I didn't think my first post woud be about this matter, but I'm writing about this because I recently had a few bad days, and I don't want to let the experience go to waste. I'm writing this post so that others may help themselves, and to have something I can point friends and family to to understand me better.
Depression is a gradual loss of valuable experience. I am depressed when, for a prolonged time, my brain doesn't appreciate things it normally does, and fixates on other things (doubt, anxiety, angst). It often takes away my desire to work or exercise, my ability to care for and interact with others, and disrupts sleep. There have also been times when it's felt like my sight and sense of colour were degraded. Depression can make everything feel heavier and harder to do.
If you care about living and not having depression, here are the things that have helped me avoid and stop it. (I reffer to myself a lot because I don't want to speak for the experience of others.)
Maintaining a routine that provides sufficient sleep, exercise, and healthy food. Having a routine gives me something to ground myself in. When I'm not depressed, I notice when I don't follow my routine and it serves as an early warning system, or as a record that something was wrong when I don't feel good. If I am depressed, it gives me a minimal standard to hold myself to, or a small positive goal to aim for. I group these three together because they can reinforce each other, but you can take them one at a time.
Trying to have sufficient positive human interactions. I'm fortunate to have had people I knew cared about me, and thanks to that I could wait out the worst times. But if I'm trying to get better, having a conversation with someone, close or distant, can help. I don't know why, but certain interactions have lifted a fog I could not get rid of another way. Having someone close to me that I can talk to about what I'm going through as things are happening has probably been the biggest help in preventing and fighting depression - find friends or a significant other when you can.
Having a skill to practice without external pressures. A hobby (exercise, playing an instrument, making art, writing, etc.) gives me an opportunity to make progress, which gives me something to feel good about. The fact that there is little external pressure is important because it allows me to practice in a way that I find enjoyable, or to a point that satisfies me. When I'm depressed and can't find enjoyment in my responsibilities, having a hobby can help me re-discover positive emotions.
P.S. The only time I've truly been depressed was in 2023, and I occasionally have experiences that 'stare down that road', but I have (hopefully) learnt enough to avoid going down that road again.