Natural depression fix

[AriSmyelin]

Has anyone that finally accepted they may have depression found a more "natural" way to help them out of a funk. Natural because I don't want to have to do the whole "taper down" if I get off of the med I can just stop taking it. I am already on 20 freaking meds. And I don't mean "natural" in the sense of "go outside and lay in the sun or go hiking or find a hobby."

[starlight5]

I look forward to responses as most years I feel a decline during our 6 month winters 🥶☃️

Valerian root is natural and something you may want to research. More commonly known as a sleep aid, at lower doses it may help with anxiety/depression. Be sure to check for drug interactions as you are on many meds already.

There are also the SAD therapy lights to check out. Good luck 🤗

[AriSmyelin in reply to starlight5]

Thanks, I appreciate it! I tried Valerian years ago for sleep but eventually ended up on Ambien. My sleep is horrible. I am generally the "Laugh at everything" type of person. But eventually and internally it does wear you down and sometimes you just need to bawl or your MS just wants to be mean and attack that emotional side of your brain. Lol Thank you so much again.

[wolfmom21fl in reply to AriSmyelin]

I had terrible terrible sleep issues and also had terrible anemia until the anemia reached a point of being extremely bad. My primary care doc had me start on liquid iron AND vit C.. very important to take iron with vitamin c.. and lo and behold, within 2 weeks i was actually sleeping more than 2 - 3 hours at a time and now i lay down and go to sleep when i am tired at night and sleep for 6-8 hours before my bladder wakes me up usually.. As for ambien, I tried that too.. lasted about 2 weeks before i stopped taking it.. I woke up everyday feeling hung over and being a non-drinker, that is scary. I have also tried the other sleep medication like that.. i forget the name of it.. but neither one helped me sleep more than a few hours anyway so not worth the hangover..

[BlanketTime1]

nope, i'm all about 'standard' medicine, though i feel your pain. the other day my mum asked which medicine was causing a particular side effect and i said, ' i dunno. i'm on like 12.'😜 hopefully you'll find something that works for you!

[AriSmyelin in reply to BlanketTime1]

I am all for the standard or "real" medicine. I am never for the natural stuff. I only went for this one this time because I am so annoyed with the tapering crap....Which I am now realizing I maybe I just need an "as needed".... Or for people to stop telling me I need therapy. I need it because they are annoying me telling me I need it!😜

[goatgal]

I'll put a CD in the player and go away from myself into the music. Sometimes it will be music that lets the sadness out, or lets me revisit places I love; sometimes it's music that romps and stomps, or lifts me up and away. But when it concludes, I am almost always ready to return to the labor of the journey.

[AriSmyelin in reply to goatgal]

Music is the best.

[Weaver9]

I find meditation helpful. There are free trials on your phone.

[wolfmom21fl in reply to Weaver9]

Go to Joe T - Hypnotic Labs on YouTube and look thru his videos there. He has a lot of free to listen ones that if you use a headset on your phone or tablet to do relaxation and meditation, is extremely helpful.. I have been using his stuff for years for pain control, relaxation, mindfulness, healing, etc... if you can listen to him and clear your mind with focus it will help tremendously

[Weaver9]

And no drugs!

[Elizt3]

Any exercise you are able to do can be very beneficial for depression. Lots of empirical studies have supported this. I know exercise has a real impact on my mood.

[AriSmyelin in reply to Elizt3]

My husband will love that you said that. He always tries to get me to exercise more. Lol

[kwhompus]

I read an article about depression ,where one doctor suggest , people suffering from depression try helping other people in one way or another. I have been volunteering at a local food pantry just one day a week and I have noticed a change in my attitude. I think it takes the focus off me and onto others who are struggling. Anyway it works for me

[AriSmyelin in reply to kwhompus]

I appreciate that. I was upset for sometime because all I ever wanted was to help people. My brother asked what I wanted for christmas and I always answered "A way to help people." Now he asks. "FOR YOU"....Yeah, that is for me. Duh.

[palomino27]

Like that commercial for online therapy on TV

"just smile more!"

That one always cracks me up....

[AriSmyelin in reply to palomino27]

HAHA. I hardly ever get depressed. Actually, I laugh and make jokes about my whole health situation frequently. I bounce into the wall from loss of balance and my husband yells. "There's a wall there!." "My old friend Beam and I are discussing "Support" needs."

[Sandydemop]

Gratitude puts me in a better mood. I send my daily gratitude to a friend and she sends me her list. surprisingly helpful

[AriSmyelin in reply to Sandydemop]

Lol. I have a friend like that. It is helpful.

[mrsmike9]

I've had depression my entire life. It's a chemical imbalance that comes from my mom’s side of the family. The lack of sunshine can cause Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). I don't know if that's part of me but I usually do feel more depressed in the winter.

