Occasionally I slip into a depression. Sometimes it gradually sneaks up on me and I slowly spiral downward. Other times it is rather sudden. When I catch myself slipping I try to focus on gratitude.
Occasionally I feel serene and content. This is nice and I wish I could do it more often. Sometimes, however, what seems like serenity is actually a creeping slip into depression. The counteraction for the slide from serenity into depression is awareness. I need to catch myself and focus on what I am allowing to happen to myself.
Self-awareness and gratitude are the tools I use to counter depression.