My plan to deal with depression, anxiety and insomnia, will it work?

Question

Summary: I am suffering from depression, anxiety, insomnia. I shake all day and feel like death. Here is my plan, it's natural, based on my research, will it work? If you have experience and notice anything I can add, or take off, please let me know.

Diet:
1. eat fresh raw foods, fruits vegtables, spirulina etc
2. No coffee, green tea instead
3. 64 ounces water daily, no sodas sugary drinks etc.
4. Flax seed oil (omega) high dose
5. Mutiple vitamins

Excersise 30-45 minutes daily, alternate weights, brisk walking.

2-15 minute SAD light therapy sessions.

SAM-e suppliment in place of medications, taken once daily in morning empty stomach.

Use rescue remedy and Kava for anxiety as needed until symptoms subside.

The way I see it, I'm hitting it from all angles naturally. Anything anyone can add, tips advise, etc?

If this does not work within 2-3 weeks, I guess it's psycho therapy and prescriptions drugs, or death. I feel that bad. Thanks, Kate

Answer 1

I think that it won't do much for depression, maybe for the rest it will work.

Answer 2

I think that all of your ideas are good ones. Everything you mentioned would theoretically be an excellent aid for the way you described you are feeling. (I only say "theoretically" because holistic medicine does not have the same effect on health as allopathic medicine does.)

I do have two more suggestions..

First one.. think about why you might be having these feelings and try to change the root of the problem. Nothing is going to change for you in the long term unless you can do that. If you absolutely can't change anything, or can't figure out the root, keep on with your remedies until you can.

Second.. don't let your plan stress you out. I've seen too many people try too hard to stay healthy, as as a result, end up sick. Do what you can, but don't become obsessive.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Hi Kate! Your plan sounds very good and very well-researched. You could be suffering from a couple things - maybe food allergies? If so the raw food diet you suggest should eliminate some of the main ones like wheat and dairy. I tried the raw food diet for the same problems you list - you know what my problem was - it took me ten years to figure it out because I have no health insurance and can't afford any treatment. ***Pre-diabetes.*** I found this out because I got pregnant and it got WORSE big time. The only thing I would eliminate from your diet is maybe fewer fruits. Many people starting out on the raw food diet overdo it on fruits right off, which will make depression and high blood sugar worse. Think big salads!! And maybe include some meat. I know most people will disagree but if you are truly on the verge of diabetes, you will need the proteins and calories to satisfy the hunger... which most people will satsfy with fruit. If you need some help with this don't hesitatate to email me at [e-mail]. I do hope you feel better!!
Angie

Answer 4

Exercise is very good.

I would not take Kava for anxiety but try Calms Forte in small amounts (1-2 tablets) for anxiety or (1-3) to sleep (they are non habit forming and do not interfere with any drugs)

With mild depression St John's Wort can be helpful.

As for the diet, vitamins, water, vegetable and fresh foods is of course good...although i am not sure how that will help.

But you should go see a doctor really.

Answer 5

Medications only mask symptoms of depression. Doctors will lie and tell you that you have the mythical "chemical imbalance" that the pharmaceutical companies coined as a key phrase. Psychotherapy, preferably cognitive-behavioral therapy, has proven just as effective as medication in helping with depression. Another thing you might consider is exercise. Exercise has wide-range effects on the dopamine, seratonin, epinephrine, and endorphin levels in your brain. A months worth of jogging or brisk walking 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week can be the key to alleviating your depression. Most likely your doctor will want to put you on a Selective Seratonin Reuptake Inhibitor such as Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, etc. Don't fall into that trap. Read the book "Prozac Backlash" by Dr. Joseph Glenmullen, or his attendant book "The Antidepressant Solution." SSRI's are addicting. Over 60 percent of patients on these drugs find it hard to get off them due to serious withdrawal reactions. I hope this helps. God bless you.

Answer 6

I doubt if your plan will work. Green tea also contains caffeine which may make anxiety worse. Vitamins, flax seed oil, vitamins, SAM-E will not help depression. Kava has dangerous side effects including liver failure and should not be used.

Anxiety and insomnia are commonly due to depression. If your depression is due to Seasonal Affective disorder (only present in the winter), the SAD light may help. If you are depressed year round, it won't.

What you are missing is that depression is a real, physiological disorder due to lack of certain chemicals produced your brain; it is no different than diabetes which is due to a lack of chemicals produced in your pancreas. With either disorder, replacing the chemicals by the use of prescription drugs is a sure cure.

Answer 7

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 8

I am single mum. I have been suffering for panic attacks for some 15 years now, though it was not until recently I understood what they were. They were progressively getting stronger and more frequent, stopping me from some days even leaving my house. I read this book and it all made perfect sense.

I am not saying I was not terrified of putting theory to action, I was more scared of that than the next attack! But I decided to view it as a game, one I had control of and could therefore not lose!

Answer 9

LAUGH!
I use to laugh (even if it was fake at first) for a minimum of 2 minutes, and I use to think of everything that I appreciatted in life (even if the only thing you can think of is sunshine, or you have a mobile body- no disability)
I recommend you change your diet and try raw food diet, what you put into your body is the basis of your health. And if anything concentrating of your diet and exercise will take away atleast some of the time you have to think those 'bad thoughts'.
good luck

Answer 10

I think you have a great plan, but I would add only one thing. Prayer. I was near to a nervous breakdown 11 years ago. Started praying and God helped me through the crisis. Good Luck to you.

Answer 11

i agree with Hammer, please go see a doc. I am a depression patient but kept it hidden for 3 years upto a point where even though it didnt show, all I literally thought about was dying. It CAN get that bad without you even realising it, and docs are there to help, so PLEASE get that help