I Overcame Depression Without Touching Anti-depressants.
Posted March 2nd, 2009 at 8:39AM
I have family members & friends who are dependant on anti-depressants to get through the day. See them suffering the adverse effect whilst on them, while withdrawing or when switching meds, meant when I had depression, I avoided doctors like the plaque.
In fact, one of the main symptoms of my depression was avoidance of just about everyone & everything. Plus the lethagy, paranioa, bad sleep, suicidial thoughts etc. If you've had depression, you'll get the picture.
Fortunately - I managed to get myself over it.
Having look over actricles about curing depression I can identify some of what helped me.
A. I got a new job, after being unemployed.
B. I decided I would walk to work.
C. I went out with the new people I met at work.
D. With my earnings I was able to clear my biggest debts.
E. I became teetotal.
F. I started a comedy watching regime.
Unemployment & financial worries are a big contributor to the feelings of anxiousness that can cause & prolong depression. When I got them sorted, the anxiety lessened.
Alcohol contributes to depressed moods - teetotalism meant I was drinking myself worse.
And walking while enjoying your surrounding (especially good in the early morning) releases natural serotonin - what you are low on when you have depression. Laughing also helps, so do chucking comedies down my own throat probably helped too!
Meeting new people & agreeing to go out meant I was getting over my avoidance & taking some risk. As I had some good times, I got my "pleasure rewards" back.
Getting over depression didn't happen all at once - it took closer to a year to say I no longer that the issues that were plaguing me.
However, I just thought people should know that getting over depression is possible, with out having to resort anti-depressants, anti-anxiety or even sleeping tablets.
It's probalbly a bit more complicated if your depression is pain related, but even then there are pain management options & there's exercises that help not only reduce the pain, but increase your own sense of well being.
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This is a good example that one can get out of the "dark" without intervention of prescribed medication.
I am sure a lot of people are inspired by your experience.
Thumbs up to you for your strong will power. -
Laughter is the best medicine (I'm a laughter yoga teacher)! Thank you for sharing your story, which shows examples of how a few minor lifestyle changes can help to alleviate depression. Society would rather change 'us' to fit 'them', rather than look at society as a whole to find out what is wrong.
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thanks for all the input I hope I can do some of these things and get better also
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Very inspiring. I've been through a similar situation. Medication may help some people but it's not the way for everyone. It never helped me. I conquered my own depression like you did yours, by making personal changes in my activities and ways of thinking. It's tough and takes a long time, but perseverence pays off.
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I think it is terrific that you had the insight to battle depression and win without the need for medication. I had suffered depression on and off throughout my life. I have to say that, for me, medication did make a difference and I was responsive to them without any adverse side effects. Also, I suffer from chronic pain (lower back and migraines). The antidepressants do help with those symptoms.
All of us are wired a bit differently and, for some, the only way to get the chemicals in our brains to a normal level is through medication. While I do applaud those who can find their way out of depression without medication, I have to say that the individuals who do need medication should still feel proud when they overcome this terrible condition. It takes courage to go to the doctor and to agree to try medications while knowing that it may take weeks to feel a change and that one may not be able to tolerate some of the meds. I am now stable and happy. I will probably be on medication for life, but medication alone does not work. One has to also push through the normal ups and downs of life. A change in our perception of our lives is also important. Change is scary for some, but it is sometimes a necessity.
I am happy for you that you are now feeling better. I wish you all of the best.... -
Thank you for sharing. I am fightling with depression too. My depression is on and off for years. Sometimes I feel I fell into a negative circle and can not get out. I try to do something opposite to my usual way to break the circle. It is not easy but sometimes it works.
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I am so happy for all those people that were able to overcome depression on their own, however, I have to say that it is not just a state of mind, it is a serious disease.
Don't get me wrong, I do believe that drugs now a days are handed out like candy when many of us should be changing our lifestyle.
I am bipolar (type II) and suffer greatly from depression and for me it's all about managing my illness. There really is no cure. I try to do some of the above you've mentioned (and a few more) but it's still a struggle to keep my moods stable because I cannot control everything in my environment. Nor can I control my brain chemicals, my feelings and sometimes I don't even have control over my thoughts.
I don't really have an opinion on drugs as I personally haven't found them helpful but I've known people who have found relief from them. -
I'm intrigued......
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I just want to say that I kinda followed all these steps, got out of my depression, and then got back into it. I don't know what happened, but now I'm struggling with even worse problems. When I was better, I got a job, I got a girlfriend (both for the first time), my friends had lots of fun with me, people liked me, my family was proud of me.... I stopped taking my anti-depressants, next thing I knew, my girlfriend dumped me, almost got fired(I quit my job instead), my family is getting tired of my mood changes, everybody is getting tired of me, even me. I overcame depression, and somehow I screwed up.
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