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)

Citalopram. I find talking about things very difficult so basically rely on medication to keep me relatively steady. It works reasonably well.

Go out each day. If you do, your home feels like a sanctuary to retreat to; if you don't, your home starts to feel a bit like a prison.
It's hard to mix when you're depressed as your confidence is so low and you feel everyone else is the perfect, confident parent but you (when you look back, you'll see that wAsn't true, but that's how it feels). But if you can get the courage to see folks each day, it will be a distraction and will pass the time. Then you can retreat home to a cup of tea.
Anti depressants feel horrid at first but you do adjust and they really do work. I used them with breast feeding no problem. Ask your GP. I was only on them 5 months but they can lift you through a difficult time. A short term measure that really help.
All the best with your recovery x

Seroxat.

Mindfulness is good for recurrent depression.

Making life changes which didn't necessarily address the route cause but did mean I had new things to focus on and a fresh start. Along with this, generally get out and be busy. Have little treat to look forward to every day e.g. popping into the supermarket and buying a nice meal.
Viewing the counsellor as a friend who is good at listening and helping me help myself through it rather than as someone who would solve it all.

How about offering to walk rescue dogs at a local animal shelter?
Get exercise and some animal therapy (the dogs really are grateful!) at the same time. Or just sit and keep the cats company - they love it too.
Definitely gives you a "feel good factor".

the four Ss work for me:

1. Seratonin. AD daily and at least one banana a day.

1. Sleep. Plenty of it.

1. Support. Plenty of it and not being afraid to ask for it.

1. Stress. Minimise it in whatever ways you can!

I am also a big fan of exercise in beating depression, but can't think of a word beginning with S to use in my list!

I took up a new hobby and avoided places and people that I associated with the past and the events. retail therapy helped. I went to counselling.

also a situation changed and things got better

Basics for me, eating well, plenty of asleep and exercise. At least 20 minutes of an angry run/cross train.

Avoiding alcohol and keeping very busy helped too.

CBT , Citalopram , very little alcohol.

Being dehydrated makes me go a tad loopy. I drink fuckloads of water constantly and i think it really helps

Things that helped me:
Music. I couldn't be bothered listening to it but it lifted my mood when I did.
Sunshine
Doing creative stuff eg baking
Social contact. Crap conversation about telly, music, random silliness, Nerd Stuff etc. Not to get drunk, I'd only have one drink or (yum!) ginger beer. Ex-p worked on a project investigating well-being in the elderly and they found that those with active social contact reported better levels of well-being; I don't see why it would be any different for younger people. As with everything else though I had to force myself to do it.
St John's Wort
The knowledge that every other period of depression I'd had, had ended eventually and it was just a case of waiting it out.
getting rid of ex-p, yeeeha!

The mood gym (online CBT), keeping a diary, exercise and healthy diet helped me x hope you manage to get it under control and take a day at a time x

i saw a therapist and take citalopram which helps me hugely. "friends" tell me i shouldn't be on anti depressants (why?????!?!?!?!) - they help me loads. plus i cried loads and loads and went to bed early for months (bed before 8pm). it was an awful time and i hope you get the support you need/want, etc etc.

Knowing that other people experienced the same thing. A couple of times I'd just see or read something which hit the right nerve at the right time and it helped.

Music, definitely. Exercise, yes a bit but it was hard because when I feel low it's the last thing I want to do but it's good as a preventative.

Cleaning - ugh but it's good and physical and doesn't require thinking especially if you have a set place to start and you just begin there and don't stop.

Rationalising it - I know the worst part of depression is not being able to rationalise so that doesn't seem to make sense but being able to admit "I know I am not being rational, and that doesn't matter. It's okay to be sad, this is just my brain and it will get better." When you wake up in the middle of the night and can't sleep and there is nobody to talk to, writing it down.

A walk away from everything with a cigarette, and a shower. Can interrupt a negative thought spiral sometimes.

YY to animals as well. A big one like a dog or a cat, possibly a horse (I've never had a horse).

Not sure whether it will be safe while you are breastfeeding, but super strength dose of vit D3 each day (20,000 iu). Exercise also helps (when I do some, but it is something I really should focus on increasing). Being out in the good weather.

Turning off all screens and reading light, funny books. Sometimes I listened to CDs or radio at the same time.

It helped me sleep and think better.

CBT

Are you sure you can totally rule out drugs? I managed to last out the pregnancy without any but had to start a low dose of paroxetine once baby was born, and breastfed for a year with no problems. It just helped me hold my head above water until I got better

Being outdoors

Doing things that make you happy

When i was first diagnosed , the drugs were the only thing that helped , then as they kicked in and i felt a bit more human , the therapy helped , not sure what type it was and it was only for six weeks , but just being able to have a good old purge of my inner thoughts helped me see most of them for what they were , utter rubbish .

Since that time i have hovered on the periphery of depression quite a few times , but now i am able to take steps to drag myself back from the abyss . The first thing i do is talk to someone , another person in my life who understands what depression is , this is usually the main thing that helps me.

I set myself little daily goals and if i manage more i feel ridiculously pleased with myself .

I prioritise what needs my input , if it can wait till tomorrow , next week , next month etc , then that's when i will deal with , otherwise it doesn't get head space , this i actually find the hardest because by nature i am an organised person , but if you can bear to do it , it really does take some pressure off .

I also let those around me know how i am feeling , this has become a lot easier to do over time , i don't go in to lots of details , just ' I'm really not good today ' usually suffices and also takes a bit of pressure off .

Hope you get the help you need OP

Talking
ADs
Getting outside
Sunshine
Leaving the workplace that was not helpful and joining one that was

For those who are interested but can't access the Australian website here is the 2 part program about gut health. Absolutely fascinating stuff!

for this thread.

exercise, exercise, exercise.

A book called 'Stop thinking and start living'. Search on Amazon for it, I have it on kindle and it's very good.