What Helped Me

I've been treated for major depression for 35 years with medication. I've had good periods and sunk so low I couldn't get out of bed. For eight years I've taken Wellbutrin and Effexor, which have largely kept me out of the black hole. I've considered myself fortunate that I've functioned fairly well. After my shrink of 30 years had to shut his practice due to a diagnosis of Alzheimer's (a huge loss in my life), I ended up with a new, much younger doctor. I liked him, he was warm and personal, but it became obvious that he was strictly into medication (my long-term shrink was also a therapist). It bugged me a bit that anytime something came up he suggested another pill.

One day I told him that since I'd started the Wellbutrin/Effexor combo eight years previously I'd felt rather detached and lifeless, not depressed exactly, but kind of disinterested in life. He said he'd heard others describe a similar effect. So he suggested taking a daily tablespoon of ProOmega fish oil, a liquid made by Nordic Naturals, the only producer of fish oil using an outside company to test all batches. Yea, right, I thought. Fish oil, snake oil, whatever. But I decided it couldn't hurt and ordered a bottle from Amazon (very expensive, but one eight ounce bottle lasts me five weeks). Very quickly after starting the oil (a few days) I felt much, much better. The fog lifted and I feel better than I've felt in many, many years. I've been able to eliminate Welbutrin and reduce Effexor, although I'll remain on my current level of 225 mg per day. I'm so very grateful I found a brilliant doctor who really does think outside the box. Since starting the fish oil three months ago I've felt better than I ever dreamed possible. Calm, centered and focused.

I'm writing this because like others on this website my life has been one of pain and missed opportunities due to depression. Maybe my experience can help others. At least discuss it with your physician, who has access to research about the benefits of fish oil in therapeutic doses.

Fish oil can help a lot, especially if you are depressed because of physical reasons (aka not being in the best health condition).

Hello, Uprwestsdr. Congratulations. I am so pleased for you.

What if you're vegetarian??

hemp oil should have more or less the same effect, but is pricier.

I'd always taken a fish oil capsule which made no difference in my mood. According to my doctor, having the highest quality liquid oil was critical in the right dosage. To me the effect was miraculous, I had no expectations I would actually notice a difference.

You have to take a higher dosage than what is recommended on the bottle to be effective for mood disorders, I think.

i never noticed difference between bottle and capsules though. interesting.

The recommended dosage of the fish oil I take is 1 teaspoon per day; the therapeutic dosage I take is a tablespoon/day. I take a dosage of nine mg; I think you'd have to take quite a few capsules to get that.