Hi pals -
I hope everyone can enjoy some moments of peace today!
Is there anyone out there who is working with curing/managing their depression without medication?
I'm starting Lexipro and I just don't want to be on the medication rollercoaster. The nausea, the anxiety, the potential for worse.....I'm just over it.
I'm open to and experimenting with mushrooms and ketamine.
I'd love to hear from anyone who might be trying alternative approaches!
I want to try no medication but, I don't think I'm ready yet. I'm open to mushrooms too. 🍄 I looked into Ketamine but came to the conclusion that it's just not for me. Maybe check out some vids on YouTube about the treatment. I recommend Dr. Tracey. She has cleared a lot up for me: youtu.be/c-EUR4E33G4?si=tL1...
Sending positivity ✨️
Hi Swilly -
Thanks so much for the response. I really like Dr. Tracey's videos and have watched these! I have been trying ketamine for the past few weeks, after getting several positive reports on the results from friends. It has potential, but I am not getting any immediate results other than a very slight alleviation of symptoms.I'm doing the at-home version oral version (troches), not the infusions, and there is some debate on the efficacy. I go into a fully disassociative state, so I can't imagine the infusions would take me much deeper.
Both have been interesting, and I have not had any unpleasant experiences. Once my micro dose was a bit too strong, and the ketamine is making my mouth sore (you have to hold it in your mouth for 15 minutes). And, I'm just not that interested in getting high unless it's going to be therapeutic.
Do you have any experience with mindfulness and/or cognitive-behavioral therapy? These seems so promising and reasonable to me.
Thank you for sharing your experience. That's kinda what I figured. I'm sure it helps a lot of people but some not.
Mindfulness is powerful if you practice it daily. I benefit a lot from it.
I have also had some good experiences with CBT yes. You gotta get the right therapist you know? Someone that you vibe with. You have to put work in which can be tough at times but it's worth it.
I would like to try EMDR. I hear great things about it.
I have had notable experiences with EMDR! I can't recommend it enough!
I did 2 sessions in my 20's for claustrophobia. I had 4 sessions booked, but was good after 2 and have not experienced claustrophobia since. And, it was pretty bad at the time.
I have had some good experiences dealing with childhood experiences. But, I have CPTSD, rather than PTSD. My understanding is that I had a level of stress and uncertainty as a child, but not an isolated experience that was traumatic. EMDR has been reported to be less effective with CPTSD. I would like to try it again, but have had a hard time finding the right person. My current therapist does not practice it. Still, I can't recommend it enough.
I'm glad you shared that! I need to get a therapist that does it. I have an appointment in about a month with a new one. Idk if she does it. I need it for a phobia that I'd rather not discuss. I'm hopeful though.
CPTSD is a tough one, Idk how to go about that. I also have it. Childhood neglect is at the root. Idk if I'm ready to deal with it, ya know? 🤔
It's a new understanding.
Childhood neglect is so pernicious. My friends who had outwardly abusive parents are in some ways doing better than I am. I think it's because they were aware that they were victims from the get go, and had a pretty clear idea of where the "bad" was coming from, if that makes any sense. I had a pretty nice childhood from all appearances, but it was rough on the inside. And, I am struggling with it more than I ever have. And/or, I'm in the throws of a "healing crisis" and it feels worse, but is well on it's way to being better.
It is a new understanding, and I am so glad that it has become a more mainstream issue. The Crappy Childhood Fairy and the Holistic Psychologic/ Nichole LaPera are doing some great work on normalizing the issues around and experience of CPTSD.
I love the whole idea of mental health problems as a nervous system that just needs regulation. It feels so much more intrinsic, and sort of puts the experience before the labels.
I agree 100%. The nervous system is invaded by our mental illnesses. The sympathetic/parasympathetic responses are of a particularly interesting topic for me right now. I'm trying to get a grip on them and how I can activate that parasympathetic response.
Also, how the body holds onto trauma and mental illness. I've been watching a lot of Dr. Gabor Maté videos lately. He sheds a whole new light on this subject for me.
He is really a wonderful thinker, as is Bessel Van Der Kolk. Check out some of his talks , if you haven't already.
