How can I cope with depression without medication?

I have been diagnosed as suffering from severe depression and prescribed Effexor. The side effects are intolerable even after 5 weeks so my Doctor has suggested I come off them and try a different brand. 10 years ago I went through the same thing and found the change over of types of antidepressant to be extremely difficult and distressing. I'm terrified that changing them this time will be the same and I may have to get worse again before I get better.





I'm not keen on trying another brand as I've tried several brands over the years all of which have had the same side effects and have not seemed to make enough of a difference to make it worth while putting up with them.





Ideally I'd like to come off the Effexor and avoid having to go on anything else but need some advice on what self help I can do to help resolve my depression without medication. For information it's linked to my divorce earlier this year which triggered an eating disorder. The eating disorder is being treated and I'm am recovering. I have therapy once a week although until my mood improves it is not as productive as it could be as I lack motivation and am constantly exhaused from not sleeping. In addition I am starting to move on with my life after moving out of home with my husband in June (it has been an amicable breakup) although I feel I need some way to work through my emotions relating to this to fully put it behind me.





Any thoughts would be gratefully received!How can I cope with depression without medication?
Keep on with your therapy.





Go for a walk or other exercise in the open air around the middle of the day. The sunlight will help your mood, the exercise will help you to sleep and you could also generate endorphins (chemicals which improve your mood).





Keep a 'happiness diary'. Each day write down 3 good things which happened. Needn't be mega, could be someone smiled at you in a queue, you saw something funny or nice, you enjoyed a TV programme or whatever. This will help to focus you on positive rather than negative things.





Some people swear by St John's Wort, a medicinal herb. Do not take this with any prescription drugs unless you talk to a pharmacist. I haven't tried it so don't know if it would help you or not.





Hope you feel better soon.How can I cope with depression without medication?
Join a gym and exercise for an hour every day, or even buy some exercise equipment for home. It breaks your depression, give it a month and you will have increased confidence, sleep better and a new outlook on life. It worked for my depression. Change of lifestyle = new person.
eat a peach for peace
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ghJr7wgR鈥?/a>
Lets Be an informed person so you can choose your healing route well. Be really aware that the conventional treatment for this can be horrendous and you can go on for years with no improvement and massive damaging detrimental side effects from meds . Do read this very carefully and try and understand the principles behind what is being said .


Evaluate all of this info well 鈥搕his info will save you years of suffering ---years if you apply it ..


This will educate you on our health care system and its dire limitations


All treatment recommended by the doctors should be tested and approved and quite rightly so.


That makes sense right .it costs millions to test and approve treatments because of the possible damage to people..


Drug companies Fund most research and will only and I mean only look at treatments, which show the promise of good deal of a profit, --they will actively dismiss any therapy which does not have profit potential鈥?thus your doctor will only recommend therapies with profit in them.


Despite The fact that some of these other therapies mentioned do have overwhelming benefits some, which have saved needless amputations, needless pain and trauma, and much loss of life. Drugs are not the answer for depression with mind altering chemicals or any other mental illness. This is a fundamental principle and unless you grasp this fully 鈥搚ou could /will have years of suffering ahead of you .


This does not help you though when you are ill and suffering鈥攏ot hearing about therapies which can help from a person you look up to and trust Have you heard your local doctor recommend, Massage Spiritual healing, Herbs, Light therapy,Colour therapy,the violet ray therapy, Osteopathy, Electrical Frequency devices.


These therapies will work for many complaints of a so called mental nature


we have thousands of testimonials and results showing years of successful applications


Do this and I will guarantee improvements to you inside a day its that simple, of course getting these things in place can be much harder. Each therapy can have a very beneficial influence on you.


Print this all off save it and enact it and share it --- of course someone to help you get these therapies in your life is invaluable but do not be swayed by them trying for short cuts 鈥?


1,get someone to massage your back and legs at least 3 times a week use peanut oil or a mix of 50-50 olive and peanut oil.


2 use the violet ray machine an Edgar Cayce device google search this --- 3 times a week on the other days especially on the spine鈥?we use it every day with very positive results


3.get a tent sleep out side 3times a week utilising earth energy - nature can help big time especially with how you feel how much energy you have


4 study and apply good nutrition-- adequate minerals all of them particularly calcium and magnesium iron essential fatty acids omega 3 6 9 protein etc


5 ensure your thyroid is working well


7 ensure you do at least I hr per day some kind of voluntary work when you are able..the reasons you are ill , or poor or have allsorts of bad things happen to you is because of karma -----usually from past lives but some from this one 鈥搗oluntary work will offset your mistakes--- how much it offsets well that is down to god and how much you do. Healing us is in direct proportion to the help we give others ie your healing comes with helping others achieve theirs so if people are doing very little in helping others ---they suffer more and longer...and if they are doing a lot they get well faster....so now you know what to do ,,and like a lot of us are already doing being of service.


8 be amongst people who are giving, friendly who have time for you who love you , choose your friends well


9 be or get to a place which personally love or like


10 get and do some work which you like or love


11 ensure you do no acts which hurt or inflict on anyone 鈥揹on鈥檛 want to add to your karma do we !!!


12 spiritual healing yes and reiki -.


13think good positive thoughts, laughter, look at comedy, play good uplifting music,


14 avoid at all costs exposure to violence, murders, suffering ,death ,tragedies, -feed upon good things uplifting things, things that feel like a breath of fresh air..


15 Positive affirmation- that鈥檚 right programme your self in the mirror , thoughts are things words are things actions are things , all have influence, few people realise these things can have an effect on themselves .


16 a detox ------ toxins can influence how you feel big time


17 hugs get plenty of them in your daily life you would be amazed at how people feel after a few decent hugs鈥?


18 loads of exercise running walking climbing but something which you enjoy


19 rid yourselves of all aspartame laden foods and drink and many additives get back to a wholesome organic diet diet


A total cure however is tied up with karma so you can imagine just how important is the voluntary work.
I work in a pharmacy and see many people like yourself. It is very hard to end the cycle of taking anti depressants but I really do think that with time and effort you can be drug free again. Don't think of it as getting back to normal (after all what is 'normal' anyway!) instead think of being a happier more balanced you. Try not to focus on the now but look forward to little things. Take up a new hobbie or join a club this will give you something to work towards. Change your regular routine, it is very easy to get stuck in your 'normal routine' and this can prevent you from moving on in life. Give yourself little rewards for having a good day or getting your chores done. I think that you really need to look at the bigger picture in your life and set short and long term goals for yourself. I took up yoga and I cant believe the how much it has changed my outlook in life, you could also try that. I really do wish you all the best and hope that you find the answers you need.