Dealing with Depression & Anxiety

[Neesis411]

Have anyone ever tried dealing with Depression and or Anxiety without meds.? I have been doing it for a while now and its not getting worst... It's not totally gone, but it has lessen a good bit... Thank God! God is the one helping me :)... Anyway, I think once I understood what was happening to me, I decided to think myself positive out of it, did I word that right? LOL! Anyway... I haven't gotten an anxiety attack for a while, but today I read an e-mail that scared me and when I went to sleep, I just felt my heart racing... I did not panic and I just made a cup of camomile tea and my heart beat was normal again... Do you think if I could handle my anxiety and depression that I should still go on meds, or should I continue to do what I do and would that eventually help it to totally go away? I mean I still do feel depress at times, when I get scared about something, but all I do is think About God and I think that helps a lot, I talk to him and beg him to help me all the time, and I've never been disappointed. Is there anyone who have gone through depression and anxiety without meds?  

[Neesis411]

Right now I am now getting over an attack! And I feel awful, maybe I do need the medication. This thing is driving me nuts. But how does medication help your fear! The thing I was doing fine until I was told something scary and my daughter fell off the bed... I worry about my mother, she had high blood pressure, I was worried about my husband he had a pain in his head, but it went away, I tried to be extra nice to him... Oh my, I feel so terrible, its 3:48am and I still cannot sleep. Its true when you are around positive people it helps, but no one is awake, and I have to deal with this all alone... I have two kids, what should I do, take meds or not...? My 3 year old may have asthma that's another worry... My chest burns and my feet are cold, is that anxiety? I hope it's nothing else. The thing is I have been to a heart doctor not to long ago and he said that everything is good with my heart, but why I am scared about my heart racing? I am a muslim and I pray, when I pray it races, maybe because I expect it to. When I walk up the step it races. I never had these problems before my accident... How come all of a sudden my heart races when I walk up the stairs... My body may be a little broken down, because I tried to nurse my baby without properly nourishing myself... Around that time I was in an accident and around that time my husband use at work a lot... Does meds have long term side effects, does it mess with you nerves, does it eventually make you crazy? I need to know how safe meds. are, and what is the safest medication? I need help, I can't handle this anymore.. Please Help!

[dolphin845]

I'm sort of dealing with it without meds.  I have Lexapro on hand but not have taken them yet.  I'm not ready.  I sit down and think... how bad is my anxiety??  Is it bad enough to take daily meds and start messing with my brain chemistry?
I am taking 5-HTP and yes that does mess with serotonin but it doesn't give any side effects.  I see a holistic doc who is helping me and I see a talk therapist which is helping too.
I also talk to God and ask for guidance and help.  Meditation etc....
I take it day by day and see how it goes.  I don't say, I will never take meds.  That's always in the back of my mind but for me,  it will be the last resort.

[JSGeare]

"Is there anyone who have gone through depression and anxiety without meds?"

Of course -most people, in fact, probably go through it without meds -if you're including ALL the people on the planet.

And a lot of those are pretty miserable folks. But let's get down to cases here and talk about YOUR situation. The meds only deal with the chemical actions that create the anxiety -they block it, to an extent, the way a pain killer will relieve your pain while a broken arm heals, for example.

But the healing itself takes place within your body and brain and there is no medicine for that -you do all the work. Talk therapy can be very helpful because it can help you understand and resolve whatever is giving you the anxiety, but still, it is YOU doing the work.

Medication can be helpful because, in interrupting the bad feelings, it gives you some breathing room to work on the problems and simply to live more comfortably while you do so.

So -medication or not -it is all up to you.

[snoozies43]

I do think that God can help truly. I f this is working for you, why fix what is not broke?

I have been tons better than i am today. For some reason i got IBS around december. which has sent my whole system out of wack. I find being around positive folks and affirmations of good things in life, and support from church, God, or anything that brings you hope is the greatest thing. I am back to the same journey.

Until you truly feel that medicine would be a possible avenue for you, hey stay on this course if it is working for you!

Congrats!
Snooze