when you know you're going rapidly downhill, how you you try to ward off a "bout" of depression?

[mellyonion]

am looking for tips really to make myself feel better...

have sufferred from depression on and off for about 8 years...

am really feeling it at the moment, and am hearing all my alarm bells ringing loudly....don't want to take anti d's, and am trying to manage to drag myself out of my pit before reach the bottom...

what do you do to help yourself?

thanks.

Side effects of ad's do wear off if you keep taking them - and when you are ready to come off them, do it gradually - over six months if necessary.

Depression is terrible to live with if you are suffering from it, but it's also worth saying it's terrible from those who live with you too. I have taken then in the past more for them than myself, especially the kids as a child with a depressed parent is more likely to become depressed themselves. That's not a good legacy and it's all fine and dandy trying to be noble and not take ad's, but it may cause more harm than good in the long run.

That's just my perspective on it. One that's worked for me in the past - more damage limitation for others as well as for myself.

Go running - everytime I can feel the thoughts welling up, try to do intense physical exercise. I try and do it to the point where all I can think about is the rythmn of my breathing and being able to take the next breath. Sometimes it works wonderfully and sometimes it doesn't.

I recently read that women of child bearing age have half the serotonin levels of men of the same age. How unfair is that??? To think of how we beat ourselves up over not being able to cope, feeling inadequate, feel guilty for worrying family etc I find ADs do work for me if I manage to bat on through the first couple of weeks of being spacey. It's well worth it for me. I also agree that if I feel myself going i start on the tabs again to avoid a repeat visit to the dark place.

how are you doing now, have you managed to ward it off?
I'm currently going cold turkey on ADs (probably shouldn't be but had enough of side-effects) and want to be in control not begging at the door of my GP every other week so something to finally work.