How did YOU fight depression?

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At a loss. Wondering how you personally fought it and if you have, or are coming out the other side, how did you do it?

I took it all a minute at a time. Remember that all I had to do for the next minute was breathe. It was soothing. I sought help and went through some counselling. I meditate these days and walk in the daytime at lunchtime to get out of the office. I'm in the middle of a slump at the moment and I'm remembering this is temporary and won't last forever, no matter how it feels right now...hope you get the help that you need

Prozac.

Ultimately it was (and still is) through medication. Other things such as exercise, therapy, not drinking, making an effort to see friends etc have helped but I wouldn't have been able to do any of these things without antidepressants.
I have tried a few different types over the years and finding the ones right for me has made a life changing difference.

Career change, funny movies, counselling (unofficial through friends), reading fiction, yoga and walks.

Do you mean officially diagnosed depression or times of difficulty when one might feel depressed.

My dog saved me. Having to get out of the house twice a day to exercise him because there was no one else to, and him depending on me. The fresh air, exercise and unconditional love he gave literally pulled me through my darkest years. It broke my heart losing him a few months ago.

I use the four Ss to keep it at bay:

Serotonin - I take ADs (Citalopram 20mg) daily and eat a banana a day, as they are meant to contain serotonin.

Stress - minimise it where possible. recognise your limitations and be kind to yourself. Eat healthily to give your body the best chance to defend itself against stress.

Sleep - get enough! be disciplined with yourself about going to bed.

Support - gather a good group of family and friends around you and don't be afraid to draw on them - good people will want to help you.

For me what really helps is a combination of exercise, animals and nature.

I force myself out of the house to go to the gym (I'm lucky that my gym is small and friendly....I would struggle with somewhere more impersonal) even when I want to hide away under a blanket.

And I also force myself to get outside and go for a walk in the park or somewhere green where I can just enjoy nature and peace and quiet, and watch the local fauna at play (I am currently obsessed with squirrels who seem to be everywhere in my local park).

I volunteer for a wildlife charity and no matter how low I may feel, I drag myself there to do my shift as they depend on me to turn up. Some physical hard work (like cleaning out dirty pens) really helps and the contact with some of our beautiful animal patients is very rewarding.

It took me 20 years to identify these 3 things are what really help me fight off the depression. It's always a threat though, especially at this time of year (I also have SAD) so I take immediate action as soon as I feel there's a risk of the dark clouds coming.

I don't suffer my stepdad does. When he is at a low, I bundle him in the car and drive him out to a beach and make him walk. I am an awful tyrant and insist on it because it does make things better for him. We walk until he's tired and will go to bed.
That and medication, no shame in that.

2 weeks of complete unmitigated wallowing where I allowed myself to stay under the duvet, watch Disney films and give in to it. Then I got up, got dressed and kept going.

I take the pills every day without fail. I admit when I'm having a shitty day. I drag my arse out of bed every morning. I put a touch of make up on - just to hide my dark eyes - and wear a little colour in my clothes even though I don't always want to. I always wear jewellery. It helps.

I saw a counsellor for 8 sessions on the NHS. I'm doing online CBT.

I have a SAD lamp.

I refuse to do things that make me unhappy or too anxious, like going to DH's friend's house where I hate the tempestuous relationship between the couple. I don't care what they think that I never come with him - I don't feel safe around them as they are volatile (it's frankly a DV relationship where they hit each other, they both do it in front of people!).

I try not to cancel plans, but sometimes I do, and shit happens. The world doesn't stop when I do that.

Lithium
Horses
Dogs
Sleep
Masturbation
Friends
Olanzapine

Signed off work for several months, the time it took for the medication to help. Been ok for 18 months now, but I do have to take my meds religiously (can't can't have any alcohol as it interferes, even cough medicine has an effect). I'm bipolar though, so not just depression.

I'm in the middle of a current D. Unfortunately I can't go out for long walks in nature because I have an injury and that is part of what caused the D.
A friend recommended I join a choir which is supposed to be good for mental health - so I will try that and let you know!

I babied myself through the most awful bit, took some medication for a few months then made the decision it could beat me or i could beat it. I refused to be a depressed person and came off the tablets.

6 months of sertraline. I also took some time out from my university course and eventually decided not to go back as it was extremely high pressured and I didn't want to risk a relapse. Now it's my partner's turn to suffer from depression and he's off to the GP on Friday so hopefully that'll be the start of him making it through as well. It's a really awful illness to suffer from :(

Recently I've been practising mindfulness and have found it super helpful. I doubt very much it'd get me out of a depressed state, but I think it helps me not fall back into one.

Oddly enough, vitamin D. It actually put me into a horrible state and I was very lucky my GP did full blood works before referring me. Mine was caused by lack of vit D combined with all the stress at that time.

At my lowest point, my reading habit pulled me out of the slump because I could escape in the book. Life wasn't brilliant then and reading saved my sanity. As did working and sleeping, these were all escape tactics that provided distraction when I needed it. Even now after the main depression has subsided, putting on my boots and walking several miles helps enormously.

Sertraline
Propranolol

Then when I began to feel a bit better I also did talking therapy.

I also learnt to say no to things that I didn't want to do.

I eat when I'm hungry and sleep when I'm tired.

It took time and 6 years later I'm still on the medication but a lower dosage and feel so much better.

I was very lucky and found a psychotherapist who was willing to see me for less than half of his usual hourly rate for 18 months. I also found a specialist service who were able to help me with the abuse I had suffered. And I also took anti depressants. The three things together helped me more than I can say. I think it’ll always be a weak spot that I have to watch out for - like a bad ankle that’s been previously broken - but I’m in better shape mentally now than I ever have been.

Hello, as per some other posters meds (in my case Citalopram) did change my life. I've had mixed experiences of therapy and counselling and can be quite cynical and weary of it, but the right one's have been great in terms of giving me perspective. I was also offered group CBT, which I hated the idea of and actually enjoyed it. The main lessons from the therapy were not to beat yourself up when you don't achieve what you set out to (so for example I bailed on my weekly yoga class because I didn't feel up to it) and set small goals for yourself each day - this can be as little as taking a shower (really depends on where you're at).

What I can say is I have real experience of bouncing back and achieving things after being at a really low point so it is possible. But equally I'm currently having a relapse, so some degree of acceptance and hope is important. Best wishes.

Also effectively cutting out the source of my depression from my life. I see them once a year if I can at all help it.

Life is too short and too precious to waste on toxic people, situations & food so I've cut those out from my life. If it doesn't bring me joy then out it goes a la Marie Kondo!

Not drinking and not isolating myself (though feels easier to do so than socialising). Counting blessings and remembering that the feeling is temporary not permanent. Also exercising hand having healthy diet and enough sleep

Medication-
Getting out and meeting people-
Crochet-

Sertraline.

Getting fresh air every day - walking is a must. Nature is therapy for me. I love wildlife and my pet animals.

Creativity - I do a lot of craft.

I’ve tried without meds twice and each time by month 4 I’m so bloody low, anxious and suicidal it’s not worth it. Although they say the whole ‘chemical imbalance’ in the brain isn’t that common and an “excuse” people use with no basis, I think it’s likely true for me that I do have an imbalance because I have complex ptsd stemming from childhood trauma which can bugger up your wiring. The only times I’ve ever truly felt ok are on meds and it took me until I was almost 30 to realise I needed them. Wish I’d done it sooner.