There are many steps you can take to relieve your symptoms of depression, without resorting to medications.

Why is depression so daunting to some? Why is it so difficult for some to lift themselves out of the mental state? Control – we’ve lost control over the environment, the situation and ourselves.

Excerpts from the free ebook Tips To Treat Depression. "Depression is a challenging condition to overcome, but you will learn that there is much you can do to improve your situation and regain control."

Depression is not like the flu, where a certain virus is the cause. There are a lot of factors that appear to contribute to depression, and perhaps a group of factors is responsible for causing depression when they come together in a certain way. In the end, knowing what causes depression may not be as important as knowing how to treat it.

By Kitty Holman.  The most helpful section of the book I've found is when Burns identifies a list of cognitive distortions that everyone whether depressed or not employs on a daily basis. I was surprised by how often and how many of them I used practically every waking moment. By identifying the different types of distortions like all-or-nothing thinking, should statements, and labeling you begin to understand exactly how negative feelings take hold and exacerbate depression.

By Gwynne Curry.  It is time for us to open our eyes and, most importantly, our minds to the possibility that since the medical establishment hasn't found the cure for depression, that they don't understand what causes it. It is my belief that only when we understand the root cause of an illness can we find the answer to healing it. [Gwynne suffered with depression for 30+ years and has been depression free for more than 5 years.]

Now that the clocks have been turned back the days feel very short.  Darkness will fall earlier everyday until December 21st, then the days start getting longer.  This time of year many of us (including myself) start to feel the winter blues.  The past few years I have made a few changes to help me from feeling the effects of SAD (seasonal affective disorder).   Here are a couple of tips as part of my anxiety therapy!

One of the ways to manage your depression is to challenge your negative thinking with positive statements and realistic thinking. When encountering thoughts that make your fearful or depressed, challenge those thoughts by asking yourself questions that will maintain objectivity and common sense.

The effectiveness of CBT for various psychological problems has been more extensively researched than any other psychotherapeutic approach and its reputation as a highly effective treatment is growing, for example several studies have shown that CBT is more effective than medication alone in treating anxiety and depression. Studies also shows that people who use CBT to overcome problems such as depression and anxiety, stay better for longer periods and that they are less likely to relapse.

For many people who suffer from depression, or stress or anxiety, the only way to find relief is by taking antidepressants. Sometimes they help, often they don't. Here's five more effective but wholly natural ways you can use to help you lift the fog of a depressive episode.