What can I do to cure depression?

montaru · Jun 24, 2018, 03:19 PM

Because I don't want to take any medication, my therapist told me to think what I am ready to do to cure my depression... I'm thinking about it, but I need help. Do you have any ideas what I could do to help myself?

Skeezyks · Jun 24, 2018, 03:39 PM

montaru · Jun 24, 2018, 03:42 PM

Thank you very much!!!

mote.of.soul · Jun 24, 2018, 07:46 PM

Quote:

my therapist told me to think what I am ready to do to cure my depression... I'm thinking about it

Hi montaru. Also, get the therapist to give you a list of suggestions for managing depression - that's the least he/she can do.

Hang in there montaru, you'll get through this.

downandlonely · Jun 24, 2018, 07:49 PM

Not to be a downer, but I don't think you can cure depression. It's a lifelong condition. It can be managed though.

Why don't you want to try meds?

montaru · Jun 26, 2018, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mote.of.soul

Hi montaru. Also, get the therapist to give you a list of suggestions for managing depression - that's the least he/she can do.

Hang in there montaru, you'll get through this.

I will ask her about that. Thank you for your answer and the words of encouragement.

montaru · Jun 26, 2018, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by downandlonely

Not to be a downer, but I don't think you can cure depression. It's a lifelong condition. It can be managed though.

Why don't you want to try meds?

I don't know if it's curable or not, I just want to feel a little bit better. Meds are the last option that I would choose to cure myself. I don't want them, I simply don't put big faith in pharmacology. I thought about some natural ways to get out of it, like mindfulness meditation etc.

little turtle · Jun 26, 2018, 09:43 AM

hi montaru....whatever works for you...

what is causing your depression right now...
make sure you have a complete physical exam...

Fuzzybear · Jun 26, 2018, 10:02 AM

I’m glad you aren’t taking meds. The suggestions to take meds roll on endlessly

. (And they are not without serious side effects, long term

) I can’t tolerate them

.

Skeezyks post is an excellent post. Good luck and keep posting

CF17 · 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by downandlonely

Not to be a downer, but I don't think you can cure depression. It's a lifelong condition. It can be managed though.

Why don't you want to try meds?

Hey Montaru,
I agree with what this person says, depression has no cure. It's a biopsychosocial disorder that could definitely be managed. I've dealt with really dark moments that became way worse with medications. Medications can work for some people, also taking into consideration that there are new ones without the crazy side effects available and working just fine for some patients. I got my symptoms under control and my life back to productivity with cognitive-behavior therapy, and a complete but gradual change of lifestyle that included physical activities (started step by step with walking, then jogging, then running, ...) and getting away from the things that were putting me down (for example, bad people). It's a constant battle, for some days I apparently have the whole day figured out but suddenly feel down (and that's the biological part) that medication could alleviate, but the pro/cons of meds make it not worthy of giving it a shot, in my case. This 'list' you are talking about should always change, for your depression will always sabotage any treatment in the long run; I'm currently thinking of trying next something you mentioned, meditation. No matter what works, don't give up and keep searching for what truly makes you happy.
Be well!

Fuzzybear · Jun 26, 2018, 12:59 PM

Depression, always a lifelong condition? I suppose that’s what has been taught. But it isn’t necessarily so, for everyone. Received “wisdom” is not always wisdom.

There were some ghastly “errors” in the older DSM or the equivalent, which thankfully have been corrected with new research and less .....

And if meds are the only possibility of “managing” severe depression then I’d be dead by now.

I wouldn’t tell a 21 year old “depression is a life long condition”

But then I’m not a doctor

I suppose I “should” apologise if this comes across as angry. That isn’t my
intention and I don’t have the luxury of medicating away anger together with major depression and anxiety (allergies)

Meds did actually help me for quite a while. (Before I became allergic to them) Biological factors are real but aren’t the whole “story”.. imo...

Fuzzybear · Jun 26, 2018, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by little turtle

hi montaru....whatever works for you...

what is causing your depression right now...
make sure you have a complete physical exam...

Good post - a complete physical exam is very important, imo

I’m glad you’re trying meditation, it can be very helpful

There are many helpful people here who can give good tips on surviving depression and feeling better

CF17 · Jun 26, 2018, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fuzzybear

Depression, always a lifelong condition? I suppose that’s what has been taught. But it isn’t necessarily so, for everyone. Received “wisdom” is not always wisdom.

There were some ghastly “errors” in the older DSM or the equivalent, which thankfully have been corrected with new research and less .....

And if meds are the only possibility of “managing” severe depression then I’d be dead by now.

I wouldn’t tell a 21 year old “depression is a life long condition”

But then I’m not a doctor

I suppose I “should” apologise if this comes across as angry. That isn’t my
intention and I don’t have the luxury of medicating away anger together with major depression and anxiety (allergies)

Meds did actually help me for quite a while. (Before I became allergic to them) Biological factors are real but aren’t the whole “story”.. imo...

