Posted by PuraVida on October 11, 2000, at 4:41:12
In reply to Cures for Depression?, posted by LizG on October 7, 2000, at 16:13:48
Hi Liz, from Liz... :)
I seem to be prone to depression, and have had some pretty bad bouts in the past 5 years. I worked from home so I could go days - weeks - without getting out of the bed or house - this is how bad I was.
My take is that true depression is probably chemical, but that meds won't "cure" you without a lot of effort on your part. What they'll do if you are depressed is help lift the fog that is probably keeping you from thinking rationally and clearly.
I have been on meds most of the time since 1996. I stopped taking them after the initial 7 or 8 months, and landed right back in the whole a few months later, this time worse than before. (Stupid pride thinking I could handle it all myself!) Since then I've come to terms with the chemical reality, and have promised myself to stay on them until my mind gets in the habit of thinking clearly again. They are my safety net while I get me life fully restored to who I used to be. I figure when I've had a whole year without even a glimpse of the cloud, I'll consider easing off them slowly - very slowly.
However, even with steady meds I have days and weeks that are better than others. My suggestion, along with meds, is to eat good, healthy foods, get out doors, exercise, and surround yourself with positive experiences and people. Force yourself to be social. Experiment with vitamins and holistic approaches to health. Hypnotherapy, as well as traditional psychotherapy, has helped me. So does getting massages and mainucures, and even the tanning bed in the winter! Treat yourself well. Buy yourself flowers. Treat others well. Volunteer to raise a dog for the blind (so you HAVE to get out!), or teach kids how to read. Go over to a friends and help them with thier latest project. Best yet - get a change of scenery - pack a backpack with a journal and your meds and hike a mountain or catch a flight to India to see how much "pain" others experience. Why do our Western cultures get depressed, when life flows so regularly in other areas of the world? Travel to other countries is possible the best therapy I've found. It's a pain to get yourself there, but once you do, it can be very freeing.
Maybe you are "dead" inside because your environment "killed" you - but really, you've just gone into hibernation. Go live a little! Life is a process, not a goal - take a step each day and you'll be suprised at how it starts to be easier. Its when we sit still for so long, or push ourselves too hard that it takes so much effort to take steps, so take one everyday, no more no less, and off you'll go.
I found that my job was killing me, literally. It had damaged me so much that the clouds are still lifting more and more ten months later. The meds kept me alive and eventually I was able to see that I was was fighting a loosing battle trying to triumph in that world. My thinking was so twisted at the time though, that I kept pounding away, blaming myself so much that it kept me in the constant cycle of hopelessness.
My thoughts: do anything and everything you can to feel better - it all ends up coming together. Tell yourself, and believe it, that "this too, shall pass" Learn what makes you feel good, and when you don't feel good, roll with it - don't blame yourself. I do believe depression is an illness - like the flu. Would you not take asprin for a fever? Would you feel so terribly guilty for not looking/acting/being perfect when you were so pysically ill? So it is with depression - you can take the asprin, run a hot bath, get your friends (and yourself!) to bring you flowers and soup, but until you start feeling better, there is no point in beating yourself up.
Hope this helped - sorry its so long, but I get on a roll!
Liz
> I have read several articles which point out that a lot of depression is NOT chemical.
>
> Does anyone agree that it can be cured without drugs and that doctors prescribe them because it is 'the easy way out'??
>
> thoughts please
poster:PuraVida
thread:45923
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000926/msgs/46109.html