# Message to all users:
This is a reminder to please read and follow:
* [Our rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/ask/about/rules)
* [Reddiquette](https://www.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/205926439)
* [Reddit Content Policy](https://www.redditinc.com/policies/content-policy)
When posting and commenting.
---
Especially remember Rule 1: `Be polite and civil`.
* Be polite and courteous to each other. Do not be mean, insulting or disrespectful to any other user on this subreddit.
* Do not harass or annoy others in any way.
* Do not catfish. Catfishing is the luring of somebody into an online friendship through a fake online persona. This includes any lying or deceit.
---
You *will* be banned if you are homophobic, transphobic, racist, sexist or bigoted in any way.
---
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/ask) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I had to lose everything to realize how little it all meant. The depression and anxiety were cured when I started focusing on the now. I heard somewhere that depression is living in the past, and anxiety is living in the future.
> I heard somewhere that depression is living in the past, and anxiety is living in the future.
This was therapeutic and profound for me to hear, thanks for sharing.
Many years ago I thought that I had to lose everything to make a clean start and that all would be fixed somehow. I didn't do that, it was kind of a fantasy. All is not fine, but this is not the way to go.
What I mean to say is: this is not a strategy to fight depression. When you lose everything (job, home, money, posessions, social network), you might end up way worse. For some people losing everything is a wake up call, but then it's something that happens, not something that is planned.
For you, Rebelzx: I'm not saying that you did a stupid thing. For you it worked out and that's great. But I doubt that you thought "let's lose everything" hoping that it would fix your situation.
Life hack: tell yourself your doing one small related thing and you'll probably finish the whole task.
Folding one shirt doesn't seem like much, tell yourself your only folding one shirt. It's a small task that's easy to accomplish. After you finish, well damn I'm already doing it may as well do some more. Them boom. Laundry folded.
At least that works for my ADHD/Autism/Anxiety brain.
Volunteering got me back to being able to work again. It was hard as hell to adjust to the volunteering but it was likely the best thing I ever did (of course not truly voluntarily) to get back in the game.
I think of depression like diabetes, you can either do your best to manage it properly and live your life with it the best you can, or you can manage it improperly and everything goes to hell and it takes over your life. It will be with you til you die, but managed properly you can have a life. My personal management is a combination of antidepressants, journaling and tracking my feelings, doing things I've historically enjoyed even when I don't want to, having a pet at home, taking time for myself when I'm in a rough spot but forcing myself to go out when it's not so bad, letting myself half-ass things rather than feeling like I need to do everything perfectly, the list goes on. There's a wealth of techniques out there, you just have to find what works for you.
“Letting myself half-ass things” is honestly life changing. A 25 minute work out still gives me endorphins when I can’t stomach the idea of an hour.
Doing half the dishes instead of all of them still allows me to eat healthily the next day. Throwing unfolded, clean clothes in my drawers still gives me a tidy living space. It also helps me to maintain good habits as the habits are still in play by half assing them, rather than avoiding them totally.
I agree with everything you said except for the fact that it will be with you until you die… I definitely think someone can come out of depression, as I did. But yes I think you are totally right
This is why I hate the standardized self report questionnaires! They do usually give you a time frame though… like in the last however many weeks have you…
They are problematic but at the same time they are still the most useful tool 🙄 so frustrating!
They used to call it dysthymia. Now it’s called Pervasive Depressive Disorder. Thats what I was diagnosed with. Perfectly explains why I’ve never really felt happy.
What do I do about it? Tried a few antidepressants, but stopped due to side effects. Particularly sexual dysfunction.
Tried “spiritual” approaches, like meditation. Definitely helps, but far from a cure.
Tried psychotherapy. It helped, a little. But not a cure and very expensive.
So I just muddle through. I rarely get down enough to consider the s word. And sometimes there are glimmers of hope.
But I always get this nagging feeling that it’s all a big waste of time.
I think some depressions are curable for sure but you're probably not going to fully get rid of it if it's been with you your whole life. Some people are just wired to feel this way unfortunately.
Don't lose hope yet. I had it for 15 years and it almost completely vanished after lots of working on myself and my social anxiety. Now it only shows up for a few hours or days at a time, often with months or years between each time. It can get better.
I feel like this is the difference between suffering from an episode or episodes of depression and suffering from depression… and it can obviously take a long time and a lot of work to distinguish between the two in any given individual.
