to ask if you are depressed but don't take antidepressants, how do you manage your symptoms?

[97876757user]

Long time lurker. First time poster. So... Coping with depression without meds.. How? Just that, really. If you are not taking any prescribed meds and you manage it by yourself how do you do that? Curious to know how people against meds for mental health cope. Understand that there's a MH section. Posting for traffic. TIA

One of my neighbours told me she had "bad nerves" and I confessed I suffered from anxiety and depression on and off all my life. I told her that no matter how much counselling, therepy or prescription meds you take the only person who can really help you is yourself.

I run an online business and having other people who depend upon me (customers) gives me something to fix my attention on other than myself and my own dark and (sometimes) suicidal thoughts. They paid money for their goods and dont deserve to be left in the lurch because Im too lazy to pick and pack the items they bought and get them into the mail.

I did once think of getting a pet (cat?) but was afraid I would neglect it or forget to feed it.

I've suffered from moderate depression since I was around 13. My mum has suffered from depression and anxiety all her life and meds made her worse a few times, so very keen not to avoid pills.

I learned as much as I could and tried everything to improve my lifestyle which has helped. I've had a handful of CBT based sessions which were helpful. I also think I had an eating disorder as a teenager - being starving hungry isn't exactly great for your mood! Once I started eating properly, exercising, sleeping, and doing things I enjoy and find relaxing, things got better. Until I went to uni my life revolved around doing well at school and fitting part time work into any available time I had. I didn't do much fun stuff, chilling or socialising as a teenager. I had a dysfunctional family, and home was tense. Things started to get better from my mid 20s although I've had a few extended low periods, once after a bad breakup and the other after a big move.

Now I know the feelings are just a chemical imbalance and will pass. I've learned how to manage it if I get low. I go out for a hike or a run or do some yoga. I also force myself to socialise, even if I don't feel like it. It does help.

*keen to avoid pills. Don't know where the 'not' came from!

@Oneearringlost

Why would you not want to take medication? It can be revolutionary....

There can be lots of reasons someone doesn't want to take antidepressants - for me, personally, it's the memory of a shit childhood with my mum always on them. It didn't seem to make the blindest bit of difference to her moods, if anything they made her worse, so I'm loathe to take them myself.

My way of managing without meds is having something that is just mine, that I'm not doing for anyone else's benefit, doing it purely because it brings me joy. And doing it every day. For me it's writing, I normally work on my novel every morning while DS2 is at preschool. But then a lot of my depression is centred around losing my identity to being a wife and mother, so having that one thing that has nothing to do with either of those roles really helps.

I knew they'd be posters trying to push meds on this thread which is not what the OP asked. Taking antidepressants is not like taking antibiotics or painkillers for a temporary illness. Many of them mask the chemical imbalance your brain is suffering from. Some people would like to fix the imbalance (e.g. through lifestyle changes) and not use artificial means. Horses for courses and all that.

I'm sorry if my comment was interpreted as pushing meds. I really did just mean sometimes that's all that works for me.

I changed my environment. Was being bullied at work, no help from manager or HR. Moved departments and took a small pay cut. Depression went from moderate to non existent in 6 weeks. Appreciate not everyone can change circumstances though.

I started taking Femipause supplements last week ( I’m going through the menopause). They contain B vitamins and CBD oil. My husband has noticed a difference in me; asked how come I was so upbeat.

I admit that I'm scared that antidepressants will make me put on weight. I'm already in a daily (hourly) battle against eating too many calories, and am overweight, and I fear that medication will somehow make me fatter.

I have noticed that it's had that affect on some people I know.

@Oneearringlost

Why would you not want to take medication? It can be revolutionary....

There are many reasons why people may not want to take them. For me it’s because I can’t talk about my issues and things I went through in the past so getting help/treatment is very difficult for me. I have a diagnosis of depression but struggle to go to reviews or counselling so currently don’t take medication.

I manage symptoms by immersing myself in everything, filling up all my time so I don’t have time to sit and think about everything. In a normal year I work full time, and go out, day trips with DH, see friends and family every weekend.

