To try and beat depression without medication?

[Dumbledormer]

Just that really. Anyone that’s done it? What worked for you?

But depression 10000% does have a impact on someone’s usual personality and with depression it’s a very wide spectrum.

I was diagnosed with depression two weeks ago and prescribed sertraline. I am a mom of three kids and want to feel better so badly. I watched the panorama doc and am a bit spooked now and will meet my dr again before taking them.

Because the sideeffects can be intense and not everyone feels better on them. Some people end up permanently chemically castrated after using them, my dr did not tell me this. For most people it is also very difficult to get off them apparently, with a long period of tapering down and bad withdrawal symptoms.

I am not against taking them and I know they are lifesavers for some, but I wish my dr would have told me about all of this. So glad to read a lot of positive experiences here.. I am suffering from health anxiety as well and starting the meds is a big step for me.

I agree with this.

Also Op it depends on the person and the diagnosis and the severity and the contributing factors for each person ..

It can be done though and I do feel that on MN there is overwhelming encouragement toward medication which is not always appropriate or helpful.

you have to do what’s right for you.

I suffered PND and managed to recover without medication although I did try a few. They didn’t work for me.

Healthy living, home cooked food, regular meals, exercise, activities that give you pleasure, be outdoors as much as possible in nature, so gardening whether outdoors or pot plant indoors.

Connect with people. Be loving.

Get out of the house every day. Have a mission, even if its ‘get milk’.

Baby steps… some days you achieve a couple of small things (a shower, make a sandwich at home) other days you do more. Be kind to yourself.

Try to build habits that will last.

That's correct. There's also been a review of the data which suggested that >90% of people on SSRIs had no more than the placebo effect and they also had to manage side effects. Sugar pills would have been a healthier prescription.

It's a good idea to try lifestyle and dietary changes and things like CBT and meditation before using meds.