• AVOID SUGAR: The boost of energy you get from sugar is quickly followed by fatigue and depression.

• AVOID CAFFEINE: Like sugar, caffeine's energy boost is short-lived and once it ends the depressed person is worse off than before. Studies have shown that the more caffeine a depressed person takes, the worse their depression becomes.

  AVOID ALCOHOL: Alcohol interferes with the workings of the brain, disrupts sleep, and leads to hypoglycemia, all of which increase the risk and the severity of depression.

  EAT A LOW-FAT DIET: Improving your diet will improve your health and may help stabilize your mood. Fatty foods interfere with blood flow by blocking the arteries and blood vessels which results in poor circulation of blood to the brain and throughout the body. This causes sluggishness, slow thinking, and feelings of fatigue even after having rested.

  GOOD DIET AND SUPPLEMENT PROGRAM: Nutritional deficiencies can cause depression, so watch what you eat and maintain a complete supplement program to assure that all nutrients are available each day.

  EAT YOUR FRUITS AND VEGGIES: Most fruits and vegetables are high in complex carbohydrates and bioflavonoids, which are essential for maintaining serotonin and other chemical balances. This balance is important in warding off depression. Complex carbohydrates also help the body relax, reducing body stress.

  GET PLENTY OF PROTEINS IN YOUR DIET: Protein meals that are high in essential fatty acids such as salmon and white fish are good for increasing your alertness. Foods such as turkey and salmon, which contain both protein and tryptophan are good for lifting the spirits.

• GET HELP: If you suspect that you are suffering from depression, get help from a physician or a psychiatrist. Professional counseling can be very helpful in treating depression.

• LEARN TO CHANGE YOUR ATTITUDE: Teach yourself to be more optimistic. Learning to recognize and change negative thinking can help alleviate depression.

• EXERCISE: Keep your mind and body active. Regular exercise is important in treating depression. Avoid stressful situations.

• USE LIGHT TO TREAT SEASONAL DEPRESSION: Keep rooms brightly lit, keep blinds and curtains open to allow the maximum amount of light into the house, spend time outside on sunny days.

• DO RELAXATION/STRESS REDUCTION EXERCISES: Stress can lead to or aggravate depression so learning to relax is important for overall mental and physical health. Include a restful activity in your written weekly/monthly schedule. Also, learn stress reduction breathing and meditation techniques and apply them periodically during your busy day.

• IDENTIFY AND ELIMINATE ORGANIC AND PHYSIOLOGICAL CAUSES OF DEPRESSION: Food allergies, heavy metals (lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic, nickel, and aluminum), hypoglycemia, hypothyroidism, nutritional deficiencies, preexisting physical conditions, cancer, chronic inflammation, chronic pain, diabetes, heart disease, liver disease, lung disease, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, premenstrual syndrome, prescription drugs, antihistamines, antihypertensives, anti-inflammatory agents, birth-control pills, corticosteroids, tranquilizers and sedatives, sleep disturbances and stress/low adrenal function. Eliminating or minimizing the downside effect of as many of these conditions as possible will result in improvement of depression.

PSYCHOTHERAPY - The patient talks about his or her depression with a therapist. This form of treatment is useful for those whose depression is caused primarily by personality and life experiences.

ANTIDEPRESSANT DRUGS - Common antidepressant drugs include tricyclics, MAOIs, and serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Common side effects of these drugs include dry mouth, blurred vision, dizziness, drowsiness, constipation, and difficulty urinating. These drugs are most effective if they are taken in a sufficient dosage over a long enough period of time.

ELECTROCONVULSIVE THERAPY - This treatment uses an electric shock to induce a seizure. This therapy is most commonly used to treat the severely depressed. One side effect of electroconvulsive therapy is temporary amnesia.