Curl up and eat dark chocolate

Dark chocolate contains the amino acid tyrosine which is converted to dopamine by the brain, one of the chemicals responsible for motivation and good mood. So there is a scientific reason why when you are upset you are tempted to binge on chocolate ice cream. Just maybe choose the more potent option.

Talk to friends

Don't feel like a burden or like your sensitivities are anything but natural. Ask your kindest, most receptive friends if they would be able to talk and confide in them. You are a wonderful person who deserves to be listened to and guided and don't let the negative thoughts tell you otherwise. If you have listened to them through an emotional crisis, chances are they'd be more than happy to return the favor. I personally feel a sense of pride and fulfillment after giving advice to one of my friends. So you are not bothering them, you are giving them greater purpose. If they don't want to hear from you in good times and bad they are not real friends anyway.

Naptime

Short thirty minute naps have been shown to boost energy and mood throughout the day.

Journal

If you don't have someone to talk to, or have things you would rather keep private, you can always confide in your diary. It's extremely gratifying to see your thoughts on paper and can help you organize them and shed light on any patterns.

Treat Yourself Like a Princess Or Prince For a Day

If you do have enough energy, spend it on spoiling yourself. If you can learn to love yourself the depression will be much more manageable. Do activities like a spa day, ordering in pizza, a movie night, painting your nails, etc.

To Feel Better, Surrender

Instead of trying to control, repress, or hide negative emotions, let yourself feel them. Wounds can only be repaired if you pay attention to them. Would you keep walking on your leg once it has broken and expect it to heal? Allow yourself to feel fully, and cry. If you are not an atheist ask God or a spirit guide or deity stay with you while you feel the sadness, guilt, rage, and brokenness of your being. If you are an atheist you can surrender to the universe or view your higher power as the core version of you that is okay, and knows best. Allow your higher power to take control.

Remember the hotlines!

Suicide Hotline: 1-800-273-8255

Look up Warm Lines (if you aren't in a life endangering predicamite and just want advice) for your state

To voluntarily admit yourself into a psychiatric hospital: 211

Music, tv, books catharsis

Listening to sad songs especially that have lyrics which resonate with you is proven to make you feel less depressed. It's the ultimate feeling that you aren't alone, that your pain has been felt by many beautiful hearts and can be expressed.

And here are some television recommendations for those seeking catharsis, with a main character who has a mental disorder. Most of them also happen to be comedy, so you can cry AND laugh.

-Bojack Horseman (animated dark comedy)

-Wilfred (surrealist comedy)

-Crazy ex Girlfriend (musical comedy)

-This Is Us (soap opera, drama)

You can also get lost in the pages of a novel or memoir about someone with mental illness. Sometimes the best feeling is seeing yourself in a character, or alternatively forgetting about your problems for theirs and escaping into a different realm.

Facebook support groups

Although SOME social media can be toxic, mental illness support groups on Facebook have moderators that go the extra mile to make sure that the peace is kept and no bullying takes place. These can be extremely helpful. You post a problem and a hoard of random strangers empathize, tell similar experiences, and root you on. I will type the names of groups down below which are very warm and helpful communities.

Talk Therapy

You should definitely have a psychiatrist and a therapist if you are suffering from depression. Psychotherapy, CBT, and DBT have all been proven to aid afflicted people in making huge strides of progress in their mood and thinking. Therapists are not hard to come by but it might take a couple tries to find the best fit, since this is going to be a relationship where you confide your darkest thoughts so you need to have a good connection and feel comfortable. Keep an open mind with each therapist and give them 3 sessions before deciding to stick with them or not.