4) BE EXTREMELY KIND TO YOURSELF

Recovering from depression can involve a lot of self-work. That’s scary for some but it’s also highly necessary. The best way to start is be as good to yourself as you possibly can: eat healthy foods, cut out alcohol entirely if possible (it’s a depressive, after all), keep yourself busy with gentle distraction (video games are my favourite), get some exercise, go to the cinema or a gig with some friends, anything that can take you out of your head for a little while. Sometimes this can be tricky as being depressed can often incur large amounts of self-loathing so here’s a trick: imagine how you’d treat a good friend if they were feeling down. Chances are you’d make them tea and suggest something nice to do while ensuring they were eating healthy and all that stuff. That good friend is you. Some yourself some love, you deserve it.

5) SURROUND YOURSELF WITH GOOD PEOPLE AND GET RID OF THE NEGATIVE ONES

Anytime I’ve dealt with depression, a big part of what helped me feel better was friends, family and colleagues who were understanding, loving and patient. These are the people you should keep extremely close while you’re waiting to get better. Get rid of any toxic people in your life, which includes bland party animals, guilt-bombers, drama queens or anyone who doesn’t make you feel good about yourself. Spending time with positive people who care about you (and most importantly, won’t judge you) will reap massive benefits.