This years been hard as I can’t do that, plus I’ve had a baby so on mat leave with nothing to do. It’s not going so well.

@kateybeth79 is the only post that I can relate to in having full blown depression. It almost gave me a flashback. Yes people telling me just to get up and get going and I'd feel better
@LudoTrouble I actually lost weight when I went on ADs. Stopped comfort eating and got out and about more, doing more exercise without realising it, including doing housework more! So it's not all bad.

I dont think the OP was anti meds? I've been all round the houses,several times with the depression thing.Ive had years on and off meds.Meds have their place in my opinion. Focus,sense of purpose,things to look forward to,activity,connection 'work's for me.Do not self medicate with......a depressant ie alcohol.

I was diagnosed with severe depression and anxiety and prescribed lots of different medications, none of them helped me. I knew it was my life making me miserable and slowly I've worked to change the things I can change, accept the things I can't. I've worked on my eating and sleeping, and I try to make sure I go for a walk each day. I speak to friends more and I have minimised contact with people who added to my unhappiness. I try to achieve things each day and make sure I recognise my achievements. An achievement for me can be something as simple as eating three meals, going to bed on time and waking up on time, or applying for a job, or dealing with a household chore that needed dealing with. Just small things. It might not sound like much but I'm a happier person than I have been for years. I also read a lot of books on confidence and anxiety etc.

I’m not anti-med but I had some intolerable side effects from the ones I tried and I have very low trust in GPs for a number of reasons.

I work very hard to keep myself out of a depressive cycle and I’ve learned to recognise early signs and ramp up my precautions before it gets to a level where I can’t help myself.

I would compare it to being an alcoholic. You might not be drinking (depressed) but you’re not cured; you have to work quite hard at being sober.

I can give a list of what I do, but it’s not as easy as checking things off. It’s taken years of reflection, to recognise what works for me, to notice the effects of different things and to build up the self discipline to push through hard times.

I accept that medication may be necessary at some point too. But it’s not the easy solution for my body chemistry that it seems to be for others.

Similar to others:

1. Spending time outdoors
2. Exercise
3. Physical contact (hugs, sex)
4. Laughter
5. Gratitude practice
6. Mindfulness, particularly taking pleasure in small moments
7. Frugal hedonism
8. Studying history (for perspective)
9. A monthly power hour of tackling things that I’m putting off that may be building anxiety

10. Housekeeping routine 11. Therapy 12. Bullet journaling (helps me keep track of things and be more realistic with time and goals) 13. Prioritising good sleep 14. Eating well 15. Avoiding unnecessary stress 16. Avoiding toxic people 17. Being mindful and cautious with social media 18. Daydreaming or meditating 19. Taking care with triggers like music 20. Getting sunlight on my face every day 21. Chocolate though periods when I get off sugar completely are generally much better all round but very hard to sustain. 22. Dancing 23. Saying no 24. Tackling emotional pain head on

I approached it like a work project, I literally created an action plan. I knew I'd find exercise hard to stick with because when you are depressed you don't want to do stuff. So I joined a netball team so that I felt like I had to go because people were relying on me.
Healthy eating helps - lots of nuts and selenium and serotonin rich food.
No booze. It is a depressant.
Vitamins, especially D.
Sort out hormones - I tried every pill, but the coil was life-changing.
If you aren't taking meds you need therapy.
I think the best chances of recovery are if you combine the holy trinity of needs, talking therapy, and exercise. If you are dropping one, you need to be disciplined with the other two if you are serious about recovery.
Good luck!

knew they'd be posters trying to push meds on this thread which is not what the OP asked. Taking antidepressants is not like taking antibiotics or painkillers for a temporary illness. Many of them mask the chemical imbalance your brain is suffering from. Some people would like to fix the imbalance (e.g. through lifestyle changes) and not use artificial means. Horses for courses and all that
Here have a grip.
I am fit as a fiddle eat well work on my self mentally I've a lovely clean home cared for DC and I take antidepressants as I'm diagnosed with an illness called depression.
I wouldn't be able to incorporate all those wonderful things without them.
It is statements like yours that create a stigma for those struggling fearful of medication.
Hey hop down to CAMH'S if you have a minute you'll enlighten the professionals with your wise words.

