What You Can Do
There’s no sure way to prevent depression. But you can:

Find ways to handle stress and improve your self-esteem.
Take good care of yourself. Get enough sleep, eat well, and exercise regularly.
Reach out to family and friends when times get hard.
Get regular medical checkups, and see your provider if you don’t feel right.
Get help if you think you’re depressed. If you wait, it could get worse.
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If you do have depression, you can do a few things to keep it from getting worse.

Stick with your treatment plan. If you are on medicine, take it as prescribed, whether you feel good or not. Don’t skip therapy sessions. Let your doctor know what is and isn’t working for you.
Avoid alcohol and recreational drugs. It may seem like these make you feel better. But they can actually make it harder to treat your depression.
Try ways to fight stress, like meditationand yoga.
Spend time with family and friends. Think about joining a support group. Do things that keep you connected to others.
Know yourself. Pay attention to the things that seem to make your symptoms worse. Keep notes and tell your doctor or therapist about it.
Don’t make big life decisions on a day when you’re feeling down.
Talk to your therapist or doctor about medicine that can stop depression from coming back.