Ways to Overcome Depression

By

Deb

Sorry, just one last thing to add:

If you are already on meds, talk to your doctor before taking St. John's Wort. Also, it is only for mild to moderate depression (not severe depression or bipolar disorder, etc.)

By

Deb

I would just like to add that there are different types of depression. Some are caused by situation, outlook, attitude, and perception (which may be helped by a change in thought process). However, there is also depression that is caused by trauma, such as abandonment, death of a loved one, and abuse. Telling someone who is truly suffering to "snap out of it" or to just "get control of their thoughts" is very insensitive and not helpful. If you are suffering from depression, not just a bad attitude, you NEED HELP. There is no reason to be ashamed, it's not your fault.

Also, if you have found that talking with a counselor, therapist, or psychologist was unhelpful...try finding a different doctor! I just recently found a doctor that is helping me just when I was about to give up on therapy all together.

Here are my tips:

1. Consider taking St. John's Wort (as I explained in my earlier post)
2. Talk to a professional
3. Eat a healthy diet
4. Excercise
5. Reach out to people that you love, not to talk about your problems, but just to have good positive relationships. You will find that they are happy to hear from you :)
6. Meditate
7. Find a good hobby

There is no perfect answer or solution, but you might find yourself happier if you try these things.

By

Deb

I highly recommend St. John's Wort. It's important to get a quality product with 0.2-0.4% Hypericins AND 2-4% Hyperforins. I recommend a brand called "Eclectic Institute- Fresh Raw Freeze Dried St. John's Wort" which can be purchased at natural food stores, such as Whole Foods. I have been suffering with depression for a long time. Starting with issues of abandonment from my childhood and most recently with the birth of my daughter (post partum depression).

You shouldn't take this stuff if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, and of course you should ask your doctor if you are already on medication. Doctors in Germany prescribe St. John's Wort to their patients four times more than fluoxetine (Prozac)- I found this information in a book called "Pharmacist's Guide to Medicinal Herbs". Also, very few people have any negative side affects when taking SJW, which is not true for a lot of other anti-depressants out there.

Keep in mind, SJW is only for mild to moderate depression. You should also consider talking with a therapist/ psychologist. It took me a while to find the right person and I started to think that therapy wouldn't help me, then I found a wonderful doctor and I started meeting with her weekly. I also found SJW to be much more effective when taken 3 times daily.

I honestly have been feeling really happy, well-rested, and great :) Before SJW, I was feeling hopeless, useless, ashamed, and sad for a few hours every day, sometimes for no reason at all. That's when I realized that the trauma in my life actually changed my brain chemistry. I have a lot of compassion for people suffering from depression and I know it is very real. You may need to change your diet, your ways of thinking, your lifestyle...SJW can help get your brain chemicals in balance so you can begin making changes to improve your life.
You are not alone and there are some wonderful tools that can help you get your life back on track.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Please discuss consuming any medicinal remedies with your physician before taking. http://www.herbs-hands-healing.co.uk/contraindications/stjohnswort.html

By

metroplex

I empathize and have nothing but deep compassion for people who suffer from depression.

For guest post 4/4/07: get yourself to a psychiatrist, not a regular medical doctor, immediately.
I, too, have been depressed since I was a child and have been fighting it my whole life; I'm 52 now.

Everything you wrote about your life indicates that you are severly depressed. Go to the school nurse and tell her/him. If they won't help you, go to the emergency room of any hospital and tell them what you wrote here. Don't feel ashamed, that's part of the depression, just get help.

Get to a therapist. Keep looking until you find the right therapist for you. Not everyone has the same rapport with each other. Don't stop looking. See a therapist.

I found out that I have a fast metabolizing gene called 'genotype 2D6'. This metabolizes certain medications too fast, such that at one point I was one 1800mg of one anti depressant, plus my other meds, and it didn't even show up in my blood. A simple blood test will tell you - ask your doctor for the test. If they won't do it, find a doctor who will. It may make all the difference for you.

