Is it possible to work out of a depression without meds?

[calveless wonder]

Dude, I have been having a pretty shitty day for the past 6 months...

I went to counseling with the Ex for 14 months and nothing really improved... It was the last couple of months of being together and the separation now thats had me bummed the fuck out...

I use to love my life and woke up happy everyday... I don't care about anything anymore... This past week I thought I was going to get run over by a car and I just closed my eyes...


-BRR

You definetely need help bro........i would see someone professional. That type of personal trauma in itself can either create depression or at least aggravate a pre-existing condition. Personally, i've been on anti depression meds since i was a teenager...i've always been prone to it, but i stopped taking the prescription drugs years ago. I take SAM-E (400 mg's) a day....my psychiatrist actually recommended it to me because of the sides i used to get from the other meds. It's awesome for the depression with no sides...although i wish it could help better with the repetitive/intrusive thoughts and OCD, especially since i have a mild case of post traumatic stress right now. Sam-E is used widely in europe as a prescription drug....but it's OTC here (for anyone taking it, make sure it's a legit brand....I.E. Nature Made)

Anything affecting relationships or children will always bring you into a depression....meds will help, but i don't believe they're the only answer.Often americans are too dependent alone on a pill to cure everything.
Cognitive therapy (controlling/managing your emotions, and thoughts) go a long way. I jut found out my girlfriend of 4 years had another boyfriend behind my back for 6 months while she was away...she basically used me for money and support after i gave her my entire life and carried her through her worst times. If you don't feel bad about stuff like that, you're not human...but because of what i learned in therapy over the years i'm able to manage and cope with alot of the pain i experience and lead a relatively normal life since it happened.

point is, get help....change your way of thinking (sometimes we program our brains in a completely wrong way), maybe get a script...and take it day by day.

 

[stilleto]

brr, as the others said,.. talk to someone. a professional. you have a reason to be depressed.
afriend of mine swears by fishoil caps and 5htp for depression. her son and daughter suffer from it and do much better on the caps.

i'm sorry you're down.

 

[Cutiebaby]

Honestly I think it all depends clinically. I mean are we talking about being in a funk or are we talking long hall Bi polar and manic type depression?
If it is just a temp fluke like thing then by all means yes, however if you have been messed up off and on for long periods then obviously there is some thing chemically imbalanced that needs to be fixed.
I am partial to meds, seen to many times the results mess people up.
You have jane doe who is clinically depressed diagnosed with bi polar and post traumatic stress..She does not take meds and is fruity as a nut cake. She goes on her meds and she is fine...However, the moment that she stops being chemically dependent her depression plummets and she is 10 times worse off than before she took meds!
I myself am Med free, I barely even take tylenol. I find that this is life, deal with it without being assisted with drugs. Every pill that is out there has counter reations. So depression meds are good for depression, however they may take care of your depression but add to your anxiety, etc...
Like I said, it all boils down to what type of depression and how long it has been going on for.

 

[EnderJE]

I took a look at cognitive therapy for when I'm down. Hope it helps and I'm sorry to hear about your situation.

 

[ortiz34]

I'm on 40 mgs of Celexa for four months now and it has really stabilized my mood. I was VERY depressed bro.

I went through almost the same thing as you BRR 4 years ago and life couldn't be better now.

 

[InquisitivePsyche]

What I would recommend is finding a good psychiatrist (NOT general practitioner) to get your question answered. It's not as simple as a yes or no statement because every person's history, body make up, etc, is different which is why you would be best seeking a Psychiatrist to help you decide.

With BPD, the medication obviously doesn't cure the symptoms, it just controls them but many people with this disorder have found their meds to be crucial.

From what I've read lately, lithium has been the most used medication for BPD. It takes about 5-14 days to dimimish severe symptoms and anywhere from days to several months until the condition is completely controlled. The bad thing about the mania symptoms is that it's usually comorbid with depression so people usually need something to help. Lithium works to even out the mood swings. The good thing is some may have one episode and then never another while others continue to have them - which is why I suggested you seeking a professional. Every individual is different so it takes me more than just "asking others."

Here's a message board specifically with people who have BPD:

www.healthboards.com and search for BiPolar.

 

[Gymgurl]

All great advice....((((HUGS)))) Brr...meds will help

 

[H_T_]

Dude, I have been having a pretty shitty day for the past 6 months...

I went to counseling with the Ex for 14 months and nothing really improved... It was the last couple of months of being together and the separation now thats had me bummed the fuck out...

I use to love my life and woke up happy everyday... I don't care about anything anymore... This past week I thought I was going to get run over by a car and I just closed my eyes...


-BRR

sounds like you're in a rut. and the only difference between a rut and a grave is depth. but when you're down, you only have one direction to go, & that's up. all problems are temporary. i think you need to start doing for you. even if it's for 15 minutes a day. just make it for you. all kinds of stuff you can do Rick, lots. support groups, volunteering, you need to shake shit up. like one of those snow globes, shake it up. do a dance and make it rain....

 

[jh1]

I would have to say yes.. and add that I've had the most horrible experiences with anti-d's...

I have never taken them, but two girls I have dated completely flipped out on me when they suddenly stopped taking them. One girl was taking them for neck pain - some doc told her it was common for the type of problem she was having. She ran out and didn't refill because the neck issue seemed to went away. HOLY SHIT... watch out... evidently that's not good, you have to slowley come off them... or something...

Another girl had been on them for years, but then just stopped 'because I made her so happy' that's what she told her family... 2 weeks later... flipzone...

 

[KillahBee]

There is absolutely NO doubt that the answer is 100% YES.

Believe it and it's reality. It really is simple as that.