How Do I End My Depression Without The Help Of Medication?

Is there any kind of way that I can find help without the aid of medication? I'm not really into taking medication because I've too often seen that it makes a person worse. So can anyone tell me of an alternative solution?yogi48

[ILADVOCATE]

Depression usually needs medication. Its linked up but to find out more infomration google "Depression Central". All medications have side effects but anti-depressents do not make depression worse. If you are concerned about medication because you had difficulties with one medication ask your psychiatrist about other available medications. There are many anti-depressents. Talk therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy in addition to medication work. Natural remedies are often ineffective and dangerous so avoid those. I would not rule out taking medication if you might benefit from it. Why not find out more about it and see exactly how it can help you and have a detailed conversation with a psychiatrist about what could benefit you.

[LeftCoastChick]

There are multitudes of folks who feel better on meds. The reason why you don't hear that is, they don't have the need to announce, so of course you are going to see that.
If it's long term depression, it may be that it's a chemical imbalance, nothing done by you,  it's medically based.  I highly suggest you get consult a psychiatrist, as well get a full check up to make sure it isn't another cause.

[birdie0907]

ILADVOCATE and LCC have good advice and I hope you are able to get relief from following up on their suggestions.

I see on your site that you mention alcohol. Is that a problem now or was it in the past? Write back.

[Janzi]

I agree and support the above posts, and let it be known this is coming from someone who also believed she could do it all 'naturally' and has tested and tried many versions and combinations of natural remedies.  Exercise, St Johns Wort, 5 HTP, Tryptophan, Tyrosine, Vitamin B's, True Hope Supplements, Essential Oils... you name it.. and still the depression/anxiety comes in enough to disrupt my life and relationships.

Now I am taking medication so I can actually FOCUS more on natural ways (actions not supplements) to beat the stress. I am now more able to Commit to Learning,  Meditating, actually doing Yoga everyday, fully Reading through the books that make a difference and to choosing consciously the Lifestyle Choices that will make the greatest 'Positive Impact' on my Life.  :)

Without medication I was just skimming over all these great tools and never really incorporating them into my daily life. Now I am more able to 'Let Go' of ideas and habits no longer needed on my journey toward Heath and Balance.

I also don't mentally Sabotage the positive thoughts and actions anymore!

Once I learn how to use these "coping tools" and get into the 'good habit' of making better choices and being able to recognise what triggers my depression and anxiety - I may be able to go off the medication.

This is a reality that many people who take medication experience.

SO: you MAY not have to be on medication forever,( if you are that's ok too though! )

Please Remember: It's not the Medication that is turning our Lives around. WE are turning our lives around! It's OUR strengths, talents and creativity that is lettign us Rise Above the Depression. Medication is simply not allowing us to Limit ourselves, to Doubt ourselves, Sabotage ourselves and talk ourselves out of it anymore.

We can be our own worst enemy. Medication tends to silence that voice that says "You Can't." so that We move forward with an attitude that says: "I certainly CAN!"

All the Best, have a great day!

[Janzi]

Agh!
If you could just edit the above and put a "one" in place of every "I" it may not sound so darn self centered. I only mean that if I can do it, anyone can. :)

Peace.

[yogi48]

Yes alcohol was a way I was trying to escape reality. At times it helped me to cope with my depression. But I also feel that the overall effect of it enhanced my depression. Give me your views on this. Thankyou. yogi48

[birdie0907]

I don't think it was of any use with a depression. How much were you drinking and what about now?

[therese83]

Leave the i.

As far as im concerned the best thing here is to get other peoples direct opinions!

What they have done, what works.

[yogi48]

I was drinking quite a bit. But for the last 16 months I have been what I could say a moderate drinker. I drink alone and when I do it's to get intoxicated. Most of the time it helps me. yogi48

[birdie0907]

Well, drinking brings its own problems, so I advise you to check out AA. You can get a lot of information there, and meet people who have been there and done that, and it is no commitment on your part to continue. Perhaps you can even help someone there, while trying to get help yourself.
If you go dry, there is a big readjustment in your life and way of thinking. So drinking makes it harder to get relief while depressed, in my opinion.
Write back.

