We are living in tough times. It seems, in this world of the 24/7 news cycle, and constant streams of information, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. Anti-depressant use is at an all-time high. According to the US Government Statisticians who published the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a whopping one in every 10 Americans are taking some type of antidepressant, and a full 23% of American women in their 40’s and 50’s rely on them daily. There are those who say this is a good thing, because depression has been under-diagnosed and under-treated in the past, but other critics say that aggressive pharmaceutical marketing may be, in part, responsible for the 400% rise in antidepressant prescription use in recent years, and antidepressant usage certainly does not come without significant risk and side effects. What if there is some middle ground? What are the secrets used by people who seem “happy”? Keep reading for 10 strategies that actually work to help you to feel better, and take control of your mental health.