Taking antidepressants is not like taking antibiotics or painkillers for a temporary illness. Many of them mask the chemical imbalance your brain is suffering from

That is not true. In fact, ADs assist in replacing depleted serotonin levels which the body is sometimes unable to do.

Lifestyle changes and ADs are not mutually exclusive. The ideal scenario in treating major depressive disorder would be a combination of ADs, psychotherapy, exercise and lifestyle changes including a healthy diet, meditation and socialisation.

Sometimes I think people who forgo ADs think that they are 'stronger' or more enlightened on the matter than those who do. For many, ADs is the difference between staying alive or offing yourself. It is the factor that allows the therapy and the exercise and the lifestyle changes to work. All the long walks and art classes and Vitamin B supplements and drinks with friends do very little for severe depression.

The serotonin/chemical imbalance theory is not fact and I'd recommend people read more into this.

@flashbac

I knew they'd be posters trying to push meds on this thread which is not what the OP asked. Taking antidepressants is not like taking antibiotics or painkillers for a temporary illness. Many of them mask the chemical imbalance your brain is suffering from. Some people would like to fix the imbalance (e.g. through lifestyle changes) and not use artificial means. Horses for courses and all that.

Taking antidepressants is not like taking antibiotics or painkillers for a temporary illness. In what way?

Many of them mask the chemical imbalance your brain is suffering from.
This isn't true but it would be interesting to see you argue why you think it is.

Some people would like to fix the imbalance (e.g. through lifestyle changes) and not use artificial means
That's a bit offensive, but the real problem is that it's based on the false assertion you have made about how anti depressants work.

I haven't yet come across anyone whose depression is of a seriousness where they require detention under the MHA to prevent serious self harm and/ or death who can manage it with lifestyle change.

Sometimes I think people who forgo ADs think that they are 'stronger' or more enlightened on the matter than those who do I agree personally I wonder why they forgo medication aid recovery.
The best AD's around won't help without lifestyle changes they help partly give you drive to get up but won't heal you.

Exercise and diet play quite a big role for me. As does social contact but obviously that's been a struggle this year.

Probably sounds strange but parenting my DC has been the greatest help. Not just the practical side of having to push through for your DC on a day to day basis, but reading parenting books and articles on child development was what finally made me recognise the root cause of many of my problems (abusive childhood) and it means I don't get overwhelmed as much as instead of constant negative thoughts and self-flagellation I now have the ability to give myself grace.

I'm not against anti-depressants at all but I don't think they can be compared to antibiotics. A short term physical illness is not the same as long term mental health struggles. It's different if it's a simple case of depression being caused by a chemical imbalance but mine is environmental/situational, is mild enough to manage without medication (as these always have side effects) but most importantly I wanted to get to the root of the issue not simply mask it (as was the case when I tried meds in my twenties).

"Sometimes I think people who forgo ADs think that they are 'stronger' or more enlightened on the matter than those who do I agree personally I wonder why they forgo medication aid recovery."

I think there is a bit of that around (might like people lucky enough to have an intervention-free birth). For me, I found having to remember to take medication led to me waking in the night panicking I'd forgotten (got anxiety disorder too), and also seemed to make my symptoms worse (but I know it was probably just the wrong one/wrong dose for me) - but my depression was also mild/moderate.

There's no glory in not taking meds if you need them to be well.

I see depression like an octopus with many tentacles. You feel rough....one tentacle, you are supposed to be active but you can't because you are depressed , another tentacle. You feel low/ need a reward, you drink, another tentacle. Your appearance and self worth plummet, another tentacle and so on.

Nothin wrong with meds, nothing wrong with therapy, nothing wrong with trying to help self.

@flashbac the reason I need meds is *because I have a chemical imbalance. The meds replace what is missing in my brain. It may be different if you have an actual reason for being depressed, i.e. divorce or something else bad happening in your life, but for those of us who are depressed purely because we are not neurotypical, we often need to take the medication as our brains need it. My brain is lacking Serotonin, so I take medication that contains Serotonin. Meds have saved my life!