15 People Living With Depression Share What Has Helped Them

Maybe one of them can help you.

All of these tips were shared in a post about experiencing depression in the BuzzFeed Brazil group on Facebook.

Submissions may be edited for clarity and length.

1. "I started to write whenever I was in a bad way."

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"When I was depressed, I wrote a lot. The cool thing was that I discovered a hobby that I liked. The other day, I reread some texts from back then, and it tied my stomach in knots. I don't even recognize myself. Strength!" — Talita Sanchez

2. "I made a bullet journal."

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"I made a bullet journal for myself, and it's really helping me to maintain a routine or at least police myself to make the day more or less continue on, y'know!? On top of that, planning helps me to finish all of my things to do, and I don't feel useless." — Rita de Cássia

3. "I started practicing meditation."

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"Check out Vipassana meditation and videos from S.N. Goenka. It has truly changed my life, and could be useful to you." — Ingridhy Toniolo

4. "I started a succulent collection."

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"What made me feel so much better was digging around in the dirt, planting the sprouts, researching the species, buying different plants. Every time that I feel bad, I go off and deal with my plants." — Fernanda Lemes Gomes

5. "I took some time to let the sun shine on my face."

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"Whenever there's a little bit of sunshine, put your face out in the sun for a few minutes. Don't forget the sunscreen!" — Elaine Andrade Barbosa

6. "I would have a beauty day every time that I was down in the dumps."

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"It was tough to start, but after some time, I got into it. I tried out new formulas for moisturizing my hair, did my makeup every day, and always had my nails nicely polished." — Francielly Melo

7. A punching bag

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"I bought a sandbag — one of those ones that you punch. All of my rage and anguish turns into punches and kicks. It seems silly but I've gotten a lot better since I started to externalize my feelings." — Victor Zimmer

8. "I took some time off from Facebook."

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"Facebook makes things a lot worse. When I was depressed, I took some time off from Facebook, and things got a bit better." — Anna Valentine Garcia

9. "Exercise."

"Exercise. I hate to admit it, but it made a difference." — Marta Preuss

10. "Music saved my life."

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"Music saved my life, which why I decided to make my living with it. Singing is a sensational way to put everything out there. No, you don't need to have any talent. Throw on your favorite tunes, scream, cry, sing along." — Letícia Trimer

11. "I use an app."

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"Calm, which is more or less pay-to-use, is really worth it, for guided meditation, de-stressing and breathing exercises." — Anita Witzel

12. "Working with my hands."

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"I began a large project: making a pompom rug. Someday I'll finish it. Working with my hands relieves the anxiety and depression a lot." — Raquel Cabreli

13. "I put up a sticker to remind me that it will pass."

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" A silly thing that I've done, every time that I go through a crisis: I put up a sticker to remind me that it will pass." — Aline Santana

14. "Solitaire or sudoku."

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"Playing solitaire or sudoku, games that make me I focus my mind 100% and forget the world. Usually I do that completely covered up, head included, under one of those fuzzy covers. They make me feel embraced and help me calm down. It's like a cocoon that protects my feelings." — Samantha Verhaeg

Remember: These aren't meant to be replacements for professional treatment, but they're tactics that have helped others and might work for you, too. Be sure to work with a professional to find the best treatment for you.

This post was translated from Portuguese.