[Allen5280]

I also struggle with Depression. Major Depressive Disorder the doctors call it. That and The 5 major types of Anxiety and a laundry list of other mental issues (the living nightmare i call it) i dont do well with pharmaceuticals and every med ive tried for it causes it to go out of control... like wanting to end my life out of control. Ive found that better sleep and nutrition along with those other do stuff sugestions help but only while Im doing them so its like a very temporary bandaid. Or taking a tylenol for a compound femur fracture... it just dosent work. Im not bringong it ip because you asked me not to, Im bringing it up for the folish responses that ignored your request. Comments like those are what keep me quiet on here... it makes me so mad i want to say bad stuff to those fools who do it anyway. Ok now with my sleep it has beed horrid up intil the last few months and then i tried the Vicks PURE ZZZ's The all natural sleep aid. Now it dosent always make me fall asleep right away (or soon enough for me yo get really excited anout it) sometimes it takes a few days of use to really get a handle on my sleep. Then I have noticed my fitbit sleep scores going way up. However it jas a secondary side effect that agyer taking it my anxiety melts aeay within about 20 minutes i get really really calm. I am out of it and forget all the ingredients but i remember 2 specifically, melatonin and lilac... so maybe some reaserch into that might give you a place to start. I found sometimes in dealing with my mirad of symptoms that a compounded approach has the best results. Using more than one method kond of like saving your change... it all adds up. I hope and pray something ive shared helps you find a better way to a better life.Thoughts and prayers

Allen

[AriSmyelin in reply to Allen5280]

I really appreciate all of that Allen especially you sharing your story/point of view. I truly do and I understand what you are saying about temporary fixes. The hard part for me is I can't do some of the things that doctors or people suggest because it is physically very difficult or painful. I am generally a person who takes rough situations in stride and just learned to laugh at it. But there are somethings that bring me down very fast. And the worst part of it is I can not remove the situation. It's not my health that takes me down or the pain. Okay, yes at times I cry about the pain. And not so much the pain itself because I have a high tolerance its that I have been fighting for so long I am just tired and done. What gets me mostly, is my son. I have a young child who is beyond his years and treats me lower then dirt. And some days like yesterday. I am just done! So depression eeks in and it's not like tomorrow will be better. He might be. But I won't the fear, anxiety, tension and whatever else of living repeats creeps in all over again.......Sorry for all that. I will for sure look into what is in the PURE ZZZ's and see what I can do. the lilac gave me the idea of having a smell admitted through out the day in the house. That may help. Thanks again!

[wolfmom21fl in reply to Allen5280]

I made a comment earlier about nutrition and sleep. I have severe anemia. It was causing me to have really bad insomnia where i was sleeping only 2-3 hours at a time, wake up, then struggle to get back to sleep.. every single night. I was totally exhausted on top of being so anemic. My doc started me on liquid iron and I added liquid vitamin c to help my body absorb the iron because humans are one of the only mammals that do not produce vitamin c. within 2 weeks i was sleeping better and witin 3 weeks i was sleeping 6-7 hours at a time.. I was stunned.. I had no idea that iron deficient anemia could be so devastating.. Of course getting better sleep regularly has lifted my mood and allowed my anti depressant to work better.. I no longer am searching for a bridge to jump off of right now

[Allen5280]

I need to correct my post the ingredients were completly wrong. Had a brain fart, i started questioning it after i posted. Its valerian root, hops and passion flower. It also tastes wonderful.

It has a big impact on how mu day starts out and dosent fix everything all at once. Its a major player in my depression. 8 cant fix the stuff that MS has taken from me. I cant fix the damage done to me by MS. I cant change the way Im treated by others (handicapped, disabled, on the list for everybody to pity etc.) I cant fix that Im alone until i gind my way out of my fear amd self loathing. However, I can at least try to rest better, I can try and get myself out of this rabbit hole ive fallen into. Start simple and it will get you there but it takes time.

[AriSmyelin in reply to Allen5280]

Never been one much for teas but I will definitely try that!!!

[Allen5280 in reply to AriSmyelin]

I dont do teas mich at all i yake the Pure Zzzzs liquid they have it in both pills or liquid. The Liquid is always gone or nearly gone at the store over the pill form so i figired there is probably a teason for the higher demand. That and im so sick amd tired of pills lol

[starlight5 in reply to Allen5280]

Hi Allen, glad to see your post, have wondered how you are doing

I found valerian root causes me to have very vivid dreams, does it have that affect for you? I have taken it in both tea and pill form.

Take care 💛

[Allen5280 in reply to starlight5]

Well that explains whu I started dreaming again, I thoughtbit was becasue the improved sleep.. LOL

[AriSmyelin in reply to Allen5280]

I am a very vivid and nightmare and constant dreamer. I couldn't find a link.

[hairbrain4]

I've had to deal with depression most of my life. I've found for me that when I don't get enough rest I can feel the depression start to set in. I noticed you are taking Ambien. That's one pill that I couldn't take. I started sleep walking & doing some pretty stupid stuff... Like putting the left overs in the ice tea jug😋 so I changed over to one of the sleep aids which really were low dose Benadryl then finally started on trazadone. I wake up refreshed, not groggy. I also found out that I have sleep apnea. also make sure I have some protein right before going to bed like a tablespoon of peanut butter. I also found if I stay away from sweets & carbohydrates my mood temp stays pretty level. I do also take a little time to meditate on being thankful & grateful. I don't think there is one thing you can do to fight depression but that you have to find a combination of things that work for you. Good luck to you.

