To ask what actually helped when you were suffering from depression?

[iamelectrogirl]

Hi, quite a self explanatory title really.
Just wondering if there was anything that really made a difference to you when you were suffering from depression.
I'm really really struggling right now and I can't easily take Anti-Depressants due to pregnancy/ breastfeeding plans. I'd really like to hear if anything helped from anybody with any experience

(Chose this forum due to high traffic but can delete/move)

Getting out and about, even if only for a walk to the shops. I spend a lot of time with family (some but not all of them know about my depression) and the normality of it helps. Besides, I have a tendency to shut myself away when depressed and it definitely makes me feel worse.
CBT.
Anti depressants- I am continuing to breastfeed on them so that needn't be an issue.

Definitely animals.

When I had depression my cat kindly gave birth to two plump, long haired kittens.

Helping bring them up gave me something else to think about/do.

Definitely animals.

When I had depression my cat kindly gave birth to two plump, long haired kittens.

Helping bring them up gave me something else to think about/do.

Another one here for exercise. Also getting out and about with my friends.
You may not feel like either, but you will appreciate them when you make the effort.

CBT
citalopram
no alcohol
and accepting I am not super woman and it's ok to make mistakes sometimes.

Giving up my job, time and getting pregnant again.

The pills.

Animals, I fostered cats for years, then got my own but I watch kittens online. The cam I watch has people from around the world watching and we chat sometimes.

Sorry to bring down the thread, but nothing

Am on antidepressants that take the edge off. CBT made no difference, nor exercise (when i could, which i cant now)

I think this is just me.

As in, I've been depressed my entire adult life, and as a teenager before that. Maybe thats just what is normal for me.

I've recently read a book called "The Depression Cure " and covers Omega 3 ,Vitamin D ,socialising ,exercising and sleep (I think ). Basically ,this book explains how society is moving too quick for us ,how office jobs are keeping us inside for silly amount of hours ,meat is no longer enriched with omega 3 like it used to be etc... The increase in depression has been astronomical ,and during studies the author noticed that Mormon cultures and the like very rarely get depression as they still live by the old way of living (always socialising ,eating proper food ,plenty of sleep etc...).
I've been taking Omega 3 supplement for a few months now (it's not so much the omega 3 you measure it's the EPA and DHA you look out for ) I worked it out as 10 ml's a day of high strength Seven Seas omega 3 liquid gives me what they recommend (supplements usually have a lot less which would result in taking a lot of pills ). I'm also taking a vitamin d supplement ,a 100mg a day which is 4 high strength pills at 25mg each BUT it's got to be Vitamin D3 ,not the basic Vitamin D that milk is enriched with as out body can't do much with that. I've also started socialising a lot more. Even if it's saying yes to someone coming round to look at the kittens ,as opposed to cancelling it as I didn't have the energy to socialise.
I think it's really helped. I've also noticed little sleep makes me feel very down ,and when that happens your way of thinking just turns negative in general. For instance is someone ignores you you would tend to think it was you ,that would then spiral of into no one likes me ,everyone hates me etc,. Hence why that say have a good nights sleep before trying to sort out problems ,your outlook and change literally overnight.
Obviously it isn't immediate will take about a month to kick but is worth trying and not too expensive either. I feel better. I'm not saying I'm suddenly miss positive all of a sudden but I can look at things logically now and not let all my negative thoughts spiral out of control.

Sorry ,that was written quickly ,bloody autocorrect ,lol.

I had PND and PTSD. What helped me: antidepressants, EMDR for PTSD, counselling and a really supportive DH.

There was a programme on TV here (Aus) recently talking about gut health and the increasing body of research which links poor gut health to diseases including depression.
Taking a really good probiotic and increasing your dietary fibre intake could really help (and certainly can't hurt). Worth a shot!?

Time
Meds
Rest
Family and friends.
I am in a bad depressive phase just now but these things are the things that helped in the past

I had ante natal depression. It was horrendous. My midwife must have thought I was a monster as I told her I didn't want to be pregnant and wanted to die.

Luckily she arranged for an amazing counsellor to come and see me which made me feel fantastic for about a day afterwards. I didn't want to take the drugs they were recommending so I stuck it out.

The second my dd was born via elective c section! I felt fine! brilliant and I felt it lift weird to say but I honestly did feel completely elated and the depression has never come back.

So having a counsellor helped a lot but having the baby felt better. Were you depressed before you were pregnant?

Surfsup1, as an Aussie who has been on anti-deps practically her whole adult life, I'd be really interested to see that. Could you provide any more info, please? Cheers!

Sertraline ADs
Counselling
Exercise (long fast walks)
Art Journaling
My pet cat

My only good phases coincide with sunny days or holidays.

Cbt and sertraline- first prescribed when breastfeeding dd1 as safest. Continued throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding dd2, wouldn't be without it

Many of the things that have been mentioned especially:
ADs,
walking/gardening,
being on my own to potter,(not being in a constantly critical/demanding work or family environment where I don't measure up);
a shower,
time
CBT - up to a point but when v depressed I tended to abandon it
a project, however small
hope

Things that helped me:

The support of my friends and some family. They never gave up on me. My mum nearly became unwell herself trying to care for me.

Sertraline.

Getting a routine in place and forcing myself to do it.

Getting a dog and taking long walks every day

Private counselling

Accepting thoughts are just thoughts and rarely true when challenged.

Sheer determination to not give up.

I was very very unwell. Had a breakdown and developed severe depression and anxiety. Had psychotic thoughts and attacks that made me believe I was in hell. It was the worst time in my life so far. I never ever thought I would be myself again.

But I am :)

Work - giving me something to focus on
Writing my feelings down
Eating even when I didn't want to
Zopiclone -
things seemed a lot better once I re established normal sleeping and eating patterns but it still took a while

Structure and routine- even if it's, have a shower by x time, eat breakfast by y time, tidy living room by z time etc...

Getting outside regularly.

Not spending too much (whole days is too much for me) alone.

A tidy house- mess makes me feel hopeless and worthless.

Outdoor exercise - one hour a day is a good mood enhancer
Treating depression like a physical illness and taking good physical care of self while recuperating (daily shower or bath and hair wash, get dressed, eat healthy food - loads of raw/fresh veg needed. More than normal.
CBT is wonderful. Read the first 2/3 of 'Feeling Good' by Dr Burns. (Last third is a very long medical summary of anti-depressants but the cognitive behavioural teaching tools are wonderful.)

This is just anecdotal but everyone I know who suffered Ante-natal depression lost it immediately on birth and had no signs of PND. May not always be true but it can be a hormonal imbalance during pregnancy that causes it which rights itself post-birth. One friend said literally once the baby came out she felt this heavy curtain lifting from her mood.

yes to journaling and routine too.

Tidy house helps massively but tough to achieve when you feel really knocked out.