Tips for alternative therapies?

Hi everyone, I am new to depression forums. I have been registering to as much websites as I can because I really want to know more about alternative therapies for depression. I know this occupies a large field but I was wondering if you guys have any suggestions or have thought of trying some. I do not like the side effects of anti-depressant pills nor am I willing to spend a lot of money on counselling. I was thinking of getting a light box or maybe get into yoga. I also heard something about sound therapy. Anyone has experience with this stuff??

Hello & Welcome, Ammatudi. I do not have experience with alternative therapies. Yoga and light boxes (full-spectrum lighting, too) have helped some. One psychologist told me that strategies for chronic pain management might be of benefit for me.

My impression is that living under constant stress will diminish the effects of any therapy, conventional or alternative. Consider ways to reduce stress in your life.

Hey Ammatudi-happy lights work okay for me for SAD. Most people with severe depression benefit from TMS, VNS and ECT. Or just try simple things, like fish oil, check your thyroid, testosterone, and vitamin D levels, or even St. John's Wort. Best of luck!!

Hello and welcome.

I'm not sure why but exercise, getting 8 hours of sleep, eating non processed food(real food) and avoiding sugar is considered alternative therapy but it works wonders.

I also like acupuncture for anxiety as well as yoga for relaxation and anxiety, my daughter likes Reiki.

A new approach to mental illness is a form of zen/Buddhist thinking that has been combined with cognitive therapy and renamed Dialectical behavior therapy and it is covered by most insurance whereas most alternative treatments are not covered in America. It started as a treatment for borderline but is spreading as a common sense approach to life.

Good luck.

My T suggested taking 2000mg of fish oil per day, as there are some indications that it can help with depression.
Exercise has been proven to help ease depression, it's just being able to get the motivation to exercise when you feel depressed. One that I am struggling with!
I've also tried hypnosis with short term benefit.
Good luck

Hi, the first thing I believe you should do is go to a medical doctor (I go to an a integrative MD) and explain your symptoms. You should make sure they rule out physical causes for your depression and/or other symptoms. Exercising helps depression. And as mentioned above, eating good food (no sugars, carbs or processed foods) also is good for the body as well as helping you mentally. Therapy has definitely helped me. So I hope you don't exclude that if nothing else works. Meds work for some. Good luck.

There are a LOT of alternative therapies for depression. Typically, they work better alongside conventional meds and/or therapy, but if you are don't want or are not able to try those things it's certainly better then nothing. For some people a specific alternative therapy ends up being a miracle for them and works better then any drug could. Some that you can look into are acupuncture, reiki, and energy healing, but those usually cost just as much or more then conventional therapy.

Some things you can try that are cheap are various vitamins that you can do research on, exercise, herbal remedies (these can be dangerous if used wrong though, and it's much better to talk to a doctor about them first even though they are over the counter. At the very least do a lot of research. The most popular herb for depression is St John's Wort), and if you have anxiety as well as depression Rescue Remedy is good.

I personally really love crystals and gemstones, and they can be used to help with depression. There are a LOT of different ones that are good for depression, if you google it you'll get a lot of results. Lepidolite and lithium quartz are good for any type of emotional issue. Citrine is good for positivity, and rose quartz is good for self love. There are many, many others. You can buy them online and maybe at local stores depending on where you live, and they are often just a few dollars. It helps to either carry them around with you, place them around your home, or just squeeze them when you're feeling down.

YES. Well indirectly. My mom lives on the east coast and winter is dreary. So I sent her a light box (they have another name, but I don't remember) that simulates the rays. A spectrum light maybe? She set it up in her office (it was small, desktop size) and had some success with it.
I love yoga and need to get back into it. I have insomnia and tried the music that supposedly readjusted the various patterns that you are supposed to have. It didn't impress me. Also tried subliminal messages. Was not impressed. But if this stuff can't hurt, I see no reason not to try it.

Wowowowowow I wasnt expecting such diverse replies thank you so much. I kind of lost track of the thread I am so glad I found it again. I think i will start a project where I just list out all these therapies that I am learning about I will try to share them all with you by the end of the week!
Also, I thought I would share this website here. Its strictly about alternative therapy and its community based. Unfortunately the content isn't really impressive but I think there is potential here. have you guys heard of serotonik.com?

Physiology 6
Check thyroid
1
Check Testosterone
1
physiotherapy
1
Chronic pain management
1
Energy healing
1
Vagus nerve stimulation
1

General behavior 3
Plan you time
1
8 hours of sleep
1
Reduce stress
1

Psychology 10
Mindfulness
3
Cognigative Behavioral Therapy
2
Be kind to yourself
1
Happy box of good memories
1
Learn to unconditionally love your brain
1
Compassion
1
Crystals and Gemstones
1
Subliminal messages
1
Hypnosis
1
Dialectical behavior therapy
1

Physical Activities 7
Exercise
4
Yoga
4
Reiki
2
Walks
1
Shop for things you want but don’t need
1
Running
1
Dacing
1

Physical therapies 5
Light boxes (light therapy)
4
acupuncture
3
Sound therapy
2
Electronconvulsive therapy
1
Transcranial magnetic stimulation
1

House activities 12
Draw
2
Bubble bath with nice scents
1
Give yourself a lie-in in the morning
1
Paint
1
Pamper yourself
1
Watch a movie
1
Arts and crafts
1
Bake
1
Photography
1
Talk on the phone
1
Watch a play
1
Journaling
1

DIET 6
Cut sugar
3
Cut process food
2
Cut gluten
2
Cut dairy
1
Cut alcohol
1
Cut caffeine
1

Chemistry 5
Bach flower remedies
2
St. Johns Wort
2
Vitamin D
2
Fish oil
2
Chemistry
1

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