I'm pretty sure I'm depressed but want alternatives to medication and counselling

[GordonTheGopher]

In brief:

Suffered depression / anxiety for a few years pre meeting dh.

Last few months have been feeling v down, not sleeping, losing temper, finding it difficult to complete small tasks, comfort eating, thinking life is a bit bleak etc.

We have been ttc no2 for almost two years and that along with a difficult toddler I think have been the catalyst for mild depression.

I don't want medication as I'm ttc and it took me ages to get off the seroxat I was on a few years back.

I've had 2 or 3 stabs at counselling and found them very uncomfortable - looking at a stranger who is waiting patiently to tell me how my parents f*cked me up - they didn't by the way, they were and are still great.

So what alternatives are there? I know I need to eat well and exercise but I'm finding it v hard. Are there any complementary therapies that you have found to work? Any herbal remedies?

I'm on diazepam to help me sleep but even that isn't working at the moment.

Any advice gratefully received.

i think i would rather be on prozac,(as I am) than be on diazepam. That cannot hlep matters?

St JOhn's wort is supposed to help, but i don't thinik you can take it with other meds.

I was on seroxat for yrs and it nearly killed me. I spent yrs not on anitdepressants and i was convinced i could cope but i couldn't. in my case prozac has lifted the cloud and allows me to be 'normal'

if you have childcare, I'd recommend the gym/swimming pool every morning/lunchtime . Gives you a high for the day and "good" fatigue rather than nervous exhaustion.

Also self esteem boosting.

I would see the GP and discuss the Diazepam which might not be helping TBH and is highly addictive.

There are lots of different types of counselling, have you looked into CBT? That might be more helpful.

I'm afraid that the HARD things are probably the most helpful - e.g. regular exercise and a good diet. Taking up a sport or running is bloody hard but is it harder than being depressed? Only you can make that call.

Hi Gordon.
Sorry you are feeling so crappy.
I tried various ADs till I found one to suit me, so do give it a go. The same with counselling - you have to have a good raport with your cpunseller.
As has already been said, be careful with herbal remedies as they can interact with other meds and if you could be pregnant.
Have you an understanding GP?

agree with Nicky re counselling - you may have to try a few different counsellors to find which one suits you. I rang a few and asked them about their practice and went with the one I felt most comfortable with.

If it's really a no go for you what about something like Reiki/energy healing?

Reiki is pretty good. I am trying to find a local practitioner as the last time I had it I found it very relaxing and it can also help with physical ailments.

Try reading some uplifting books to help you change your negative thought patterns into positive ones. I am beginning to believe that I am looking at life the wrong way, thinking about what I want and can't have right now, instead of appreciating and enjoying what I do have. I am just realising that life is an amazing gift that we have to live to full and not drag ourselves through the days just waiting to feel better. I know it is much easier to talk about these things rather than doing them, but i am so fed up with myself that I am going to give it a good go!

Thanks all. My aunt does Reiki so it might be worth talking to her about it.

Does anyone know if it's ok to take prozac while ttc/pg?

Hi,

Sorry to hear you're feeling low. I have been rather anxious recently and can't help on the AD front, but have found something that helps me sleep.

I borrowed a relaxation hypnotherapy CD from the library, kind of thinking it wouldn't work, but it is brilliant. I ripped it to my ipod and if I can't sleep I listen to it, and it hasn't failed yet! I'm fairly sure any similar hypnotherapy CD would work, but this one is good because it has a short (15 min) and long (30 min) version. I have nearly always used the 15 min version as 30 min seems a bit long iykwim.

Like I said, I'm sure any you got from the library would be similar, but in case you are interested, this one is by a bloke called Glenn Carroll, and is just called 'relaxation hypnotherapy' or something like that.

I know everyone is different, but I find this helps me, and also has the knock on effect that if I have a good nights sleep I don't feel so overwhelmed during the day.

Good luck.

I am a firm believer in complementary therapies helping people with depression / anxiety.

Can recommend Reiki (am level 3 practitioner meself)
Have been told Bach flower remedies are very good, especially 'rescue remedy' for anxiety / panic.
Also a massage therapy like aromatherapy massage or indian head massage will have more positive effects than you may realise!

daveylarn at hotmail dot com should anyone want to enquire further. I am in West Yorkshire.

XXXX