What steps can I take in my life to eradicate depression?

Question

I'm already seeking a counselor.
Have no friends and not very social. I work part time and spend a lot of time online. Im in my early twenties and finished college. Live with my parents. I'm tired, depressed, emotionally drained and suffer from anxiety and obsessive compulsive. Can you write down some steps or activities I can do on a daily basis to slowly work against the depression and eventually get rid of it. It's a black cloud that is slowly taking over my life.

Answer 1

i use to suffer from depression and anxiety. i've done a lot of things to help myself. one is that i read a book called a more excellent way by henry wright. it is awesome. also i've had a lot of counseling. don't be afraid to take medication. or if you want to try something natural, try different things that are said to treat depression or anxiety, one at a time. because everyone reacts differently to different herbs and such. but i'll tell you the one that helped me the most was called sam-e. you can get it at most any old store such as walmart. maybe try to get out on your own, an apt of your own or with a roommate, that also helped me a lot in dealing with my issues. if you are religious find a church that you like. i have attended many different churches. i recommend the vineyard. i have also gone to a group called emotions anonymous. all of these things have been helpful in my life to get me to where i am now. i hardly ever get depressed and when i do feel anxious, i now have the tools i need to deal with it. i wish you all the best.

Answer 2

I take 5htp each night - this raises your serotonin levels and can help with depression and anxiety. It also helps you to sleep. You can buy it from health food stores - it's an amino acid.

Rhodiola Rosea for tiredness and exhaustion caused by worrying and anxiety. Make sure you get the Rosea variety - this one works best as per clinical trials

Valerian each night can help you to sleep. Taken during the day it can help with anxiety, but may make you sleepy. Be careful if you're driving a car. This is a herbal remedy too.

Try to get more exercise

Follow a healthy diet - plenty of fresh fruit 'n' veg - NO junk!

Get yourself some decent quality multivitamins.

Omega 3 Fish Oil can help depression as can Ginkyo Biloba

Try to get enough sleep - at least 8 hours each night.

Think about joining some clubs so that you can get out and meet people - sports, art, music....whatever you're interested in.

Try listening to some relaxing music and also music that lifts your spirits - it's amazing what effect the right music can have on your mood. Nothing depressing or miserable though!

Yoga and meditation can help - join a Yoga class

If your depression persists or becomes severe then you might need some prescribed antidepressants.

Answer 3

I was depressed for a long time during which I spent a lot of time online and I believe that that made me worse. Having too much time on your hands will just make you feel sicker.

You might get another part-time job, or volunteer one or two days a week. I recommend seeing a behavioral therapist. I saw one who changed my life. You might also want to think about a course of antidepressant meds.

The thing that really helped me was getting a job and out into the world, even though the job I had was pretty easy. It was all I could handle at the time. But it definitely helped lighten my mood.

You're not the first and you won't be the last. Good luck. Things may not be terrific, but they (and we) can get better.

love
puff

Answer 4

Get up reasonably early every single day, like about 7am or so and take a 20 minute walk in the early morning sun. Make sure the sun is on your face for most of that time. Do some volunteer work. Find a shut in and run errands for him/her. Find a church you enjoy attending and get involved in the activities. There is medication for OCD. Find a doctor to prescribe the medication and take it every day. Ask your Mom if there are any chores you can help with around the house and yard. Then do them. The main thing is to get out of the self pity place and start doing for others. See if you can find a hobby that keeps you outdoors much of the time. I like to fly airplanes. It's a bit pricey to take the lessons, but you would be amazed at the lift it gives me.
I will be praying for you.
Also, go to the store and get a copy of "The Secret" on CD. Listen to it every day, at least one CD. It makes an enormous difference in how I feel, and I believe it will do likewise for you. Best wishes!

Answer 5

Get out of the house as often as you can stand it. just wander down to the park.

If you have any friends you find emotionally draining cut them off. It is selfish but you need to keep some energy for yourself and their negative attitudes won't help you.

Living with your parents can be bad for the ego. Consider getting your own place.

Talk to people... or listen to them. It is hard to be depressed if your mind is engaged and interactive.