I have had some nice experiences with breathing! My yoga teachers will occasionally do a pranayama class, and sometimes the sequencing hits just right, and I am delivered to a totally calm, grounded place.
A short exercise that is effective is to breathe in for 4 counts, hold for 2, and exhale for 8. You can do it once, breath normal, and then repeat. Try this laying down for 10 minutes. It's pretty great. It can also be done once or twice throughout the day, just to touch down into the body. It's a nice calming, centering practice.
Sorry if I am telling you things you already know!
It's ok 😊
I do deep breathing but just started. I try to pair it up with stimulating the vagus nerve. It's been helpful.
I have The Body Keeps Score but just got it and haven't been able to sit down a read lately. I like a video though. I guess it's less work for my brain 😆
The Body Keeps the score is a great book and worth the read. It’s therapeutic in itself just to understand how the mind and body are processing trauma.
I also would not recommend ketamine...it has a similar mechanism of action/chemical structure to PCP. Psilocybin on the other hand, has had a lot of really positive studies behind it; it's non-habit forming and you can't overdose on it. There are more and more clinics opening up that do psychedelic assisted therapy. I'm looking into one for psilocybin myself. Good luck on your journey
Just to clarify - you would or would not recommend ketamine? Thanks!
I would NOT recommend ketamine. Psilocybin seems worth a shot though...
I have a question about mushrooms. When I was young LSD was popular and I knew some who tried it. The one person I talked to about it said that it gave him flashbacks at times even when he hadn't taken it. I think this was well-known. There were "bad" trips as well. Maybe they have come up with a better product for therapy and it doesn't happen. Does anyone have an answer to this. I would not use it knowing this background. It's still going to mess with your brain, and what do they know about it?
Hi Junella - As far as I know, people do not have flashbacks on mushrooms. But, you can have an unpleasant trip. According to friends who have had them, they usually involve processing something, and they feel so much better having done the trip. I hear the same things about ayahuasca - it's not very fun, but it is really transformative. Having said that, all of my experiences with mushrooms have been pretty delightful.
I'd like to share a list of what has helped me get out a deep hole of feeling lost, emotionless and without purpose.
1. Meditation. I never believed it when people said once you start meditating you will tell everyone about it. I then tried it and I've mentioned it a lot on here these past few months. What can meditation cure: being overwhelmed by thoughts, stuck with negativity, anger and anxiety, as well as poor focus and attention span. How does this help? Meditation is the action of returning to the present moment. That can be on your breathing or an activity you are doing or focusing on your senses. You accept thoughts are distracting you and then you practice accepting that a thought has come but you gently return back to your focus and let it pass by. You are then training the mind to do this throughout the day. The action of deep breathing reduces heart rate and therefore anxiety. Sitting and focusing on something improves overall focus and attention span over time. Interrupting negative thought loops will strip away the power it has and let you find control again.
" A wandering mind is an unhappy mind " - Matthew Killingsworth
2. Gratefulness. At first you may not be able to think about anything in life that makes you happy due to negative emotions and feeling depressed for a long period of time. But people take things for granted even when they are happy. Acknowledging gratefulness by actively thinking and saying it will make you feel happier as you are pushing a positive message. Do this throughout the day. When you wake up, when you eat, when you go outside, when you have time with friends, when you go to bed, etc. Be grateful for the small details as it result in you having satisfaction for very little and when you can be happy with nearly nothing then you can be happy with everything I believe.
3. Smile. Smiling is a deliberate action even when there is nothing to smile about. It will make you feel better even if it a small amount. Do it often and you will find happiness more. There is a lot to smile about and this relates to gratefulness as it is all about finding the little details. Smile when the weather is fair, when a child is playing, when someone else is happy, when you have food on your plate and so on...
4. Exercise. Exercise promotes healthy eating. Combined, they bring a great level of dopamine and satisfaction in life. Exercise has been proven to be effective in relieving feelings of depression and anxiety. Nothing beats working on your self. A balance is found when you enhance both your physical and mental state. When you work to improve one, it will likely improve the other.
