I know from my experience in breaking up that I went through different emotions, and my share of depression. I don't do drugs (illegal or prescribed) but at times I would self medicate with alcohol (not good). Since then I have been trying to research different ways to deal with my depressive moments effectively...I already knew about working out helping with depression...but sometimes we don't have the time to work out due to many things, work, parental obligations, etc.

A friend suggested this article and book and I thought I would share. (Not an endorsement)

Excerpt:

Taking drugs for depression often turns out to be a medical and emotional yo-yo. If one drug doesnt work, says the American Psychiatric Association, try another. If you dont get relief from changing one drug for another, use a combination. For a third of the population though, according to recent research, no drug works. It is heart-breaking to read how many sufferers, especially teen-agers, commit suicide even while on their meds.

Theres some light at the end of the tunnel. Physical exercise and cognitive behavioral therapy are now shown to be as effective as anti-depressants. The best cognitive behavioral technique I have found for depression is Brainswitching, which was developed from neuroscience research and brain mapping.

Brainswitching uses simple mind exercises to switch the neuronal activity from the emotional part of the brain (the subcortex) to the thinking part of the brain (the neocortex) which does not have the capacity for depression.

Heres an example of an exercise. If you wake up depressed, instead of thinking Im so depressed, think some neutral or nonsense thought over and over, repetitively, like green frog, green frog or yes, yes, yes, yes, or sing a nursery rhyme to yourself like Row, row, row, your boat. Scream it in your mind if you have to. Concentrate on the phrase you have chosen. Refuse to think the thought I am depressed. It wont take you long to get really good at this.

Concentration upon your neutral or nonsense thought in the neocortex will thoughtjam the cognitive awareness of whatever depression is going on in the subcortex. It will elevate neuronal activity in the neocortex and withdraw neuronal activity from the subcortex, thus correcting the chemical imbalance feeding the depression.

This switch in neuronal brain activity from the subcortex to the neocortex happens naturally, sooner or later, even in the worst cases of depression. This is the reason depression is cyclical. But Brainswitching accomplishes the switch as an act of will and a lot quicker than waiting for nature to take its course. Depression is like living in a room of pain. With Brainswitching you can leave the room. I spent much too much time in that room myself.

Links:

http://www.mindpowernews.com/BrainswitchDepression.htm

http://astore.amazon.com/mindpowernews-20/detail/0932529542/002-2918839-1975224

Thought it was interesting. Hope it is helpful.