treatment for depression/anxiety, need ideas

whats so bad about antidepressants?

 

If used by someone who needs them, correctly - nothing - that rarely happens though. Most doctors (especially over here int he US) don't prescribe them properly or give users proper information on usage.

 

ive been diagnosed with depression and anxiety and take medication for it. at first i hated the idea of taking meds but they seem to help. however the activan im taking is suppose to be real addictive and i find myself wanting to take them all the time. i think weed might help or maybe try st. johnswort

 

They swallow the soul.

 

i've heard good things about st. john's wort.. picking up some today actually.

 

Its true they make you crazy and they can make a person very suicidal. It makes me depressed that my dad takes antidepressants. He seems normal still but i still don't trust antidepressants at all.

 

There are many things that can help with anxiety such as Folic Acid ,Magnesium, Omega-3 Skullcap and of course St. Johnswort. I have used all these things and found that they do help. But my anxiety and depression are through the roof right now and getting dangerous so it is time to go back to a prescription for awhile.

 

Thank you for the info,
I hope you find peace soon eace:

 

my mum died 2 years ago and ive been depressed and had anxiety since then, Ive been to councelling for the last 9 months and its helped, but hasnt eased my social anxiety much, ive been on antidepressents for the last 3 weeks, and my social anxiety has gone completely. Even though the results have been pretty much miraculous, im still cautious to the side effects...
youve worried me now.

 

I feela part of the personality I had when i was depressed has gone with antidepressents, and its the creative and insightful part which has gone, this is worrying to me

 

I've been dealing with depression and anxiety since I was about sixteen. I'm nineteen now and it has really only gotten worst with the exception of August 2008 I started to take Depakote which is a mood stabilizer. This drug managed to keep my moods more stable but took away a lot of my energy, especially sexually. I stopped taking that a couple months ago and felt some energy coming back and had an overall sense of well being for about a month. Then extreme anxiety started coming back and I didn't feel like doing anything. I've back on Depakote now and waiting for it to kick back in. It is fucking depressing that I need to be on a pharmaceutical to get my moods in order.

But from my experience with depression and anxiety I have found that there is a huge degree of control that I myself had anyways. Things like exercise helps enormously. Especially if you can go out with a friend to do activities. Gyms are not for me personally, I can't take seeing all of the bros and bitches worrying about their vanity. Hiking outdoors with a friend is one of the best activities to increase appreciation for this beautiful world, and it keeps your mind off of your own problems.

Diet as others have said is critical. I think most of us associate lack of energy with depression, and if you do not get your proper nutrients and water into your life, you will suffer from lack of energy, weight issues, focus, etc. I just became vegan and it has really helped. I am much more aware of what I am putting into my body. I can no longer go to most fast food places which is great since it forces me to cook for myself.

Association with other people is critical. This obviously includes the people whom are most close to you, your family. If you cut yourself off from other people you will experience natural depression, regardless of any type of clinical or nonclinical condition you may have. I have found that if I spend time with people I love, my well being increases greatly.

I strongly believe the three critical things one needs to attempt to get control over is diet, exercise and surrounding yourself with other people. People that are encountering depression know that it feels like it invades every part of your life. When you are depressed, the last thing you want to do is go outside and exercise or go hang out with some people. But it is vital that you attempt to get even ONE of these things in order, even if it takes months. My therapist always made sure that we were starting slowly, because she knew I would drop any new changes I made after a week or so. So we would start with exercise fifteen minutes a day for two weeks, then increase after that. Even after that small change in lifestyle I could see leaps of progress.

Emotions are strange. They work on such extreme scales. A small amount of pain can emotionally fuck with you, just as a little bit of joy can change your life. Humans have the unfortunate ability of self analysis, where we can spiral into emotions with ease. It is important to begin to mediate on the positive, this will change your entire paradigm.

Hope any of this helps.

 

I've been a miserable depressive since I was 13, but I have found many ways of coping.
The best ways I have found are:

MBCT : The best therapy EVER (Do it properly and depression not only disappears but true happiness it a welcome by-product). Trying to find mental peace and equilibrium.

Anti-depressants : Prozac works, not perfectly, but if you are very depressed it can give you a great relief.

Socialising : With family or friends or anyone you can talk to. Seriously try to avoid loneliness and you will find that life is easier to cope.

Personally, I've never found any help from a better diet or exercise, however I never took them very seriously.

Good luck.

 

thank you both, especially Madcut. good ideas man.

I've been venturing out into society more recently and it's seeming to help.
also got a workbook on depression (that sounds so dorky) and started journaling more.

 

hang out with friends, listen to music, take a walk outside(especially at night), hug a hot chick.

 

If you are serious its a long path to follow but to do this the natural way is a slow process.

First understand that there is a way to do this that has worked for thousands of years and will always work without side effects....well negative side effects unless you decide to do something you know could hurt you.

First you must understand about brain chemistry and a few things about what you eat and how it effects your state of mind.

http://www.akasha.de/~aton/PINEALpower.html

Ananda will talk about some seeds from the plant Pegunam Harmala (Syrian Rue). They are RIMA's a type of MAO inhibitors so you will need to work you way onto a vegan diet slowly and preferably as raw as possible.

When your diet is correct you are able to take natures antidepressant/anxiety that will change your perspective from I to WE and thus giving you the love you will need to be happy.

 

best advice in this thread

also, i hear st johns wart can be helpful for minor depression, but mostly just getting out there and living your life will make a world of difference.