" My physique is a physical manifestation of my mind " - Tavi Castro
Personally, I don't like the idea of medication or drugs. Yes it may help some people along with mindfulness and CBT but I believe and have seen through my own effort that a greater quality of life can be achieved naturally. I've heard a lot of people on here struggle a lot when they want to get off being dependent on medication or drugs so to me that appears like a short term relief. What I've listed aims for the long term and it has taken a couple of months to practice but I don't think I'll ever go back into that bad position ever again. It is difficult of course but once you elevate yourself out of it, life feels great and it is very satisfying to achieve something through hard work.
I wish you the best of luck with your journey.
Thank you so much for this thoughtful response. I so appreciate this!
I do all of these things, and believe in them heartily, as well. I'm struggling with the choice to add the pharmaceuticals option, in addition. My instinct is telling me to commit to the non-pharmaceutical approach, and I am needing some validation and support. Thank you so much for that.
Re use of meds, it really depends on the individual. I work 7 days a week. I could not function and do this without my meds. I have problems with meditation. For me, music is very therapeutic.
Thank you for the best advice I've come across on here. My only problem with the slow heart rate is I already have bradycardia (slow HR) and am concerned about making it worse. Doctors don't seem to know. Prayer works best when I can stop my wandering mind and focus. (ADD) But all the things you mention have helped tremendously.
One of the best posts I have seen on here. I still have difficulty with sitting and trying to train my mind to focus and not go all over the place. Having a prayer to read and focus on, and add to, works better for me.
Hey there...lovinglight told me about you. I've been off all antidepressants and anxiety meds since Nov '18. I use medical marijuana (I'm in a recreational state) and microdose Psilocybin 🍄 weekly. I have permanent nerve damage and multiple fusions in my neck and back. I have had Ketamine infusions and I'm 20 months into TMS treatment on a monthly basis that I do pay out of pocket for. Combined with sleep, meditation, diet, exercise and self care I've made more progress since the beginning of 2022 than in my previous 49 years of living with these conditions of ADHD, TRD, GAD, PTSD, Childhood trauma and addiction and substance abuse.
Please pm me and we can talk more if you're interested...I'm ALWAYS looking to support others like us!
Thank you so much for this message! Reading yours and those above is VERY helpful.
I have a prescription for Lexapro, but I just do. not want to get back on that whole hamster wheel of side effects and uncertainty (is this me or is this the drug making me sweaty/anxious/tired/nauseous/etc. Then, deal with getting off of it if it doesn't work and starting all over.
Also, I am so sorry your are dealing with pain. It is just the worst. And, so glad you are getting some relief from your practices and incredible efforts!
I will PM you! Thank you so much!
I'm HUGELY into diet and I choose VERY diligently what I put in my body. I've been using functional foods like mushroom 🍄 extract powders from FreshCap... lion's Mane, reishi, turkey tail, chaga and cordyceps... since 2018. I eat well over 15 servings of fruit and veggies every day. I'm 49, 108 lbs, going through perimenopause and the biggest transformation I've seen is restricting my added sugar intake to the bare minimum. Dropped my cholesterol from 229 to 163 in 1 yr. People think I'm half my age. A lady asked my husband last month if I was his DAUGHTER... he's 53, 3.5 yrs older than me 🤭😬
If you have any questions...I REALLY hope you to chat with you about your expectations. There's a ton of stuff on YouTube... Paul Stamets is the mycology superstar of the mushroom 🍄 world. Do a search on YouTube with his name to listen to Very valuable information about Psilocybin. I did his global microdosing study on the "Quantified Citizen" app in the play store during May June and July. It was incredible! So much to learn from holistic natural alternatives.
I completely understand not knowing which symptoms are attached to which disorder and which ones are because of the crappy pills. I couldn't take the side effects... they're worse than the condition they're supposed to alievate, at least in me.
I decided at the end of '18 to get off them, reset my brain and do what you're doing now... figuring out where your baseline actually IS with your diagnoses.
There are definitely mental health conditions that require lifelong meds. Schizophrenia and bipolar sufferers shouldn't consider stopping or tapering their meds. But I'm just a regular treatment resistant depression and anxiety sufferer... with a lot of baggage to work through.
