Depression Question?

Question

How do you get out of depression without the help of legal and illegal drugs?

Answer 1

If your depression is moderate to severe, drugs would be appropriate. Depression is a big deal, and is a physical illness, it's just that you don't have a brain scan showing you that your brain is malfunctioning.

Here are lots of tips that help me (but I do take medication also for bipolar disorder. However, there were years & years before I found medication that helped, and none of the things below did more than take the edge off my very very severe depressions).

Exercise 1/2 hour a day, and whenever your mood is tanking.

Increase your social activities, even if you want to avoid people. When you get home, you may still be bumming, but you will get a good break from your depression.

Get more sunlight (add some skylights, if you have your own home) or use a light box, made for seasonal affective disorder. These are about $300 on line, the sunray is good. don't get it at a local medical supply, they overcharge and their cheap boxes are totally inadequate. Super bright light (like sunlight) really really works!!!!!

keep the same schedule day after day. don't stay in bed all day even if you want to. get enough sleep.

Keep a lot of brightly colored things around.

Take quiet time for yourself. Guided imagery or progressive muscle relaxation tapes are good.

Figure out a way to shuck some responsibilities when you are very depressed, like keep frozen dinners for when you are too down to cook, get autopay for your bills, let the floor sit unwashed or the bed unmade and give yourself permission to do that if you just can't keep up.

If you have anxiety with your depression, turn up the heat in the house to 74 degrees F and put on a sweater. you can't feel anxious if you are overly warm.


None of these things cure depression, nothing does. What these things do is buy you time until your brain heals itself. If you are still depressed after a few months, you better take pills, because depression left untreated is thought to cause brain damage after a time and can take years off your life. Hopefully you will be able to heal yourself, tho. Good luck!!

Answer 2

I suppose it would depend on how severe the depression is. There are certain types of depression that really cannot be cured without medication. However, mild depression can often be alleviated by excersice, a good diet and a good therapist. If it is severe, it is best to do all of the above, but also take an antidepressant for a few months to get your brain chemicals back in balance. Good luck.

Answer 3

Over the last five years I had begun to have increasingly withdraw into a downward spiral of depression..

But now with the method I can fully focus my energy and thoughts into a decisive line on how to make my life better constantly. And it works like magic! I'm beginning to attract people to me once again and things have just been looking up since then.

Helping you eliminate depression?

Answer 4

Try valerian root. Also melatonin for sleep.Simply because these are natural do not assume that they are safe.Use all herbs etc. with knowledge of possible side effects.Drugs , except for anti-depression medicines should never be used for depression.They interfere too much with the brain's chemistry and can cause further depression.I hope this helped.Also, affirmation tapes,and comedy films are helpful! Also, excersise-just fast walking can bring up your seratonin levels.

Answer 5

Get involved in something you enjoy...obviously not drinkin gor gambling, but perhaps art, drawing, or reading, or designing, cooking, sports, something that you enjoy that will take away your worries and thoughts. You need to focus your energy on something else, I went through a depression state for 2 years, worst thing ever! I got over it by getting involved in the community, helping others, and cooking. I love it! I read up and try new recipes, and just focus all my energy on that. It brings new meaning to your life when you can enjoy the simple things in life. Trust me, there is alot out there, so being down is not worth it!

Answer 6

Exercise can be a great help, it gets the dopamine pumping in your brain, it's the "feel good chemical". Talking to someone is paramount...bottling up the things that bother us can bring physical and emotional harm to us. Start with this, but remember that depression is a medical condition and is nothing to be ashamed of...if meds help you to get thru it until you can figure out other ways, then maybe you need to consider them.

Answer 7

Do what you enjoy. If it's not part of your job, make it your hobby. And get some physical exercise and eat right. That's so important but many people don't even take the first step of going for a walk. Ride a bicycle, take a dance class, anything at all to get moving and preferrably out of your house.

Answer 8

depression is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain,why are you afraid to take prescription medicine to help,depression is more common now than ever,there is no shame in taking medicine when you are sick in your body so why would there be a problem taking a prescripton medicine to balance your feelingsI do hope that all turns out well for you and am wishing the best for you

Answer 9

It depends if you can handle it. You can wean yourself of slowly taking a pill every other day and see how you feel. If that seems to be OK, take 1 pill, stop for 2 days and repeat. You will still have some in your system, so in order to really see if it is OK you need about a month. If you can see a doctor, ask him what would be the best way. I did it the way I described it and it worked out fine for me. Also starting to have an upbeat attitude and laughing a lot helps too.

Answer 10

See this site below with all sorts of natural help for depression. I am certain of one thing. That is that you are alive to be much happier than you ever imagined that you could be.

http://www.phifoundation.org/heal.html