Treat depression without ADs. Is it possible?

[Quitelikely]

Hi all

I have depression and it is seriously aggravated around the time of my period to the extent that I want my husband to leave etc its all very extreme and I lose my temper easily it all calms down but soon comes around again! This problem has actually got worse over the years but I have tried to ignore it and even failed to recognise it in the early years of it starting. I have other issues with anxiety etc

A few months ago I caved in and tried sertraline. It was fantastic but it made me gain so much weight I stopped taking it. I'm still trying to lose the weight I gained whilst taking it. Unfortunately all my problems have resurfaced with venom and I need to do something. I have the tablets ready to go but I actually would love to hear if anyone has had experiences where other things have worked for them rather than ADs.

Thanks

There are plenty of types of talking therapies that you might like to try, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) being one most often offered by referral via your GP.
I had 6 sessions of CBT over 4 months to help with stress induced anxiety and depression after choosing to stop ADs when I became pregnant. I found that the progress was slow a first but then at about the 4th session it all clicked and I was able to really utilise the tools I was being given to regain control over my moods.
Best of luck to you, I hope you can find a therapy that works for you an get back to feeling calm and happy.

Thanks for that Mogz. So you do genuinely believe that talking can help change this situation in my brain iyswim. I'm just thinking how is talking going to change my chemical/horm

Hormonal situation? I hope you don't think I'm being rude in asking I'm just genuinely confused about the whole situation!

Everyone is different but heres what works for me:
Psychotherapy
Getting enough sleep
Watching the booze (depressant)
Exercise - I run 3 times a week but a good brisk walk is also effective
Healthy diet - drink loads of water, eat loads of veg and good fats, cut down on sugar
Recognising when I'm approaching breaking point and allowing myself to have a good cry and yell to let it out instead of holding it inside

I hope things get better for you OP, its really rough

Thanks piano. I would actually love to be able to do all of the things you have mentioned. I sort of know those things are in the mainstream of suggestions to combat depression without ADs. Yeah it is rough going. I'm totally prepared to do something once and for all though. Also well done to you for managing to do those things. I just make constant ridiculous excuses about doing most things!

There are many different ad's and not all of them cause weight gain in everybody who takes them. However if you can manage without the meds that will obviously be better. Lottapianos' list is excellent and I've heard that evening primrose oil might also help.

I have been on ADs in the past OP. They certainly have their place but for me they weren't a long term solution as they only masked my symptoms, didn't touch the cause. They did give me some breathing space though after a very rough few months involving thoughts of self harm and I'm glad I took them for 6 months

I'm also trying a high daily dose of vitamin D3 which is supposed to help with anxiety. Too early to report back yet! Omega oils also supposed to be good for same thing

A good counsellor & Passiflora complex drops by A.Vogel have been enormously beneficial to me in the past.

I even used the Passiflora to wean myself off citalopram.

Yes, I really believe that CBT can help get it all under control. It probably works best in combination with an AD that works for you so that you can more easily take on board the advice and tools being given you, but evn without if you try your hardest and are not afraid to take the advice being given you will see results before too long.
As pp has said, also take a look t your lifestyle; sleep, drink, exercise, hydration as it all has an effect that we all too often overlook.

Lotta, how high a dose of vit d3 are you taking? I have some, but wondered f it's ok to take everyday.

Thanks folks I'm taking all this on board. I definitely think I will be going to get CBT. I just don't want to take ADs for the rest if my life yet when I did take them they had a real positive effect upon my mood/parenting/social life etc. it's just so frustrating that my brain doesn't work as well without them!

The thing is, depression is an illness like any other. If you had a different type of illness such as diabetes you wouldn't think twice about taking your medication. If you can manage without ad's that's brilliant, but if you need them you need them. Don't struggle unnecessarily xxx

alice that's a really great point.

OP: A really good vitamin and mineral supplement formulated for women should help.

As already said: eat good, healthy foods and drink water.
Don't eat processed foods, cakes, biscuits, crisps, chocolate bars.
Avoid sweeteners and fizzy drinks.
Avoid 'diet' foods that have sweeteners and additives.

Holistic Hypnotherapy is good too, but you need to invest your time to make it work, 30 - 40 minutes several times per week.

You may have a hormone imbalance. A herbalist was a great help when I had a hormone problem.

Best wishes to you.

Hey Rum, I'm taking 4x25ug a day for the first week to get a massive boost to start off then will go down to 2 a day

Ah thanks for that. Mine are in iu units, 20000 iu for ten days then one a week for a month. I'll have to check whether it says micro grams too. I want to continue them as I feel it's really lifted my mood.

Quitelikely, I found meditation and therapy helped. As well as getting enough good sleep.

Some depressions can be treated without using ADs, but it's a lot of hard work. And sertraline isn't, as has been mentioned, the only one (but gets used a lot as a starter). I've been through five or six before finding the one that works with acceptable side effects.

I had the same problem with sertraline in respect of weight gain. A real bummer as I felt very good on it. So, I am trying meditation and exercise!!

I don't intend to come off my ADs as I function well and feel fine with them. Talking therapies are excellent but I don't see them as a panacea.

I think what works best for me is a combination of the two.
ADs help me get things back into an initial, more balanced perspective and give me enough energy to actually attend and listen to my therapist.

As other posters have said there are load of ADs - it's a bit trial and error to find the one that work best for you, including minimising any unwanted side effects such as weight gain.

I don't find taking ADs a big deal psychologically. I am happier and healthier than I would ever have been without them. I am also certain that I would not have been able to productively engage in therapy without ADs.

Each to their own though.

Also, if your periods are causing problems it might be worth getting your GP to run some blood tests on your hormones levels and/or refer you to an Endocrinologist (specialist hormone doctor).

Forcing myself to get out and about more and joining a gym worked for me.

Being on the pill helped me with mood and hormone depression

Exercise and plenty of sleep vital - makes huge difference to my mood

I take 20mg Prozac daily September to April for SAD, But it also combats the hormonal depression / pmt. Only side affects are a tendency to bruise more easily and I find it much more difficult to orgasm (sorry if tmi)

During the summer when I am unmedicated I manage through exercising daily (outdoors as much as possible), cutting down on carbs, alcohol and sugar. If it gets too much and the rage is rising I drive the 45 miles to our nearest beach and sit watching the waves for a couple hours on my own. Sounds nuts but the sea is my happy place and it calms me like nothing else.

Like newgirl, going on the pill has changed my mood massively. I'm convinced something happened to my hormones after having children because I felt so depressed and anxious for two weeks every month. It was only through going to my CBT sessions that the therapist noticed this pattern. I'd tried ADs but with horrible side effects both times, I felt as though I had been poisoned.

So, if you can take the pill, maybe give it a try?