depression?

Question

Is the a drug i can buy at the chemist without going to the doctor?
What other things help to prevent mild depression?

Answer 1

I am disabled from back surgery I had over 4 years ago and
I have been depressed over being out of work and not making money and going bankrupt with my bills and having bad credit and feeling bad most of the time...
I have gone to therapy and different doctors and am on
different kinds of medication right now...
I have been depressed about being out of work mostly with
no money making skills and unable to be hired for any kind
of job due to the fact that I have a hard time walking and standing...
I stay in my house a lot and play on the computer and watch movies and TV...
Sometimes I don't go out for days...

I have found 2 things that help me...
One is to make a list of projects or errands you want to do or places you want to go on certain days of your week...
Just a simple list of I need to go here and I need to go there...
The other thing I found that helps is to actually talk to someone, be it a friend, a counselor, a minister, a psychiatrist, or doctor...
Just talk to someone who will listen to you and offer advice...
That helps me a lot just to talk out my problems with someone else in person...

Answer 2

Anything that you can get over the counter doesn't have enough scientific evidence behind it just yet. There haven't been enough large studies to show significance, and the ones out there are mixed. If you want to do alternative medicine, I would still go to a doctor because a doctor would have access to these studies and understand them. Even over-the-counter medications have side effects, risks, and drug interactions, and can be dangerous if you don't know what you're doing. Just look at how people unintentionally overdose on Tylenol.

If you want to do something for yourself to help with mild depression, some safe things are exercise (really works and there have been studies about this), getting enough sleep and sticking to a schedule, eating a healthy diet, and getting enough sunlight, especially in winter. Seasonal Affective Disorder is real and is treated with light. Also, find supportive friends and family you can talk to or engage in positive activities with. Be aware of when you have negative thoughts and try to counteract those.

If your depression is bad enough that you think you need medication, I wonder if you shouldn't be evaluated by a professional. They may find that your depression really is mild, and you can just do the things above. Or maybe they will recommend therapy instead of meds. But if your depression is really serious, you should be treated aggressively from the start.

Answer 3

I take SAM-E (by Nature Made) every day, and it seems to help, but I don't have clinical depression, I'm just unhappy in my job at the moment. If you are truly depressed, maybe you should see a doctor, but beware-- for me, that was a disastrous move. They put me on antidepressants that made me drunk and nauseous all the time. I told the doc I was having problems with it and he doubled the dose. I had difficulty speaking, eating, and sleeping. I lost my job and nearly lost my house. I spent weeks in the hospital from a terrible fall from being so intoxicated. So use those drugs with caution, and if they aren't helping, stop taking them (in my right mind, I would have stopped. On the drugs, I was too F---ed up to even open my mail or answer the phone, let alone make important decisions). This was on a drug that a lot of people take every day-- everyone's reaction is different, and for some people, they seem to help. Just don't give up control over your own life. Good Luck!!

Answer 4

Laughter and fun can help. But no you should see a doctor because that's the person who will diagnose you. What are you trying to get from a chemist? Even if he could concoct a drug, you don't know what specifically needs treatment.

Answer 5

The only over the counter (OTC) medications I know of that has shown in some studies to work at alleviating depressive symptoms are St. Johns Wort and Melanoma. I would however caution you to check with a doctor if you are on other medications and that this won't interfere with them. Or, talk to your doctor about the best way to treat mild depression. It could be as simple as a lifestyle change. Good luck and I hope this is useful to you.

Answer 6

There are few hebal drugs on the market you good try.

St. Johns Wart is a good one. most percription drugs you will need to see your GP.

Other things help with depression..

is to do reguler excercise. Go for a 15 min walk etc.

Eat properly, I good diet give the your brian and body wat it need to funstion properly. Stay away from anything with caffine or achocl.

try that.

Answer 7

st johns wort is a good herbal remedy, be careful taking it if you're on the pill though as it won't work (the pill that is)
or ask the pharmacist they know heaps of products and are usually helpful

Answer 8

Theres a load of treatments aswell as information on depression in this article give it a look. http://www.healthadel.com/articles/9/1/Depression-Treatments/Page1.html

Answer 9

I suffer from depression, anxiety, panic attacks and stress....

I can not take any of the medicines that doctors prescribe for these conditions they tend to make me worse... so I have had to do the following to keep myself on an even keel...

Find a good counsellor attend sessions weekly for three months... take a break then do it again... repeat as long as is required..

Exercise: This is not the 101 situps ten mile run kind of exercise..... Just simple exercise like walking swimming or cycling for at least 20 minutes each day... do this very day... do not push yourself too hard at first walk powerfully enough to start tofeel your heart working and then slow dow a bit then build it up again..Do not hurt yourself or push yourself too hard or fast...be kind to yourself even if it takes you a year before you can exercise steadily for 20 minutes that doesnt matter it is just important that you do this daily and do it with gentleness towards yourself.

Eat fresh foods as much as possible. include grains fruit and vegetables in every meal... be creative when preparing meals and use a lot of colourful foods to make eating a true pleasure. Prepare and eat your food while listening to some pleasant music. Make eating a wonderful gift to yourself.

Drink more water: Water flushes toxins out of your system drink lots of water...

Take up a creative pursuit: this can be gardening (nothing fancy here stick a geranium cutting in some dirt and add water) drawing ( a pencil and paper and away you go) music make music with whatever you have, paint, write anything that gets the creative energy flowing,

Learn to pray, meditate and or contemplate.... there is lots of info on the net about prayer and meditation and contemplation means just being quiet with yourself... noticing little things, allowing your mind to gently explore things..

Join an interest group... real time gatherings are best rather than net groups... spending time with other people who have a common interest is an easier way of being with people as the focus is not on you or them but rather on the topic at hand, there are interest groups for many different kinds of interests, lapidary groups (gemstones rocks etc), writers groups, local history groups, motor cycle clubs, land regeneration groups, photography groups, parenting groups, walking groups (bush walking, power walking), pet care groups, charitable groups and organisations. Find a group that you share an iterest with and get involved.

Listen to music that you enjoy and explore a whole range of music like indigenous music from various countries, classical music, opera, rock, blues, listen to many kinds of music and build your cd collection.

Spend time sitting on the ground leaning against a big old tree.. feel the earth supporting your weight, notice how the tree supports your spine allow yourself to feel safe and supported by the universe.

Spend time outdoors in the sunshine and fresh air... the sun interacts wit your body to create some happy chemicals in your body. The fresh air allows your lungs to breathe in and circulate more oxygen.

Laugh! Get some comedy cds or dvds or go out to comedy shows and funny movies. Buy a good joke book and read it. Learn a new joke each week and share the joke with others. Spend time allowig yourself to build up to a good belly laugh. Hang out with people who are funny.

Keep a daily journal. You dont need to record everything. Just record some of your activities, thoughts and ideas for each day.

BE KIND TO YOURSELF
There is no point in being hard on yourself, being negative about yourself, putting youself down.... trust me there are enough people on the planet who will do that for you so don't you do it too.... Instead find the good things about yourself and remind yourself about all of the good things about you.. When you think of good things about yourself record them in your journal...

You can of course combine several of these things.... be outdoors with a group of people that are exercising and you will achieve several of these points in one go... So don't fret about this list seeming long... just introcude one or two of these things to your daily/weekly routine at a time and get used to doing it... don't make it too hard on yourself it is more important that you do these things than how well you do them... just add one and get used to it then add another...

Best of Luck with it all and I am sure you will find a way that suits you..

Answer 10

no, depression mediaction requires a prescription, unless its st. john's wort.