Stay connected: typically having depression causes you to want to withdraw from the people around you. However, isolating yourself can actually worsen your symptoms. Making an effort to stay connected-even just to a few people-can give you the support you need to feel some temporary relief from your symptoms.Not to mention talking to people can help you focus less on your own feelings and more on what's going on outside of your depression.
Do things for yourself: you won't be able to force yourself to feel happy; however, you can at least make attempts at keeping up with things you previously found enjoyable or found relaxing. Get out and exercise, sit down with a book and a cup of tea, or try out some meditation-you may not enjoy everything that you once did but taking the time to focus on something just for yourself can help you find one or two activities that can help you handle depression.
Remember your physical health: while matters of physical health may not feel important, keeping up with things like a nutritious diet or getting enough sleep at night can help you on your journey to figure out how to beat depression. Issues with physical health can add further stress and anxiety that worsens depression. So take the time to make sure you incorporate some form of exercise into your day (whether it is something as simple as a few yoga poses or more physical like a run) and focusing on foods low in sugar and refined carbs and high in nutrients (particularly B vitamins, which have shown in studies to trigger depression when you don't have enough of them). Get some sun: studies have shown that sunlight can improve overall mood, so making sure to get outside for a few minutes every day can reduce feelings of depression.
Challenge negative emotions: it's important to actively think of your depression and depressive thoughts (e.g. you're not good enough, nothing good is happening in your life, etc.) are separate from you. These thoughts and symptoms are not an accurate view of who you are and how your life is going. So, while difficult, it's important to try to challenge negative thoughts stemming from your depression and find positive thoughts to focus on instead.
Expose yourself to funny and lighthearted entertainment: it may seem too simple but even watching a funny movie or reading a book more suited to a lazy Sunday than a classroom discussion can help you combat depression by making you smile and laugh, pulling you out of depression for a short while.
If you're suffering from depression and are still in the process of getting professional help, trying these different self-help techniques can lessen your symptoms and help you recover a sense of normalcy in your life. However, it is best to note that these are meant to be temporary and supplementary tips for a professional treatment plan.