That's what made me decide to go the holistic natural route. I've been successful in my transition so far but I've got a long way to go 😀💗
I take 5htp for depression..also at times add rhodiola. Ashwagsanda for anxiety. I wish I could still take St John's Wort but it raised my blood pressure after 20 years on it. No side effects.
Hi Lovinglight - Thank you for this! Really inspiring, and all things I am doing! But, today, I really needed validation that others are doing them too, and that they are just as viable as other options.
Buddhism has been a real beacon for me, and one of the few things that has provided some anchor and moments of peace. And, the people are SO wonderful! Gentle, present, unpretentious, and warm.
Also, smiling therapy - so good! The biofeedback loop is real.
Have you watched The Great Depress, Gary Gulman's special? He's a special one.
Sending you some warm, grateful thoughts. I appreciate your message!
I also have health anxiety, and taking meds is just so anxiety provoking. I then have anxiety and don't know if it's the meds or my brain. Just did that for 2 months on Wellbutrin, and am so much calmer now that I am off of it. I love swimming and am so glad that brought you some yummy relief! Water is truly the best! I will try to make that happen.
Thank you so much for being part of this convo!
I'm looking to get on Wellbutrin or Auvelity. How long did Wellbutrin take to feel the effects?
Wellbutrin gave me anxiety. My sister who has anxiety has used Wellbutrin with good results. How each person responds is just a mystery. It's more than a little frustrating. Hearing Andrew Solomon discuss how crude our medical treatments for depression are is very validating.
Oh jeez I don't need that lolI'll have to look into this Andrew Solomon. Sounds like I would benefit from that. Thanks 😊
He wrote The Noonday Demon, a substantial tome on depression. Lots of talks on Youtube, podcasts, etc. And, you really can't take anyone's anecdotal experience about antidepressants as a reason to try or not try one. I think it's really good to pool as much information as possible, so you know what you are getting into. Some people thrive on one medication, while another has a total anxiety attack. It's so frustrating. Especially for a group of people who are not really up for more wear and tear on their nerves.
Right! Like ok I'm already a mess so here let me throw in some more issues lol.
I currently take lots of meds that were forced onto me over the years. I don't want to be but idk how I'd be without them bc it's been so long. Idk me anymore ya know? I question if my diagnoses are even correct. If I could easily do it, I'd go off them quickly and see if they're helping me or hurting me. Ugh. It's endlessly frustrating.
I love me some YouTube videos so I'll check him out. I'm intrigued. Thanks!
I'm so sorry you were pressured to medicate, and possibly given the wrong diagnosis! Ugh. I really think that even a "correct" diagnosis can be problematic. I have spent the past year weaning off of Paxil. Not easy, but I did it very slowly and I should be off by the end of the year. It has done nothing to help with depression for years, but even time I've tried to get off of it, I get the zaps. The key was to just shave a bit more off each week.
Andrew Solomon is very eccentric, but very well informed!
Oh I hate those zaps! I'm tapering klonopin right now and it's rough. Yeah, meds ya know, they just throw them at you like it's the only solution when really, there are more solutions.
Hey Swilly - Tapering off of klonopin can't be an easy thing. Is it as hard as Paxil? I hope you can keep your feet on the ground and get through that with some peace.
It's a struggle. I'm having a really hard time. I've got rebound anxiety day and night that I'm fighting with. I'm trying to be strong but, goodness it's very difficult. I'm learning coping strategies that sometimes work and sometimes don't. I live in a constant anxiety and panic cycle. I just hope it goes away soon.
Oh Swilly - So so sorry. A close friend of mine was put on klonopin and it sent him into such a spiral, so I know what that is like. It was difficult, and then it ended. He just landed back on earth. I hope that happens for you soon!
Eat as well as possible. Stay hydrated. And, say very very kind things to yourself.
Have you ever tried Gaba Calm? It's an amino acid, and it will just take a very tiny bit of edge of the anxiety. It's a sublingual formula so it is absorbed quickly. The company is Source Naturals. I use it when I have anxiety. Also, magnesium!!! Epson salt baths every night and calcium/magnesium capsule at night. Bathing nightly makes me feel like I'm at a Victorian sanitarium, and I just lean on into that vibe. These will have subtle effects but they do support the nervous system, with no side effects.
