Is it possible to cure depression without medication?

Question

Usually depression is treated with a combination of medication AND therapy!

My question stands, NO medication.

Fake, care to add any of you're expert knowledge instead of the answer you just gave......

Answer 1

Read Patrick Holford's "Optimum Nutrition for the Mind" for a pretty definitive answer to this. There is a big movement based on lots of evidence that eating the right food and doing the right exercise can do a lot to combat many psychological conditions. The reason why this is not common knowledge is political, and big business (pharmacutical companies) I'm afraid still drive economic and healthcare policy.

I have tried this, specifically for depression, and felt much better very quickly. Much of it is very simple to follow, eg. eliminating trans-fats, hydrogenated oils and getting more seeds & omega 3 & 6 combinations. Also there is an excellent natural supplement called 5-HTP which is basically an antidepressant but not a drug. And have you heard of St John's Wort? This works very very well, especially for mild depression.

I would advise, combine it with a quick and pragmatic therapy such as CBT and you're well on your way before even considering drugs and even expensive long-term therapy.

Answer 2

In my personal opinion, not endorsed by doctors, depression is not to be cured. Its a natural condition, and will happen many times in a lifetime, so this expectative of cure keeps people always using drugs, and seeing doctors. Animals get depressed as well as we do. Its a healing process, in nature, if you're injured, you need time to heal, so your body slows you down. If you didnt have to keep pace with society, you would look for a nice and safe place to lay, until the wound got cured. But what happens nowadays, is that the wounds are not the kind that bleed, its something deep inside the soul. What you need to know is what is the "wound". Finding it may be a really painful thing, but you need to do it. Flashbacks, paper and pen may help. Tarot cards can really help, as they bring up to the conscious analisys, facts of human nature its got nothing to do with magic or stuff like that, Carl Jung studied it. When you identify it, then you can heal it, and depression will cease. Later in life, it will come back, for a diferent reason. Its a natural process. Exercise, if you dont do it, is an essencial thing, for the endorphins. We are in fact, born drug addicts, endorphin is much more powerful then opium or heroin, and we are addicted to it, if we dont get it, we suffer, so go get a shot. Society wants you to go get some medication so that you can play your role, even though it wont make the wound heal, just mask it enough for the others to think its ok, but unless that you really find it and work it, it will be there slowly killing you. You're right not to want it. Maybe you expect more than you can really get, so oriental philosophies that teach how to accept what you cannot change will also help.

Answer 3

For many people, yes. I really don't know anyone who's been CURED by medication - it can be helpful to get people in a state where they can engage with therapy or just getting their life back together, but it's not curative. In my experience (as a psychotherapist), CBT can be an initial help but the underlying stuff (which isn't addressed at all in CBT) usually reasserts itself and you're back where you started. A combination of real psychotherapy, exercise, nutrition, social relationships etc are what can 'cure' depression. But it's important to remember that everybody feels down sometimes - if you've suffered from depression, it's unsurprising that the sort of off-day that most people have can freak you out and send you down the spiral again. Part of psychotherapy would be about how to reconnect to your core self - not by 'techniques' but by discovering for yourself how to care for yourself, and by working through the 'stuff' that hijacks you and brings you down.

Answer 4

Ive recently started taking anti depressant and i was reluctant to at first and very sceptical (much like u probably) id been having therapy for a while and while it does help a little theres only so much it will do. Anti depressants sort of cover up the problems but not in a bad way-its in a way that lets u see a little clearer and assess ur life- its quite helpful as it takes alot of the anxiety and pain away and helps u get on with life. Try hypnotherapy also, ive had it but it didnt work for me but has worked for a friend of mine. Hope this helps x

Answer 5

depression and anxiety suck the energy out of people.they are two sides to the same coin. if you work on your anxiety,you won't feel so depressed. what do you want or not want, your life to be like? you can help yourself by finding the one thing that brings you happiness and find a positive group of people involved in that activity to be with;you'll have something in common and it will be a less stressful environment for you. - example:if you love dogs, join a club or involve yourself in anything in your community that involves dogs.you need to find something you are passionate about so you will have some energy. - -if that is too stressful right now then go back for some therapy. start fresh and go to a new therapist. the one you went to has a negative association from your last appointments. -google how to find the perfect/best therapist. one size doesn't fit all and you might not have found someone that inspired confidence. you might even have to 'interview' a couple and narrow it down - you won't be judged on anything you say so it will be practice for you in a 'social' situation . the personality of a therapist is very important in making you feel much less stressed.you don't have to talk about anything you don't want to. just say you don't feel comfortable talking about it. you might not even realize when your anxiety started, but it did have a beginning and that can be a key for fixing your anxiety. therapy is extremely effective for social anxiety. you'll be able to vent all over someone,show your true self and you won't be rejected for it.you'll even learn bravery by facing up to your fears,so getting up the courage to speak honestly with someone who is totally on your side is a very good thing. and prozac? not so much.