I can't take oral hormone therapy either because of this gene. I use a trans dermal patch so the medication goes through my skin. Then that's the only time it shows up in my blood.

Please, if you are the least suicidal or are even thinking about it, get help immediately from your psychiatrist and/or from the emergency room in a hospital. It is NOT TRUE that people that threaten suicide are doing it for attention. It is a cry for help of the most serious kind.

My psychiatrist said not to take Ginko Biloba with my drugs.

The people that posted info that herbs are drugs are absolutely correct. Don't take them unless you clear it with your psychiatrist. Tell your psychiatrist EVERYTHING you are taking; over the counter, vitamins, herbs, aspirin, everything. Again, I stress a psychiatrist instead of a regular doctor or gynocologist. A psychiatrist has much more schooling and training.

I made this mistake early on before I got into therapy. My doctor and my gynocologist meant well, but they were not doctors of the mind and what they gave me didn't help.

Keep looking until you find the right psychiatrist also. There has to be a rapport with that doctor and you.

Try to walk. I know it seems impossible, but just try walking up and down your driveway. I'm often afraid to go out of the house, but try just to sit outside for as long as you can.

Try, try not to isolate yourself. I know that's part of depression, but try to reach out to someone supportive and who loves you. You probably don't feel loved by anyone right now while you're depressed. That's part of the depression. Try to at least reach out to someone.

Keep away from negative and non supportive people. The 'just pull yourself up by your bootstraps' people and the 'snap out of it' people.

I don't know your Faith or your Religion, but try to go to church or listen to a sermon on the TV or radio. My experience is, through 12 Steps and through all the therapy I've had is that God is the answer. Frankly, I don't care Who you believe in, but pray, just ask, just speak frankly to Whoever that Spirit or Whoever is for you. If you are angry, tell it to Who you believe in. Tell it to Who Is because, you know, They know anyway because They know what is in your heart and mind anyway, so don't try to hide it - be honest. The truth, the their Light will heal you. For me, it's God and He still performs miracles.

I don't endorse Satanism or Wicca or anything that is not of the Light. I don't apologize for this.

Ask anyone you know, anyone, to pray for you. I don't care Who they pray to, it doesn't matter, just ask them and anyone to pray for you.

Put yourself on every prayer list that nearly every church offers. Often you can get on line with that church and put in your request for prayer. Or they often have a prayer line that you can telephone and ask them to pray for you. This is NOT selfish and don't believe anyone who tells you that. You need help and get it from anyone and anywhere. I haven't seem a church yet that doesn't have a prayer request section.

I had a psychiatrist who told me once: there is a light at the end of the tunnel and it's not a train coming towards you. It is true. Even if you don't believe it, act 'as if' you believe it; pretend you believe it. Eventually your mind will absorb it; your mind is very powerful

Find out through a psychiatrist if you have a personality disorder or are bi-polar, and/or manic. Get treatment right away.

Find out if you have addictions of any kind; food, not eating, eating too much, smoking, drugs, pain killers, sleeping, gambling, sex, alcohol, and there are many other addictions. I have several, try to admit it to yourself and tell your doctor and therapist about them. It is NEVER shameful to tell the truth.

Right now I am in a bad, very bad place myself. I am in therapy and am seeing a psychiatrist, but it's been very bad for around 8 weeks. I despair. But I am trying. Keep trying.

Try just a little bit. Even a tiny bit helps, even if you can't feel it.

Make sure you are eating. Eat as healthy as you are able. Protein and fresh vegetables and fruit. You probably don't want to feed yourself or you overeat, this is part of the depression. Eat canned vegetables and fruit, but eat something at least three times a day, even if it's just a bite. Have two bites the next time, make yourself eat; it is medicine for the body.

Try to sleep. Keep your bed and bedroom for sleeping only, not watching TV or anything else. If you can't sleep after 20/30 minutes, get out of bed and go into another room and read something soothing, listen to soothing music, no television please. When you start to feel sleepy, immediately get into bed. What worked for me: When I couldn't sleep I left the bed and DID put on the tv, but on a station where I only got static, white noise, and it worked. You can buy a machine that puts out white noise and just drones on. Try it. It's relatively inexpensive.