I started Paxel 25 years ago. I regret it and have had night sweats ever since as well as morning drowsiness. I tried to get off it to Cymbalica but that caused my BP to soar. I'm back with Paxel and have gone down from 20 to 15 mg but still sweat which disturbs sleep. Paxel worked well for a number of years in cutting down health anxiety and other things such as social anxiety and mild depression. I no longer needed counseling; but gradually as I age, it doesn't work, and I have added Lorazapam as needed--mostly daily. Water aerobics and vegan diet have helped. With a history of mild non-hyper ADD I have difficulty with mindfulness. Sleep problems with circadian rhythm not normal--night owl syndrome causes poor time management.
Additional opinion: I would not trust mushroom therapy (an hallucinating therapy with bad result when popular) or ketamine. How are they better than antidepressants? They are still a type of drug we don't know much about. Years ago I was told Paxel was not addictive and could be stopped any time--what a lie. It's one of the worst.
What is intriguing about them is that they are not a medication taken daily. They have far few side effects, and can kick in far more quickly. They work in a very different way than pharmaceuticals, in that it is the experience you have while on them that will change your perspective, rather than tinkering with your brain chemistry. Although, one of the possible reasons ketamine works on depression is because it floods the brain with glutamate. But, there are risks of course. Mushrooms are non-addictive, but I suspect ketamine could be. One of the problems with ketamine is that there are no studies on the long term effects on the brain.
I had the same experience on Paxil, I have been weaning off it for a year now. I'm almost done!
Oh yes! I have had the night sweats too! I thought it was just me, and not from Paxil! I've been on it for so long. I have weaned down from 60 mugs to under 10 this year, and should be off of it by December. It did help me at first.
YUM! That looks delicious! Is it cabbage, mushrooms, and cashew cream?
I also do a clean, whole food diet! I had candida in my 20's from antibiotics, did the candida diet, and never went back.
I was just introduced to Paul Stamets from my therapist, and have been taking Lion's Mane with remarkable results! I love that stuff, but it is exacerbating my hypoglycemia a bit, so I'm on a break this week.
Have you tried using turmeric? A close friend who had excruciating pain from endometriosis started drinking golden milk daily, and has lived pain free for a few years. And, she really wasn't a believer in diet as medicine.
More soon! I so appreciate this conversation!
Beets with sauerkraut. Sauteed lion's Mane and shittake mushrooms with steamed Stokes purple sweet potato and Japanese sweet potato covered in plain Greek yogurt and probiotic cottage cheese. And a red bell pepper 🫑 with a bunch of fruit and 2🥚 I don't have a gallbladder so I can't eat a bunch of stuff anymore without gastric distress. Which is a blessing...had a c diff colitis infection in '13-14 that wrecked me for 8 months! Over prescribed antibiotics from a crappy Dr was what induced the infection and took MONTHS of treatment to clear up.
Food is medicine!! I can't stress enough the importance of a whole foods diet. We're part of like 3% of the population that eats this way. Just read an article about obesity in the US. Over 4/10 adults are clinically obese now. It's really scary how metabolically ill our society is! It's BEYOND epidemic proportions but no one gives a crap. Scares me how little our society values their health. It's no wonder why we feel so bad all the time! Not a mystery Imo 😕
Paul Stamets is one of my HEROES!! Look up his videos on YouTube... he's got some INCREDIBLE information that I know you'll love.
30 mins walking each day for six weeks is shown to be at least as effective as medication. You should be able to find the news article online. They don't know whether it's the physical exertion or the mindfulness of the activity. Who cares? 
Thank you! This is the kind of information I really love to hear. I will search for the report, but even anecdotally it makes sense.
I don’t take any medication for my depression and it’s hard. Especially when something happens like my eldest dog passed away last week and I can’t stop crying.
I trained as a counsellor and a hypnotherapist and I do meditation and keep journals about how my day went, how I felt and what happened when I felt certain things which seem to help me. I also try at the end of everyday to write three positive things that happened that day no matter how small. For example, one of my positive things on Saturday was I smiled when I looked at where my eldest dog slept without crying.
