I'm resistant to psych meds and can relate to gardens goal. I took meds for a time at the start of my latest depression to 'take the edge off' the extreme effects that had me very sick. Like garden I encountered difficulties accessing medical care that I trusted and the cost was prohibitive to use meds for very long. I focus more on alternative therapies I can trust, access and afford to help me cope and recover from the depression.

With or without medications a person needs to work at getting well. Talk therapy is critical especially if not taking any meds. There are some good resources for CBT here on PC. I've worked through some of the Self-Help Manual. It is very user friendly and been very helpful.

I think some people, in some situations, in some conditions can overcome anything without the aide of medication. They will have to do the extra work and have other resources to get the results medications provide.

If medicines can aid recovery and they are accessable then they should be considered in a person's therapy. How long a person uses a medication will depend on the severity of the person's symptoms. It may be possible to recover without medications. It will likely be harder in some ways and it may not be possible in other ways.

I think a key to trying to recover without psych med is to maintain an expection of getting better. Set timelines for improvements to avoid getting lost in the depression. That can lead to merely existing and that's not recovery. If the efforts taken without medication are not effecting the changes you want then medication has to be brought back into the equation. The point is to never give up trying every options put before you. Don't discount any therapy without considering it carefully and objectively.