Depression tips

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 03 Apr 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

moonman	03 Apr 2003
Hi I have noticed a few threads about depression and the amount of people that are taking anti-depressants. Did anyone try anything natural before taking drugs. e.g Vit B6 I'm not saying that Vit B6 is a cure for deep depression and I know that too much Vit B6 make you go manic. For me accupuncure worked wonders and 121 with pro therapist. I'm not depressed any more I came out of it some time but I thought if anyone had any tips that they would like to share.

jema	03 Apr 2003
i got one. and when i was depressed i would just hate anyone who told me this - but it is true. it really helps: exercise. not running in the woods or training like a pro - anything will help, simple walks or riding a bike. but just to get out of the house and move that body helps so much. i was so surprised when i finally tried it out and it worked. i tried St Johns worth but it didn't do anything for me. i was on ordinary meds for a few years but these last years i have kept my depressions at bay with routines and exercise and eating regulary and a whole lot of whining in my journal:) and knowing that when things fall apart i know what to do. i got the number to professional help, a therapist i trust and i know what drugs that can fix it - if i have to. when all else fails. meds are great. but it is also great not being dependant on them and knowing there are other solutions out there. vitamin B6 is included in my daily vitamins - i think. have to check. thanks for the tips!

miranda	03 Apr 2003
Quote: Originally posted by moonman Hi I have noticed a few threads about depression and the amount of people that are taking anti-depressants. Did anyone try anything natural before taking drugs. e.g Vit B6 I'm not saying that Vit B6 is a cure for deep depression and I know that too much Vit B6 make you go manic. For me accupuncure worked wonders and 121 with pro therapist. I'm not depressed any more I came out of it some time but I thought if anyone had any tips that they would like to share. spirituality is working for me .. ive come very far since i started looking into & studying this stuff.. of course i still have my episodes.. but not even close to half as much as i used to.. it used to hit me weekly sometimes daily even .. its been a while since ive been very down.. which is wonderful & yes i am pon prozac.. but i have cut my intake to less than half of what is perscribed

miranda	03 Apr 2003
also i started taking vitamins.. & i honeslty did not even think that they could be what is helping tooo (i started taking them for my skin & nails LOL)

Angel Star	03 Apr 2003
Interesting thread and just one I would like to contribute to. I have had terrible problems with depression for about 10 years now on and off. Last year I had anemia and that just threw me into a big time depression even after my anemia was fine. I did go on Prozac but I gained weight and just recently went off of it with no problems. I take St. John Wort and 5-HTP which is a natural vitamin B-12 with other supplements but I can't remember them all right now but it has helped. Exercise is very good also but again this year I was diagnosed with anemia and the depression came back. Anemia and depression can be very related also. I have read that depression can sometimes cause anemia and vise versa. This is just my story. Its hard to exercise when your anemic though I am so weak at times. I like to lift weights this really helps with the endorphin boost and serotonin at least for me it has. Take care everyone and try what you can and never give up. I do agree with an earlier thread I forgot who posted it but sometimes meds are needed at times. Goddess Bless :)!

Dragon of night	03 Apr 2003
as a person that has to deal with depression on a fairly regular basis, i have a few tips. find things that occupy your tyme and don't give you tyme to think about the bad things in your life. second, get away from the areas that usually depress you, say if you get depressed because of traffic, find another route to your destination. another way is to listen to upbeat music, you would be suprised the influence that music can have on your mood. finally, get away from your life for a while, meditation is always a great help. it helps calm you down and brings things into perspective. on occasion, if you are able, get awqay ffrom your body as well. go on a psionic walk or something. I've said my piece. I wish you all well. Everything happens for a reason. if it was not meant to be, it would not be. Quoth the Raven.

zorya	03 Apr 2003
i take st. john's wort, efa's 3, 6 and 9 and eat 6 brazil nuts daily. the effect is cumulative. you really don't notice their effect unless you stop for a several days. i've been on paxil and zoloft, and feel that taking them was among the worst things i've ever done to myself. having said that, i want to make clear that i do not feel this is the right way to handle it for everyone. i had a good therapist that was not 'bought' by the drug companies. he helped me recognize my own depression. now when i feel really down, i know what is going on. i know that i will not and have not always felt that way. i know to let people know what's happening and not try to hide it. i cannot emphasize enough, the role spirituality has played in my healing. ... and i loooovvvvve acupuncture!