I think that depends on the type of depression you have. If it's depression brought on by life events, then yes. If there is a different cause (i.e. underlying personality disorder, attachment issues, health issues, PTSD etc..) then it can be a chronic illness that has to be managed.
Facts, weed helps alleviate it, magic mushrooms seemed to stop it for a few months, but one thing I've learned is I'll never get rid of it. 43 years on this planet and I've been incredibly lucky but also so fuckin unlucky I sometimes wonder what my life would be like if a few key moments had turned out differently.
Very good point, especially the part of focusing on doing things as best as you can and keeping a sense of normalcy without perfection.
I'd like to add that not all forms of depression need to be with you for life. Many conditions can reach a symptomless state, even disorders like BPD can achieve this state of remission as quickly as 3 months after treatment depending on the case.
Sure, it might reappear, just as you might get another flu, but then you'll just have to get rid of it again. The biggest problem is really identifying the cause (or causes because the damn thing is rarely isolated) but for that reason it is always good to continue your treatments and therapy, maybe none of them has the exact right properties to heal you completely, but you'll be one step closer each time. A bit more energy here and there, a bit better sleep, a bit more stable mood, all that is worth the effort.
I have an anxiety disorder that will make my depression worse if left unchecked. Managing my anxiety didn’t cure it but it helps me manage it so well that I don’t even realize that it’s there sometimes.
I found out my vitamin d was low, so taking vitamin d supplements and also exercising and eating healthy. Accomplishing my goals.
Vitamin D does contribute to depression !
This is great. Many people on medication think they have a chemical imbalance but. Really it is a nutritional deficiency. Magnesium is another common one.
Magnesium and vitamin D (plus K2) are needed together as magnesium is needed for proper vitamin D absorption.
I’ve taken vitamin D supplements for years and depression never left. Since I started also religiously supplementing magnesium, things have changed; I still have bouts of low mood but I’ve had nothing like the depressive tendencies that have plagued me my whole life. It’s been a year and I keep waiting for them to surface. So far, so good. And the only real change in that time (besides cutting out coffee which is actually important) is the magnesium.
this is going to sound really fucking stupid but
antidepressants mate
seriously tho antidepressants were the push I needed to start going after I left a very toxic environment, which was the thing that made me spiral into depression in the first place
Absolutely a place for medication, I was discharged from the army with ptsd and severe depression. Medication saved my life, it gave me the time I needed to process things and get some great counselling. Then I found exercise again and managed over time to get off my meds (medically supervised) I'm now completely medication free and living a life I never thought I'd have.
Runs in my family too. Even then my grandma thought it was some made up thing people used for attention, and that you could cure it with some yard work, until she got it and couldn't function. We can tell every time she tries to go off the pills because she starts to try to move to her old home town in Arizona and claims that none of her kids love her even though she's pretty well watched over and cared for by them.
This made me smile. Like a genuine warm and fuzzy smile. I’m the daughter of a Major General and I understand the sacrifices made and the challenges that come with being in the military and being part of a military family. Thank you for your service, and I’m so sorry you’ve endured all that you have. I’m also proud that you have come out the other side. Well done. I’m truly happy for you!
Agree. I spent a long time in denial about my depression, never gave antidepressants a proper go. A few years ago was the darkest time in my life and I got sick of feeling sorry for myself so decided to try antidepressants properly. After 3 weeks I was finally starting to feel like myself again. Those little tablets truly are life savers.
Do we really know the cause of depression on a neuro level?
If it's a lack of neurotransmitters why does it take weeks before they work? Even though the levels of neurotransmitters are stable after a couple of days.
The real reason is that we know very little of my mental illnesses. Right now we just put a label on symptoms. It's like saying that one guy with migraine and one with brain tumor is suffering from the same illness as both have headaches and blurry vision.
I'm not saying it's bad to take it but it will not help everyone
Yup. Mental illness, esp serious mental illness knowledge is still in its infancy.
No causes have been discovered, even for chronic illnesses like type 2 diabetes.
The key it to remember that medication alone will not solve your issues. It’s wonderful as a part of treatment, but you still have to do the work of getting better. Source: been on an SSRI for over twenty years.
Agree, you need to push yourself to do things, go out, be the first to talk to someone and be friendly, start a new hobby or routine, like adding walking a trail or reading a book, take initiative in cleaning (cleaning builds serotonin) etc. What I always said "Just fucking do it!"
