How can I beat depression?

[martin]

I have depression, and drugs are not the answer for me. The side effects always made things worse and my depression was never really cured.

What are some good ways to treat it naturally?

[Angela]

Martin, I dropped the antidepressants a week and a half ago because they were making me feel worse than before I started taking them. (I tried 3 different drugs.) In that week and a half, I committed to exercise (cardio, stretching, weight-lifting, and Pilates), bountiful hydration, food that only nourishes me (no more sugar!), and lots of writing.

I feel great!! The only thing left of my depression is sleeplessness, and I am taking a little pharmaceutical help with that.

Best wishes to you -- I know how heavy depression can feel.

[evelynlim]

Here are some ideas to beat depression:

1. Use EFT to tap away negative emotions. EFT is a technique that requires you to use your fingertips to tap specific meridian points in your body. There is a free book available at EFT Provides Impressive Health and Emotional Freedom--New Discovery Often Works Where Nothing Else.

2. Journalling. Set up a blog. If you don't know how to, go to http://www.blogger.com and follow the steps.

3. Get a new hobby, one that allows interaction. You can also make more friends with the same interest.

4. Learn how to meditate. Meditation helps to bring some level of peace and also can help to calm you.

5. Read self help books that are uplifting. Try the Chicken Soup for the Soul series.

6. Exercise. Exercising helps you to release endorphins that can help you relax.

Hope the above tips help. If you are still having problems, do not hesitate to ask for help!

All the best,
Evelyn

[Ak47]

1. exercise helps a lot but isn't necessary; it does release natural endorphins though, which help a lot.

2. make sure you get enough exposure to sunlight... it can be hard in the winter, which is depressing anyway. sunlight provides you with a specific type of Vitamin D that is crucial to being content or happy.

3. scale down bodily desires - this helps prevents overload of the senses (i.e. eating too much chocolate makes you sick, etc).

4. seek pleasures of the mind which are infinate... this one is crucial. probably even necessary. Examples: music, expressive writing, helping others, math oriented games; stuff that you enjoy but will never "conquer" or be the absolute "best" at, but that you can always build on (ref. Epicurus again).

[blackisgray]

Completely accepting and loving yourself really helps, because depression is usually an extension of self-hate. You could have an affirmation, saying that you love yourself or something else positive. You can spend time around great, accepting people. You can meditate. And write! Writing is wonderful because you can see everything you think and feel right in front of you.

[The Cloud]

The only way I've ever found that introduces a permanent change to myself is to change the way I think. You can do a lot of positive things, and I will not discourage you from doing so, but in the end it is the way you are thinking about yourself and others that is making you miserable.

The way I suggest going about it is starting by thinking about something that bothers you a lot. Then, ask yourself why it is bothering you. After that, and this is the really important part, answer yourself.

An example would be "My physical appearance bothers me. Why?" Now, here's the uninspired answer that will get you nowhere and doesn't really answer the question; "Because I'm fat and ugly and have bad acne and my hair is too flat and the wrong color and blah blah blah cry me a river." This answer doesn't provide a sense of satisfaction. Perhaps a better answer would be this; "Because I am ashamed of myself for not taking better care of my body. It isn't that I'm unappealing that bothers me, but that I am making no effort to do anything about it."

Now, this question and answers may or may not be applicable to you, but I think they get my point across. The easy answer is very rarely the right one. You'll know when you find the right answer, because you'll get this feeling that a weight has been lifted from you (and really, one has, because you are able to challenge the limiting belief now that you know about it). Don't expect results right away, self-discovery is a skill that one must practice if one wishes to benefit from it. Just keep looking, and eventually you'll find yourself.

[simplystephen]

Martin...though some people treat depression as an attitude, it is also a sickness. I have suffered depression my whole life. Unfortunately, we all have habits that bring our depression on. Sometimes life does this on its' own. You can virtually eliminate depression but winter or stress may be a trigger. Some things like change in diet and smoking are huge as well. Drugs only dampen the effect and the reality is you are a guinea pig if you try the drugs...what will the long term result be.