[Sandydemop]

OK so here's the thing. I also have had depression for most of my life. I do a bunch of different things. Many have been mentioned: eating whole foods plant based, therapy, anti-depressant and sleep medications, support from friends, helping others, playing piano, and of course exercise. I even tried Laughter yoga which you can find on youtube. One that i have not seen mentioned is Omega 3 capsules. (I know, one more pill) but i think it really helps with energy. Not so much with mood but energy is great. The other thing i was thinking of trying is the light box for SAD. Anybody tried it?

[AriSmyelin in reply to Sandydemop]

I only heard of the light box when I brought up depression on here. The irony maybe humor being that recently I watched a show where someone mentioned the light cap for hair growth and I a=have always had issues with my hair growing pas t a certain length (stupid cause my mom can get hers longer) and then I thought. Do people who use tanning beds have nicer and longer hair, is that the same kind of light? Wonder if that is the same kind of light (it is if it's black light) used for SAD? And does that work for all types of depression. Don't see why it wouldn't.

[wolfmom21fl in reply to Sandydemop]

actually.. I add hemp hearts to my granola and yogurt for breakfast.. no pills.. they are tiny little nutty flavored seeds that are just yummy and loaded with not just Omega 3 but also Omega 6 which most everyone doesnt get enough of in their diet.. LOL.. and they are great in all sorts of stuff like yogurt, soups, salad, oatmeal, i could go on but you get the idea.. If you cannot find them in your grocery store look for them on Amazon

[Sandydemop in reply to wolfmom21fl]

i am not sure but i think Omega 6 is the bad type of fat. it can lead to high blood pressure and heart attacks.

[wolfmom21fl in reply to Sandydemop]

No.. Omega 3 & 6 are both needed in the diet.. ^ is harder to get naturally unless you are actively trying to find it.. Hemp seeds are a natural way to eat it without too much fuss and they taste good when added to different other foods.. both of these are fatty acids and needed but we hear so much about Omega 3 people tend to overlook omega 6

[wolfmom21fl]

CBD or good old bowl of MJ.. not sure where you are or if its legal where you are but i know that helps me when things get really bad.. I dont use it often but some times i just HAVE to

[AriSmyelin in reply to wolfmom21fl]

Wolfmom you are awesome! I don't know why when I first read MJ my first thought was " a good old bowl of Michael Jackson" Then I rolled my eyes I my stupidity then had to rethink if there was something called Michael Jackson or any of his songs in reference to a bowl. Lol. As far as legality. I am totally good with it! I pushed and pushed to get my "green card" before Utah legalized officially. Then when they did I asked my doc and she didn't bother talking to me about risks she basically said "oh yeah youre qualified." "Are you stressed.....Don't worry, we all are." Lol I just can't smoke anything because I have Gastroparesis.

[wolfmom21fl in reply to AriSmyelin]

🤣🤣🤣 @Michael Jackson.. thats a hoot.. But yes.. I would say all of us with MS would be "qualified" if medical MJ is available in their state.. Unfortunately its not legal Federally, yet, so there is not coverage for it and everything must be paid for out of pocket. To further make it more difficult and expensive, in Florida, its not legal recreationally so one would need to see a SPECIAL doc every 6 months to get the green card, which costs about $200 out of pocket, then the state wants another $75 for the card itself.. and all of that is BEFORE you even buy anything.. Soooo,, i just call a friend when I need a bud or 2 and that lasts me quite a while because yeah.. I am a 2 hit wonder that has a low tolerance to the stuff.. I don;t get enough money from SSDI to be able to pay all that every 6 months so nope..

[tompumo]

Talk to other people, in person if you can. This helps open your mind and helps get you out of your 'bubble'.

[ekelks]

Music… listen to music you love. Close your eyes, laying down if you can, either way, try relaxing your muscles, listen, think of a place you want to be somewhere beautiful or where you were once happy… if you can move, try dancing. With a cane, with a door. Try moving to the music, laying down, if you can't walk. Let yourself cry. Cry it out.

I can't take meds from depression either, they make my ms worse. I have another side effect from an antibiotic (Ciproflaxin, IV, saved my life but made me mental) many years ago that resulted in being given nasty psych meds that made my ms symptoms so much worse, and that in itself was of course very depressing, the psych symptom is never ending but it used to be much more depressing than it is now. Time helped. Getting used to something over time is a true thing.

If you can write, I mean if your hands and/or voice works, write. Write anything, everything. I have a friend with Primary… she can't use her hands but she dictates poems and stories and children’s books — she is a painter — and that helps her enormously.

painting, drawing… if you can use your hands, draw, paint, fingerprint, knuckle paint…anything to create something and express yourself.

Watch something funny on tv or on a dvd. The kind of funny you already know you love.

Watching old screwball black and white movies always makes me happy no matter how sad i feel. Right now I am incredibly sad. My neurologist is very very sick, she has a brain tumor, there is no way i can help her, i love her but she's not my friend.you know, but i have to move on, and so do you.

Best of luck to you.