Are there any ways of fighting depression without resorting to prescription medicines?

Question

I'm doing research for a friend with depresion who won't take prescription medications. I've heard that there are some over the counter medications that can help but I am looking for something that will help without causing them to become a zombie.

Answer 1

Homeopathic Treatment(s) 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 and God Bless You !

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Unfortunately depression is not a 'one size fits all' illness, what works well for person A will not necessarily benefit person B, that's why doctors find it a difficult illness to treat and why it takes weeks, often months of working with their patients to find not only the correct medication but also the most benefical dose.
Some of the answers you have received are worth looking at, others are just nonsense written by people with little or no understanding of the illness. To say it is self inflicted is not only offensive, it is also an unfounded and ignorant statement for anyone to make.
St Johns Wort will only help in cases of mild depression, I suggest if your friend is having extreme thoughts of suicide or generally has lost interest in life, has no self worth and begins to shut you and others out, that the safest and most effective way of helping is to persuade them to talk to a medically trained professional. They might need a short course of a prescribed medicine to help them through the difficult time, and hopefully some talking therapies can be put in place at the same time. You say they won't take prescribed medicines, but often, a depressed person says that, without actually having talked things through with a trained medical practitioner, or they say it because they feel to admit they might need help is a weakness or a sign of failure and that everyone around them will think the same.
Please pay attention and be aware of their moods and if it fluctuates or if you become alarmed or concerned at thoughts they vocalise which point towards harming themselves, no amount of St Johns Wort or Bach Flower remedy is going to help, believe me, I've been there.

Answer 4

I agree with Jellybean minus the dark chocolate. I find that Yoga and Meditation, long walks... help tremendously. Nutrition is a big factor too. One must cut down on meat, eat more veggies, Flax oil for omega 3 fatty acid, walnuts, Brazil nuts... A good Vitamin
B complex and vitamin B12. If a person can afford it, aromatherapy massages help relax the mind if done regularly. Getting out of depression requires also determination on the part of the person who is depressed. Anti depressants do work but they can have terrible side effects. There have been cases of people committing suicide or murder under the effect of anti depressants. I rather go through a dark day time to time than to take anti depressant.
The homework is to do research on nutrition and mental well being, the role of Yoga in relation to lifting up your moods, Vitamins... At many health food stores you have naturopaths who work there and they will be able to help you.
Good luck and thanks for helping your friend out.

Answer 5

Hello,

I study homeopathic medicines and know this remedy will help with depression. Please check into this and see if it will help you

Information on Kali Phos

Kali Phos is a very good homeopathic remedy to use for different symptoms. I recommend that it is taken 4 times a day. Four tablets under the tongue. In a CLEAN Mouth. This means no food, smoking, coffee, tea or any other thing like mints, candy, also no teeth brushing fifteen minutes before or after taking the Kali Phos. The reason for this and for when you take any other homeopathic remedy is that by taking it under the tongue it goes right into your blood stream. Like an injection. Any food or substance that is in the mouth will prevent the medication to do it’s job as it should.

Kali Phos is great for:

Depression
Anxiety
Insomnia
Restlessness
Menopausal emotional symptoms

Note:

As symptoms improve use less. As symptoms disappear stop using.

Buy the 6x strength in tablets.

Dose for adults: 4 under tongue in a clean mouth 4 times a day. Children 6 up to 13 start with 3 under tongue 4 times a day. Can be increased to four under tongue four times a day

(KALI.PHOS) A constituent of nerve and brain cells, Potassium Phosphate is a useful nerve tonic. This tissue salt is indicated in cases where there is stress and tension and nervous symptoms appear.

Particularly valuable for emotional irritability, depression, nervousness, children’s tantrums, impatience, mental exhaustion, and for a general run-down feeling. Also beneficial for the heart and muscles.

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Answer 6

All the medications will cause zombie effects. I fought depression without medication with a lot of possitive atitutide and most important a drive in live. Often times people that are depressed don't have a sense of why they are here, be supportive to your friend and encourage him/her to find a goal in life and focus on that goal and keep his or her mind occupied in significant things. Often times we find ourselves in a depression when we have to time to think about the problems that are or may come soon enough, so if your friend keeps a positive attitude and finds a goal in life he or she will be able to fight depression as I did 10 years ago!! :) good luck!

Answer 7

Fighting depression. Thats an interesting idea. Would depressed people have the will to fight? Probably not. Depression is self inflicted. In a sense its the last straw that breaks the camels back. People who are depressed have given up. In a way thats a good starting point. Nothing else can go wrong. Encouragement will go a long way to help dig a depressed person out of their self dug hole. Every accomplishment can become a celebration of worth. Enough victories will lead to confidence.

Answer 8

Have them do a log of thier diet. Foods or lack of can cause depression. B vitamins tend to up the spirit a little as they add energy! Have the take a dose of 5htp (natural sleep aid) cause other people fighting depression found thier sleep patterns were not right. Also alcohol, smoking and drugs can be a factor in clinical depression. Family history is huge meaning of chemical imbalance. Other than the brief description I just gave you...training the brain to think healthy is the best way! Have them log what causes the depression. Depression described as I have seen it = a lack of something...whether it's Love(self esteem), positive thinking or foods i.e. energy or sleep! Start there! Good luck to your friend!

Answer 9

There are alot of herbal remedies that might help. Go to the vitamin store and ask about some. Also yoga,exercise,and meditaion have been proven to help with depression. Exercise raises the "feel good" chemicals in your body. Dark Chocolate can also imlprove your mood. Good luck

Answer 10

One cause of depression is pain - The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook by Davies deals with muscles.
Another reason is looking for a reason to live - helping others like volunteering can help.
Talk therapy if there are behavior issues.