You are correct, depression isn't always a lifelong condition, but it may or may not return. Even when my symptoms are so reduced that I don't even meet criteria for a diagnosis, it is just there, latent, waiting for an opportunity to rise again.

I wish I had someone telling me at the age of 21 that my depression was going to be there for the rest of my life instead of what was said: "it's a teenager phase, take this med, do therapy and it WILL end." I guess much still a mystery when it comes to this disorder, the only sure thing is that everyone has different opinions, symptoms, and reactions to the myriad of treatments available today. Nevertheless, I believe that we all should speak up and discuss it for the sake of surviving and helping others. Never apologize for expressing your thoughts with the purpose of supporting the community.

montaru · Jun 26, 2018, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by little turtle

hi montaru....whatever works for you...

what is causing your depression right now...
make sure you have a complete physical exam...

Thank you! I also thought about it.

I read a lot recently about the effect of low levels of B12 and serotonin (which is still the most probable cause of depression; it's also a little mystery for me, because I also read some research which said that it's not known for sure that serotonin is the main cause... And now, I don't know what is true anymore... If you have some information or articles/research about it, please, send them to me, I would be grateful

) and I'm checking my serotonin level in two weeks. And later, I'm going to check B12. It would also be good if I made myself sure that I don't have any food alergy that makes me so depressed, but I'm leaving it last of all.

montaru · Jun 26, 2018, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fuzzybear

I’m glad you aren’t taking meds. The suggestions to take meds roll on endlessly

. (And they are not without serious side effects, long term

) I can’t tolerate them

.

Skeezyks post is an excellent post. Good luck and keep posting

Thank you for your answer.

I'm so sorry that meds don't work for you.

How many of them and what kind did you try?
Yees... I think that the side effects are the worst disadvantage of those meds... And there are a loot of them. :/

montaru · Jun 26, 2018, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CF17

Hey Montaru,
I agree with what this person says, depression has no cure. It's a biopsychosocial disorder that could definitely be managed. I've dealt with really dark moments that became way worse with medications. Medications can work for some people, also taking into consideration that there are new ones without the crazy side effects available and working just fine for some patients. I got my symptoms under control and my life back to productivity with cognitive-behavior therapy, and a complete but gradual change of lifestyle that included physical activities (started step by step with walking, then jogging, then running, ...) and getting away from the things that were putting me down (for example, bad people). It's a constant battle, for some days I apparently have the whole day figured out but suddenly feel down (and that's the biological part) that medication could alleviate, but the pro/cons of meds make it not worthy of giving it a shot, in my case. This 'list' you are talking about should always change, for your depression will always sabotage any treatment in the long run; I'm currently thinking of trying next something you mentioned, meditation. No matter what works, don't give up and keep searching for what truly makes you happy.
Be well!

Your words and advice made me feel better. Thank you.

I'm sorry that you also have to struggle with this disease, but it's good to hear that you found a way/ways to deal with it. I went to cognitive-behavior therapy, too. I'm going there since January and I hope that it will help me, even a little bit. Do you still go to the therapy?
I think that being in a constant motion, doing lots of things through the day is something for me. When I have a lot to do, I don't have time to think. Of course, it's worse when because of insomnia (which is an effect of depression) makes my mood much worse, I'm not able to do much then.

CF17 · Jun 26, 2018, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by montaru

Your words and advice made me feel better. Thank you.

I'm sorry that you also have to struggle with this disease, but it's good to hear that you found a way/ways to deal with it. I went to cognitive-behavior therapy, too. I'm going there since January and I hope that it will help me, even a little bit. Do you still go to the therapy?
I think that being in a constant motion, doing lots of things through the day is something for me. When I have a lot to do, I don't have time to think. Of course, it's worse when because of insomnia (which is an effect of depression) makes my mood much worse, I'm not able to do much then.

It seems that we have lots in common, insomnia definitely makes everything worse and brings an irritable mood to anyone. Insomnia meds helped me for a while but I decided to stop because I can't depend on it forever. How do you deal with it?
I keep myself busy to the point of exhaustion, and since then I've been experiencing a better sleeping pattern (of course some days we just can't shut eyes at all).
Cognitive behavior therapy, you have to be very patient and open-minded. Studies have confirmed that it's effective but it involves changing habits, behaviors, challenging that negative, strong core of thoughts and false beliefs that we've built for many years, so it's a lot of work but the benefits last for a long time - some even forever. I think the biggest lesson that I learned was that even when I have zero willpower (I love staying in bed, sad, for the entire day), just get out of the house for 2 minutes to walk in the sun makes a huge difference. Extremely hard, but it was a way to avoid the meds. Have you tried to write down a list of things that you may like to do? Think of simple, easy, feasible activities, very light things, like watching a movie, reading a fun book, then as you progress you may even adventure new things as a different light exercise routine, join a social group, trying things that may become part of your life regularly, building a schedule with many options, so if you are not in the mood to do something, having alternatives that could put you in a good state of mind. It is in the little things...

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