truthsayer	03 Apr 2003
for me, it's like what came first-the chicken or the egg. i have chronic iron deficient anemia and pernicious anemia. i have a family history of depression. a highly stressful job(while i was still able to work.) i have chronic headaches that require daily medications. because the headaches were caused by neck disks degenerating, i have to be extremely careful in the type of exercise i do. nothing that jars my head or neck. about the only thing i can do without creating a setback is swim or walk. often i just don't have the energy due to the anemia. i take vitamins and some herbs along with anti-depressants. i talk to my doctor before i add or take anything from my medication regime. i have spent many years coming up with what i do and it has worked the past 4 years. i get bloodwork done every 6 months to make sure there is no liver or kidney damage. so far so good. no need to knock success! :) i have worked heavily with my spirituality, a therapist and staying busy. i go to college full time in graphic design. i find that my enthusiasm for art and writing help me when i am unable to exercise. i am also involved in a volunteer club that helps the community through fund raising projects. it's been a great way to meet ppl and have fun. it's hard to stay depressed when you feel like others need you. the most important thing in my recovery has been to find and create meaning in my life every day. every minute is a choice to make life an endless adventure. knowing the unconditional love of my 3 cats and dog has been a lifesaver, too. when i feel like no one else cares for me or wants to hear me complain, i know they still love me. nothing like kitty or doggie play therapy or a hug. it's been my experience that it's often the ppl who are closest to you that are least likely to understand or accept that the illness just can't be willed away. the love of pets is patient and enduring.

isthmus nekoi	06 Apr 2003
may sound odd but.... I once read a quote from Jung which basically said something like: all neurosis are a substitute for true suffering. *Personally* this made a lot of sense to me (not trying to imply other ppl w/depression are avoiding true suffering). I never got depressed again, granted the episodes had *really* leveled off in duration/severity by the time I read it as a result of doing a lot of soul searching beforehand. I'm sure if I'd read it when I was younger, it wouldn't have made much sense to me then. But it was like a little light bulb turning on when I read that, one of those great aha! moments.

Indigo_lady	07 Apr 2003
Quote: Originally posted by moonman Hi Did anyone try anything natural before taking drugs. e.g Vit B6 I'm not saying that Vit B6 is a cure for deep depression and I know that too much Vit B6 make you go manic. When u guys say taking vitamins do you mean supplements or foods rich in B complex vitamins?

HudsonGray	07 Apr 2003
I used the fish oil (Salmon oil, the taste is better & doesn't make your skin smell) for a week to help lower cholesterol but my skin started breaking out in small boils....4 of them on my face and one on my chest, so I stopped. I think I just overloaded my system, even though I was only taking the recommended dose of 2 pills (1,000 mg each) twice a day after meals. Watch for side effects on some of this stuff.

moonman	07 Apr 2003
Originally posted by Indigo_lady [/i] [b]When u guys say taking vitamins do you mean supplements or foods rich in B complex vitamins? Depends really on you but I think it's best to take vits fruit & veg etc. Vit B = chicken, backed potatoes, cereal ........ Other good tips as mentioned Walking Gym writing, Talking Holidays Make over, treat yourself to a hair cut o what ever Friends shiatsu/acupunture PETS yes I love my babies If your feeling deeply depressed you should go a a Dr.it may or may not be good for you to take anti- depressants but it's not a drug that fits all. you shouldn't take anti- depressants with St. Johns wart!!!!! It says that on the info inside the box. Also you might have to shop around for a good Dr. or therapist. it's important for you to click with them. For me I will never go to see a Dr or therapist in the UK for tooooooo many good reasons. So now I just go to the rest of Europe where I know it's fast, good and it really helps with out taking pills. On the other hand your depression will never go away unless you are aware in the first place that you are depressed and there is different forms of depression. from light, mod and deep. The main this is to find out what is making you feel depressed ie. death, birth, relationships, feeling lonely, work, money, family, abuse etc.......... When you find out the reason(s) you will need to work at dealing or accepting things to be able to move forward. Yes it will take some time but it will be worth it in the end trust me. Come to thina bout fish, I had been eatng alot at the time I'm sure it helped.

zorya	07 Apr 2003
eating lots of fish is a great recommendation. fish is high in e.f.a's which are great brain food. that is why i take a combo e.f.a, that includes omega's 3, 6 and 9. the balance of the three types helps your body better absorb and utilize them. most fish oils contain only omega 3.