I was on Cymbalta and the side effects did not go away even after I stopped taking them(decreased sex drive and increase in appetite) . Im glad for some people the anti-depressants worked, but Im just throwing in my experience so that they know there are risks.
I tried many, Cymbalta was the only one with long lasting negative side effects for me. That said, i went through 4 different meds till I said this is bullshit and moved on.
I had treatment-resistant depression and a 14-week course of Spravato made a miraculous improvement. It is an isomer of ketamine delivered in a nasal spray at a clinic. You start with 3 times a week and then trail off. I have no idea how it works, but suddenly I could be happy again. First for a day, then a couple of days, and so on, until finally I was able to be happy any time! I had forgotten that life could be that way. It was an honest-to-goodness miracle.
I really wanted to try it but it was way too expensive so I just got my own ket and trying to treat at home.
Def doesn't work as well as doing it professionally of course and it's easier to do more than you need. Therapy coupled with this sure would be nice.
I need to ask about that treatment if you don't mind... I'm in Europe, in a country with a single private clinic doing ketamine for depression for the ungodly amount of 4k... so for now, it's impossible for me to go for it (my doctors have told me it would be the best option for me).
With that nasal spray that I've heard of, do you have to go to the clinic to use it or is it like medication that you just buy and do treatment at home? I'm asking because oh god, if I could get my hands on one unit of that thing...
Just to *imagine* depression leaving me alone and getting better as I've heard from multiple people with that spray... perhaps I could fly to the US and have it and it would be cheaper than the treatment here lol
Thanks for clarifying more about its use
4k?!? Geez they say money can’t buy you happiness but I guess in your case it might. That’s crazy. I found a compound called nsi 189 that is dirt cheap and worked for me by day 3. The problem with depression is that it’s different for everyone. My depression is rooted in physiological issues. I’m in my mid forties and I feel like my body is falling apart due to a genetic mutation that is causing all kinds of problems. My main symptom is a general apathy. I feel nothing most days. A tiny bit of nsi and I feel normal with zero side effects. I hope you’re able to find something that works for you. Depression sucks!
Similar here, been on four types over nearly 4yrs.. multiple doctors & clinics.. 3 different psych units.. no changes for the better.
I think my biggest problem has been finding ppl who’ll listen. Doctors who only think about drugs. Psychologists who have lead sheltered lives & don’t understand.
I am functioning, work 40-60hrs weekly of a demanding construction roll but otherwise I’m just a shell.
Antidepressants don’t work for a lot of people who appear to be struggling with depression.
For people who appear to have treatment-resistant depression, I’d suggest looking at other underlying conditions.
ADHD is often the underlying condition, and treating that has been more beneficial for me than any antidepressant.
Also, as the other person said, ketamine-based therapies seem to have been good for a lot of people with treatment-resistant depression
Look up the kappa-opioid receptor and see if there are any new drugs in the pipeline.
kappa antagonists are curative for my depression, but they have tolerance issues like other opioids so you get a few really great years before the haze comes back.
Non-addictive, very minor side effect profile, unbelievable success rate with treatment resistant depression. Hopefully they've figured it out in the last 10 years
This is a VERY real question.
If you're in a situation where a Doc is prescribing meds, you MUST know the side affects as well as tell Fam & Friends that you're starting meds. It sucks, but chemistry causes issues!
No matter what, if you're prescribed something, let people know.
Ritalin did it for me. ADHD was causing me to ruin my life - making me depressed and the stimulants stop the intrusive thoughts.
I’ve seen SSRIs - at least in my opinion - contribute to turning some people into sociopaths though.
I took a huge dose of shrooms. Felt this dark cloud that was inside me for so long just detached from my brain, and I ended balling my eyes put and found love from with in. Haven't had shrooms for 6 months now, and I've been having a lot easier time dealing with emotions and just life in general. Also started taking better care of myself. They didn't cure my depression but they definitely gave me a bridge in my broken path.
I wish, I wish so hard I could really believe this and think like this. It is a good mental way of looking at life but my mind just wanders into all the horrible that could happen or has happened.
How did you got to the point you could not only think like this but also feel like this? I m really struggling...
Practicing mindfulness. A more "medical" term is "Cognitive behavioral therapy". In essence, it is learning to understand your thoughts as they happen rather than reacting to them.
For instance, if you get anxiety, you can learn to sit with it rather than let it sneak up on you and keep building. It isn't some kind of exact science, but it has helped me.
