Has anyone overcome depression without meds?

As I understand it Depression is a chemical disorder. Everything else is situational.

Why don't you want to take meds? I took them after my daughter was born 22 years ago. And I think they saved my life. I had post partam depression and took meds for six months. They really helped me. I don't know of any natural remedies though. Although I think exercise - hard core exercise that brings your heart rate up- triggers the happy endorphins in your brain!

I came from an abusive household to say the least. My entire family was diagnosed with depression, as myself was. When I was a teenager, although my mother was on meds, they never took me to be on meds. So I used to take my mothers Xanax which would help me. BUT I only took them when I felt I was literally going off edge. I refused later in life to be on meds, I was scared that I would become addicted or something and they would be hard to get off, as when I was a teenager I got addicted to Xanax for the wrong reasons. A couple years went by where I was fine in life, wasn't as depressed. It slowly started to come back, but I still refused medicine, it wasn't as severe for meds. Then I had my child in Dec. 2010 and depression hit me times 1000!!!! and I struggled with it for months and months and it kept getting worse. I decided for once in my life to go to the doctor, I was prescribed anti depressants. I took them for a couple of days and it made me feel like I was dying, so I stopped taking them immediately and never went back for anything else. I have been good lately and a part of that is I've been exercising trememdously, that is my main focus every day. I try to go out to the park quite often to jog, walk or run and it gives me a sense of freedom, I can turn on my headphones loud and think for as long as I want to. That helps me as well. I try to find SOMETHING just something out there that is going to make me happy and I go do it. I don't think theres a natural cure for it all, but there are little things that will help. Exercise, you would be very surprised if you do it on a daily basis. Stress Therapy baths, getting outside, doing something social even though I understand at times you don't want to. I believe some people can do it without medicine, but some people really can't. You'll have to figure out if that's you or not.

Exercise and having a general routine help alot. (even if its just something simple like every wednesday I clean the kitchen).
Also some research has shown that people with depression are sometimes missing essential fatty acids so are recommended to take omega 3 and 6 suppliments. The best and long term way that worked for me was doing the above and having counciling. I know lots of people don't like the idea of it and there are very long waiting lists/ its expensive but it was the only thing that really worked. I've been depression free now for 7 years. (after struggling throughout my teens and early 20's). I wish you the best of luck in beating yours and I know right now it may feel that it will never get better but it can and you will get there. I am living proof it can be done so don't give up.

Exercise and having a general routine help alot. (even if its just something simple like every wednesday I clean the kitchen).
Also some research has shown that people with depression are sometimes missing essential fatty acids so are recommended to take omega 3 and 6 suppliments. The best and long term way that worked for me was doing the above and having counciling. I know lots of people don't like the idea of it and there are very long waiting lists/ its expensive but it was the only thing that really worked. I've been depression free now for 7 years. (after struggling throughout my teens and early 20's). I wish you the best of luck in beating yours and I know right now it may feel that it will never get better but it can and you will get there. I am living proof it can be done so don't give up.

and THIS ^ is a brilliant reply! :flowerforyou:

Talk to your doctor again, depression is not something that one can handle alone. I was diagnosed years ago and put on meds, after the feeling of wanting to kill myself and others got to me I threw the medication away and forced myself to look at things from a positive side. This will not work for everyone but I did not have a choice I was a single young mother at the time and I put my daughters happiness first and by doing that I became happier. But please talk to your doctor again apparently the medication is ineffective. Get up, Get Out and enjoy life. Find some up beat music to listen to in your house and dance or walk the depression away. Blessings and remember we are all here for you. You can add me as a friend if you wish.

I deal with it most everyday with working out or building things with my hands. Winter is the worst time. have to constantly think about where you are ion life and what you have accomplished. think positive.

In my opinion you need to try a new doctor. There are many drugs. I think your doctor didn't work hard enough for you. My mother had issues for years until she found the right doctor. It made all the difference. Good Luck

I did Prozac after my father passed, but I think it was counseling that helped me get my head straight again. Prozac seemed to help a little initially, but it started to make me tired all the time. Not something I needed on top of depression. Eventually, I felt well enough to discontinue counseling too. What I really needed was to grieve for Dad, and once I did so, the dark cloud lifted.

Try councilling / therapy. Are you working or at college? Most large organisations have a completley confidential and outsouced Employee Care facility which will fund upto 5 sessions + a diagnostic, as will most colleges / Universities.
5 sessions is not enough, however it can help you start to try to work a way through your feelings.

Exercise is another great one too. If you've not really done any before, try a few things till you find something you enjoy... You'll be surprised how quick it works!