Here are some starting points:
1. get yourself tested, perhaps you have a disorder like "sad" sunlight deficiency
2. see a therapist, they help (I delayed for 35 years, wish I hadn't)
3. change your diet - eat lots of fruit and veggies (read up on the right foods)
4. drink tons of water each day
5. quit smoking this changes your ceretonan levels
6. quit coffee
7. don't take medications, try a natural alternative
8. exercise frequently
9. step away from the computer
10. visit with friends or people in your community
11. focus on something you want to achieve...then do it
12. keep your finances in order...THIS ONE IS HUGE
13. be kind and have strong relationships
14. get lots of sleep
15. learn why you get depressed and discover solutions
16. get a sun lamp designed for depression

These are just a few starting points. You can find more detail at your mental health institute. There is nothing to be ashamed of - isn't your productivity and happiness worth it. I think you are!

[martin]

Thank you all so much... this is unbelievably helpful!

[astra]

Hi! Like yourself and angela, I also suffer from depression and find drugs make things worse. I used to take a half-hour walk in the sunlight every day, and was careful what I ate. Some super foods are small amounts of dark chocolate (the really good, rich in cocoa kind) and potatoes. One of the important things with sunlight is that it needs to hit the back of your retina for maximum impact, so try walking early morning or just before twilight, when you don't need sunglasses.

You can also try natural supplements like St John's Wort. I haven't used this myself, but have heard great things about it. Taking B-vitamin supplements also helps, as well as vitamin C, or a diet high in these. Protein is also important. Ginkgo Biloba is also a herb used for relaxation that has shown some promise.

I've been able to manage quite well following this, so hopefully I've given you some extra things to try that can help. Good Luck!

[Angela]

Originally Posted by astra

Hi! Like yourself and angela, I also suffer from depression and find drugs make things worse.

For the sake of clarity: I don't suffer from depression. I'm grateful for the depression that blessed me with its presence.

[kookaburra]

Hi Martin i suffered from depression for nearly the past 4 and a half years all but the last 8 months i took anti depressents for two days and it sent me off my head walking around with my head spinning off my shoulders.
I had a negative partner that constantly put me under pressure and i was over worked didnt take holidays didnt talk much to people had severe panic attacks and anxiety i would take a guess that you have similar symptoms? if so sit down take some time out a figure out what your trigger points may be,sometimes finances can be a trigger, sometimes its a person in your life or perhaps a death can trigger it off only you know.Try to think to yourself and be true in your thoughts, take some you! time on things you! may like to do maybe you dont like doing anything when you think about it find out what you might like to do or even what you used to like doing or see even if you can find out what you may have always wanted to do.Hope all goes well for you,this sight is great for positive afirmations so keep talking to as many people you can and have a look at steves blog that can help any one that may feel down. Hold your head high! i hope for prosperity and happiness for you.

Kookaburra

[Dreamlife Hero]

Hi Martin,

I agree with everything that the others have said.

One thing that also often works is fish oils.

Depression is often causes by low serotonin (a neurotransmitter in the brain) and omega-3 fish oil has been shown to boost serotonin very quickly.

Omega-3 is made up of 2 fatty acids DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid)...

(have you memorized those? there'll be a test after! )

...and these are found in your cerebral cortex.

It's not clear of the link between serotonin and fish oil but tests have shown that the level of serotonin in your brain can be predicted by measuring your blood levels of DHA fish oil.

In short; low serotinin levels can cause depression, alcoholism, impulsive and sometimes violent behaviour.

Taking omega-3 fish oils, or eating oily fish, boosts your serotinin levels and takes away the depression (obviously there are other factors involved often but from a physiological point of view your brain may be depressed - ie it's not just gloomy thoughts!)

You can buy fish oil capsules at any good health food store like Holland and Barrett.

