What to do if i have been depressed for 5 months now, advice?

Depressed mood vs: Clinical depression? We all have depressive mood at times. I.E. -my goldfish dies & i feel sad. However a major depressive disorder is a minumum of a 2 wk period of feeling low which is associated w things like changes in sleep pattern or appetite. It can effect self esteem, motivation levels, ability to feel joy. One might feel helpless or hopeless or even have thoughts of suicide. Get help! (:.

Therapy/self-care: Have you discussed this with your primary doctor to rule out any physical causes? Things that you can do on your own:try to establish routines, small achievable goals sleep hygiene; look for positive aspects of the environment: do a summary at the end of the day -- best thing that happened, the things i laughed at, etc. To bring you a sense of joy. Consider meds and psychotherapy. Good luck!