Moderate physical exercise helps enormously in helping you feel better. It also helps to maintain feeling better. And it has no bad side effects! A sure way to worsen depression is to withdraw from physical activity when you begin to feel bad. You do not have to run a marathon, but try and do some activity such as walking most days. If you are not used to exercise, do not start with anything too strenuous.

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Remember to try and eat healthily. Especially when depressed, it is tempting to binge on carbohydrates (for example, bread), but it is not a good idea. Try and stick to a normal good diet of vegetables, fruit, lean protein and complex carbohydrates.

You may also have to make other changes in your life. You may have to renegotiate your working hours and may have to learn how to not take on more than you can comfortably manage.

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You may have to make decisions concerning work or relationships that may be adding or causing your mood disorder. You will discuss the timing of these decisions with your psychologist or psychiatrist as it is often not a good idea to make major, life-changing decisions while you still have active symptoms.