Is it possible to successfully manage depression without medication? I would love to hear people's stories and I need lots of advice and support.

[TigerFeet]

I was on escitalopram for years until just recently. I trundled along on them reasonably well but whenever I tried to come off them I got horrible withdrawal (SSRI withdrawal is a recognised syndrome I now understand) as well as a return of my depressive symptoms.

My GP left the practise and my new GP recommended a stronger AD so that I would actually get better and be able to come off AD's all together. I was prescribed mirtazipine and I have spend almost every waking moment since trying not to fall asleep. Obviously this isn't feasable when I have a job and a preschooler so I gradually lowered the dose and am now not taking any AD's at all. Thankfully mirtazipine isn't an SSRI so no horrid withdrawal symptoms.

I went back to the GP today and she agreed that the mirtazipine wasn't suitable and has prescribed paroxetine. Now, paroxetine is an SSRI which means that when the time comes to stop taking them I will suffer horribly.

I don't want to take them. I am tired of taking medication that leaves me with unmanageable side effects. I may not be so depressed when taking them, but I still feel like shit, pretty much all the time, because of the side effects.

Is it possible to do this myself? I am terribly unhealthy, I eat far too much, don't exercise and am very overweight. If I start taking steps to sorting out those problems will they help? I struggle to maintain my weight, never mind lose any but I know it's not impossible.

What about St. Johns Wort? TBH I am so desperate that if someone gave me a big pill that said "Placebo - no active ingredients" but told me that it would work then my mindset is such that it would probably work!

Any other ideas?

I am going to cut my hours at work (if they will let me, which I think they will) which will give me the time to exercise and cook healthily.

Apols for ramble. My mind is very rambly today.

I see what you mean zip

I am hoping that the benefits will be such that I will keep going.

plus dd starts school in September and if I am part time at work I will have time to myself [swoon] and no excuses

so if you were on ads then you would take them everyday

so you need to shcedule the alternative measures in in the same way ie they arent optional

and also you will need to let them take a while to be effective

well exercise you can get an instant boost

but generally to see a good improvement will take weeks rather than a few days

good luck

ia ppreciate my advice is probably not really worth listening to as manifest;ly i am not the worlds most well controlled person

but that is partly neglect on my part and cxircumstances

which of course everyone has to factor in

There was a short piece in today's Telegraph where they reported some doctors advocating a return to cold showers twice a day as an effective measure for depression. Brrr!

I had PND with DS1, I took medication and sought some counselling, things really improved.

DS2, thought I'd be ok from PND but no, and really wasn't keen to go on medication again unless I really felt I had to because I felt I had the tools and knowledge to try and help myself... it was very difficult to motivate myself, but things that helped..

really getting to grips with eating better so joined a slimming group (initially thought this might backfire in helping, as when I feel stress the biscuits always look good but I realised I was ready to focus on needing to care for myself

exercise: even just walking. In my area there is a group for mums and babies/toddlers that go for a walk (not been to it) but what a fab idea, it's free and you go at your own pace and can chat to others if you want.

Being kind to myself: desperately not always beating myself up mentally, again my area run a group for PND/anxious mothers and have gone to that and found it a real help.. I did visit the Dr because I was confused about the feelings I had but he thought if I addressed the issues that were really upsetting me, i.e feeding my baby was a real obsession at one point, then I might find peace and not need the meds.

I started a notebook for things to do.. not over the top long list, rather short and covered all things from making sure I did the washing to seeing a friend (at one point felt very out of control, failing) but it helped me get some organisation and realisation that actually I am really busy and do do things!

There is absolutely nothing wrong in taking medication, but for me I believe I could/can support myself (though at times can be very hard!) I found by opening up to dh and some friends helped too (I found it risky as I was worried what they might think etc) but believed if they changed negatively towards me it was their loss not mine, and not to take it personally (who knows what goes on with others) as it goes the few people I told were lovely.

Take care.

Just found this thread, very helpful as I am trying to decide if I can take that step and get the medication. I feel like I'm just about coping with things...but getting pretty spacey. Very good advice and support. Are any of you still around on MN to let me know how its going?