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How to overcome depression without meds?

BeautyFromPain
BeautyFromPain Posts: 4,952 Member
edited November 9 in Social Groups
I have clinical depression and my GP took me off meds after I tried to OD on them...
Is there a way to overcome depression without meds?
All I can think of is death, and I just wanna be happy again...

Replies

  • maab_connor
    maab_connor Posts: 3,927 Member
    this is something that i struggle with too. as a recovering addict, i don't want to be dependant on a pill to feel good. seems counterproductive. and it IS a struggle. but here are some tips i've found:

    talk to your therapist. about EVERYTHING. b/c keeping it in - as all of us are wont to do - only feeds a depressive spiral.

    join a group. a once-a-month group is an easy comitment to make and has been proven to raise overall happiness in clinical studies. i joined the Highland Society. but a knitting club or a biking club or ANYTHING that you enjoy will help more than you realize.

    keep up with your workouts. not only will it help you here, it will raise the happy drugs in your brain.

    do you have a pet? if not, see if you can adopt one. pets are not only dependants, they love us unconditionally and that helps a lot too.

    i hope this helps. good luck.
  • PeaceLoveVeggies
    PeaceLoveVeggies Posts: 673 Member
    do you have a pet? if not, see if you can adopt one. pets are not only dependants, they love us unconditionally and that helps a lot too.

    This <3 My furbabies make me so happy.
  • PeaceLoveVeggies
    PeaceLoveVeggies Posts: 673 Member
    Damnit double post! Oh well, might as well also suggest yoga :) Breathing exercises make you feel strong and in control!
  • growingsmaller3
    growingsmaller3 Posts: 30 Member
    Have you looked into supplementation? A lot of people who struggle with mood imbalances actually have deficiencies in quite common vitamins, such as B, C, etc.

    I also suggest looking into Sam-E, St. John's Wort, high doses of B12, Omega 3's such as fish oil or flaxseed oil (make sure to get the correct ratio of EPA/DHEA), etc.

    Like was also mentioned above, exercise! Exercise is a natural mood enhancer. :D I've also come to find that keeping a loose routine has helped my life to be consistent, giving me a bit more hope, and therefore (i think) aiding my depression. Just a few ideas. I hope you are feeling better!
  • WrenStory
    WrenStory Posts: 103
    Some of the others have mentioned these already, but I just wanted to chime in here with my own experience. I've been supplementing with a liquid B complex, liquid fish oil (buy a better and more expensive brand for best quality), and I also have had cats for years... I've recently started going to a weekly group meeting type thing as well. I'm not on traditional meds for my mood problems but I have a therapist app next week to discuss meds... so, we'll see how all that goes.

    I can attest to the omegas from the fish oil being beneficial for my mood swings. It seemed to make a difference when I first started taking it. Also, exercise... it just goes without saying that the endorphins as well as just keeping your body moving is going to help elevate your mood... of course, that's the conundrum with depression... you don't want to do it. So, it's just a matter of trying to stick to a schedule, easier said than done.

    Also, coffee seems to help, in smaller quantities. I try to keep it at 3 cups per day. After that point it just adds to my anxiety.

    Just FYI... I notice that whever I drink Diet Coke with aspartame I get irritable, headaches, agitated, etc. I looked it up and it seems that aspartame can negatively affect people who are bipolar. So I quit the Diet Coke with aspartame and if I must have one, I drink it made with Splenda. It seems to make quite a difference.
  • amyx709
    amyx709 Posts: 1
    Overcoming depression without medication is a big challenge, but from experience, its also extremely rewarding. You have to take it one day at a time, medications werent working for me, I didnt like depending on pills where I had an addiction to several. I didnt like waking up every morning knowing I needed that pill to get through my day, I took my life into my own hands. I made millions of lists every day pointing out the good, I opened my mind to much more, exercise is a big help. It releases endorphins naturally, the happy chemical. Its very hard, and its not for everybody. Often people do need medication because its just all too much, however, anybody can do it. Its just a matter of willpower, determination, motivation and hard work.
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