To ask if you’ve recovered from depression without ADs

[WhatelseotherthanADs]

How did you do it ?

I am depressed triggered by life events and have tried therapy (a few different ones), lots of different ads and different doses (I’m on the max of one currently) but it doesn’t seem to make much difference. For the people who use antidepressants and it takes away all those negative thoughts and feelings it sounds like a life saver and wish they worked like that for me. I just don’t enjoy anything or look forward to anything :(

is there anything else I could try rather than pharmaceuticals? That has worked for someone else ?

thanks

i spent a lot of my early twenties very low and on and off anti depressants

turns out I was in a shit relationship that was making me miserable and that was the source of my woe. It wasn’t abusive or awful, just lacklustre and I didn’t feel very loved.

I was also obese (a BMI of about 36) and being constantly miserable about this also made me sad.

22 year old me banged on about ‘chemical imbalance’ but actually, since those things changed- no depression at all.

very happily married to another man, an active runner and cyclist, good body image. I haven’t seen the black dog since.

this might not be very helpful- but just in case you can actually pin point something that might be making you feel sad? I think doctors are agreeing that most depression is caused my life events and personal situations.

I had my whole diet changed by a dietician + some hormones given by endocrinologist and my life changed forever. I wish everyone were encouraged to get a whole body check up before going into the psychiatric route.

I feel a lot of depression isn't about you having something wrong with you. Its more what's happened to you.

I studied endlessly to obtain a serotonin boost. That was over a year ago and it has worked brilliantly for me.

The latest episode of parenting hell podcast talks about this, although Josh did go on ADs but there's lots of explanations of other things they've tried and how ADs were a safety net whilst sorting out the route cause and getting life back on track. They didn't magically make it better, but did help get into the right mindset to make the other changes needed.

Yes of course! You don't always need ADs.
I've used changing the things in my life that were causing depression, asking for help with things I was feeling overwhelmed with, a good diet filled with mood boosting foods, plenty of exercise and fresh air.

I've used ADs at times but they don't make it better on their own, have always had to put the hard work in too.
Party of what helped me has been using the daylio app to tack my mood (just the free bit). It helped me to realise if I don't get at least 5k steps in a day (I know that's really low for many people) that it makes me really low.
Behavioral activation/activity scheduling help me.
Self care.
Completing tasks rather than procrastinating - 5 min rule helps with this.

Imy wellness is something I have to work a bit for each day.

I have battled with mental health issues all my life, inclusive a severe, prolonged episode in my late teens. I had loads of dif ads then, and more recently I also tried an ssri again. I’m really struggling right now, and know dr will suggest ads. I’ll take them but in truth I know that what is most impactful for me is changes to my life. I’m depressed now because of specific contextual reasons. People assume that reactive depression isn’t real depression, but looking back all my depression has been reactive and no less extreme for it.

I was in a dark place about 9 years ago for about a year, for various reasons, which is something quite unexpected for me. I saw ADs as a short term fix and needed to know I would be ok long term. So I read self help books, and started thinking about what would make me happy. But you need time to yourself thinking about what makes you happy almost meditating. And then putting plans in place to make it happen.

I knew I really wanted a dog, I work, so it would be difficult and DH wanted a cat. But I persevered got the most amazing dog walker and honestly my dog is bloody brilliant and she makes me so so happy.

I started a sport in my local town just for fun really, I go away for a few days on my own each year and don't feel guilty.

Things like that, think about what would make you happy? Moving house? Getting another qualification, new job, a pet? A new hobby? Visiting a new place?

Yes, I was on ADs for years and was more of a headcase when I stopped takin them.
I reshuffled my life, I walked away from toxic people and started a journey towards what made me happy (with the help of therapy).
8 years after I last took them and I'm more stable than I have been my whole life.

Things that cured my depression
-moving out of my student house away from nasty housemates into a better situation
-activity scheduling/behavioural activation
-journaling every evening
-good sleep hygiene

I think the first thing is to really look at your life and work out if your depression is the result of your situation. Are you in a relationship that is making you sad? A dead-end job you hate? Anything you could change is worth thinking about, and changing if it is making you worse. It was the most important thing for me.

Same here.

The ‘chemical imbalance’ is long trotted out but so much of my depression was thought processes and life events/situations.

ADs have even been proven not to work long term for mild to moderate depression.

Therapy, CBT and LTB fixed mine.

I think it’s more about the beliefs you develop based on what’s happened to you.

The good news is that they can be changed.

