tips to overcome depression

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Hi all

I was just really looking for any tips that others found helpful to help ease depression. Im finding a lot of conflicting stuff on Google and frankly very little motivation to do the usual exercise and thinking positive right now.

Ive had post natal depression twice, lasting about a year each time But this time I know im caught up in depression again (no baby prior, just depressed). The first time I was in denial and refused to see a doctor and the second time I was put on 5mls of lexapro. It didn't help much and was weaned to 15mls. I became suicidal and was put on 20mls then and was like a zombie. I became addicted and suffered badly with withdrawals so im really trying to avoid that route again. Which is why im here.

The thoughts of work in the morning is overwhelming, im constantly anxious and paranoid and just feel like laying in bed all day is the best option. Everything is overwhelming right now but financially and as a mother im needed constantly and don't have a choice to change this.

Thanks in advance xx

Chrisita

I once read a great article about high copper/low zinc levels playing a part in post natal depression. Personally,I have always believed that my own anxiety and depression had a physical cause, and altering my biochemistry with nutrition and vitamins has had a very positive outcome. Now I am improving my gut bacteria balance and general digestion. I have never attempted any psychological approaches, because I have not really had any bad life experiences, so really had nothing to explore. But I did have shocking depression,anxiety and total exhaustion. I hope you will feel better soon and get the help and support that you need.

DM addict

I know how difficult it is to motivate yourself to do things when it seems like just pulling the covers over your head is a much better solution.

The exercise thing does help. But it's really tough to get yourself exercising when you're down. I would recommend small things, like going for a short walk every evening. I used to tell my partner to make me go for a walk - just 10-15mins or so - with him when he got in from work. Meant I was getting fresh air and exercise, and gave us a chance to talk about our days.

I recommend getting into a routine of doing something positive for yourself everyday. It can be a small thing - going for a walk, reading a book, meditating - something that you know is generally good for your mental health, but that isn't something that's too taxing. Something that you enjoy. Enlist friends/relatives/colleagues to help if you can.

Diet can help a lot as well. Cut down on the fast food, get lots of water and fresh fruit/veg. Again, simple stuff - but it will help. Bananas are apparently great.

I recently did a short group CBT thing with Aware, and I found that really useful. It was six weeks, and mostly just life skills to help with moderate anxiety/depression/stress. A few things I took away from that were - deep breathing; small plans to make changes; diet and exercise; listening to music you love; getting a good breakfast; and so on. A lot of their materials came from www.livinglifetothefull.com - and you can google 'aware life skills course' and see if there's one starting soon near you.

Best of luck. Small changes can make a big difference.

euser1984

I had to try a few meds before I got one that worked....

I started with lexapro, then prozac (neither worked), then lamictal (worked for a while). I'm on Effexor now and it more or less "cured" me.

Putting pressure on yourself to do things you don't want to do didn't help me. I spent long enough trying that.

Axiomatic

SAMe
Discovered in Italy the late 1950's, SAMe or S-Adenosyl methionine, is a combination of ATP and the essential amino acid methionine. Believe it or not, this all-natural depression treatment outsells Prozac in Italy. SAMe has been popular in Europe for the last 20 years. It is clear that the western hemisphere is far behind the rest of the world when it comes to using natural cures.

SAMe is an important molecule that is produced in the body. Some people do not produce enough of it which is a cause of depression. With that said, it makes sense that SAMe may be the only answer for treating depression in certain individuals

Here's what Dr. George Papakostas, psychiatrist at Harvard Medical School, has to say about SAMe - "it's exciting because [SAMe] works differently than what we have now -- it doesn't seem to be associated with the kind of side effects that FDA-approved treatments for this niche have."

The Benefits of SAMe go beyond treating depression. It is also effective in treating arthritis pain and liver disease.

colrow

Give yourself a little treat, a nice cake, have a laugh in the supermarket, by buying, one apple, or just enough grapes, 1 slice of nice cold meat, and one nice crusty roll.

Thats what I really enjoy somedays.

euser1984

colrow wrote: »

Give yourself a little treat, a nice cake, have a laugh in the supermarket, by buying, one apple, or just enough grapes, 1 slice of nice cold meat, and one nice crusty roll.

Thats what I really enjoy somedays.

If you can be nice to yourself, lol!

colrow

Well you're worth it aren't you ? ;-)