Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Maybe not get rid of it but lessen it. My daughter and her son have so many problems they gave me an ulcer that woke me up last night. I have zero enthusiasm for anything. I stay in the house with my husband who had a hip replacement and he does almost nothing but sit and eat . He's very sweet; no problem there. But I'm so down when I wake up I don't want to get out of bed and face the monotonous grind of laundry and cooking. I do *not* wish to take any prescription medications so what can I do? Are there any people on here who swear by alternative medications? Thanks in advance.
My confusion is why you're allowing yourself to be involved with your daughter and grandson's problems that it results in your feeling depressed?
Seems as if you eliminated their drama from your life you would automatically 'lessen' the depression without the need for medication.
I was one who definitely lived with clinical depression for 10 yrs...situational depression or lowness is another thing. We all go thru situations in life that can bring us down. I've had my share....
OP: If you didn't live with this situation, would you be depressed?
There is an herb - St. John's Wort - that worked great for me when i only had mild depression. Look it up. I don't want to act like i'm a specialist on it, but i took it for several yrs. You take a certain dosage - i believe it was 3-4 daily, does not start working for a few weeks tho, and you find a brand that has the required and specialized (controlled) amount of the active ingredient in it.
If you don't want to take anything, then i agree with a lot of the other posters.
I have major depressive disorder - pretty much lifetime - and i do take meds now, but i really have to. But to that i add sunshine and fresh air every day!, some type of exercise - even the smallest amount of walking, better foods, a hobby - even reading, less TV News and Facebook lol, Vitamins such as D and B, and a great book to read is The Four Agreements, by don Miguel Ruiz. Good luck.
Maybe not get rid of it but lessen it. My daughter and her son have so many problems they gave me an ulcer that woke me up last night. I have zero enthusiasm for anything. I stay in the house with my husband who had a hip replacement and he does almost nothing but sit and eat . He's very sweet; no problem there. But I'm so down when I wake up I don't want to get out of bed and face the monotonous grind of laundry and cooking. I do *not* wish to take any prescription medications so what can I do? Are there any people on here who swear by alternative medications? Thanks in advance.
I steered clear of drugs when I was a kid and I am not going to start now. I talked to my doctor and he said they are an aid to get you out of a rut but are not a cure. My friend has Bipolar Disorder so that is something deeper that alternative medicine can't help.
The baggage of life can become too much to bear at times for everyone so I found reading other people's stories or music helps motivate me. I always thought those quotes you see stenciled on the wall was a joke but I found some that resonated with me so I printed them out to look at every day.
I have a framed poster of the Hubble Deep Field in my bedroom. It's the farthest we have looked into space and it puts my problems into perspective when I look at it every night when in bed and first thing in the morning.
First, I would suggest exercise. Take a half-hour walk daily. Choose a route, or a variety of routes, that take you through a park, or through a pleasant, tree-lined neighborhood, where you can enjoy some nature, listen to some twittering birds, and generally get your mind out of its rut. It's a type of walking meditation that gets you out of your head, and into the present moment, with all of its sights, sounds, smells, breezes, and other sensations. It's a vacation for the mind! Plus, the exercise will help alleviate a degree of depression. The Kennedys were prone to depression, and relied on exercise to keep it in check. What worked for them can work for you!
Next, find a hobby group of some sort to join. Try a few, and stick with the one that seems the best fit. You need something in your week to look forward to. OP, if I may be frank, you need a life.
Third, do an internet search for psychologists/therapists who work with depression. There are some out there who will give you techniques to practice at home, to help alleviate your symptoms, instead of giving you meds. You'll have to interview them by phone, to find one or two who are NOT talk therapists, but who give you practical "homework" to do, to express your emotions in various ways (journaling, etc.) to get that blocked energy out of your system.
And besides, you do need someone to talk to and vent with, who could give you some suggestions about drawing boundaries with family members, and so on.
Even if you don't feel like exercising, force yourself to take a long stroll around the neighborhood, for starters. Look up a community gym, for additional exercise. Push yourself into it, and you'll find yourself feeling a little better. Heck, doing a few pushups, leg lifts, and isometric exercises at home can help. But I think you need to get out of the house, too, for fresh air and sun.
Good luck! This is about practicing good self-care. You're worth it!
I'll add something else - the problem with severe depression is - even with all of the great tips, you won't be able to do any of them. That's how you'll know you need help (therapy or meds). When you are severely depressed, you can't do ANYthing. People tell you things are great, your life is great, you are lucky or blessed - but none of it matters. Depression is a mental illness, a sickness - and sometimes the brain needs medicine. Only you can know the difference, if you are well enough to.
There is an herb - St. John's Wort - that worked great for me when i only had mild depression. Look it up. I don't want to act like i'm a specialist on it, but i took it for several yrs. You take a certain dosage - i believe it was 3-4 daily, does not start working for a few weeks tho, and you find a brand that has the required and specialized (controlled) amount of the active ingredient in it.
If you don't want to take anything, then i agree with a lot of the other posters.
I have major depressive disorder - pretty much lifetime - and i do take meds now, but i really have to. But to that i add sunshine and fresh air every day!, some type of exercise - even the smallest amount of walking, better foods, a hobby - even reading, less TV News and Facebook lol, Vitamins such as D and B, and a great book to read is The Four Agreements, by don Miguel Ruiz. Good luck.
I used SJW at a point, but it elevated BP and caused nose bleeds...Got off that quickly.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
