“That's the thing about depression: A human being can survive almost anything, as long as she sees the end in sight. But depression is so insidious, and it compounds daily, that it's impossible to ever see the end.”
– Elizabeth Wurtzel, Prozac Nation
Sometimes it does feel impossible, but you CAN regain hope.
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Here's a song I find inspiring. It is rap, and I know that's not for everyone. But it's full of hope and inspiration.
Hold on.
I don't know about you, but right about now, I just want to lock out the world and watch videos. Perhaps you can relate? Many of us are feeling nervous, depressed, frightened, confused, uncertain...
What can you do to stave off depression in precarious times?
As often as you can manage, focus outside of yourself and engage in the world.
Help someone else. Give blood. Talk to a senior citizen. Volunteer once a week.
No need to make a big commitment that may feel overwhelming.
Do something – no matter how small it seems to you – that is not about you. Acts of kindness and acts of service can fend off depression.
Create regular eating habits to ease depression.
There can be relief in simply not thinking about what to eat for dinner every day, and not foraging throughout the day, but rather having a simple, regular plan.
There can also be significant physical relief as digestion becomes more regular.
When carbohydrates are regularly decreased, especially simple sugars, and vegetables are increased, there is often a mood stabilizing effect. That is a lot easier to accomplish when you have a plan and have created a habit instead of grabbing things on the fly.
Rumination used to be a major problem for me, and it still plagues me at times. "Rumination" is the term for what a cow does with its food -- chewing the same bit over and over again, swallowing it, then bringing it back up to chew more. Wash, rinse, repeat. Sound familiar?
From the website of the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy center of Los Angeles:
"Rumination is a common mental habit that involves endlessly replaying negative thoughts or feelings, often related to past or future events. Persistent overthinking and repetitive thoughts can take a significant toll on your mental health, leading to an increase in negative emotions, and psychological disorders like anxiety and depression. Although people who ruminate often do so with the belief that they are solving a problem, the reality is they are ensuring their mood remains low by not participating in rewarding activities. If rumination is not actively targeted in treatment, significant research has shown it will result in slower symptom reduction during treatment and can lead to a poorer response to therapy. Because poor treatment outcome is associated with rumination, there are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) interventions specifically designed to teach people how to stop ruminating."
Here are some tips from their website, and a LINK to delve into it further. I have found working toward minimizing my rumination a huge help in reducing my depression.
Journal.
Distract yourself.
Be mindful.
Make a plan.
Consider new perspectives.
Know your triggers.
Schedule your worry.
Recognize unproductive worry.
See a therapist.
CNET.COM published a list of the Best Mental Health Apps of 2025.
NOTE: Not all of these apps are free. This list does not imply endorsement.
Best online therapy apps - Talkspace
Best meditation mental health app - Calm (FREE)
Best app to combat negative thinking - Moodfit
Best mental health app to boost your mood - Happify
Best mental health app for anxiety - MindShift CBT - (FREE)
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BEST FREE MENTAL HEALTH APPS (From sources across the web)
Calm
MindShift CBT - Anxiety Relief
Happify
PTSD Coach
Sanvello
Insight Timer - Meditation
Smiling Mind
Breathe, Think, Do with Sesame Street
CBT-i Coach
Fabulous
I Am Sober
Managing Your Stress and Anxiety
NOCD
QuitNow
Better Help - Therapy
Youper - CBT Therapy Chatbot
Thanks to Shakespeare, March 15 is well known as the Ides of March (he didn't create that term). In his play "Julius Caesar" a soothsayer warns Caesar to "Beware the Ides of March!" March 15 was the day that Caesar was assassinated by people who were his closest friends and colleagues. Yikes!
Now,
I don't promote paranoia. Trust no one? I love the X-Files, but
that's kind of bleak. And most importantly it doesn't serve you very
well.
Who can you trust? Find someone with no history with
you and no preconceived notions of who you are. Someone objective.
Someone
trained to objectively listen to you and guide you.
Here's list of 5 ideas to get you started -- but there are so many more resources to get help.
* Your family doctor can always refer you for the appropriate counseling.
* Your school guidance counselor has a comprehensive list of help in your area.
* Any church, synagogue or place of spiritual observation. The doors are always open to places of worship, and no matter what you believe or if you are a non-believer, there are people there trained to listen who have a lot of community resources to refer you to.
* Crisis hotlines are available for most issues. The people who answer are trained, experienced and compassionate.
* Support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (and many others) offer help from your peers -- people who have some of the same issues you do and can simply listen and offer nonjudgmental support.
Most importantly, please get help if you need help.
A Personal Note
For years "It's not a tumor!" -- a line Arnold Schwarzenegger said in "Kindergarten Cop" -- was my go-to joke. I said it all the time. Seriously, people got a bit annoyed with my lame humor (and terrible Arnold impression).
In 2020 -- the perfect year for it -- I found out it WAS, in fact, a tumor. I was diagnosed with a very large (2" diameter) tumor right in the middle of my brain. The middle front-to-back, top-to-bottom and side-to-side. Just sitting there growing and putting increasing pressure on the rest of the brain.
It was benign, thank all deities, and I had successful surgery to remove it on my birthday. A rebirth for me.
So, first of all -- 2020 sucked.
Second -- my 2020 was pretty lucky, after all, as the tumor that eventually would have killed me was finally discovered and removed.
Third -- you really, really, really, really should not self-diagnose or self-treat.
This website is written by a layperson, but even if I was an eminent research biologist or renowned psychologist, the advice would be the same. See a doctor. In person. Right now.
If you are depressed or have ANY symptoms, frankly, see a doctor and get a thorough check-up. Doctors are pretty smart. A fantastic G.P. knew the first time we talked that I needed an MRI.
Get help.