The best oily fish are; Mackerel, Herring, Salmon and Sardines. (lower fat fish are less effective)

Hope this helps,


DLH

[Chado2423]

I feel very mentally, emotionally and spiritually unstable right now. I've never felt this unstable before in my life, nor for this long. If any of you guys pray, that I'll have a stable mind and heart again. Since these deep emotions that I've never felt before have come into my
life, I've just been continually angry, and I've been doing things I wouldn't normally do. I yell at myself in the mirror, and tell myself that I hate myself. And I hit the mirror. Thank God I didn't break it, but I broke many things, I've kicked a wall at my parent's house causing a hole in it. I've slammed the dishwasher shut, breaking it. These are all activities I wouldn't normally do, for no particular reason other than thinking about how I tore my relationship apart. Under normal circumstances I would have been over something
like this, by now. But I am not. I really just want to get myself back and to have a normal life again. Please help me.

[Dreamlife Hero]

Hi Chado,

I think you need to address the underlying reason for your current feelings and subsequent behaviour.

If it's because you feel remorse over ending/ destoying your relationship then that is a very powerful emotion.

I've experienced that myself and it is a very unpleasant feeling.

If you're still in love with your ex then is there any chance of a reconciliation?

You could consider counselling of some sort as it can be helpful to talk to a professional.

The rage could be result of something else ie. do you drink or take drugs?

Do you eat healthily as a diet high in sugar, coffee and/or alcohol can screw up your metabolism and sleeping patterns and affect your mood dramatically.

I found that weight-training, running in the fresh air and meditating helped.

(See my other comments above on Omega-3 fish oils too)

I'm not a professional but I wish you well.

I hope you sort it out.


DLH

[nick pagan]

I eliminated depression in my life in a very simple and natural way. I realized that all emotions are generated by the mismatch between what we desire from ourselves and from life and what we deliver or get in reality. If you want impossible (or highly-improbable) things on a consistent basis and never deliver them and never find a way to deliver them then you will begin to despair and end up depressed.

The key to eradicating depression is to reset your desires so that they are possible and highly probable of fulfillment. That might mean giving up some cherished desires, expectations and beliefs but if you can't have them or they don't work then why continue to suffer from them?

For immediate relief from depression do simple things that you are highly competent at. This reminds you of what you can do and what strengths you have. I have some suggestions here: Breaking the Spell of Depression

For understanding the deeper causes of how emotions work and the influence of desires upon them then read this series of short articles starting here: Fundamental Insights

Take care,
Nick

[The David]

Be careful not to resist negative emotions. If you feel anxious about something that may come, or sad about something that has, observe the emotion without being critical of it. Don't feed it or starve it, let it run its course.

It's very easy to become depressed over depression. I think a lot of our emotional problems come from a fear of negativity, which perpetuates it. Realizing that I could be content without feeling light all of the time, because I didn't have to identify myself or my life by my thoughts and feelings, had an enormous impact on my level of consciousness.

[Julia.Ru]

Hi, Martin! Try listening to Steve's podcasts - they really help. When I read his article Overcoming Negative Emotions and Boosting Motivation where he suggests listening to any motivational audio programmes to feel good and energized every day, I thought it wouldn't work with me. But as I know by experience, even if I don't agree with something Steve writes about, later on he turns out to be right and I only wish I had tried this or that method earlier. So advise you to read the article and listen to the podcasts for at least 30 minutes a day. I highly recommend you to start today and after 30 min you'll feel much more optimistic. I don't know why, but for me it works perfectly - I've been listening to the podcasts for 6 days and have never felt pessimistic during these days.

[cacheborn]

Hi Martin,
I understand your situation completely 'cos I was there once. While anti-depressent drugs did help me, the thing which changed my whole approach was the book Feeling Good : the New Mood Therapy by Dr. David Burns. Its is based on the fact that our emotions are determined by out thoughts and if we change negative thoughts, positive emotions follow.
I would suggest reading the book and doing the experiments mentioned in the book. It really helped me a great deal.
Good luck, mate! remember, this too shall pass.

