What are other alternative ways to deal with depression/anxiety/panic?

Question

I know that St. John's wort can work on some for depression, as can music, being around happy people, being outdoors on a nice day and/or reading some self-help books.

I also know that lavender aromatherapy; Valerian Root; Chamomile Tea; therapy; yoga; meditation; prayer; exercise, etc. can help anxiety and panic.

What are some other things that one can do to help themselves? Other than therapy, prescription meds, and all of the above

Answer 1

Eating the right stuff can do wonders for the body, mind and soul.
I also find keeping two journals helpful. Everyone has bad days or hard times in life. The journaling that I recommend has two books, one for good days and one for not good days. My good day books are brightly colored and I put nice pictures on the front. My not good day books are plain. I keep the good day books and read them, the not good day books I burn. The idea is that you want to remind yourself of the good things so you keep them with you but the not good things should be released so they don't keep you down. If you use the idea, you should read the good day book (or part of it) everyday but the not good day book is not read. Once you write down the fear, irritation, hurt or whatever it belongs to the book, not you. I believe this helps in learning to let the negative go and build on the positive.
Once you use it for a while you find yourself using the plain not good day book less and less because you will find more positive things in your daily experience to write about. Say you overslept and were late for work, rather than being upset that you were late you will recognize that you got good sleep. This is a simple example but it works the same. The reason you will use the good day books more is because you will lose everything in the not good day books, you don't want to burn your life so you will find positive things to write about and therefore think more positivley and eventually live and feel more positive. It's a process but one I've found rather useful.

Answer 2

well im so sorry to here you are haveing a bad time like this , i had neghbours not to different to yours execpt i live in a house in the country and she was a sixty year old woman and her thirty year old boyfriend . you could and may i say can now that they have gone here a pin drop outside . But when they arrived it was dreadful she sceamed any time day or night like a witch she stabbed him he punched her till she was uncontious dragged each other up the road , called police and ambulances all through the night all through the week no matter when we didnt sleep for about two and a half years until they left , so i kind of know what your going through .unfortunatly there isnt a lot you can do if they are not exceeding the noise limit the police dont really want to know .they will come round to investigate a disturbance and that actully is a good idear every time yu call them they have to log it and you get a log number make sure you get it . the police will have to knock on the door and see what is going on they may well get fed up with that happening all the time , the police will get to know you and the reason why you are calling and believe it or not they are alright conrairy to popular belief , we found them very handy we bwelieve that this persiverence with them keep going round as soon as they kicked off contributed to them moving ( THANK GOD ) and now we have a reasonably peasful life again so i think this the way forward for you other than trying to get moved youself because unfortunatly these people seem to think they are the only ones living in the place and because its there house they can do what they want and they can to certain extent they just have to take other people into the eqaistion to , so good luck with that one i hope i have helped you if you can understand what i have been gabbling on about ....

Answer 3

Diet change might help with some people. In certain situations, panic attacks can be brought on by a person's reaction to caffeine and other things.

Also, just getting enough sleep could help a lottt. :]

Aside from what you've listed, one other thing that I'm doing right now is keeping a little notebook journal/diary, and putting down anything that's going on in my life, to get any anxious or depressing thoughts out of my head. There's also breathing exercises when you feel anxious, etc.

Answer 4

My dear try to change your daily routine try doing something useful like helping the charity it will take your mind off the depression, I brought a change in my state by daily going to the swimming pool although I had not visited a pool for the last 53 years and took lessons and learnt the basics of swimming in a month, it helps me to relax and when I come back home i am so tired that i do not have the energy to remain depressed so good luck and relax every thing will turn out fine just remain busy

Answer 5

well, you mention some very good things in your explanation, but you left out my one that I am particularly fond of - hypnosis. As a Certified Hypnotherapist, I come across people who have bouts of everything - depression, phobias, you name it. I just finished work - with 100 % success - on 25 individuals who suffered greatly from test anxiety, pass the 6 hour NASD Series 7 examination! It's quite amazing what the mind can do - without the aid of pharmaceuticals and the like!

Answer 6

You mentionned valerian root, it is excellent for treating anxiety, so is passion flower, they both taste bad but are really calming.
Sometimes I drink a potfull, and I got used to the taste.
You have to be carefull however I read it can counteract with certain blood pressure and heart medications, so check it out with your doctor first.
Exercise, prayer and yoga are also very good along with warm lavender bath and soothing music, mmmmm!
Good luck

Answer 7

I suffer from the same symptoms, but what I do is lots of exercise. Especially the abdominal ones. I lift weights too. I drink lots of water with apple cider vinegar. Prayer and mediatation is also wonderful after working out. Good luck to you sweetie.

Answer 8

Homeopathic Treatment for Anxiety/Stress/Depression :-

ANXIETY & STRESS :-

Sudden with restlessness and fear of death Aconite 30X or 200X,1/2 hourly (3 Doses)

Prolonged with periodic and panic attacks Arsenic Alb.200X, 4 hourly (3 Doses)

With fainting spells; profuse sweating; worse in the morning Sulphur 30X or 200X 3 hourly (3 Doses)

Makes patient walk fast; due to anticipation Argentum Nit 200X, 3 hourly (3 Doses)

Worse lying in bed and closing the eyes Carbo Veg 30X or 200X, 4 hourly (6 Doses)

Anxiety aggravated by upward or downward motion; going in an elevator; worse till 11 P.M, Borax 200X or 1M, 3 hourly (3 Doses)

Anxious about business even when seriously ill Bryonia Alba 200X 3 hourly (3 Doses)

Full of apprehensions in the evening Causticum 200X, 3 hourly (3 Doses)

Anxiety and fears in the evening with restlessness and palpitation Calcarea Carb.200X or 1M, 3 hourly (3 Doses)

Anxiety worse while lying still. Sad music ameliorates the complaints Manganum Acet 200X 3 hourly (3 Doses)

Anxiety due to fright, fear,exciting news; stage fright; worse while appearing for examination or interview etc Gelsemium 30X or 200X 3 hourly (6 Doses)

Anxiety due to grief or shock in the subconscious mind Ignatia 200X or 1M, 3 hourly (3 Doses)

Anxiety; better after eating Anacardium Or 30X 4 hourly

DEPRESSION & GRIEF(Bereavement) :-

Severe shock due to sudden death of loved ones; restlessness, anxiety and fear Aconite 200X. 10 min (3 Doses)

Prolonged mournings; cannot overcome the loss of loved ones Ignatia 1M or 10M, 6 hourly (3 Doses)

When the grief is in the conscious mind; patient weeps; does not like sympathy Natrum Mur.200X or 1M, 6 hourly (3 Doses)

For chronic grief and indignation Staphysagria 200X or 1M, weekly (3 Doses)

Depression with suicidal thoughts feeling of worthlessness, Aurum Met 30X, three times a day half hour before meals.

Homeopathic medicines are the safest to take because they don't have side effects and do not cause complications when taken according to the patients symptoms.

Take Care

Answer 9

Lay off the caffeine and make sure you get enough sleep, even if you have to take a nap during the day.