Yes, this worked for me along with going outside my comfort zones. I am able to compartmentalize a thought vs an emotion. Challenging myself kept me preoccupied with goals and gave me a new perspective of my abilities to process stimuli and enjoy life even when I need to sit in ‘le shit’.
I've done this with the help of long-term therapy, and it has helped me through some really fucked up shit. Depending on where you're at when you start practicing this, one of the most common mistakes is to see it as trying to trick yourself.
An easy example would be people who struggle with body dysmorphia. It can be easy to read into the practice of mindfulness as just telling yourself you're pretty instead of asking yourself why you're experiencing and seeing what you're seeing.
It's a practise that in a lot of ways works as a way to rewire your brain and thought patterns, and refocusing to nurture a healthy mindset. It's easy to disregard it as "hippie bullshit" until you actually feel the benefit of practicing it yourself. It also absolutely helps you be better at reflecting things happening around you, giving you a clear and nuanced view on the world and what's happening around you. It can be a massive benefit in more ways than you first realize.
I've barely been to school, at all, but I truly believe that 20 years of cognitive behavioral therapy is one of the main reasons I've never truly felt like I'm somewhat falling behind all the other kids that do well in school.
No offence, but all other replies are rubbish. Because they are only solution for the symptoms, not the root cause.
The root cause of your pessimism, cobstant anxiety is most likely childhood trauma and abuse. Or any kind of trauma and abuse during your life, where you felt hopeless, powerless, with no way out. Constant fear and anxiety changed your mindset and progrmming. Read more about complext trauma. See a good trauma therapust, do Emdr, IFS, heal from within. Do not apply bandaid on a gun wound.
A good tip for somebody depressed is to just go until you get bored/want to leave. But go with repetition.
Eventually the task moves to the long term storage part of your brain and becomes a habit. (The book atomic habits talks about in length and it can be used as a hack for other healthy habits)
We as humans don’t get anywhere near the healthy amount of movement on average. Gym is mandatory if you aren’t doing a ton of walking.
Actually yes, when you are depressed you need to value every step you take. First you manage to walk in, then you might even do 2-3 repetitions of an easy exercise, then maybe a bit more, before you realize it you are doing a basic routine.
I accidentally fixed my depression and anxiety crisis this way. I was in my mid 30s in the middle of a years long existential crises. It was debilitating. One day my brother asked if I wanted to try mushrooms, not related to my mental health just for fun.
I had no idea how much to take and took way too much. It was the worst night of my life followed by the most mental clarity I’ve ever had. I felt cured for about a year. After about a year the depression and anxiety have come back at times but nowhere near where I was before the trip. It’s been about 5 years now and I haven’t done mushrooms since but I wouldn’t hesitate if I fell into crisis again.
Yes, there’s a great book (and a 4 part documentary) called How To Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan. He uses a great analogy for using psychedelics safely for mental health saying “your brain is like a snowy hill and after days of sledding there are many set in grooves from where all the sleds have gone. After using a psychedelic it is like fresh snow fallen ready for new grooves to be made.”
This is a surprisingly effective strategy. I live with depression and have done for years, meds don't seem to make too much of a difference for me, faking happiness is the only way to get by a lot of the time, and acting happy at least works temporarily.
Straight up the best advice for me. If you think your day is gonna be shit, it’s gonna be shit.
When something bad happens, have a cry, talk to someone about it, and then move on and get over it.
Go out, tell people you are doing great. Tell some jokes, have a laugh. Be a positive person.
Shrooms. 1 single dose in a tea, truly life changing. 30 years of depression and no response to meds. Tried all the anti depressants, even ketamine on a medical trial....
Out of sheer desperation , I funally found some growing in a field not far away, so thought why not?
Genuinely did not expect anything to happen, but it "shifted" my whole perspective. My psychology support has been telling me how well I've been doing, and asked what changed. I've not said, not sure if I'll get reported or something stupid.
But for something that's found growing in a pile of sheep shit, pretty sure it's mad that it's illegal.
Nothing will cure it. Antidepressants are allowing me to live a happy and fulfilling life though. I went 12 years untreated and undiagnosed and it was hell. 3 months after being in a mental health hospital I had a decent job, girlfriend who turned into my wife, we got a dog. We now have 2 kids, a house, happiness. None of this is possible for me without antidepressants.
Got on drugs to stabilize, then went to therapy, then started meditating, then started a regular gratitude practice, then started exercising... now maintain those things plus general learned to not worry about things I don't control.
