Not for everyone

Sometimes you have good reason to be depressed. I don't think depression should always be treated as if it were something to get rid of, like a cold.

This suggestion is not for everyone, but has worked a little bit for me.
I adopted a cat from a shelter, and got lucky. He wants constant attention / petting, and shows great joy when I pet him and feed him. Having even just one living thing around you that is happy and shows affection to you can be very healing.

I would warn against adopting unless you are certain you are stable enough to care for an animal and not neglect or abuse it. Many shelters seek temporary foster homes and you could try that out first. Some shelters let people come and take dogs out for walks.

I tell myself that I have reasons for my low-grade (at least I think it is, although every online test ever has resulted in 'OMG CALL 911 IF YOU HAVE URGES', so maybe I'm more depressed than I think I am. I mean, you get used to it after a while....) depression. But that still doesn't make it healthy, or helpful.

bearcat2222 wrote:I adopted a cat from a shelter, and got lucky. He wants constant attention / petting, and shows great joy when I pet him and feed him. Having even just one living thing around you that is happy and shows affection to you can be very healing.

Yes it can. Never underestimate a cat. Cats have been show to sometimes prefer their human's company even over food, in studies. I have several, and sometimes they, and my other half, are the only reasons I keep getting up and dealing with the same old $#%^ every day. I think you're right, we need something or someone else around us, even if it is just a cat. Otherwise, I find my mind goes to weird places. Or at least, weirder than it already goes.