I have become so good at this I litterally have laid out a method. I am actually crawling out of one of these debilitating mental states as we speak. I'm still in it so still hoping it will work but i remember and know that this works so even if right now I cant see a foot in front of me (figuratively) I believe in my method and know it lead out of the darkness.
the method:
first I identify signs that I have fallen into the darkness. there are for me both mental and physical signs. physically I have shakes and I am more sweaty than usual and a bit more out of breath and a tingling sensation in my chest. mentally I feel no hope, I cannot imagine hope. I cannot imagine that the future can be ok. I might also feel like people who love me don't actually love me . this seld diagnosis is important because I consider depression to be an emotional halucination. if I diagnose myself as being "in it" the I initiate the "stepping out of darkness protocol".
once I have determined through rational observation that i am "in it" the first thing I do is stop analysing my life. I treat the situation as if my brain is not working so big philosophical reflection on my life can only do harm so no thinking. then I start by carefully monetering how much water I drink. second I avoid sugar completely, any sugar will make the next day 10x worst. I make sure every meal countains protein and a calculated anout of carbs. very important to calculate carbs. for me its around 110g of cooked rice or potatoe or quinoa with about 130g of some lean meat, chicken beef or fish but the first day of protocol faty fish , like salmon, is the best choice because the omega 3 is super good for the mind. i make sure to eat at regular hours, about 5-6 hours between each meal. I regularly take breaks of a about 30 seconds where I close my eyes, breath deep and let the tension in my brain go down as I exhale. I do this as often as possible.
the second day of stepping out of darkness protocol starts with balance breakfast, juice mixed with water then 1.5 to 2 hours of exercise at the gym or on my bike, it has to make me sweat and breath hard. meanwhile I avoid thinking about how I feel or seeing friends. if I do see friends I instruct them to not ask me how I feel or make me talk about it but its easier to do this alone. so basically exercise, hydrate, eat well, low carbs and no sugar, no deep thinking, no seking out emotional comfort. I call this "waiting patiently for the cloud to pass. if I do this for 3-4 days one day I will wake up and the cloud will be gone.
I'm presently in the waiting for the cloud to go away phase, this morning was my first day a reintroducing exercise. P.S.: I also supplement with magnesium, vitamin D and saffran extract

I felt myself slipping towards depression several years ago and threw myself into my hobbies. I love the outdoors and spent as much time as possible hiking, camping, practicing photography, fishing, cycling, anything to keep me out of pubs which would have done me no good at all.
It was a fleeting glimpse for me but those things were definitely a big help, better than any bottle or medication.

Relax and destress my gaming, reading and exercising. And when I do it, I sometimes feel Ishould be doing somwthing productive, then I tell myself. "I am. I am being productive in tending my mind, my stress and my negative feelings through relaxing."

If I have someone, I talk through what my problems are or just spebd time together.

When I'm depressed, I also accept I am going to perform lower in every function of my life. Work will suffer. Concentration will suffer. Judgement will suffer. i will see myself as the victim more often. I will give into bad habits more often. I accept everything performs worse because I am depressed. Since I've accepted that a lot, it doesn't depress me more that I am in such a state. My mind only has so much energy and acuity, even less when depressed.

These are my acticivities and pit falls I activly account for. I also don'y engage in negative activities like politics, thinking of others poor behaviour or thinking badly of myself. Because every negative behaviour is amplified and worse when depressed.

I don't. I find letting it run its course is the best possible approach (for me). I used to fight it and it would fight back. Now, I just ride it out and it lifts on its own weight. That might seem counterintuitive, but it works (for me).

A holistic approach, sun, nature, fresh juices and food, spring water, exercise, some contact with people either 1-1 or simply being around others in public events or groups, contact with nature and animals, talk therapy, singing and dancing, art, and most importantly, all of the above.
That's what a holistic approach means, to circle ones situation from many aspects.

But one needs to begin slow. A walk outside, going to meet a friend or finding a small purpose to fulfill, helps.

I used to suffer depression. Socializing helped. I felt friendless, and to have real friends around made a difference.

Sometimes I can’t. It just has to pass. There is also medication that helps it from getting to that point.

Let's just say I USED to be depressed. It's amazing what escaping from the toxic people in your life can do for depression. It's VERY uplifting!!!

These days I take vitamin D3 daily, and I take my head out of my own a$$ and try not to THINK about my own sh!t or dwell on bad memories.

Instead, I read really fast paced mystery novels, I watch really interesting movies, and I try my best to think more about other people than I do about myself.

AND I play Sherlock Detective Hidden Object game online...obsessively...☺

It depends but most of the time it is a case of riding it out while doing little things for myself and giving myself more grace

Exercise and distraction helps

Force myself to do the opposite of what my mind thinks my body should do and force myself to focus on positives. If all that fails then its alcohol, meds, and therapy

If it's depression then I really don't. I just wait it out.

Listen to music, sit by the fire with my family, talk to my youngest son for 5 minutes about something silly

I find a hobby to work on. Or I find a project and immerse myself in it

Going outdoors, distractions, hot baths

Ride it out with great friends by my side