Answer 6

Depression can be subdivided into 2 broad types, endogenous or depression from within. This is not due to external events, but to brain chemistry problems, notably low serotonin levels. In all but its most mild forms it invariably requires medication, though therapy often assists as well. The other type of depression is called exogenous or reactive, it is due to life events. It is much more amenable to management by therapy alone, however if it is severe it can also be helped by medication.

You would be wise to have a consultation with your own GP to discuss treatment options.

Answer 7

Yeah I think it's possible. I did take medication but also have been using an alternative therapy called Emotional Freedom Technique for anxiety and depression which has helped me a lot. I only have mild anxiety and depression now. It has really worked for me and I have been feeling a lot better since using EFT. It's very good at getting rid of all kinds of negative emotions and dealing with all kinds of issues quickly such as phobias, fears etc. It does sound crazy but does work. If you type depression in to thesearch engine of emofree.com you should find some arcticles about EFT helping people who have depression.

Answer 8

I think that it depends upon the severity of the depression or the chemical imbalance within the brain... I think that medication helps only when depression is starting to become clinical and leads to other mental illneses..

I also think that it is better to attempt to treat depression without medication first or to leave the medication at the first reasonable time and not for it to be used like it is - it seems that doctors are handing out anti depressants as fast as pain killers these days with repeat perscriptions that are forgotten about.... Well thats my rant about it...

Answer 9

It is possible but it not always.In some depression there is a chemical inbalance in the brain that cannot be regulated by unorthodox methods alone.I was on a brilliant anti-depressant that worked after all other methods failed.A combination of medication and therapeutic input is often advised but i was cured with medication alone as i found the counselling very distressing.A lot of people, including myself originally, are fearful of anti-depressants but that's because they think they are going to get hooked on them and there is also a stigma attached to taking them as no-one wants to admit their depression.Personally for me medication saved my life and for that i am grateful.The ones available today are non addictive and I would not hesitate in taking them again if the need arises but 13 years on and i am still fine.

Answer 10

Hyperforin exhibits significant antidepressant activity.1 Biochemical research demonstrates that hyperforin - like many prescription antidepressants - inhibits the reuptake of the neurotransmitters norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine.2 All three of these compounds are naturally found in the brain and regulate mood and emotion. They are called "neurotransmitters" because they are chemical messengers that transmit information between nerve cells. An imbalance of serotonin, norepinephrine, and/or dopamine can cause depression. By acting as a "reuptake inhibitor", hyperforin increases the levels of these neurotransmitters in the brain, which can improve mood and restore emotional balance.3,4 Hyperforin also inhibits the reuptake of GABA, a neurotransmitter that increases relaxation and reduces anxiety.






Hyperforin is not a drug, but a natural compound extracted from the St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) plant. Only in the past few years have researchers discovered that hyperforin is the primary compound responsible for the antidepressant effect of St. John's Wort.5 The ability of any St. John's Wort extract to relieve depression depends mainly on its hyperforin content.

In other words, only St. John's Wort extracts with significant amounts of hyperforin are effective. This fact was confirmed by a clinical trial, involving 147 patients with depression, which compared placebo to two different St. John's Wort extracts with varying amounts of hyperforin. One extract contained only 0.5% hyperforin, the concentration found in most brands sold in the United States. The other extract was standardized to provide 5% hyperforin, the clinically-proven potency found in AMORYN and pharmaceutical-grade European St. John's Wort. (Aside from hyperforin content, the two extracts were identical. Both extracts were standardized to contain 0.3% hypericin, the compound previously thought to be the active constituent in SJW.) The 5% extract was found to effectively relieve depression, but the 0.5% was ineffective and performed no better than placebo.6 This study demonstrates the importance of choosing a St. John's Wort extract that, like AMORYN's, is standardized to contain a high concentration of hyperforin