Social Support

According to research, the greater number of social relationships you have, especially strong, intimate relationships, the longer you are likely to live.

A study of women, who faced extreme life-related stress, discovered that only 10% of the women who had a friend they could confide in, were depressed as compared to 37% of the women who didn't.

So seek and maintain relationships with people who will  support you in difficult times.

Being Aware

As a woman, you must be aware of your own body and health. Many mothers with growing children feel that they just don't have the time or energy for themselves.

At such times, it is important to at least try and find one activity a day, that you truly enjoy doing. It could be reading, writing, gardening or even doing a hobby class.

Rather than living life on the sidelines, get involved and have a sense of purpose.

Find Your Own Happiness

Women tend to constantly compare themselves with other women, which creates a gap between what they want to be and who they really are.

You need to find your own core and set your own standards of happiness.

Exercise

According to a research study at the University of Berlin, 30 minutes of exercise a day significantly improved the moods of the people who had been suffering from depression for nine months.

Dr. Fernando Dimeo, who led the research, says "Aerobic exercise stimulates the production of serotonin, an endorphin which makes us feel good. And exercise, unlike antidepressants, has no negative side effects." One of the advantages of exercise is that the effect is instant.

Therapy and Counselling

Two approaches that are most used in treatment of depression are cognitive therapy and interpersonal therapy. It has been found that depressed people are more likely to think negatively about themselves and the world. There is normally accompanied by feelings of hopelessness and helplessness, which need to be dealt with.

Cognitive therapy aims at recognising replacing negative thinking with more realistic, positive thoughts.

The person is also made to carry out certain activities that are a way of testing her faulty thinking.

Interpersonal therapy helps in dealing with issues like marital discord, issues like differences regarding disciplining the children or adjustment problems with in-laws. Therapy would aim at encouraging communication between the spouses and helping them find solutions to their problems.

In certain cases, interpersonal therapy would also aim at teaching appropriate social skills, such as assertiveness rather than aggressiveness, learning to listen, decision-making and taking on responsibility.