I've suffered from depression over more years than I care to recount. As such, I have developed a few tricks to help me get out of it and eventry to stay out of it. Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't. I get points for trying right?

Gratitude lists (I've just recently discovered they have a name, thank you ancientgeekcrone) are just one of theways.

Whenever I feel like I can start to drag myself out of thatdark place I fall into I try to treat myself more kindly. Speak kindly, take a little extra time with myself, etc. A big thing for me is toget back into working out. I know that for me at least it makes me feel better. It also helps with my stress levels. (Plus I canlet out excess anger and aggressionjust by pushing myself harder with whatever I am doing.)

My go to exercises are yoga and walking, plus playing in the yard with the kids. But recently I have taken up interval jogging. Jogging for a minute or so and then walking until I get my breath back,. Seems like not a lot, but for someone who doesn't do that on a regular, boy does it pay off! I'm enoying it so much that I have even begun to think mybe I might try a local 5k this autumn. Could be fun.

I also know that if I put junk into my body I'll feel like junk. And in all honestly that, I think, is a large part of why I get depressed sometimes. Not always but sometimes for sure. So as of late I have been trying to eat as healthily as possible. Very little to no sugar, light on the refined carbs and virtually no processed foods. It helps that myfamily doesn't eat out very often at all and when we do it's almost never fast food. Extra props goes to my wonderful husband who cooks like it's no one's business. 🙂

All and all I have to say I am definately on the upswing and very, very, VERY glad for it.