Treating yourself for Mild Depression

The standard treatments for people with major depression are psychotherapy and antidepressant medications. Yet many people with milder forms of depression find relief by pursuing various activities on their own. The challenge is overcoming the sense of inertia that often comes with depression.

Here are some activities that may help you treat depression without a prescription:

• Join a group. Group activities seem to be especially helpful.
• Exercise. In addition to helping to relieve the symptoms of depression, exercise classes also offer opportunities to socialize with others.
• Try less stressful activities. T'ai chi, yoga, massage therapy, and acupuncture can help.
• Interact with and care for pets.

Some people believe that herbal and dietary supplements may help with mild depression, although there is no evidence that they will help most people. St. John's Wort has been the most popular, but people taking this supplement must be cautious about possible interactions with other medications, including chemotherapy, they may be taking.

Deciding to participate and following through with these types of activities may help someone with mild depression regain a sense of control. But while they may have short-term benefit, these activities are not effective treatments for people with more severe depression.