It’s Mental Health Awareness week and I’ve been reflecting on my struggles with depression over the past 40 years.

I know what it’s like to not be able to get out of bed in the morning and feeling that life is just meaningless.

I’m not a fan of anti-depressants because they do not work for everyone and depression is far more complex than a ‘simple chemical imbalance’. Plus, I know that they can have terrible side-effects, including the increased risk of suicide – my youngest sister took her own life the day after starting to take them.

There are however several ways that you can help yourself to feel better. What I’ve found really works for me is:

1. Meditation – 20 minutes once or twice a day keeps you grounded in the present and not ruminating over the past or worrying about the future.

2. Sleep – seems like a catch-22 as it’s sometimes hard to sleep when you’re down, but without a good 7-8 hours sleep you’re just going to feel a whole lot worse.

3. Exercise – especially outside – it gets the blood and endorphins flowing and definitely helps you get out of your head and into your body – lifting your mood.

4. Cutting back on alcohol – contrary to popular belief it stops you getting the quality deep sleep you need to feel good, plus it makes hot flushes, night sweats and anxiety a whole lot worse.

5. Feeding your gut bacteria with lots of different types and colours of plant foods, because they are responsible for making more than 90% of the happy hormone serotonin.