Amythist	07 Apr 2003
I do not take medication and i have always found a walk in the park or study if just as good. I am over tired when i get studying but i find it helps Meditating is also good. Never tried vitamins though

zorya	07 Apr 2003
i would not recommend self-medicating, herbal or otherwise for depression. i went to a psychiatrist who had a reputation for being open to alternative treatments, and i picked his brain. that is how i came up with my regimen. there are other health care practitioners out there that will consider alternatives to the popular drugs used for depression. you may have to ask around in your area to find them though. isthmus; THANK YOU ;)

truthsayer	08 Apr 2003
if you have difficulty with keeping your female hormones happy, try black cohosh and plant soy. soy is a form of natural estrogen. i've been taking it over a week and can already tell a difference with some of my physical symptoms. it can take up to 3 months to work for some women.

Angel Star	08 Apr 2003
Some of us suffer from chemical depression which is the kind I have, and is totally different from being depressed about things that you know are bothering you. Chemical depression is so different from feeling down for loss of job,divorce, financial problems etc. I also work with my doctor on natural remedies so I know I can take certain things without risk of side affects from combining meds with natural products or St. John Wort. My doctor has changed alot of his approach and is more homeopathic that he ever was so I am grateful he is working with me to find the best solution for me.

Alex	08 Apr 2003
with another condition, that condition needs treatment, not the depression directly. I have suffered from "mild depression" all my life because I have attention deficit disorder. The fustration of not being able to pay attention and screwing up everywhere without any intention to invariably leads to a state of low self-esteem, and discouradgement. I take stimulants used to treat ADD. Works wonders. Alex.

isthmus nekoi	09 Apr 2003
zorya> ^_^

Alex	09 Apr 2003
I've read it too, it makes a lot of sense. But again, some kinds of chemical depression are serious illnesses and should be looked at as such. They are THE true suffering. Alex. Quote: Originally posted by isthmus nekoi I once read a quote from Jung which basically said something like: all neurosis are a substitute for true suffering. *Personally* this made a lot of sense to me (not trying to imply other ppl w/depression are avoiding true suffering). I never got depressed again, granted the episodes had *really* leveled off in duration/severity by the time I read it as a result of doing a lot of soul searching beforehand. I'm sure if I'd read it when I was younger, it wouldn't have made much sense to me then. But it was like a little light bulb turning on when I read that, one of those great aha! moments.

moonman	10 Apr 2003
QUOTE Originally posted by Angel Star Some of us suffer from chemical depression which is the kind I have, and is totally different from being depressed about things that you know are bothering you. Chemical depression is so different from feeling down for loss of job,divorce, financial problems etc. QUOTE Originally posted by zorya i would not recommend self-medicating, herbal or otherwise for depression. QUOTE Originally posted by Alex I've read it too, it makes a lot of sense. But again, some kinds of chemical depression are serious illnesses and should be looked at as such. They are THE true suffering. Sooooo true I have a friend who suffers from chemical depression, but she was on prozac and that made her worse. which the same for me some time ago. She doesn't want to do anything about it! I'm finding very hard to deal with as it's making me feel down when I talk to her. But what can I do......nothing apart for recommending that she talks to a therapist, something I've already done. Another friend of mine was depressed because she never had a job until a year ago at 35. The thing about it she never made any efforts to look for work in the first place as her partner earns good money but she had no independence! She is fine now but she doesn't admit that she was depressed......Oh well, life eh Has anyone tried yoga? I heard that's very good. I know that oats is good too. porrige oats, oat cakes but oats is mainly for stress and not depression.

Ruby7	10 Apr 2003
I agree with what others mentioned , in dealing with mild depression I have found exercise to be a great boost to the body. It's like jump-starting a dead engine, it gets everything energized and flowing again. Getting a good night's sleep is more important than people realize too. I found the link between anemia and depression that was mentioned by others here very interesting. I have dealt with a medical condition for 12 years and always been upbeat about it, but when I became anemic 3 years ago I found it very hard to cope with everything (job, emotions etc). I have been taking iron pills for two years now, would rather take a natural supplement, but none of the natural iron supplements were strong enough and I cannot seem to get enough iron by diet alone. As for severe depression, I think a professional hand is always necessary. If you want to go the natural route, a natural health practitioner (naturopath, homeopath), can give you better guidance, and take care of you.

