How do you deal with depression. When you don't want to use medication?

Question

Feeling lost in life, things just wont change no matter how hard i try.

Answer 1

hang in there. I dont mean to sound preachy..but prayer can help sometimes. BUT...if it gets too much...please, please see a doctor. THis kind of thing can sneak up on a guy.

Answer 2

Don't fight the depression--try and accept it as an illness.

You cannot will the depression away, only accept it.

Delay any big decisions about work, marriage or money until you feel better.

Don't trust your memory right now--take notes and make lists.
This will improve when you feel better.

Waking through the night is very common. It's better to get out of bed until you feel sleepy again.

Mornings are usually terrible. The day usually gets better towards evening.
Avoid be
ing home alone for long periods--the depressive thoughts can get worse when no one is around.

Forget about trying to read technical or complicated material--you need your concentration to do this--stick to light novels and People magazine.

Be careful about television--comedy and cartoons are okay, but anything else can depress you even more than you already are.

Get outside at least once a day for a walk by yourself.

Light exercise of any kind can be very helpful to your recovery.
if you have to do some work, do it in the afternoon or early evening. Your energy and interest are best at these times.

Try and keep busy, but only with projects that involve your hands, not heavy thinking tasks.

Talking to loved ones or friends will be difficult for a while. Sympathetic people can actually make you feel worse. Until you feel better, cancel all non-essential social engagements.

Suicidal or hopeless thoughts are common in depression and will go away once you start feeling better. Talking to someone about these thoughts can help make them go away.

Your appetite for food is probably low and you may have lost weight. These are core symptoms of depression and will return to normal with treatment. In the meantime, eat small nutritious snacks and have other people cook for you.

When you start to get better, you will notice a few minutes or more of feeling quite normal, but it doesn't last. These minutes become hours and then most of the day is pretty good. Full recovery takes longer, sometimes a couple of months.

Don't be surprised if most people are confused by your condition and don't know what to say to you. No one can really understand your suffering unless they have had a major depression or have treated many depressed people--like your doctor.

Once again, don't fight the depression--try and accept it as an illness. Your will be back to normal soon.

Answer 3

Dear C
Dr's-medicine-check in every month just to tell how it's going.
Therapists-talking(being listened to helps!)Samaritans
Aromatherapy shower/bath products(smelly candles/ essential oils)
Physical exercise daily ( you choose what) produces endorphins(feel good body chemical)
Distraction/new thing : you choose( cinema/book/knitting/art)
People you like being around- find some/revisit
Avoid excess alcohol(alcohol=a depressant)
Sunbed/sunlamp bad for skin but UV rays can cheer up some
(or a beach holiday if u rich!)
Music that cheers you up.
Caffeine( not too much or manic!)
Don't try and fix everything( overwhelming) do just a little thing at a time.
Grow something from seed.
Hope some ideas you might like
Good Luck M

Answer 4

Depression is nothing but anger turned inward. I've found, that it's really that I'm angry at me, for not living up to some expectation. This leaves me depressed, feeling like a failure, that I'm never going to be happy.

Be gentler with yourself and lower your expectations of yourself and everything else will fall into place. We all have different limitations and do the best we can everyday. What are your limitations? Accept those and you'll find where you fit.

Answer 5

there are lot of groups that you can go to talk about your depression talking really does help even if in the beginning it well. And maybe some alternative to medication. Like herbs talk a therapist and see what he/she say. Some time medication is the only way because some people suffer from a chemical imbalance and they need the med like Zoloft or Palomar to help.

Answer 6

all of the answers, (well most of them) are right on. Please do not think that you are alone and that only you feel this way. There is a lot of help for you...group help, individual (Dr. or counselor) help, and as many have said, exercise and right diet help. Reaching out to others is hard and yet it is very freeing and you may really be helping them by asking for help too. Helping someone who has problems unlike yours helps too. Most importantly, do not give up! Nature walks, writing in a journal, walking, running, writing down the things that you are grateful for...all of these help. Health food store has goo natural supplements too. If all else fails...do not wait TO GET HELP AND RECONSIDER YOUR POSITION on medication...you may be in need from a chemical imbalance....It is OK...not a weakness if this is the case....Get involved in your solution....it will help so much...Please take care.....

Answer 7

You're not trying hard enough. Set some new goals and make sure they're realistic. Be aware of what sets you off or puts you down. Try to get out, sunlight helps lots of people. Also, chocolate (no thats not a joke) has been known to perk people up a bit. Exercise, friends and family have been my drug of choice....when I feel like I'm in a slump I hit the tennis courts or the gym, it gives me an instant boost! And sharing or venting to your friends, spouse or what have you can be a great safe haven. Good luck and keep your chin up!

Answer 8

Do you have husband, family, close girlfriend support? Please check for mental health services in your community. I hope you can talk with a clinical psychologist on a regular basis (they don't prescribe drugs). Sometimes it takes talking with a variety of people before you find the one you are comfortable with.

Give yourself a weekly "pity party" Get everyone out of the house, gather a blanket, your favorite comfort foods and curl up on the sofa to watch a sad movie. My daughter calls it "crawling under the bed with the dust bunnies." Stay away from negative people and those who stress you.

Things will change!!!! IT only seems to take forever.

Answer 9

I just went through all of that. What helped me was a change in diet and adding exercise, nothing major just go walking either early morning or in the evening. You really have time to reflect on what is bothering you, and you yourself will find a way to solve it. You may have too much on your plate and need some time for yourself. Try it, it will help.

Answer 10

Start by creating a schedule for your day to day life. Plan it on a Sunday and follow it.

A little structure will help you incorporate more outdoor/physical activities, boost your self esteem by creating a sense of achievement, and kill those random pockets of time that cause your mind stray into depressing thoughts.

Of course identification of the causal issues is paramount as the first step to recover.

Answer 11

Things do change but sometimes we have to will them to change. Other times, we have to change our perspective.

A way to deal with depression is to seek help - cognitive therapy (counseling) has been proven very effective. The best thing to do is to talk to a professional about it. Ignoring it won't make it go away.

Good luck and best wishes.