[yogi48]

Yes, I can respect your opinion about my problem. But I never wanted to take any drugs because I feel that they might cause another problem. I've been to AA and I feel that it's a good program. But deep in my heart I do not feel that I need that. I'm struggling with my own demons and so far I feel I'm doing a good job. I don't want to start something and have another problem. yogi48

[birdie0907]

Taking medication for depression is not starting another problem. They are an attempt to solve a problem.
You list your condition on your site as major depressive. Has that diagnosis been done by a psychiatrist? If you are clinically depressed, the meds are necessary for you to try to pull through the darkness. It is very doubtful that you can do it on your own. That is they will help if they work, (as they did for me) but there is no guarantee. Doing nothing and living with the pain of depression is definitely not an alternative. You can always quit meds if you get back on happy street, because they are not addictive.

Booze on the other hand is a problem, and is also very hard to quit. You drink alone to get intoxicated, so why are you sure that AA is not for you?

[yummymummy87]

hi yogi,
im like you i dont like the thought of medications and drugs.. i think i am dealing with postnatal depression now and i dont want to take anyhting for it, some friends and family have told me to get out into the sunshine, start exercising, eating healthy and living a happy life should start to turn things around.. so "starting monday" thats what i am going to try.. i hope it works.. it should... hope it might help you too.. good luck mate!

[yummymummy87]

..also keep in mind that everyones levels of depression are different. and some do need medication but not all... dr's nowdays are to quick to hand out anti depressants...

[birdie0907]

Agree, if you are just unhappy, there is no reason to take drugs. If you are in a major depression, however, there is almost no chance you can bring yourself out of it. I read this in a few places, so am not just listing my anecdotal experience.
Yogi lists his state as major depressive, which I assume is a diagnosis from a medical professional. From what I have read it is almost impossible to pull out of that without some help from meds. A depression tends to keep pulling you down to lower depths, so it is important to try to keep coming back up in the early stages, so you don't have so far to come up from. Not very easy to do without some help.
Whatever method you use to combat the depression is best determined from consultation with a professional, preferably a psychiatrist if you are in a major depressive condition. Meditation, talk therapy, and cognitive behavior therapy are a few non-medical techniques that work to help unhappy people change their attitude toward life. For a major depressive however, it is very difficult to get the benefit of them without a boost from a med too.

So with all that is going on, for a major depressive person maintaining a drinking problem, the situation is complex enough that professional help is needed for realistic solutions.

[birdie0907]

When I wrote "For a major depressive however, it is very difficult to get the benefit of them without a boost from a med too."
I meant "For a major depressive however, it is very difficult to get the benefit of them without an initial boost from a med too. If you get relief for 6 months my doc said you can consider going off the med."

[yummymummy87]

ok birdie,
that would be right for a "major depressive" but i don't feel as though yogi's situation is as "major" as you may think... drinking while depressed does not make it major!!

[birdie0907]

He put on his site that he has major depression. Also, note my post Apr 02, 2009 11:03PM.

I see that you just signed up, so may not be aware that you can click on anyone's name and get to their site.

[yummymummy87]

look again birdie he said mild not major... and i appologise to Yogi if i have upset him, with my anti drugs look at life.

[yogi48]

Yes you seem to know a little about how I feel. I only have a mild depression. It's not like I'm feeling like that every day. I don't know just what triggers it but it sneaks up on me at times. Like right now I can say that I haven't been too depressed since I started to talk about it with people like you, and for the most part elaborating on my situation helps to ease the burden. yogi48

[brownsfan33]

my boyfriend has depression and refuses to take medication because he doesn't want to be dependant on it his whole life!  sometimes he is mean to me and immediately apologizes because he realizes whats happening.  is there anything i can tell him to do to help with his mood swings?

[birdie0907]

First thing to do is have him evaluated by a professional, preferably by a psychiatrist. Is the situation such that that has been done?
You just mentioned an anger problem with mood swings, so there are lots of possibilities as to what the cause is. He may be clinically depressed, or just unhappy and the treatments are different for each. Write back with more info and we can go from there.
My clinical depression was not complex so my GP's advice worked for me, and the med I was given solved the problem. It is different for different people, so in some cases a GP may not be able to come up with the best solution.

