Is medicine always the cure?!
Question: What are somethings I can do when my Depression/Anxiety strikes other than take Anti-Depressants? Is Anti-Depressants always the cure? Why is it a must to take Anti-Depressants by some people?
Answers: What are somethings I can do when my Depression/Anxiety strikes other than take Anti-Depressants? Is Anti-Depressants always the cure? Why is it a must to take Anti-Depressants by some people?
There are lots of alternative to medications. You can try herbal remedies, support groups, acupuncture, etc.
If all those fail you can try medicine start on the lowest dosage possible and see if it helps.
Try writing in a journal, join a club, start a hobby, call a friend.
The human mind is more powerful than any medicine.
Well, because it treats the depression. It give you more pleasure. There is xanax for anxiety, but that is highly addictive. Try the anti depressant, I did almost 1 1/2 months ago and I was originally against it, and that was one of the smartest decisions that I have made.
Eat fruit,. sleep 15 hours a day then join the Army. :D
For some people, they have a genetic predisposition to major depression, and there is just plain something not right with their brain. It doesn't matter how much they exercise or go to couseling or what they eat, it doesn't get better.
Here are my standard tips for non-drug depression/anxiety treatments. I've learned these thru MANY years of counseling and groups:
If your depression seems to be more of a problem in the winter, try to get more sun. You could have seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, or your depression could have a seasonal component, meaning you can get depressed other times of the year, but you tend to have more trouble in the winter. A light box is really good if you can afford one (about $300 online, don't get it at a local store, they will charge more for a light less than 1/2 as bright). Since I will always have a mood disorder, I have put in extra windows, keep the drapes mounted so they don't cover them, make sure I spend a lot of time in southern exposure rooms, painted the walls peach and yellow, mostly. I even have a skylight, although that was here when I moved in (and I LOVE it, it helps a lot!!!!!)
Try turning the heat up in the house or dressing much more warmly. It is hard to feel anxiety when you are too warm. I was able to cut out ativan use altogether by using this trick. Saved me big $$ too, because pills cost way more than heat. Hot baths work too, and in a pinch, like at work/school, you can try running hot water over your hands.
Avoid caffeine like the plague. Also, some cold remedies can cause anxiety. Look for the "agitation in children" warning on the box. Adults can get problems too.
Try meditation tapes like progressive muscle relaxation or guided imagery. They may seem silly at first, but they work!! They help reduce stress, which makes depression worse.
Go out with friends, and if you don't have any, find a club to join and MAKE yourself go until you actually look forward to it. Isolation makes depression worse.
Exercise at least 1/2 hour a day, and anytime you feel really hyper or depressed. Exercise is a great mood stabilizer and cuts down on anxiety a lot.
If your depression makes it hard for you to sleep, here are some good "sleep hygeine" tips so you can sleep better. Like go to bed and get up about the same time each day, even weekends. Don't use your bedroom to watch TV and read and use the computer and all that-just use the room as a bedroom normally would be used. Don't do stuff that pumps you up right before bed, like exercising and using the computer. You want to use that last hour to wind down-Take a bath ? Make the bedroom really dark, cover up the clock radio, even so the light doesn't shine at you. If you live in the rackety city, use a noise generator (makes wave sounds and the like) to cover up the city sounds. Avoid caffeine in the afternoon and evening.
Put a lot of colorful things around the house, happy type things, and keep the blinds open and let the sun in. Get yourself some flowers. Put on some pretty clothes. Make a list of things that make you happy. Here's some things on my list: A basket full of fluffy kittens, bread fresh from the oven, Fireworks popping on a warm summer evening, The first fireflies of the season, the scent of Jergen's cherry almond lotion, The crisp sound of a saltine cracker breaking, fresh sheets on the bed, etc. Use all your senses and read that list when you are breaking down
Work on time management if being overwhelmed and late for things and too much to do is getting to you. Cut back on other responsibilities temporarily so you can spend more restorative time with friends and family.
You got a significant other? Extra physical touch is very helpful. Most people in the US or UK are touch deprived, so hold hands more, hug more, give shoulder rubs, etc. A pet is good to cuddle with, too, if your home situation allows you to get one & take good care of it. (I'm an animal lover, don't get one if you can't commit to it for 15 years)
I give these suggestions to lots of folks, and hardly anyone ever tries them.. I have really really severe psychiatric symptoms from bipolar disorder and post traumatic stress disorder, I mean, I have one of the most severe cases you can get. And I am able to control my behavior almost 100% even when I am suffering, and able to feel quite a bit better using some of these tricks, because the meds have only been minimally effective for me. If I didn't do stuff like the above, I would be in an institution or group home for sure. So please try some of these things, there is no harm in them, and they may provide some real relief for you. Pills alone or counseling alone are not as effective as pills PLUS counseling, and you have to follow some of those suggestions the counselors give you. Suggestions like the ones above.
Anti-depressants are essential treatment for people suffering from major depression.
However, there are other things you can do, including therapy, exercise, healthy diet, socialising, and doing things you enjoy.
For some people, antidepressants ARE a must, and make a crucial difference. But they're not all the same. For years the ones I took did not help, but eventually I found one that worked and I'm sticking to it. But I accept the side effects - it's an acceptable tradeoff for not feeling suicidal.
I don't know you and I'm not a doctor anyway. But I do think that AD meds are prescribed way too much. Unless you are not seriously depressed, you need to talk to a professional and speak up about your concerns. There are alternatives.
If you have a chemical imbalance in your brain that is causing the depression, the answer is YES. You need to replace what you don't have or are not making to be able to get back to baseline or normalcy.
Anti-Depressants, which replace the missing chemical are important in the above situation. However, it you are depressed due to some traumatic event in your life, YES there are other ways to overcome the depression. Exercise is one of the best means to produce Dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is an important neurotransmitter. It activates the pleasure centers in our brain and makes us feel good. This is why some people become addicted to exercise. Another good way to feel better is through Positive Feedback, counseling, and Acupuncture. What works for one person doesn't necessarily work for another.
As you can see, the answer to your question focuses on the reason a person is depressed. Depression needs to be diagnosed by a qualified doctor, and the causation factor identified in order to map out a treatment plan.
Hope this helps. Take care my friend.