7 Tips to combat Depression

1.  Focus on what matters

The holidays shouldn't be all about the presents, but financial woes can make it easy to lose sight of that.

Rein in the stress (and cost) by organizing a gift exchange with friends or family. You can also bake your gifts, or create traditions such as having a large potluck meal followed by a walk outside or board games by the fire.

"I think saying no is more of a relief instead of stretching and spending more than you have and still not doing enough," Dr. Sharp says.

2.  Forget being perfect

Debbie Thurman, a 57-year-old from Monroe, Va., suffered from depression for years, and the holidays made it worse. From decorating to finding the perfect gifts, she felt overwhelmed.

At a support group's suggestion, she listed the simple things that really made her family happy, and she began traditions that helped the less fortunate.

"When you take your eyes off of yourself and focus on those who have far less than you do, you can't be depressed," she says. "I learned to be grateful for the blessings I had, and I had a lot."

3.  Keep away from family conflict

There are a couple ways to save your sanity at family gatherings, says Jeffrey Greeson, PhD, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Duke University School of Medicine, in Durham, N.C.

If you know there are going to be conflicts, prepare a neutral response, such as, "Let's talk about that another time," or, "I can see how you would feel that way."

Then escape to the restroom, offer to help in the kitchen, or go hang out with the kids. And it always helps to call a good friend if you need a sympathetic ear.

4.  Get help

When Thurman's children were young, she and her husband lived far away from their extended family. When she needed support during "black bouts of depression," she leaned on close friends.

She and her husband had two couples in particular that helped them through difficult times. "These friends were godsends," she says.

"I credit them with quite possibly helping to save my life," she says. "I also drew encouragement from a small support group of women who were dealing with depression."

5.  Consider your light exposure

If you are consistently tired, irritable, and down at this time of year, it may not be due to the holidays as much as to the lack of exposure to the sun, Dr. Sharp says.

Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, can be treated by long walks during daylight hours or exposure to a light box for about 30 minutes a day.

If you think you may be suffering from SAD, talk to your doctor about treatment options

6.  Don't binge on food or alcohol

For some, overindulgence is as much of a holiday tradition as opening gifts. Carmen Harra, PhD, an author and psychologist in Hollywood, Fla., recommends more restraint.

"Have one piece of pie, not three," she says. "Apart from being unhealthy for your body, you will feel guilty afterward."

Harra recommends preparing for holiday dinners by eating healthy meals the week prior. And don't use alcohol to deal with holiday depression. Alcohol can intensify your emotions and leave you feeling worse when it wears off.

7.  Schedule some sleep

Holiday activities easily can interfere with your sleep schedule. But studies have shown there is a link between sleep loss and depression, so you need to be extra careful about cutting back on sleep to get everything done.

Try to get to bed and wake up at approximately the same time every day; avoid large meals and physical activity such as dancing within a few hours of bedtime; and make your bedroom a sleep sanctuary, free from TV or other distractions, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

By Tammy Worth

Owen Wilson and Depression

He seemed to have everything any man could need. He has talent, money and fame. However Many people already know about Owen Wilson’s depression. After all, his attempted suicide took over all the tabloid headlines at their local grocery stores two years ago. But, you may still be wondering why.


The fact is, like millions of other Americans, Wilson is clinically depressed and will be throughout his lifetime. He has been battling depression by taking anti-depressants for years, however, breaking up with Kate Hudson pushed him beyond the effects of his medication and made him feel hopeless.

Yet following a suspected attempted suicide, Wilson has been revealed to be a man troubled by demons.
Wilson has reportedly battled depression for some time now. This is a disorder that impacts on the sufferer's moods and feelings. Often it can affect their physical wellbeing, as well. 

The acknowledgment that depression is not merely an emotional condition, but a disorder with a real biological basis is regarded as one of the outstanding medical breakthroughs of the last century.Stress is often a contributing factor. Yet it can also manifest itself for no clear reason. Sometimes, depression will be just a one-off event.That said, it may become a recurring problem, presenting throughout the sufferer's life, often regardless of changes to their personal circumstances.

In Wilson's case, it's speculated that his party-hard lifestyle may be an additional factor. Certainly, drug use has been linked to depression. Even over-the-counter medicines may have a role: sleeping pills, blood pressure pills and birth control pills have all been connected to the illness.
When it comes to treating the condition, doctors adopt a two-stage approach. In the first instance, they will use medicine to relieve the worst of the symptoms. Next, to ensure there is no relapse, the depressed individual will be prescribed medication for a period of time (typically several months).

David Arquette Struggling depression

David James Arquette  born in September 8 1971, is an American actor, film director, producer, screenwriter, fashion designer, and former professional wrestler . A member of the Arquette acting family, he first became known during the late 1990s after starring in several Hollywood films, including the Scream trilogy. He competed for WCW in 2000.

After Arquette and wife Courteney Cox announced they were separating in late 2010, the actor was spotted dancing and behaving erratically at nightclubs. He told Howard Stern during a radio interview that he'd been drinking a lot and acting like a "maniac."

Arquette soon checked himself into a rehab center to address his alcohol abuse and depression. In April 2011, Arquette acknowledged his strange behavior, saying he had been sober for more than 100 days and was now more in touch with his emotions.