manipulate your healing, but if you are trying you will get there. That’s the end game. If you are seeking help and trying you are going to be just fine.

8. Stick to a routine.

A routine can help you stabilize yourself. When there is little room for surprises you can focus on getting tasks done and getting to the end of the day one step at a time.

9. Plan small things to do that you know you can accomplish.

Accomplishing tasks will help you feel good about yourself. Something like finishing a book, or getting your homework done at a certain time, or eating three meals a day, can give you a list of things to check off and will also make you feel good about getting up and finishing things.

10. Make a list of coping skills that work for you.

Coping is a huge part of learning how to live with depression. They can be small things like breathing on a count or doing stretches, or making a memory jar to pull up when you can’t think of anything positive. Coping skills are tools to help you feel better and grow stronger.

11. You can do this.

You are going to get through this and heal and grow so strong because you deserve to be better and you deserve to be happy. Remember, there is always hope so long as you are alive.