[Roze]

Originally Posted by cacheborn

Hi Martin,
I understand your situation completely 'cos I was there once. While anti-depressent drugs did help me, the thing which changed my whole approach was the book Feeling Good : the New Mood Therapy by Dr. David Burns. Its is based on the fact that our emotions are determined by out thoughts and if we change negative thoughts, positive emotions follow.
I would suggest reading the book and doing the experiments mentioned in the book. It really helped me a great deal.
Good luck, mate! remember, this too shall pass.

I agree on this one. This book really made the difference for me. At the time, as I was for the first time able to get out of a long-term depression, I felt like I was "reborn". I still feel that way, the change was permanent.
I wish you the very best of luck! And of course lots of courage!

[Pejorative]

Hey, I'm 18, and just came out of a year and a half long depression. Not 100% recovered yet, since your thought patterns change, but I'm well on my way.

Now, for my tips:

- Work out (several times a week).
- Change your thought-pattern. When in a depression, everything seems negative, if you force yourself to think positive, no matter what, it will change your internal focus, and it will help you to get out.
- Try to be social, active, work. Don't be static all day (will only make things worse)
- Talk to people about your problems (psychologist, friends, teachers, family... any form of mentor)

And one last thing: don't try to solve all your problems when depressed. Wait until you get out.

What not to do:

- Don't dwell on what you see as negative (yes, i know it's hard, but if you keep the loops going, it will never stop).




I can give more tips and such, but I dunno what you've tried and not.

[martin]

Y'all don't know how much this has helped me. I've been looking at this thread everyday, applying this stuff to my life.

[FrancescoBellafante]

Originally Posted by martin

I have depression, and drugs are not the answer for me. The side effects always made things worse and my depression was never really cured.

What are some good ways to treat it naturally?

Stay connected with friends and family. Have a great diet, exercise like crazy. Involve yourself with activities that nurture you and inspire you and others. Do something creative, create anything. Make a meal for someone. Make a card for someone special to you. Make yourself feel good about something. If you have to, remind yourself how fortunate you really are. Keep a log of things you appreciate, and a log of accomplishments. So many depressed people say that is no help, but I think it helps you get outside of your self. It can help you see how you are impacting the world. If you're not accomplishing anything, make the the only thing on you list.

Accomplish something to put on my accomplishment log that will make me appreciate myself and the "gift" of life. (Because it CAN be cool, even if it's not now... not out of faith or belief.)



I literally almost killed myself just about ten years ago.

I think very differently now than I did compared to back then.


My actions were dramatic and self-involved. They were me at my worst. I had thought and behaved myself into a completely isolated state. I didn't blame anyone or the world for any problem I had... EVERY problem was my fault, I was thee problem. The idea of ending my life wasn't quitting as much it was admitting, yes, I'm horrible and don't deserve to live, considering what I have been doing with the gifts I have. I am ashamed and afraid. I want to quit, not ever have to deal with how much of a failure I feel like. I used to be brilliant and loved and great and now I can't fall asleep, I can't think, I simply can't go on....

Yes, I know how deep depression can get.


IT is completely real.... but it is completely DELUSIONAL... it is not "valid" rational, reasonable thinking. "Depressive Insomnia" as I like to think of what I am referring to can drive anyone to consider offing themselves.

Few people use the Delusional word when it comes to talking about depression though.... It is usually only tied up with Mania. I think that is kind of messed up. It's like no on wants to tell a depressed person he or she is delusional, it might push them over the edge.

Going over the edge turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to me. Some people seek bottoms from which to rebuild.

Consider not judging your emotional state as right or wrong, focus on what you want to create in your life, in the world and get in action doing it.

If it is or ever becomes a matter of holding on for "dear life.." and you want random help from a relative stranger....

don't be one:

incredulity@gmail.com

best,
frank