Sometimes it’s the small positives that make the biggest impact like a positive could be you got up and got dressed even though you didn’t feel like it.
Everyone’s journey is different and you will find the path that is right for you.
Hi Ivydog - I am sending you heartflowers. Losing a pet is a whole other level of grief, and I think nonstop crying is not a maladaptive response. My dog was diagnosed with cancer last month (she's 12 and too old for treatments), and I have not been able to stop crying. We are all so beaten up by the losses of the pandemic, other losses, that losing our little soul buddies feels like just too much.
I agree with you so much about the small positives feeling like huge victories. I just wrote to you about my dog, and didn't cry. I feel like, "Hey, looks who is super stable today!" Lol.
Thank you for your message! Much appreciated!
oh gosh, losing a pet is absolutely heartbreaking, I have lost 5 lovely dogs over my lifetime, and the sense of loss still envelopes me even to this day. I find myself calling their name, so often, and i am an empath and that seems to make it harder. I am thinking of you in these early days.😪
I have tried many times to come off anti-depressants ,but its no good i cant do it, not yet anyway. I no longer feel a loser because i use medication ,i accept i need to.
There is NO failure in taking meds. None whatsoever. I was totally on board with meds when I started this process in the spring, but after trying two and going through intense discomfort, I just don't have it in me to try again. Honestly, I wish I did because if it works it would so worth it. Needing medication is a totally reasonable response to this crazy world. Thanks for being part of this conversation!
I tried medication twice but got worse. I've been scared to even try again. I see my therapist every week and focus more on yoga and meditation. It works but very slow. You have to be very patient with yourself. I started working and it's also helping me out. I think medication works faster but I'm really scared because of my past experiences with it.
Hi Teaching - That is exactly where I am at. I've tried new meds, and both have been pretty bad experiences. I am too full of fear to try again, and with good reason. Patience with the self is always a good practice. And, yoga is the best!
Are you a teacher? I teach art + design at a community college.
Oh, wow, good to hear you are a teacher. Yes, I am a teacher but presently not teaching but working with the school district. I plan to go back to teaching soon.Thanks for your response.
Hi. Ketamine is mostly used for depression that regular antidepressants have little or no effect on helping with the depression. I was on ketamine injections for about a year for my depression but it didn't help. However, other patients who were being treated with ketamine in my group, seemed to respond quite well. So, I guess your Dr would be able to determine if ketamine is right for you. Oh, BTW, ketamine treatments are extremely expensive. Only certain insurance policies will take care of most of the cost. I think they may be about $700-$800 per treatment or even more now. I haven't tried mushrooms for my depression yet. I will look into it to see if it could help me. I'm also looking into CBD oil or hemp. Does anyone have any knowledge of this as possible help.
gosh $700-$800 per treatment, not many could afford that.. and i doubt its prescribed on our national health service.
Oh - and I have 8 doses of ketamine for about $125 through BetterU, an online company. They also send a few accessories, such as an eye mask, a blood pressure monitor, etc. Corporate drug dealing is pretty funny!
Microdosing and macrodosing has a lot of science behind it. The author Micheal Pollan wrote a book on the topic that is recommended: michaelpollan.com/books/how...
My therapist is a big proponent of using mushrooms for treating depression. I really want to do a session with her, but she is in Oregon and I'm in California.
Kaiser offers ketamine infusions, but you have to have tried a lot of other meds first. I'm not willing to do that. There are lots of clinics in the Bay Area that do infusions, and you can get oral versions through BetterU. That is the company I have been using, and it's been interesting. I just started getting sores on my tongue, though. You have to hold it in your mouth for 15 minutes while it dissolves. It's about 45 minutes - hour of tripping. I have done it 4 times, and it is fine. I think it is helping a tiny bit. But, I'm not really into getting high. I would rather read or watch a movie, but I'm going to keep at it.
I tried ketamine. I felt instantly better and it lasted for a few days, BUT I had a horrific urinary reaction - pain and urgency without an infection that lasted for WEEKS. Turns out, ketamine can cause permanent, irreversible bladder problems. I am also interested in ketamine, but the sticking point is finding a safe source.
