Can you over come depression without AD's?

[mumster79]

Just that really. I was on AD's for about a year, but I not sure they really had any impact.

The black cloud is still omnipresent though. Have you / can you beat this battle yourself?

Have you had any psychotherapy? Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) has been shown to work as well or better for some people than meds.

Were you on the same AD for the whole year? For many people the first AD they try doesn't do the trick and they have to try a different one.

I'm also wondering about a review of medication - in the year you were on ADs, did you look at change to dose/type of medication? Fwiw, I think there can be alternative treatments to ADs like CBT or similar

Hi yes some people do cope without medication. For some people depression can be made worse by stresses and lack of sleep ( young children!) and sometimes people find changing aspects of their life can also be a big step forwards especially if things in life are contributing factors.

But every person is different.

Self care is also very important - eat healthy, exercise, get enough sleep, spend time with people who uplift you. What really helped me was to learn a new skill (horseriding), volunteering and singing in a choir. However I needed both meds and talk therapy.

Yes. I suffered from depression and panic attacks many years ago. I did not want to medicate myself. Instead I read all I could on the subject and pulled myself out of the horrible place I was in. What doing that gave me are the tools to be able to deal with it before it gets hold of me again. I will never forget how bad it was and don't every want to go there again.

I did. I took them for a month but I really disliked them.
For me, the only thing to combat my depression was to get myself out of the situation that was causing it. This took a drastic move and change of jobs but it worked. I guess mine was a kind of "circumstantial" depression though, if you get me.

Are you in control of your life? Or living your life to fit round others' needs and wants.

I felt happier when I'd made decisions that meant I was leading more of the life I wanted and putting other people's (sometimes selfish) expectations second.

I am finding that a daily dose of SJW is helping me at the moment - placebo? Probably but I don't care if it is keeping my anxiety at bay. Similarly rescue remedy sleep aids have made a huge difference (but I have also made efforts to change my sleep routine)

That said, I was never on more than 20mg of citalopram and my experiences are nowhere near as severe as other's that I have read about so wouldn't advocate my method of dealing with depression for someone who may well really need Ads. (and believe me, I have needed them in the past)

I would really like to give CBT a go but have struggled to find someone near to where I live.

St. Johns Wort tincture works really well. It is widely used in Europe for treating depression instead of antidepressants.

However you have to check the list of uses before taking it as people on other medications can not always take it. Also you cannot take it when on birth control.

Weirdly enough motherhood cured me of my depression which is ironic really as I was severely sleep deprived for the first 2 years.
I think it was partly down to having someone dependent upon me but also just seeing the world through a child's eyes again. He's taught me to live in the moment. I believe it's called 'mindfulness' these days but it works for me.

Yyy to mindfulness. It's got a bit of a 'woo' reputation but I've seen it in action (albeit in conjunction with ad's) and when applied correctly it really does work.

That's really interesting, thank you.

I tried 12 sessions of CBT and I never really felt we got anywhere. It was focusing on the cause rather than how to dig myself out of the hole.

I was on 60g of fluxotine a day for just over a year. I've been reading Ruby Wax's blogs about mindfulness; it's worked for her!

Hi - im on a low maintenance dose of ads. (Have been for a number of years after original PND)

Im ok for long periods of time but then get blips which really worry me as its difficult to tell if they really are a blip or start of more serious decline.
Also I think Im at the start of perimenopause and concerned about implication of that of that on my MH (i didnt have any probs till age of 30 with PND.)

So Im also trying lots of self things too to see if I can manage things myself.

Have just started fish oil and multi vitamin/mineral daily. Trying to get more rest and mindfulness exercises. Reducing sugar etc.....

Mindfulness meditation helps me much more than CBT ever did.

Harriet - I have just bought a book on Mindfulness that comes with a CD - is that how you practice it or do you go to see someone? I tried reading it last night but really couldn't concentrate!!

I did some with the cd on my own at first, petit, but the best thing I did was sign up for a course with Breathworks. If they don't run courses near you, you could try looking at this: bemindful.co.uk/learn/find-a-course/

I use the CDs still (Jon Kabat Zin, Mark Williams) so they were a good investment.

I read Ruby Wax's book. It rang many bells, constantly rushing, mind buzzing, so I made a proper effort to do Jon Kabat Zin's meditation CD.

I now try to meditate for a 40 min sitting session a day. Definitely sleeping better and calmer.

I found that it takes 20 mins for my brain to slow down, then 20 mins relaxing and trying to be mindful, ie thinking about nothing more exciting than my breathing (not easy). Worth a try.

meditation This is the CD but I think you can download it more cheaply.

This may sound bananas, but... today is the second day of trying the 'mindful' route.

I'm also trying to completely eat 'clean' too.

There's a definite improvement. 10 minutes is definitely my maximum of concentrating on mindful breathing, but it is strangely energising.

I've read more of Ruby Wax's blogs etc and she is quite insightful. Thank you for your tips.

really interesting to see so many people finding mindfulness helpful.

I think lots of people do sort out depression without meds. However, for me, I needed meds and refused to take them for years because I somehow felt weak for not being able to do without. My point is, there is nothing to be ashamed of in needing meds-I call mine brain insulin now because the analogy with diabetes helps me. I wouldn't feel I could cure a chemical imbalance like diabetes without meds so why should I deliberately do without the meds to sort out my brain chemistry. I feel as if everyone's depression is a bit of a climb. Some people's climb is short enough or the handholds are easier to find and they can do it on their own. Others need a leg up and maybe a pull from the top!

Harriet thank you for those links - no courses in my area but I have resolved to make a proper start on the book (Mark Williams).

BigBirthday - a really great analogy. You are rather clever

BigBirthday - that is so eloquent.

Unfortunately, I come from a family where there would most definitely be a stigma for taking AD's - the British 'pull yourself together' attitude.

As you say, it's a chemical imbalance.

Ah-too kind! I'm not the only one to draw the insulin analogy. Funnily enough, I read Ruby Wax's blog for the first time yesterday, just after posting and she uses it too! I think the time will come where ad's are not stigmatised but I think the scare stories about over prescription are unhelpful for people like me for whom the meds have been life changing.