You mentioned that he won't take meds, so have they already been prescribed?

[LeftCoastChick]

If a person is drinking to feel better, the depression is more then a bit mild. You need to seek immediate attention. Until you stop drinking your moods will worsen, I can guarantee it. What you have is a called a dual diagnosis, on top of depression you have an addiction.  You can feel better if you choose to, it's up to you to go to your doctor and ask for a referral and/or go into detox. Depression is an awful feeling and not a fun place to be in emotionally. Seeking help here cannot replace the advice of a medical professional.

@birdy and yummymummy - take your convo private - I will not ask this again.

[yogi48]

I respect your views very much. But I don't think that everything you're saying is true. I mean think about it, why does a person have a drink? I'm not speaking about the alcoholic. They drink because it's an addiction. I do not have an addiction. I don't even drink every day. But at times when I'm depressed it helps. It has never made things worse for me. And to clear the air I only suffer from mild depression. I also like the comments from yummymummy and birdie.yogi48

[yogi48]

I have been meaning to respond to your comment for the past couple of days.I agree with so much that you have stated.I have found a way of channeling my depression so that I can get something positive out of it.Once I admitted that I do have a problem with it everything seemed a little easier.Right now I'm having a better relationship with the woman in my life and I feel that I'm handling my situation very well without medication.I would like to hear your comments.yogi48

[cherokiimslm]

Ive heard st johns wart helps its natural and Id advise exercise daily youd be surprised at how much that can help and not holding things in too much complain when something bothers you and say NO when you need to

[Craigers]

I somewhat disagre and agree with you.  I disagree that if yogi is majorly depressed that word NEVER can come out of it.  Thats ********.  It can be done.  But Yogi HAS to want the help.  I do agree that using alcohol while being depressed will make things worse.  Alcohol is NOT the answer.  You have to want the help to get better or even if u want to get better.  No one can tell Yogi, what to do.  Yes there is homework involved.  One thing is to stop the drinking and find something else to use.  That DOESN'T mean using street drugs or such.  But something constructive you can do.  Something positive that won't interfere with your daily life.  Keeping yourself busy and talking with friends you can trust.  a Happy medium so to speak.  I have been through extensive therapy for many years and have come along way.  But what works for me may not owrk for you.  I don't know where u live or what state your in, but what about group therapy where u listen to some other people issues or situations and what they have tried to better themselves.  My question is, do you want to get better or be less depressed.  Only you Yogi, can decide that.  We are here to give u advice.  The ball is in your court to decide what you want to do with it.  You have done the first CORRECT step and thaqt is talking about your issues with other people.  And with that I am proud of you.  Here is a HUg to you.

Craigers

[Craigers]

Sorry for the confusion.  All I meant was if a person i smajorly depressed and doesn't want to take the meds, of coursew they there is a chance they won't pull out of it.  BUT if they do take the meds and doesn't want to get better it is going to be the same thing.  Also Alcolhol is never the answer to anyone's probs.  ESPECIALLY while taking medications.  All the alcolhol will do is make you even more depressed.  And eventually your liver will give out because of the alcolhol absorbtion.  The only for someone to pull out of depression is to do the homework and follow through the stpes it takes.  Which I mean by talking through your issues with your therapist, such as setting some golas for your daily life (Igetting out of bed, taking a shower, eating a HEALTHY meal).  I am learning some new tech myself, but passing on what I have learned over the years of my recovery.  Again, sorry for the confusion.

Craigers

[Sharnaann]

I have sufferd deppression since i was old enough to have mood swings
They found my brain cannot produce any seratonem "happy chemical"
So i have been on Zoloft (anti depressent) since i was 16.
But i still get depressed at times.
I have recently had a little boy who is now 4 months.
So when i feel down i do things that make me happy like Play my music realy loud.
Go for a walk exercize, bake a cake, go for a drive somewhere random.
Even though i have to push myself at times once i am out and about i feel 100%