What to do?

When you have depression or anxiety-there are many things you can do.  The best way to start to feel better is to tell someone and to let it out.  Bottling up your feelings can make you angry or more depressed or anxious.  You should always tell someone you trust about what is going on because they can help and support you the whole way.  A parent or teacher can help you find the resources to support you.  You may consider going to therapy. Therapy can be in a group or individually. Group therapy can be very helpful as you can hear what is going on in the lives of others and they can give you their feedback and input on what to do. Sometimes knowing you are not alone can be helpful.  If you aren't comfortable talking about your problems to a group of people there is always one-on-one counselling where you can talk to someone by yourself.  A therapist can teach you different coping skills on how to manage depression or anxiety. One of the most effective forms of therapy is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). CBT looks at how you think and how that effects your mood. Often when we are depressed and anxious our thinking can be a bit distorted which can worsen our symptoms. 

Finally, your doctor is another person to talk to as they could assess you and diagnose if there is a mental illness that needs treatment.  A doctor may suggest taking medication to help with the depression or anxiety. In some cases, the expertise of a psychiatrist may be needed. This is especially true when things you have been trying have not worked. 

Also when you are depressed or anxious don't forget to eat healthy and exercise regularly to release endorphins which make you happier. Staying active and being seeking out social support are very important for overcoming depression and anxiety. 

If you are in need of help call your doctor or if you are under 18 you can call Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868. The ROCK in Burlington also has a drop-in clinic every Wednesday where you can just show up and be assessed. They have resources and programs that you can be connected to which can help you get better.