Have your psychiatrist do blood tests for vitamen deficiencies. I found out I am deficient in vitamen B and D this way. I found out I have thyroid disease this way. These things all affect depression. Get to a doctor.

Try to meditate and calm your mind even for a minute. Try two minutes next time. Or, sit and be aware of your surroundings; I'm sitting on the floor, it feels hard and cold, I hear birds and feel wind on my face, the wind is moving my hair. Open your eyes, what do you see? I see a red car, gray wood, blue paint, rust on the bumper and it's reddish color, green grass, yellow and red leaves, branches. Do you see what I mean? Pick up a branch or a flower stem, anything. How does it feel in your fingers? Is it rough, gray and black, smooth, cool, flaky? Notice these things. It will calm you.

Try and keep a written gratitude list. It doesn't matter if you write down 'I got up today' or 'I dressed myself today'. Try to write down 5 things every day. Keep a notebook. Try to write down one thing a day, then two things. Do whatever you can do. Try to feel grateful; I know it seems impossible right now. Writing down things works, I don't know why. Then read over what you wrote the day before, the week before. It will give you hope.

I know I wrote a lot here. Writing this helped me and I give you my heartfelt thanks for helping me.

If it helps to know that a complete stranger is praying for you, then know I am praying for you. I'm sure other people who read this will pray for you too. The Universe, God for me, hears everything and answers every prayer, every one, even if it's not what I want. I try to be grateful because my God wants the best for me and often I don't know what's best for me; I just want what I want.

God Blessings on you, Dear Heart.

By Lizy (Guest Post)

I have seen many articles to overcome depression through various treatment. This is quite interesting
http://www.pillwatch.com/info/non-medical-fight-with-depression.html

By (Guest Post)

Haha. I have heard the old "snap out of it" line many many times. If only they knew...

I've been controlling my depression for a few years using various different anti-depressant medications, but I have been feeling worse than ever lately. Is there anything in addition to medication that I can do (apart from seeing a therapist - which in my experience, does not help at all)?

I eat healthily and do yoga to relax, but I can't seem to get it under control. It is very difficult to describe - it is a feeling of being weighted down, physically crushed by absolute hopelessness. It happens at the most random times, so I can't really identify the triggers.

Please help.

By

TimothyJones

There are lots of self help tips which you can use and change your life, but be patience
http://www.depression-guide.com/depression-self-help.htm

By Majid (Guest Post)

As far as I know, any event has two sides: dark and light. So, it's up to you to consider which one. If you let yourself to think in a negative way, you will always find something to make yourself sad and depressed. Also, actually most of the people know what things make them unhappy, but surprisingly they still do them. For me the main reason of occasional depression are sleeping late at nights which results in a idle and unhappy day, and postpone doing my works and responsibilities. At times that I had decipline in my works and sleeping I was in good mood. I believe if someone could overcome its main reasons of depressions he or she can gradually fell himself or herself into the light side of life and not only become happy but also make others happy too...

By Tom (Guest Post)

Great Article. I think many useful advice is given here also at http://www.depression-treatment-guide.com

By (Guest Post)

im 17 and still suffering from depression. i have trouble sleeping at night and im not so happy at work. i like my job but my emotions are affecting me, even in school. im feeling like i have wasted alot of my high school time doing nothing. i skipped prom because of no girl to take, i missed out on senior activities such as a class trip due to my support of friends, and my number of friends dropped from 12 to 5 and the world is changing around me. im feeling down most of the time and i've had on and off depression since i was 6. my school grades went from b's to c-minuses. but when i go to college, im just hoping to start a new life and make it the best 4 years of living. i have hopes and dreams just having trouble sticking to them. i know one day i'll be out of depression for good.

By

pamphyila

I have suffered from depression for years (mine is bipolar 2 - meaning mostly depressed but I can also get manic occasionally). And I have tried all sorts of medications. The recent research confirms my experience - what you have to shop around and try different medications until you get what works for you. Some may be too little (like St. John's Wort by itself) - and some may be too much - only you can tell. Be pro-active patient and find a psychiatrist who will work with you.

