Defeat depression: relief for troubled minds

Introduction  1. Look to the stars  Sometimes you just need inspiration. Look to the stars and pick up encouragement and advice from prominent people who overcame depression.  2. Ever decreasing circles  Depressed about being depressed? Understand what drives your vicious cycle of depression and you\'ll see how to put the brakes on.  3. Docs, shrinks and quacks  Dodgy doctor or helpful healer? Lots of people claim they\'ll help you defeat depression. But what do all those letters mean and what can these guys do for you?  4. Dear diary  Fancy trying some therapy that\'s free, versatile and there whenever you need it? Writing a diary\'s not just for lovelorn teenagers or third-rate politicians. Here\'s how to write wrongs.  5. Listen up  The right music can move you from browbeaten to bouncy in just three minutes. It\'s time to find pearls of pop Prozac in your sea of singles.  6. A pleasure a day keeps the blues at bay  Dropped the fun stuff? A little bit of what you fancy does you good. Find out why you need to build some enjoyment into every day.  7. The time of your life  If you\'re feeling weighed down by tasks like moving house or job hunting, you\'ll find that good time management is an irresistible way to transform your mood and your life.  8. Counting sheep  Quality sleep is a serious depression buster. Here are some reliable routes to regular, refreshing rest.  9. On the shelf  Trillions of antidepressants are prescribed every year. Is there a pill for every ill or are pros peddling poisons? High time to find out what\'s in the pharm yard.  10. Feeling SAD?  For many people, less daylight equals less happiness. Use these illuminating tips to brighten up and avoid another winter of discontent.  11. Nothing short of a miracle  Sometimes we all hope for miracles to get us through tough times. Ever considered conjuring your own? Discover a question that\'ll turn colossal problems into solutions of miraculous proportions.  12. All in the mind  Seeking respite from those dreary medical books simplified for (ahem) non-specialist readers? This idea makes brain science shamelessly straightforward.  13. Go on, prove it  With a new miracle cure on every health page, how can you tell what works? Here\'s a guide to help you sort science fact from science fiction.  14. Diversion ahead  Problems, troubles, efforts, struggles. Life\'s rarely straightforward. But going over and over difficulties is guaranteed to make you feel even worse. Discover how to stop those  melancholic musings.  15. Magnetic attraction  Can magnets max your mood? Magnets and the forces they produce can change the way you feel. Sounds wacky, I know, but transcranial magnetic therapy has a lot going for it.  16. The CAT that gets the cream  Having another bad day? Wanna feel like the CAT that got the cream? You\'re just 16 weeks from happiness with cognitive analytic therapy.  17. On top of the world  High self-esteem makes you happier. Revving yours up should be a doddle if you follow these simple rules.  18. Mind your mind-set  When you\'re depressed, certain mind-sets hamper your recovery and make misery more likely. Find out what you can do about it.  19. I don\'t know what to do  Are you looking for ways of coping with problems that trigger depression? Try these tried and trusted problem-solving strategies.  20. Don\'t jump  When depression hits hard, life rarely feels worth living. Thought about ending it all? Read on for everything you ever needed to know about surviving suicidal feelings.  21. You are what you eat  Sometimes we all feel only a family-size chocolate bar or packet of crisps can make us feel better. But comfort eating doesn\'t have to mean binges and elasticised waist bands. Learn how to exploit the relationship between your diet and depression.  22. Actions speak louder than words  Spending too much time thinking that you\'re a pathetic no-hoper and there\'s no point doing anything? Find out why it ain\'t what you do, it\'s the way that you do it.  23. Don\'t panic  Have you suddenly got afraid of the dark? Depression and anxiety go hand in glove. Try these strategies for managing panic attacks, free-floating anxiety and all those irrational fears.  