Getting through "depression" without drugs

[LostTheCoat]

Hello.

Has anyone out there decided that they are not willing to take "antidepressants" and have gone down other routes to get out of feeling emotionally terrible?

Anyone want to chat about this?

I know what will be on offer if I go to the doctor. I don't want that (I also really don't want to be persuaded into it, please - I know people have positive experiences of the drugs, but I have my reasons to not want them).

Anyone else?? TIA

For me not eating enough or dipping below my healthy weight definitely makes my mental health worse (which makes it even harder to eat, it’s a horrible cycle)

Eat what’s easy for a bit - freezer food, ready meals, cheesy beans on toast, instant noodles, cold tuna pasta and cereal are all easy foods for me.
Concentrate on getting enough calories each day and eating something at each meal time even if you can’t manage a full meal - you’ll naturally start eating healthier again once you’re eating more and don’t feel so exhausted constantly.

I also find if my iron levels are even on the border of being low it makes me feel weepy and exhausted. I believe folic acid and b12 deficiency can cause similar symptoms to iron deficiency too

Also I meant add if you have anyone you can talk to about it then do. Everything feels 100x worse when it’s just getting washed about in your head with no release imo

Running for me has the biggest impact on my anxiety. I don't suffer from depression but I would imagine it could also help with that.

Surprised nobody has mentioned diet yet, given that serotonin is produced in the gut. I'd suggest tesearch foods to feed your gut microbiome (variety of veg fruits and seeds, lots of ferments and cut down on ultra processed foods)

*researching

Yes, I have the same cycle. And while it's very true that good, unprocessed foods help, sometimes all I can eat at the moment is bland crap to get the calories in. Currently sitting in the car after work to force down a milkshake....

If you can afford it, try Chinese medicine such as acupuncture or herbal tablets.

I was prescribed Jia Wei xiao Yao. When I googled it I found an article saying studies considered it as effective as anti depressants.

It certainly did something positive to me. I couldn't afford to continue it unfortunately.

I believe it's also known as The Happy Wanderer. Although there are slightly different blends of it as herbalists adjust it for patients.

I was paying £15 a week.

I thought it had the acupuncture were very helpful.

If you are depressed to the point of having such a low appetite and losing weight, I would go to your GP and see what they say.
I think sometimes when someone has low mood and then they take up exercise or some form of self care or therapy, it seems like that “cured” the depression, but what has actually happened is it just passed. When the symptoms started to ease, they got the motivation to look after themselves and that in turn improved their mood sore til they feel like themselves again.
It is almost like part and parcel with depression to resist treatment and try to “cure” yourself. Sadly my experience is that that just doesn’t work. If it is mild depression, it can be manageable using different things that are helpful for you personally but the problem is it tends to recur. I think you should go to your GP, talk it out and come up with a treatment plan that doesn’t include medication if that is what you want but if that doesn’t work within a particular timeframe, try the medication. Sorry I know that was exactly the type of thing you didn’t want to hear.

I have found two things that have really helped me over the years. Consistent sleep time, and a regular sauna (especially in winter- gets me out of the house for non-work reasons in the week).

Given that there are specific stresses in your life, I think talking therapy could be very helpful for you. My kids have had some issues over the last few years and talking to my therapist helped so much. Just having someone there just for me where I could let all my feelings out once in a while really helped me.