While you are doing that also work on your general health - eating right, getting regular exercise- walking is good. I have also had success with some herbal remedies for insomnia & the use of ginseng/other adaptogens for restoring the adrenal glands and providing energy rather than caffeine. Check out Dr. Andrew Weil's approach to total health. Make sure you get all your supplements! Vit. C/Multi-vitamins. I added COQ10, 2,000 MM fish oil - I also finally stopped drinking alcohol - with the help of valerian and supplements - (I never thought I could do without to dull the terrible pain - but up on this plateau, I find I finally can - )

I also have worked on my psychological health, going to therapy, applying the 12 Steps, and doing a lot of inspirational reading. Meditation helps, and yoga or something similar.

It really is a complicated process and an on-going task, like managing a condition like diabetes.

No one who hasn't suffered from it can really imagine the real PAIN of depression. But know that it passes. It always passes. Once you have lived through an episode, you know you can take almost anything and it makes you stronger. I wish you all luck on your journey -

(And if you are shy - the first step is to take advantage of all that the internet has to offer you by way of information and inspiration - Check out Beliefnet.com for spiritual input. There's a lot out there in cyberspace.)

By

Denise2003

If you are that shy, then get someone you trust to go with you to the doctor-- but make sure you go! If you are so shy you can't tell a doctor what is going on then you need help right now!

As far as St. John's Wort goes-- it is no substitute for medical care. Also, any herb strong enough to work is a DRUG-- and it is dangerous. If you can't pull out of a depression after every reasonable effort has been made then go to a doctor. Never self medicate. Don't listen to this "natural" nonsense. Deadly nightshade is "natural"; cancer is "natural"; hurricanes are "natural." Natural and safe are nowhere near to being the same thing.

I have bipolar affective disorder. There is nothing in any of the advice above that can possibly be applied to a serious condition like mine. Even if your condition is much less serious, though, medicine can help-- sometimes it even seems miraculous. Just ask any of the people (a large percentage of the population, by the way) who have experienced what these miracles are like.

Whatever you do, never listen to the nonsense that started this thread. People who are ignorant have no business pretending to know something. I suggest the author of that "advice" count his blessings and shut up about things he knows nothing about.

Denise

By

ThriftyFun

Hi Valery,
This article is from an off site author. There is a big difference between someone being a little down and clinical depression. In her defense, she does say "If you are still having problems with depression and just can't seem to rid your life of these feelings it would be advisable to visit your doctor. There could be a medical reason that is causing your depression such as prescribed medicines, menopause, or other illnesses."

As far as St. John's Wort goes, it has helped a lot of people but as you say, interactions with other medications one may be taking are possible so make sure that you check with a pharmacist before taking it.

For any of you that feel you may have clinical depression, please see a doctor.

Take Care,
Susan from ThriftyFun

By

valery

Ok, boy you made me mad. I suffer from depression. Do you have any idea how easy it is for someone that does not suffer to tell me to "snap out of it", "keep positive thoughts". Do you think we want to feel like this. I suppose you haven't researched much. Clinical depression is not a bad mood you can snap out of. It is usually caused by chemical imbalances in the brain. If you are going to write about a medical issue, please, research first. And ST Johns Wort reacts very badly with alot of medicines. If anyone out there plans on using it, please for goodness sake, talk to your pharmacist. They are the experts on meds. It can render birth control usless, and interferes with antibiotics. I don't know what else. Herbs can be very dangerous. Research everything and anything you take.
Valery

By (Guest Post)

St. John's Wort is an herb you can buy in capsule form that will help uplift a mood. I took it a few years ago after a tragic event in my life and it helped me keep going! I think you can buy it about anywhere...Wal-Mart or a Health Food Store. Good luck to you!!

By (Guest Post)

what happens if you are toooooo shy to do any of the above? Including, but not limited to, going to the doctor?