Is there any drug-free way to help depression? I don't like the idea of taking pills.?

Answer 1

yes, meditation

Answer 2

Dude

You are not alone. Many of us have been there/are there. I found some effective strategies: After September15 the sun is not intense enough to stimulate the skin to make Vitamin D which, as I'm sure you already know, is THE catalyst the body needs to make calcium available to all the cells in your body. The cells need calcium to communicate effectively with each other. The Quick and Dirty to bring back a lighter perspective is your friendly neighborhood tanning bed - the UVA from the tanning bulbs will stimulate your skin to produce Vitamin D. I felt better after 3 tan sessions.

More - I experienced benefits from 45 - 60 minute walks, at a very brisk pace.

AAAnd - I cleaned up my diet - I basically eat fruit, vegetables, rice and beans and lentils and lots of water....Oh Yeah, and 2-3 Americanos with cream and sugar in the morning.

I found large scale improvements after doing the Master Cleanse - The book is titled The Master Cleanser by Stanley Burroughs.

Have you considered that you might be an Indigo ? Check out a site called Starchildglobal.com. Current info and history on the starchild phenomenon.

Music - Classical music by Brahms, Beethoven, Bach or Mozart in F Major.
Trance Dance Music, particularly those pieces with lots of percussion ie Safri Duo, Professor Trance and the energisers. I have found this music puts depression out in the cold.

For thousands of years our ancestors danced and drummed. Although I must consider myself predjudiced, since I am a hand drummer, depression cannot exist when you are drumming. Try it, you'll like it !

Answer 3

For mild depression, try exercising. It gets the blood flowing and releases endorphins into your brain which make you feel better. But for major depression, you may have no alternative but to see your doctor and be prescribed medication. Major depression is likely caused by a chemical imbalance that cannot be treated without drugs. If you are suffering from major depression, you need to see your doctor and you should start medical treatment along with talk therapy. I've gone through an episodes of major depression and they really hurt. Antidepressants do work, but they take a few weeks to really work. In the meantime, talking to someone about how you are feeling will help which is better than nothing at all. But go see your doctor.

Answer 4

for that i applaud you. look, been there, done that, got the damn t shirt (and all the emotional scars). couple mentioned meditation. yes. as well, remember these things, early morning light (intense, perhaps halide), fresh air, exercise, good food. stay away from bummer type people (at any cost).

and yes, meditation. yoga. both the stretchy and the meditational. if you read the material, you will understand that these are the things taught for millennia: diet, exercise, air, light, and association with others. and meditation. good luck with this.

oh yes beware alchohol and drugs of any kind.




or, you can go the modern american way, like poster below me. go hang out with your bummer friends have a few beers, deny the condition and eat the poison pills perscribed. won't get any better, but you can go on for years like that. i did. til i got a clue.

Answer 5

Depression can be seasonal, like in winter when there is not much light, or can be a major problem. You might have a chemical inbalance. See a doctor and tell him how you feel abot pills. Maybe there is a support group you can attend. But get help. You will feel better if you know why you are depressed. Good Luck

Answer 6

Exercise, food, and sleep.

Your body naturally releases dopamine when you do things that are good for the survival of the species. It is nature's way of ensuring we live on - literally.

So eating right, sleeping, and exercise (sex, specifically) will clear up the blues naturally. All this other nonsense about meditation and Ginko Biloba is exactly that - nonsense.

Exercise, too, is physiologically proven to release endorphins. Endorphins make you feel good over the short-term. Thus, again, sex is highly recommended!

Answer 7

I often wonder if we are depressed or we are just sad and don't know how to handle "sad".
I sometimes think I am depressed and when I feel that way I try to figure out what is making me feel this way. . .
I look at my finances,my responsbilities,my home life,my health etc.
If those things seem to be in order then I just assume that it is just my day for the cloud of doom to hang over me therefore I get up and go to what I call my safe zones.
I go to my favorite steakhouse hangout and visit with the regulars,listen to music and play pool.
Sometimes I do some volunteer work.
When I can get out of myself I find that I do ALOT better and on that day when it is just my turn to have the cloud of doom hang over me,I can get through it so much better.
There are times when it IS just imperative to take medication as sometimes we don't have the ability to overcome that cloud of doom and that is just the way it is,it's as natural as your heart beating or breathing so don't discount this possibility as it could prove to make things worse.

Answer 8

Have your thyroid gland checked. I had depressions, severe, for 20 years and finaly found out I have hypothyroidism. You can get it checked yourself by going here and getting a TSH test:
www.healthcheckusa.com.

Also daily arobic exercise like riding a stationary bike or walking helps mild to moderate depression. Take it from onw who has been there and gotten better. You are smart not to take the drugs, they almost killed me, that is another story.

Answer 9

Hm.

Excercise helps. Take short walks whenever you feel overwhelmed.
Depression may be related to your diet as well.

Try to figure out what the depression is caused by. At what moments are you depressed? Or is it just a constant 'fog'?

In any case... just giving yourself time to breathe is good. Depression for me is mostly caused by stress.

Answer 10

If you wish to try alternative ways to battle your depession; go for it! But do be aware that the suggestion of excercise, eating better foods (whole grains, veggies, fruits) will work only if you have a milder form of depression. If you are in the high moderate to severe depression sometimes you need antidepressants to help you get over that 'hump' and then slowly taper off; gradually increasing the excercise/proper foods/therapy.

Good luck, and God speed!

Answer 11

Yes, I not only helped it, I got rid of it completely. No drugs and no doctors. Here's my webpage on depression with some helpful links:
http://www.geocities.com/seabulls69/AntidepressantThatWorks.html