Right now I am trying fish oil. There is some good research on it helping with depression along with other health benefits.
health.harvard.edu/blog/ome...
Fish oil is so good for the brain, heart, skin, etc. You just can't go wrong in adding it to your protocol. I am SO sorry about the bladder problems! That is just a total nightmare. I have read about that, and it scares me. Irreversible bladder damage - so not worth it!
I was really lucky that it only lasted a couple of weeks, but it really scared me. I wish I'd known before instead of after. Of course with any medication (and honestly, most supplements) there are so many possible or potential side effects that not all of them are covered in any one place. That's why thorough research is so important. Heck, most doctors don't even know about half of the side effects I've experienced with various medications. 
Hello! I have been on Paxil and at the point I was put on it, it was a life saver. The first two weeks were awful! All symptoms escalated by 1,000%😵💫 but leveled off and I felt my ragged edges were smoothed a bit. But I took a non-therapeutic dose, 10-15 mg. I still was not sleeping much🤷🏻♀️ Have been off meds for 6 years.
I do know certain things that help me…
1. Early morning exercise, outside if at all possible.
2. Early am light, I might grab a light-box this fall.
3. Omega 3 fatty acids-high dose
4. Vitamin D-get your levels checked, keep at 50-80 (I have been down at 7-12. Nightmare! (Pain and anxiety and depression)
5. Amino acid supplementation
5a. Clean diet, b complex
6. Meditation/prayer-100%
7. Finding joy in the smallest of things
8. Human connection. Not just texting, social media- connect. Even if it is just to go to the library where humans are!
9. Volunteer somewhere! Give back, it gives me soooo much. Takes me out of my mind, the spinning.
10. The Mood Cure book is good! Also look up Dr. illardi
If medicine is what is needed atm, that is a-ok. Add all of the above, it will only enhance your healing and peacefulness and help the medication! Try to source quality supplements, as junky ones will not help one bit.
Keep coming back here for love and support👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Paxil worked so well for me in my 20's. It just lifted the depressive symptoms away without any side effects. Dreamy! I really love this list. Therapists should hand this out to their clients! I want to give it to my poor dear teenager students! I just love a good list. It clarifies, provides options, and has such confidence in the process. Thank you!
Which amino acids are you using? I used tryrosine in the past and had some good experiences, but it only worked for me on an empty stomach.
Good morning,
I found that the best way for me to manage depression is to find peace within myself. And the best way that I found to find that peace is to have salvation through Jesus Christ.
1). You must believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
2). You must Invite Him to live inside you. Praising and thanking Him for being the One True God. Ask Him for His forgiveness, the ask Him to come in and be your Father and God. There, you are now a child of God.
3). Just like a family or friend, you keep communicating with them to grow a closer relationship. So is the same with Jesus, keep communicating with Him through prayer and reading the bible daily, that you may find contentment and peace, relieving you from anxiety and depression. - Here is a prayer, if you would like to receive Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior;
Dear Heavenly Father,
Please help me!
I believe that you are the One True God, God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I need You in my life! Thank you, for loving me and for dying for me. You are so worthy! I am so needy, please forgive my sins/ wrong doings and wash them all away. Thank you Jesus!
Come into my life Jesus, and be my Father God! Help me find contentment and peace.
In Jesus Name, Amen
I am Jewish. Please do not impose your religious beliefs upon me or many other HU members who are of different religions and beliefs
I love hearing that people get help from meds!
When I went into the bad state in the spring, I did some research and settled on Lexapro as my best option. I had had good results from Paxil years earlier, and wanted to stay in the SSRI category, as the others have some really gnarly side effects. I started on the lexapro with no problems. The day I titrated up to the next level, I also decided I was going to Conquer My Depression!! I went to the gym and worked out a little too vigorously. I ended up getting dehydrated and shaky, but this has never happened before so I didn't know if it was the workout or the meds. I also got nauseous and anxious, and worked myself up into a total state. A friend came over and we decided maybe I needed to go to the emergency room. We weren't sure if I was going into shock or not. EMT's were in the area, and they came by and took my vitals and I was totally fine. Blood pressure, heart rate, all of it! Needless to say, I did not take the lexapro the next day, but I still don't know if I did that to myself or it was the drugs. And, I am afraid that might have been the best drug for me, but I'm scared to try again.My doc thinks I should try it again, but I am scared/over it/wish there were better meds.