Logiatrix	10 Apr 2003
moon, i was diagnosed with clinical depression and OCD last summer, right after i turned thirty-five. there were a series of factors contributing to that end, not the least of which was chemotherapy treatment that was yeilding POSITIVE results. chemo is rough, but is has been working for me. as my physical condition took a turn for the better, i still responded negatively to the change, even if it was positive. following that came guilt for not feeling gratitude for my healing, as well as shame for being emotionally "weak"...and so on. i was diagnosed as unipolar with brief manic tendencies and obsessive-compulsive disorder. the cool thing about that whole experience was the manic episodes, where i would clean the entire house from top to bottom! :D seriously, though, all those remedies discussed above are very helpful. the herbal supplements should be heavily researched and monitored by a doctor who knows your entire medical history. for example, i can't take st. john's wort because i take chemo. i am now on an anti-depressant that works with my other meds. i see a therapist weekly, exercise regularly and take my spirituality VERY seriously. when i was at my very, very deepest depression, i found that i quite literally didn't have a prayer. i have vowed that i will never find myself without Spirit. i have learned to pray and keep my head in spiritual books and music. i thought i'd always done that, but now my heart is truly in it, and i am much more disciplined. i have learned that i HAVE to be a spiritual being, because my life depends on it. :)

moonman	12 Apr 2003
Originally posted by metaz i am now on an anti-depressant that works with my other meds. i see a therapist weekly, exercise regularly and take my spirituality VERY seriously. Metaz, I'm glad to hear that things are working out for you. Funny, this morning when I checked my yahoo mail I saw this ad what came up while I was logged in http://www.effexorxr.com/p/p25.jhtml This goes to show that there are sooooooo many people that are depressed. I know France has the highest amount of people on anti-depressants in Europe and that's mainly because the Dr's & Pharmacists get a ˘˘˘˘˘ for giving them out. But I don't knock them. I just wouldn't take them ever again! But I know for others it has worked wonders. Homeopathy worked for me but the sad thing was that my Dr. took advantage of me. He was also a hypnothrapist and that's the problem that I had with him. To cut a long story short. I didn't press the charges for sexual abuse because I was too weak at the time to do anything about it. I was so angry that this man would take advantage of people and I didn't want it to happen to someone else. Anyway I had very good hypnothrapist since then that I trusted and didn't have fake certs on the wall. I'm happy now and getting on with my life. This is why I always say it's good to shop around for a Dr.etc.

Ruby7	12 Apr 2003
Hi Moonman, Glad to hear that things are working out for you. It is hard to find a good doctor, and awful that so many bad doctors (like the bad experience you mentioned) are allowed to practice. I hope that everything continues to go well for you.

Brammetje	24 Apr 2003
There are many severe causes for depression that I do not take lightly Even though I had some experience with depression.... I have no 'depression tips' I am trying to stay out of it as much as I can... with gathering beauty around me... and living the life I want to live as much as I can... (with help of my friends!)

Belladonna	24 Apr 2003
I've battled depression in fits and bouts for most of my life, but I've never taken medication. I found that for me it's all about regaining balance. When I begin to realize I'm getting depressed again I go through this list: 1) Am I making a point to socialize? See friends? Talk to people? 2) Am I spending enough time outside in the sunlight? 3) Am I getting enough daily exercise, preferably a daily walk outside? 4) Am I eating well and taking a daily multivitamin? 5) Am I drinking enough water? 6) Am I practicing a daily grounding and centering exercise like the Tree of Life? 7) Am I paying enough attention to my intuition, oracular messages, dreams? 8) Am I reaching out to divinity? Have I ASKED for help from the universe? These may not seem very effective by themselves, but applying every one of them to my life simultaneously absolutely works wonders.

Angel Star	28 Apr 2003
Belladonna makes some very good points and I am lacking more sunlight myself. I do make it a point to follow just about every suggestion she has mentioned but unfortunately I am in need of meds at times. Today I feel pretty good after having a very downer and tiresome weekend. For me when I get depressed again its such a physical thing for me. I am lethargic and achy and just do not feel myself. It really takes a tole on my energy level. This is me though. It feels like I am sick yet there is nothing physically wrong with me. Then the pessimism sets in and all kinds of anxiety and obsessions to top it off. And the guilt is very consuming. When your around your family and there are feeling themselves I know it can be very lonely at times it is hard for others to understand and I get the usuall "why can't you just get over it" reply. That is very easily said at times and alot harder done. Its not so much about getting over it more of for me my body and mind just feel so alien at times. Everyone take care. Thank Belladonna for your suggestions. I am going to get some sun today.

Violet Gargoyle	29 Apr 2003
In addition to excercise for the minor pick-me-ups: Bananas. Really. The stuff in them is one of the active ingrediants in Prozac. Banana's and chocolate. Endorphines and an Emotional boost. However, this is for the minor level blue's. More serious stuff of course warrants more serious path of treating it.

The Depression tips thread was originally posted on 03 Apr 2003 in the Spirituality board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Spirituality, or read more archived threads.