Dealing with depression?

Question

How can someone take steps to deal with depression, without taking prescription drugs?

Answer 1

Many people find cognitive therapy to be helpful. If you're reluctant to try therapy, you could first start with a book called "Feeling Good" by David Burns, which gives a good explanation of how to do this. You may also want to look for local group meetings of the DBSA (Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=home which is a helpful adjunct to therapy for patients and family members. But I really hope you'll see a therapist and consider medication; you'll feel better a whole lot faster and your improvements are more likely take hold over the long run. Why not give yourself the best care? You ARE worthy of it!

Answer 2

The first thing I do, is look to see if there is a cause. Something other then a chemical imbalance. Usually it is something that the person either is, or isn't doing, and this simple change can make a huge difference. Sometimes it's just a matter of focusing on something you do well. Sometimes it's simply a matter of helping others and seeing how happy that makes them. The bottom line though amigo, is what you fill your heart and mind with. If you feed it with junk, then you will find that depression looms because you are not treating yourself healthy. Just like when one eats junk food all the time, and avoids healthy food choices. The bottom line though, how is your walk with God? Are you doing all to bring Him glory? Are you allowing Him to work in and through you? Or are you blocking him by your choices? if I didn't know you personally, I wouldn't ask these questions, but I know you, and I know where your problems begin. Once you get rid of the junk, and focus on the healthy, things will turn around. If there is a Celebrate Recovery program in a Church near you, I strongly suggest you start attending. You will find that it will be a big help.

Answer 3

Although medications, such as SSRI's -are helpful in some cases, others benefit from therapy sessions, group therapy,or help from spirituality.
Also realizing that depression is a true illness- not a character flaw or laziness. Some depression is situational or based on certain events, this responds well to therapy, but in the case of a chemical imbalance (such as seratonin or dopamine) meds may be required, at least until the person is out of danger.
If the depression is genetic, runs in the family etc.. it is physical.
So, that would be like telling a Cancer patient to meditate or go talk to a therapist as a way to treat the cancer.
Talk to a professional- there are many treatment modalities now and help is available, in many forms- also on-line support groups and information (avoid the site's where people just dwell or discuss suicide etc..).
If suicide is thought of or planned one must get help immediately!!!
Good luck

Answer 4

The most common method of dealing with depression with out medication is through tears, heartache, and a great deal of mental anguish. Depression is due to a chemical imbalance in the brain. Medication creates the balance u need to become stabalized. A person would need a ton of herbs to aid the effects of depression. U have to become a human experiment, taking various kinds of meds until u find the one right for u. Stop taking them if u have bad side effects and take new ones, as ur doctor prescribes them. It took me a long time to find the right meds for me. I take Zoloft and Wellbutrin and I am no longer depressed. I wish u good luck...()

Answer 5

I am bi-polar and I quit taking my meds over a year ago. I just take a sleeping pill to help me sleep. However, I did not quit taking my meds until my children were grown and out of the house. My husband is an over the road trucker, so I am fortunate that I do not have a lot of responsibilities on a daily basis at home. I do have a small business (storage sheds). But it is a day to day battle for me. I take one day at a time.
When things get to be "too much" for me I go into hybernation and just "leave me alone" My friends and family understand.
Unfortunately, a lot of people don't have the opportunity or time to do this. All I can tell you is find something you enjoy...put a little time aside for something you like to do.
Another thing that helps me get over the hump, is I do some volunteer work. Seeing others who have it worse then you do....
makes it seem that you don't have it so bad.
But like I said.....it is difficult and I just go one day at a time.

Answer 6

If it is Depression and not a down mood, you will have to take drugs don't play around with the illness
Now is it serious ? Go to the doctor or are you just spouting off and causing a bit of attention and drama ?

Answer 7

The simplest thing to do, is to get out, and start exercising. It doesn't cost you a penny to start walking or jogging. It has two immediate benefits: it forces you to stop brooding for a while, and regular exercise makes you feel better about yourself. Now that it's summer (well, where I am, it's in the 90's already) swimming laps is perfect.

Of course, you can't exercise all day, especially if you're not used to it. Try to DO things that improve your abilities in some way, like learning to play a musical instrument or cooking or something else that helps you feel good about yourself because you have accomplished something.

Try to be with friends so that you can unburden yourself and get feedback from them.

The main thing is to learn to accept and to rely on yourself as a good person who can survive alone. One of my favorite lessons is from Camus: "In the midst of winter, I found within myself an invincible summer." Maybe that applies to you as well?

Answer 8

This is an answer I gave another with a similar question. I hope it helps, Love. Good luck!
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If you are looking for a quick fix for depression, I don't know if there is one without drugs… but I truly understand the need. With ADD, remembering my medication was a real dilemma. Tired of the struggle, I read that people taking an active role in their recovery had a greater chance of healing, so I began a search. The solutions were not quick fixes. They take time and continued effort, but my depression has diminished greatly. I still have difficult times. But they don't linger anymore.

First, I examined my thinking. This turned out to be a multipart issue. First, I had to consider what I thought and listened to, i.e., what I fed my mind; music, movies, friends, books. Was the input positive or negative/productive or destructive? I used to listen to /watch the news, sad songs, dramas, and people with negative opinions. I quit watching the news, changed my music, watched more comedies, and started reading stories that inspire me! That helped greatly.

Next, I realized my thoughts were molded from birth, and forgave those who taught me (they were also taught). Blame is pointless; forgiveness, EVERYTHING. I discovered sometimes, we must remove ourselves from the negative stimulus, especially when people try drawing us back to old patterns. Change frightens them. It is scary because we become a different person. Sometimes friends and even family no longer play a part in our new life. I found myself grieving my change for awhile because I didn't seem to fit in anywhere. But it passed and I discovered new friends that inspired, rather than drained. Family can learn acceptance and may even change too, because you've set an example.

This next part is most important; the way I saw myself. I was in an abusive relationship, told many lies about who I was; pessimistic… violent… a bad mother… After 20 years of this, I lost myself. I no longer knew who I was! My confidence was gone; shattered. I couldn't believe friends and family when they said I was a good person. All the good I'd done in my life was lost in a dismal haze. A book (I think it was How We choose To Be Happy) said if you want to know who you are, just look at your friends. Happy people don't hang out at the gloomy club. I realized I wasn't bad. I also discovered that if I didn't like something about myself, I could change it! Just because I didn't like something about myself didn't make me a bad person. It just made me human.

Then there were all my self-help books and meditation. Meditation took time and patience, but I found it really helped. Now I can get lost in it for hours. I also found spirituality. Another book said anything you ask God (or The Universe) is answered. All you have to do is learn to listen. Answers come from everywhere (books, songs, children, movies, sudden thoughts…). I found this to be very true.

And I discovered that everything is made up of energy. I learned to release the negative energy and draw in the positive, literally. It has helped greatly. The combination of these things has helped me change my life, which seems to have inspired others to change their lives too because we are all connected and tough lives, even when we are unaware. I invite you to try any or all of these things. If you truly seek an answer, you WILL find your solution, Love. May you find what you are looking for. Good luck and may God bless.

Answer 9

See first of all if you think depression has overtaken you then in no way can one deal with deppresion.If you have confidence in yourself then I can help you.First of all don't think that you are depressed.Pray to GOD.Behave how the other non-depressed people behave.In times of happines be happy,in times of sadness be sad(but not too long).

Answer 10

I wish I knew the answer to your question. I would suggest you seek help through local depression groups and seek professional help. It is a rough road without med's and I could not do it. Things only got worse. Please check out depression groups that meet in your area. Call 211 "lst call for help". They will assist you in finding a local depression group. Best of luck.