Oh man - I really wish I were a believer! My cousin is and it gives him lots of strength, but I am agnostic. Totally open to any possibility, but I don't feel totally sure of any. There are things I find miraculous; dogs and all animals, the night sky, colors, trees, etc. I was raised catholic and it never made any sense to me. But, I will think about what you wrote, and appreciate your message.
Can't be done, at least for me. I've been on and off every med in the book for over 50 years (not a typo) and tried many, many times to go without; always lapsed back into depression very soon, I think as soon as all the drug I was taking had left my body. Just have to find the right med. I don't know anything about shrooms except about when I used to trip on them back in the '70s (lol). I know at lease 6 people who have tried ketamine; it works for some, but results last only a very short time, like a few weeks or a few months and they were constantly needing boosters at $300-$500 a pop (insurance doesn't cover, or at least never used to), until even the boosters stopped working. My psychiatrist, who doesn't recommend ketamine but will let her patients try it if they want, told me she had 10 patients try it and only one got any results that were worth the money; she says several were worse after the treatment. Don't mean to be so negative but that is the truth about what I know concerning what you are considering.
Thank you for sharing all of that. I'm open to hearing all kinds of experiences.
So glad for this question. I am a senior citizen who after being on meds for decades am being forced into alternative treatments because my body no longer tolerates meds. After 15 years on 15mg of Mirtazapine, it stopped working. My psychiatrist tried reducing the dosage to 7.5mg. Then she tried adding 25mg of doxepin, then 50mg. It was awful. Over the decades, I've been on about 12 different meds! Just returned from an appointment on TMS (Transcranial Manual Stimulation). So I'm thinking about that. Look forward to reading all the replies to your question and getting some ideas. My primary doctor scheduled me for genetic testing on next Monday to determine if there is a class of meds I could tolerate but I'm not very hopeful. And I have an appointment with my psychiatrist on the same day, basically to say goodbye, I guess, after 26 years. Wish me well or pray for me. I accept both. Thanks.
The genetic testing is something I forgot to list!!!!!! Yes!! Very helpful. May your future be bright🌞
Hi BrightApril - I have heard such great things about TMS! I hope it helps. It's a real time commitment, but maybe you have the time as you mentioned being a senior? You have been using a different class of meds than I have, so I'm not familiar with any of those you mentioned. I will be wishing you well, peace, and hopefully some solutions for you!
I always try to stay away from new medication, but that is JUST me a very bad track record with all types, having a very colourful medical history all my life, reactions/conflicting to various medications taken for some of my long lists of conditions, my system has evolved due to many causes of pain, I have HPT high pain threshold, pain killers worthless for my system. I prefer natural medications, irreparable brain damage, double seizure, turmeric has been considerable relief, and vitamin d supplement pills helped my collapsed rib cage structure [ can almost sleep, some relief anyway!]
So glad you were able to get some relief from turmeric! I have a friend who had crippling pain that went away with turmeric. Plants are miraculous!
I cannot give specifics. It is individual I thing, but quality of supplements is a big deal. Nordic Naturals sells some I swear by! The ratios of EPA & DPA is important, too.
The list I shared are all pieces of a puzzle for a good foundation to help and I find I have to do ALL of them regularly to do well. Med-free requires 100% dedication to the natural way- it is not the easiest road, but can be done💪🏻
Thanks to everyone for all of these ideas, support, and just a good pool of resources! I got to the gym today and did my 30 minutes of cardio, then sat in the sun, and felt open and chatty. THANK YOU! I am a long proponent of exercise for mental health, but this thread really helped to motivate me today. 💜 It means a lot!
I can't prove it, but feel beta blockers caused my bradycardia for which I m told I need a pacemaker.
Medication for Anxiety and PTSD 
Depression sucks
Anxiety & depression 
Anxiety and Depression
Losing the battle against depression