How can I help my depression without taking prescription drugs?
Wednesday, 14. April 2010
My moods are like a rollercoaster. I can be fine and happy and then I crash into feeling so sad and depressed and not interested in anything. I’ve tried so many medications and they seem to make it worse. Any suggestions on how to make the sadness and depression go away without going on any medication?
summerB Says:
Try St. John’s Wart…it’s an herb/vitamin and it does work on most people.
Laura J Says:
Possible Causes of Mental Dysfunction
Vitamin and Mineral Depletion Side-Effects
Folic Acid
Irritability, sleep disturbances.
Iron
Dizziness, fatigue, slowed mental response, nervousness.
Magnesium
Sleep disturbances, irritability, confusion.
Manganese
Confusion, impaired vision & hearing, irritability, mental impairment, grinding of teeth,
hyperactivity.
Phosphorus
Fatigue, irritability.
Potassium
Impaired cognitive function, insomnia.
Selenium
Fatigue.
Sodium
Fatigue, confusion, depression, dizziness.
Vitamin B2
Dizziness, inability to sleep.
Vitamin B3
Dizziness, fatigue, headaches, inability to sleep.
Vitamin B5
Fatigue, headache, sleep disturbances.
Vitamin B6
Headaches.
Vitamin B12
Chronic fatigue, depression, dizziness, drowsiness, hallucinations, headaches, irritability, mood swings.
Toxic Metal Side-Effects
Aluminum
Behavioral problems, confusion, energy loss, headaches, hyperactivity, learning disabilities, leg twitching, memory loss.
Copper
Allergies, anxiety, autism, depression, fatigue, fears, hyperactivity, hypertension, insomnia, mental illness, migraines, mood swings, nervousness, panic attacks, paranoia, phobias, schizophrenia, spacey feeling, stuttering.
Cadmium
Alcoholism, growth
impairment, headaches, hyperactivity, hypertension, learning disorders
Arsenic
Depression, confusion, drowsiness, headaches, nervousness.
Iron
Anger, dizziness, emotional problems, fatigue, headache, hostility, hyperactivity, insomnia, irritability, mental problems, schizophrenia, stubbornness.
Lead
Allergies, anxiety, attention deficit disorder, autism, behavioral disorders, concentration loss, deafness, depression, dyslexia, emotional instability, epilepsy, fatigue, hallucinations, headaches, hostility, hyperactivity, hypertension, decreased IQ, insomnia, irritability, learning
disability, loss of will, memory loss (long term), mood swings,
nightmares, restlessness, retardation, schizophrenia.
Mercury
Allergy, anxiety, brain damage, deafness, depression, discouragement, dizziness, drowsiness, emotional disturbances, fatigue, hearing loss, headaches, hyperactivity, forgetfulness, insomnia, irritability, loss of self-control, memory loss, mental retardation, nervousness, speech disorders, suicidal tendencies.
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Janet Starr Hull PhD, CN, MS, BS.
By Jill Winland-Brown, EdD, MSN,
Lynne Dunphy, PhD, MSN, FNP
Just Me Says:
exercise is the best non-medical cure for depression
endorphins are great
and self confidence always helps
LB Says:
Get to the reasons you’re depressed. If you don’t work those out, your problems will continue.
If you can’t afford therapy start with a journal and write write write.
Also, eat well and make sure you’re getting everything your body needs to be healthy and focused.
Tapestry6 Says:
I was in a depression for 2-1/2 years, my family just continued around me and I would do my duties on automatic pilot but I think prayers pulled me out of it. I just knew it would be okay eventually and one day I woke up and it was!
I understand you not wanting to take drugs. Try taking daily walks and meditation.
Rodrigo Pinto Says:
Hope I can give you the best answer you need to fight your depression and sadness, but the only alternative medicine I have for you is that you find confort and strenght on praying to be closer to God, a medical study made at the Vatican they found people with the same problems and healed after a constant and conscience process of approach with God via praying and also the blood pressure of that people was normalized after that and have a stablished mood with good attitude!
Good luck and God be with you! You Have To Got Faith!
buttercup Says:
I have suffered from depression for many years. I have learn to function normally on my every day life by keeping myself busy. I like making arts and craft now and that is something that I never thought I would do. I like to play word games on the computer that keep me concentrated on the game and not on my depression
oset_x Says:
go to a theme park , watch the Simpson ( if you like them), don’t read depressing things and be around people as much as possible, and remember, if your feeling depressed, nothing lasts forever. I know what your going through,i was all ways moody. don’t worry
Thomas Paine Says:
You are already addicted to meds,.
