Depression again...what to do

I seem to have a decent response to SAMe on my blue or down days when I feel like I'm slipping into a downward spiral.  I've also read it has some benefits with arthritis maybe in easing pain. Try some GOOGLE search for articles on SAMe as I don't believe it has any toxicity issues which I also liked. 

 http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/17100.php

I don't know much about depression either...What I do not it is very bad for your overall health.  Dear Darcy45 try all avenue too get help with this. So many things can cause depression and I'm sorry to say must doctor are going to give you a pill.  But if it helps...so be it.  Have you been to a good homopathic doctor and asked these questions?

I hope you find help and come back and share it with us.

Flalady

I tried St. John's Wort, exercise, positive thinking ... none of it helped. For me, with a very strong family history of depression, and two prior major episodes, medication has been a lfe saver. Like allysonw, Lexapro almost immediately made me feel like MYSELF again. My doctor and I eventually added wellbutrin, which I went off last winter. Big mistake, and my new doctor has put me on a mood stabilizer in addition to the lexapro. It's the magic combination that works for me. I feel like myself, and able to deal with life, and now cancer.

I wish you luck on your journey. Natural cures are great if they work, but just remember that if it changes your body chemistry its a drug, whether it comes from a pharmacy or a plant. And there's absolutely no shame at all in using a drug to help.

Hugs and good luck!

I,

Darcy --

We are all pulling for you.  I just had my Effexor doubled  2 weeks ago, and I think I AM feeling better.  There's been so much happening in my life (on top of cancer) that it's hard to tell what the h*ll is going on.  I think we're alll so sick of Meds, etc. that we really hate taking anything else.  But sometimes, I think that's the only thing getting us through our Meds, LOL.

I cannot get off Zoloft, so I will say try anything even if it is pharma. and don't feel bad about this. I've had anxiety and depression for over 20 years. Every time I get off medicine, I run slam into severe and chronic anxiety and depression. I have read about orthomolecular medicine. Margo Kidder was on Larry King, you can google and pull up the transcript...anyway it's what she uses for her bipolar disorder. I think it is based on what nutrients you body is deficient or out of balance with. They do blood work and other analysis to determine what supplements you need.

If you don't have a rebounder....go order one.  You must be happy when you do this. So....get a friend, put on fun music, like broadway musical tunes and take turns bouncing. Better...have your friend buy one too and you can both jump. You will crack up, I promise. 

If you are really suffering, I think a support group is an excellent idea.

I think different kinds of depression respond to different interventions. I have had a lifelong tendency to depression but have found that it does respond to SAM-e, and St John's Wort, and also to fish oils, but the last take a while to work. Regular exercise is essential as well, without it I don't feel well either physically or emotionally, it helps keep me steady. Lemon balm tea can also be very helpful in the short term.

I don't expect that everyone will find these things helpful, most demonstrate efficacy with mild to moderate depression, but don't really help a deep and profound depression, so I wouldn't waste a lot of time trying these alternatives if you are really suffering. That has been my impression overall. There is not much science to go by with these questions, just trial and error and seeing what works for you.

Glad to hear celexa helped you out

that is the one I took when depressed

last year, depression hit me on the head

yes, even at 8 yrs out, SADS hadsomething to do

with it.. the others.. I could not tolerate

s/e

Best to you

so difficult, as quality of life is

paramount

hugs, Sierra )

ps  I believe therapy to be v. helpful as well

We all have our own path to follow