I lost 4 stone, started running 5/6 times a week and eating healthily and ghosted my toxic 'best friend'.

100%. It isn’t that your brain has gone wrong, it’s that something in your life has gone wrong.

I don't think ADs are to be sniffed at, you wouldn't meditate a broken arm back to full functionality. But I understand what you mean - the feeling of being medicated and sometimes the fallout from the meds don't always make for the best quality of life. I'd look at parts of your life that you can realistically and actively change - areas like healthy eating, making time for exercise, practicing mindfulness and trite as it sounds gratitude where it fits. Also look at your relationships, what's dragging you down, are you able to freely communicate with those you care about. Is work going well what areas in that can change.

In short it takes a lot of effort to do it off your own steam but it can be done.

Was depressed. Never been on ads but wouldnt dismiss them. For me its been a case of working things out.

OP can I recommend a book called 'the body keeps the score'? It's by a very highly respected psychiatrist and it explains trauma and it's effects on the body really well (including how it often causes depression). He goes into the history of anti depressants and basically explains they are there to alleviate depressive symptoms in your mind so you can function well enough to change what you need in your life to to not be depressed. Much easier said than done but I really found it fascinating and it changed my perspective on ADs.

Anti depressants don't take away the negative thoughts and feelings, they numb you to it so it doesn't feel as daunting. They really aren't a long term solution, I was on them for anxiety and depression for 19 years. I eventually found a balance of regular sport and exercise and therapy helped me find a peaceful place. I still struggle with anxiety and sometimes feel like my thoughts and intrusive thoughts can turn dark. It will always be that way. But I've found perspective and distraction in positive things helps me minimise the effects and that's how I live now

Do you mean the studying gave you a serotonin boost ?

I think they have different effects on different people though? I’ve read a lot of posts in the mental health forum that they’ve been a life saver and given them some motivation / more positive outlook ? Even numbing the feelings would be preferable.

Where did you get this done?

I had on/off depression for decades and was never medicated for it: I never found a GP I could talk to.

My last serious depression was about eight years ago. We planned a family holiday abroad, a rare thing for us, and I began learning the language of where we were going. I worked really intensely at it.

Several weeks later I noticed my voice sounded happy and animated, then I realised that I wasn't depressed. Learning did it. Learning is amazing for engaging the brain. Since then, I throw myself into learning whenever I feel myself going to a dark place.

Yes I’ve recovered a few times. I would never take antidepressants personally but that’s just me. Usually to get better I’ve had to really fix what’s going on in my life. Be honest with myself. I’ve also used exercise therapeutically as well as mindfulness, slowing down, smelling the roses, journaling. Lots and lot of self help reading, self kindness and compassion. It takes a lot of work but it’s worth it.

Thanks everyone it’s been interesting reading people’s posts and reading others’ experiences.

I think for me, a lot of things have been difficult for me in life and although I’ve always kept trying in the past I’ve got to the point where I just feel like it’s pointless. I’m not suicidal but I find every day a chore and boring and most nights if I could push a button and not wake up the next day I would !

Ive always had difficult family and have no relationship with them, I have had several long term relationships but they haven’t worked out - some ending more traumatically than others. I’ve had quite a few good friendships over the years but they’ve all whittled away over the years - some upsetting endings others because they’ve moved away / different lives etc. I also found that since covid no one seems to meet up as much anymore. I have a handful of friends who I barely see - and there’s no one I feel close to.

I find the working from home dynamic hard - no more office chit chats - and it seems like most jobs are this way or totally remote. My role is hybrid so I go into the office but everyone goes different days and are in teams calls all day.

I can’t afford to take a job that interacts with people more.

I’ve joined loads of meet up groups and attended a number of events but the people who go to them seldom live near me and I don’t see the same people more that once or twice in months. Also they tend to get poor turnout where loads say they are going but they don’t turn up. I met one girl who lived near me and said she was up for walks / coffee etc but she never seems available and I’m getting bored being the one trying all the time.

news is depressing I think the world is not a happy place at the moment which isn’t very inspiring. Even the crappy weather makes me feel down.

i would love to have a partner to do things with but have been single for a few years now, old is dire and depressing.

I think what I’m missing mostly in my life is meaningful connection with people but the world seems to evolving into a place where everything is digital.

im just not enjoying life and don’t know how to make it better. I do walk 2-3 miles per day it’s the only thing that I enjoy. I have lots to be grateful for but it’s the absence of bad things rather than the presence of good things if that makes sense.

I have thought about journaling I’ve never done it as don’t know how it could help ?