But voluteer work, where no expectations or fear of loss is involved, will help a great deal.
Mandy S Says:
Okay, first I want to ask, have you considered the possibility that you could be bi-polar (or manic-depressive)? Your reference to your moods as being “like a rollercoaster” doesn’t exactly describe straight clinical depression, since that would have you be in a funk for a long period of time (about two weeks to a month). A lot of people fail to tell their doctors about their manic episodes, since they think those are the times they’re “fine and happy,” then they crash into depression, and THAT’S when they seek help. Being treated for depression only, when you actually have a manic-depressive disorder, will make things worse. I would suggest you keep a journal for a few weeks of your moods and what is going on in your life, then have your doctor look over it to confirm your diagnosis of depression, or to consider if you have manic-depression. If you’re medicated for the actual problem you have, it could help, not make things worse.
Okay, in addition to that, keep in mind that if you truly have a chemical imbalance in the brain, anything else you do may or may not be enough to help much. Even for people who are on anti-depressants or have other mood-related disorders, there are a few things you need to do to maintain a healthy lifestyle, that will also help you maintain good mental and emotional health (and therefore, good physical health, as well).
Eat healthy. Get enough (I suggest six small meals a day, rather than three larger ones), but don’t overeat. Eat healthy, high protein foods, and lots of fresh vegetables and fruit, and whole grain. Keep your diet low in fat and sugar. If you drink a lot of caffiennated drinks, REALLY limit them, to about one or two a day, and don’t drink anything with caffienne after around 7:00 at night. Take vitamins, and drink lots of water.
Exercise. It releases endorphins that promote energy and a sense of well-being. Not to mention, it’s just healthy, and it can help combat an unhealthy body image.
Talk to someone. I’m of the belief that there are very few, if any, people out there who couldn’t benefit from the services of a good therapist. I don’t recommend taking anti-depressants without also doing counseling, and if you are wanting to overcome (or keep at bay) depression WITHOUT meds, you really need to have a good, understanding therapist.
Get rest. Figure out what really works for you. Most adults need between eight and ten hours of sleep a night. Most adults average about six or seven hours of sleep a night. Long-term sleep depravation can cause you to be distracted, moody, ill, and stressed out, all of which are major problems if you have depression.
Don’t overdo it. I have a friend who will drop one major project, because she knows she’s doing too much, and within two weeks will have taken on three others, to fill all the spare time she didn’t have. Learn to say no. Pace yourself. Accept help if it’s offered. If you are not taking care of yourself, not getting enough sleep and you keep trying to do more than you’re physically, mentally or emotionally able to, your depression will worsen.
There are some certain herbal or non-drug remedies for depression. However, most of these are unproven, or have very mild, if any, effects. Go to a local health-food or herbal remedy store, or ask your pharmacist, to see if they have any suggestions.
But I would look into the possibility that you have manic-depression or bipolar before you decide for good that meds aren’t for you. If you’re treated for the problem you actually have, you could notice a major positive difference if you’re on meds. It couldn’t hurt.
Best of luck to you!
Tabatha Says:
Is it possible the medications didn’t work because you were misdiagnosed to begin with?
I think you need to get your doctor to refer you to a psychiatrist; if you’ve already seen one, go to another one for a second opinion.
I’m no expert and can only talk from personal experience; in my case the depression never lifted so that I was ‘fine and happy’ as you describe happening. I was depressed, period.
So I’m wondering if maybe something specific is triggering your depressive episodes? Either something psychological, or something physiological. Do go and get a new psych evaluation; then you have more chance of getting the right medication.
Perhaps you should keep a diary of your moods, then you can see if there’s any pattern.
If you really don’t want drugs, then by all means try other methods. Organise some counselling, see a homeopath, or a herbalist; these are all things that can help.
Change the way you eat also; cut out caffeine, see if that makes any difference. You might even have a food allergy.
Alternatively, could it be an extreme case of PMS? If you think it could be this, you need an endocrinologist.
ocpalmtree Says:
yes exercise eat good, and have a sleep pattern you can stick to. see a dr if you think you should