Recently Diagnosed with Depression

[Dave_W]

Hi -- recently diagnosed with depression, although I now see it is obvious I've suffered for decades. Curious if other than the prescription anti-depressants others have any tips on nutrition, or supplements that may help?

[Lara4228]

Hi,

I have tried my best, over the years to steer away from medications for my depression. It is hard and very challenging.

As if the lack of motivation to wake up isn't hard enough! You really have to challenge yourself to do at least one task a day, challenge yourself to compliment yourself and one other person at least once everyday. You also need to look at your own eyes in the mirror. I cried for the first 2 weeks, then something changed one day.

I saw beautiful blue eyes. I denied that feeling and focused on the negative of everything else that was wrong with me. But the next day, I saw those beautiful blue eyes again, even through the tears.

Walk, even if it is to the convenience store, everyday. Also, another tip, make sure you step outside (this is very important) for at least 20 minutes before noon. Work up to it starting at one minute then increase each day. This helps to reset your natural melatonin and will help you sleep properly.

Another trick, vitamin C and fiber helps a lot. Not vitamins but food enriched with these.

Journal. Write down your negative thoughts. Challenge them, are really true or are they self perceived? Answer that question with a balanced statement. Example, I am ugly. Why am I ugly? Well, I am overweight and look unattractive. My balanced statement would be...although i feel ugly and overweight, there are other people who are much larger than I and may have natural deformities that I don't.

That, in a nut shell is CBT. It worked fantastically for me. And still does to this day.

Remember, nothing happens overnight. Little by little, day by day, small incremental changes of your environment and your attitude and your self perception and your vitamin intake will eventually, and I mean eventually, will make a positive change in your depression.

You will slip and fall back into your old regular, familiar thoughts and the patterns. Expect that. Perfection is very hard to attain, everyone tries to attain amd everyone fails at it. What would make you any different? Nothing! That is the wonderful part of being human. We are full of flaws, we just have to learn to accept them ourselves first.

So, when you slip, just be aware of it and try to scrummage up some courage to try again. One day it will all flow together and you will realize, hey! I actually like myself...a bit...

I did this. It took me 3 years, with no anti depressants. 3 years! But I did it and I never regret a thing about it. I can openly say (and believe it too) I love myself entirely, flaws and all and I don't care what other people think because they don't walk in my shoes or live in my skin, I do.

Now today, I still suffer with depression, but it is different. I still have low motivation, want to sleep all day. I don't have the negative thoughts or crying spells anymore and when I do, I can now recognize when it is time to challenge those thought patterns again.

Depression, for me anyway, is a constant thing. Many many people do not know I suffer from it.i hide it well. I do that because I know that demon belongs to me to divide and conquer. And I still follow the same advice that I gave you. I still refuse to take anti depressants.

I hope you will at least attempt it, for your sake. You owe it to yourself.

Hugs

[Dave_W in reply to Lara4228]

Thank you, for the response. I think have some good coping strategies.

[Lara4228 in reply to Dave_W]

It sucks having depression, no doubt. Sometimes it just feels like it simply never goes away.

I've always tried to be a mind over matter type. Lifestyle changes were the toughest for me.

With persistence, anything can happen

[Hidden]

I keep hearing in addition to medications, exercise and talk therapy (counseling) helps so much with depression. I mostly research on co-treating anxiety along with depression, that I'm not sure of nutritional tips for depression only, other than the usual cutting down or complete elimination of sugar and caffeine. Maybe taking magnesium and Vitamin D? P.S. I am not a doctor; I am just going on items I have heard throughout the years. P.P.S. There was some special called Frontline:Supplements and Safety, about being careful where you get your supplements from. It was more about diet supplements and herbs, but, it really made me wonder about the brand of supplements that I buy. I can't buy everything "organic" or I will break the bank. I think there might be some official seal saying a supplement is more pure? Not sure. I did buy GNC brand the last time I bought......calcium I think it was. Also, acupuncture helps with everything, and community acupuncture is more affordable.

[Dave_W in reply to Hidden]

Thank you, my doc mentioned vitamin D. My prescription is kicking in, so I feel better. Also have a therapy intake appointment next week. Just looking for ways to avoid or alleviate the next depressive episode.

[Hidden in reply to Dave_W]

Therapy will definitely help. Once the prescription kicks in more, hopefully there will be less depressive episodes, or if they do hit, they won't hit as hard.