24. Natural highs  Poised to pop a herbal helper? What makes a herb Nature\'s Prozac rather than a noxious plant? This idea may be hard to swallow but it might just save your life.  25. Schools of thought  All those professionals can be really confusing, with everyone saying different and seemingly contradictory things. Finding out what\'s really what lets you take your pick.  26. The best-laid plans  We all dream. But when you\'re depressed dreams seem to stay out of reach. Find out how expecting the best will bring out your best.  27. It\'s the thought that counts  Do you tend to jump to the wrong conclusions? Stress not, it\'s easily done. But learning to avoid it could be key to your recovery.  28. Let them all talk  If you\'re looking for a potent talking treatment, working it out with fellow sufferers could be the answer.  29. Just say no  Are you a people pleaser? Can\'t say no, so you over-commit yourself? It\'s time to learn the art of polite refusal and show depression the door.  30. Reboot the hard drive  Many people with depression misconstrue events or circumstances. Swapping negative spin for more level-headed thinking changes your mood.  31. A novel idea  Lost the plot? Instead of ruminating about how miserable you feel, get reading. Find out about four books that can help you towards that elusive happy ending.  32. Rant and rave  Anger management might sound like softcore therapy for thugs, but its effects can be dramatic. It isn\'t getting angry that\'s the problem, it\'s how you express it.  33. When the drugs don\'t work  About a third of people taking respectable doses of highly regarded antidepressants are still depressed one month later. What can you do if you\'re one of them?  34. Booze blues  You\'re stressed, miserable and can\'t wait to curl up with a stiff drink. Here\'s how to avoid booze blues.  35. Doin\' it differently  Scared of doing things differently? Here\'s your chance to experiment a little and turn self-fulfilling prophesies on their head.  36. Toil and trouble  Swinging a sickie? Forget snuggling up for a dozen duvet days and discover the healing power of hard graft.  37. Cut it out  Cutting? Burning? Overdosing? If you\'re a self-harmer, here are some thoughts to help you through.  38. I did it my way  Fallen out with your doctor or therapist? Feeling fobbed off? These negotiation and conflict-resolution skills help you work with pros, even when you disagree.  39. Get off the couch  Can talking really change the way you feel? These geniuses think so. Find out what\'s on offer and how it can help.  40. Pedal pushers  Want a quick fix? Exercise is hard to rival. It\'s cheap, portable and can make you feel better in just ten days. What are you waiting for? On yer bike.  41. Draw it out  Lost for words? Exploring emotions, thoughts, memories or hopes using paints, papier mache, clay or collage could be your answer.  42. Settling scores  Need a proper pick-me-up that revives your commitment to change and boosts flagging confidence? Find out why keeping score is the answer.  43. All hands on deck  If you\'ve had one of those days when you just can\'t take any more, this hands-on idea is a fail-safe route to getting your va-va-voom back.  44. Sexual healing  Feeling blue? Lost that loving feeling? Find your lost libido and arouse a bit of joy.  45. I\'ll be there for you  Are hugs the new drugs? Isolation worsens depression, but good friends can raise low moods. Discover the restorative powers of confiding relationships.  46. Imagine  Yearning for a calming, captivating technique to soothe your soul? Find out how visualisation can relax and revive you.  47. Because you\'re worth it  Feeling down in the dumps with nothing to look forward to? In need of something to put a smile on your face? Some self-indulgent me-time always comes up trumps.  48. Making a drama out of a crisis  Discover a dramatic solution for your depression. Stop being a mere spectator in life\'s tragicomedy and get back in the director\'s chair. Discover how to set the scene for recuperation and stage your recovery.  49. Shades of grey  Depressed people tend to think in all-or-nothing terms. There\'s never been a better time to find out why grey\'s the new black and white.  50. Get me out of here  Do holidays leave you feeling stressed, tired, skint and more depressed than when you left home? Not any more: use this travel guide to get to new heights.  51. Animal magic  We\'re used to seeing dogs leading the blind or assisting the deaf, but did you know pets can help nurse you back to health? Find out why this is no shaggy dog story.  52. The future\'s bright  Like a trusted old friend, depression\'s likely to come back from time to time. Learn  how to show dark moods the door and shut out relapses.  The end