Dealing with depression, advice?

LegacyUser

I was just wondering if some of you may know of other ways of dealing with depression other than going to a GP's and getting medication?

I've had depression many times throughout the past 8yrs or so and it's only in the last year that I have begun to recognise the patterns/phases of it. Usually at this stage I wouldn't really notice it but after the last time, where it was particularly bad and lasted for months, I realise that I can not let it get far enough for me to go into 'denial' and not do anything about it.

Have any of you tried any holistic methods, reiki or something like that? I know counselling is an option but one I'm not sure I want to try, just a bit sick of thinking and talking about it tbh.

(Oh and apologies if this topic has been done to death, just couldn't find what I was looking for).

iguana2005

Hi there - depression sufferer myself. Being honest stay on meds.

Was diagnosed at 21 and am now 35. Have come off meds lots of times before but being honest I fall back into that negative hole again within a few months. Have tried the whole excersing/good diet/yoga/reiki/ etc.. but my advise is to use these to compliment your health!

My anti-depressant is taken every morning now along with my pill and will do so forever no doubt. Counselling is great too! Especially if you meet one who you get on well with.

Best of luck - bad patches will pass....brighter days ahead...

cherryghost

I'm not trying to be a kidder, but being active in the community and listening to more upbeat music helps.

depending on your situation too, write up a list of positives and negatives you have in your life... and throw it away. try to clean the plate and maybe meet some people in your position, it can help. i was in your situation a few years ago, but thats how i overcame it all eventually.

marie_85

I've found that eating healthily and exercising regularly over the past couple of months has done more to lift my mood than months of anti-depressants did last year.

Wibbs

Depression is too small a word for the range of experiences named as such that people can have. What may work for one, may not work for another or even make things worse. I would agree that a healthy fit body is by obvious logic a very good base for any health issue including one of an emotional nature. The other routes to a cure? As I say what works for one does not always work for another(inc some medications too). That's where good medical advice and treatment and involvement with the person comes in. So by avoiding that route of all routes, you really limit your options in my humble.

andrewh5

iguana2005 wrote: »

Hi there - depression sufferer myself. Being honest stay on meds.

Was diagnosed at 21 and am now 35. Have come off meds lots of times before but being honest I fall back into that negative hole again within a few months. Have tried the whole excersing/good diet/yoga/reiki/ etc.. but my advise is to use these to compliment your health!

My anti-depressant is taken every morning now along with my pill and will do so forever no doubt. Counselling is great too! Especially if you meet one who you get on well with.

Best of luck - bad patches will pass....brighter days ahead...

+1 13 years for me now. If you have clinical depression i.e. a seratonin imbalance you will always require a maintenance dose of antidepressants. It won't stop you getting lows but, as you have already discovered, you learn when to identify when you are entering one.

It helps to have a GP who fully understands the condition. Sadly, many GPs in Ireland are very ignorant of it in my experience.

Monkey61

cherryghost wrote: »

I'm not trying to be a kidder, but being active in the community and listening to more upbeat music helps.

depending on your situation too, write up a list of positives and negatives you have in your life... and throw it away. try to clean the plate and maybe meet some people in your position, it can help. i was in your situation a few years ago, but thats how i overcame it all eventually.

That's all very well if someone is feeling a bit depressed. But if you are suffering from major clinical depression as opposed to it being situational you really do need to go to a doctor as you cannot cure it yourself - like the way all the healthy eating and exercise in the world will aid your recovery if you are obese, but it's not going to fix your underactive thyroid.

Go to a doctor OP. I wasted years of my life because I wanted to be strong and fight it myself. I saw seeking medical attention as giving in to weakness - but depression is an illness just like any other and needs professional attention.

I know how it feels to be sick of talking about it, but many therapies are about so much more than just rambling about your problems and can be far more directional and problem focused than that.

LegacyUser

Unregistered wrote: »

I was just wondering if some of you may know of other ways of dealing with depression other than going to a GP's and getting medication?

I've had depression many times throughout the past 8yrs or so and it's only in the last year that I have begun to recognise the patterns/phases of it. Usually at this stage I wouldn't really notice it but after the last time, where it was particularly bad and lasted for months, I realise that I can not let it get far enough for me to go into 'denial' and not do anything about it.

Have any of you tried any holistic methods, reiki or something like that? I know counselling is an option but one I'm not sure I want to try, just a bit sick of thinking and talking about it tbh.

(Oh and apologies if this topic has been done to death, just couldn't find what I was looking for).

You need to address the cause of the depression or it'll always keep coming back. I've had counselling for it. I strongly recommend it and ask for cognitive behavioural therapy too. It teaches you how to think differently. It saved my life.

BaubleFreak

Unregistered wrote: »

You need to address the cause of the depression or it'll always keep coming back. I've had counselling for it. I strongly recommend it and ask for cognitive behavioural therapy too. It teaches you how to think differently. It saved my life.

I agree. You need to deal with whatever is causing the depression.

sammyv

My boyfriend is a sufferer, his is due to anxiety, low self-esteem. Last year he tried hynotherapy, it worked well while he was attending, but due to lack off funds he didnt take enough sessions. I offered to pay, but wouldnt accept. He is back to square one now, he refuses to go to doctor, as he went before, and couldnt explain he situation properly, which i think happens alot of people.
I hope he will go for more hynotherapy sessions, it really was working for him.

BaubleFreak

Orls81 wrote: »

My boyfriend is a sufferer, his is due to anxiety, low self-esteem. Last year he tried hynotherapy, it worked well while he was attending, but due to lack off funds he didnt take enough sessions. I offered to pay, but wouldnt accept. He is back to square one now, he refuses to go to doctor, as he went before, and couldnt explain he situation properly, which i think happens alot of people.
I hope he will go for more hynotherapy sessions, it really was working for him.

maybe you could get him to try and write out how he wants to explain the situation, and then bring that with him?

andrewh5

Unregistered wrote: »

You need to address the cause of the depression or it'll always keep coming back. I've had counselling for it. I strongly recommend it and ask for cognitive behavioural therapy too. It teaches you how to think differently. It saved my life.

That worked for you and that is excellent. However, not all cases of depression can be dealt with by counselling. Counselling cannot fix a hormonal irregularity such as poor seratonin production for example. That needs anti depressant meds. That is why it is essential to find a GP who is very knowledgable on the subject.

BaubleFreak

andrewh5 wrote: »

That worked for you and that is excellent. However, not all cases of depression can be dealt with by counselling. Counselling cannot fix a hormonal irregularity such as poor seratonin production for example. That needs anti depressant meds. That is why it is essential to find a GP who is very knowledgable on the subject.

Yes the GP is the first step. it was my GP who referred me for counselling.

LegacyUser

OP here, thanks so much for your replies.

I think I will just have to go to a doctor, something that has been going on for so long and for no reason as such (had problems when I was younger but am removed from then now and have dealt with them) might be clinical depression as some of you have said.
I still go out, have loads of friends, enjoy college and work, have a great boyfriend and yet I keep putting things off or not bothering to do the things I have to do even though I know I should, but there are no feelings motivating me to do it, no guilt if I don't, and so it gets me nowhere.