Treat yourself to things you like on occasion. It is not a guilty thing... you deserve to enjoy life .

Make a list of the things that really depress you and try to eliminate them from your life. I gave up TV because the news is always so freaking depressing and I am much happier for it.

Don't work a bunch of overtime and if you are volunteering your time to help others make sure you are actually enjoying yoruself and not just trying to please them.

Hang out with buddies whenever possible. Sleep over sometimes. Take short budget trips.

But mostly... Have some long term goal and work toward it on occasion. It doesn't have to be achievable... just that wandering aimlessly can make you feel very emotionally adrift.

Answer 6

Do not worry that your doctor will think you are weak and attention seeking. It takes a huge amount of strength for a depressed person to ask for help. You are not seeking attention, but help. People do not ask for anti-depressants for improper reasons, and it sounds like you don't even want medication, so no one could possibly think you were drug-seeking. Your doctor may not talk to you for very long, but refer you to a counselor. This might feel like the doctor is just handing you off and doesn't care, but that's not the case. That's just the way the system goes. The doctor makes a quick diagnosis and then prescribes or refers. The counselor will want to hear everything. Ask your doctor to refer someone who is available as soon as possible, because waiting for an appointment can be hard. I don't know if this is recommended, but being familiar with the Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI) helps me both to assess myself and to express where I am at in a concise and meaningful way. Sleep patterns, eating changes, suicidal thoughts, never feeling happy, not functioning, everything is hard to do, unable to connect with others.

Answer 7

echelon & freemailjunk have some great ideas--LISTEN to what they are telling you.

Keep a very regular & busy schedule of planned activities.
Get up the same time every day.
Exercise every day, preferablly outdoors.
Get the heck OFF the computer & the TV.
Sign up for classes or volunteer work: language classes, bridge groups, exercise classes, work-out sessions, scuba lessons, big-brother; boy scout leader, Audubon bird watching, habitat for humanity home builds, community center, 12 step programs, etc. Make it fun & interesting.
Be sure you LOVE your job; get a better one...
Decorate your environment with color, Light, and afirmations. Change these regularly to get and keep your attention and as appropriate for the needs of time.

And, yes, therapy & anti-depressant medications are often of GREAT benefit. Especially until the new behaviors can be established, and old unhealthy habits of isolation and lonliness broken.

Answer 8

Sweet Pea,

There are things that you can do in combination with medical intervention, but if you don't change the chemical imbalance in your brain, nothing I can tell you to do will help.

I suggest you check out NAMI--National Alliance for Mental Illness--www.nami.org. They have all the information, support groups, and people in your area who can help you find a doctor or a counselor to get you up and running.

You're right about the black cloud. And it's going to continue to take over your life until you do something about it. See a psychiatrist. You need medication.

Best wishes

TX Mom
suffering from chronic
depression and anxiety
disorder for 25 years

not a dr.

Answer 9

I use to be a shut-in for 5 straight years. I self-harmed myself by digging at my feet...no one could see it. All this has stopped because I got help. My journey has taken me through education and medications. What I found to be helpful is IMR and DBT. Today I am on Effexor XR 150 mg., Buspar 30mg (taken in 2 doses), and Ambilify 5mg. I also take Adderal for my ADHD. My life has changed for the better 360 degrees! I continue to take my medications daily at the same time, visit therapy once per week, and attend IMR in a group setting. I get out everyday, exercise, eat right, get plenty of sleep, and have new friends who support me. All this has taken me three years. In May I was told I have Diabetes ll and I am dealing very well with the news, mainly because I am able to do so. My hope for you is that you print out my message and take it to a health professional to hear your feedback on how you are feeling. Don't give up!

There are steps to be taking listen to your health care professional.

Answer 10

Se a dr probably a psychiatrist and find out if there are medications you can go on to treat the problems especially depression.When your depressed you feel like you have always felt that way.Anxiety can be immobilizing also and can bet treated by medication.

I don't have much good to say about counselors- it's like let's talk about it when in fact it may be a chemical imbalence which can be treat by medication.