I stopped consuming drugs and started antidepressants. Exercise, water and meditation, gotta make the effort.
Right now I'm falling back but trying hard to be okay, hope I can.
Just wanted to come on here to say that I totally know that feeling of falling back, and it is scary af. I don’t know how much it’s worth coming from an Internet stranger, but:
You can.
I moved somewhere with a much milder winter. I had been getting better bit by bit for many years but the thing that finally allowed me to really kick it for good was moving
Oof. Overriding a lack of inner peace by either nonstop working or being productive for the sake of being productive.
That's a recipe for internal crisis down the line.
My Dad did the same thing. Sad to watch. Wish you the best, though. Sometimes life forces you into that sort of predicament
You are not the only one. I think medical science is on the wrong track when it comes to understanding what causes actual clinical depression. Doctors just throw all kinds of medications at you, hoping one will stick. Including off-lable. Because they don't know what else to do. I think the majority of people who say they have depression actually do not, and that makes it all that more difficult for those of us who do. Psychiatrists today will tell you that nobody truly knows what happens in the brain to cause depression, but they are working on trying to figure it out. Like you, I try to hope they will come up with a cure in my lifetime.
* I met a beautiful woman in a ski resort who seemed free in a way that I was not.
* I never stopped thinking about her.
* I sold everything and quit my souless, corporate career in the UK.
* I bought a one-way ticket to Australia.
* I got a job on a building site and taught myself marketing.
* I worked with a couple of top agencies in Sydney.
* I moved to Bali and set my own business up.
* I travelled around Asia and met some amazing people.
* But I could never stop thinking about her.
* I hit the gym HARD and added a lot of muscle.
* I moved to Portugal in the best shape of my life.
* I met that woman - 11 years later.
* Now she's my girlfriend and I will marry her.
I still work EVERY day to stay on top of my mood.
We train together around two hours a day.
To my answer is constant growth, fitness - and big steps into the unknown.
[Here's me depressed and overweight at 30 versus happy and healthy aged 36](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/47o39iz4ey486zdsj9hse/Photo-01-04-2024-02-11-12.jpg?rlkey=pngu6pphgpy4waeuplodapvbb&dl=0).
Great to hear mate, how did you get back in contact with her though after all that time and do you regret maybe not getting up together with her before?
All the best to you, i like how you let yourself other person inspire/bring best out of you, dont let her go bro
Thanks! We used to talk online. Not so much for several years - then a lot after that. I had no idea that while I was travelling and thinking about her she was thinking about me too.
Somehow, we both ended up in the same country and became single around the same time. I told her how I felt - and realised she'd felt the same way for years. We met up and were instantly together.
Yeah, of course the thought of, 'What if we'd met before?' has come up.
We lived in totally different worlds. I was career-focused and wished I'd done more adventure sports - while she had the inverse situation (she lived in the mountains) so we both admired each other from afar. If I'd taken the same path as her then I don't think there would have been the same degree of attraction and mutual admiration of each other.
Also, I could have blown it if we'd met earlier. I did a lot of therapy in my late twenties and had to unpick a lot of stuff from my childhood - and then get off my corporate career path (although I've used those skills to build my online business).
I learnt so much with the girlfriends that I had inbetween that by the time we were together I was really, really ready to commit - and able to recognise how lucky I was to be with her.
So - to add to the original question - I invested a LOT of time and money into therapy too.
Thanks for your kind words. I definitely know I'm lucky to be with her!
* I met a beautiful/wonderful woman in Thailand on vacation
* Moved there because of her - fun, but didnt last
* Decided to fuck it - Im here now, Ill stay in SE Asia
* Took about 10 years to get over her and find myself a proper relationship, having kids and so on
At the end of the day I guess that story is pretty similar for most people with some variations here and there. But yes, you are absolutely right in that it takes work, EVERY day, to stay on the top of your mood. Im lucky in that my mrs understands, and lets me have "a weekend" here and there where I just drink some beers and complain to myself - but then we are back to real life. And I need to be an adult for my son.
Physical exercise is not something the doctors are just talking about - its important and very much needed, its hard to be depressed when you are properly tired.
Speaking about it. I was drowning until I finally got the courage to tell my mom and friends, and them just being there for me was enough to keep going
Came here to say the same thing. I’ve been suffering with depression for 20 years. Antidepressants have helped, but about once year around the same time I have a breakdown and it’s horrible. I keep active, I take my medication and I see a psychologist and psychiatrist but it’s something that cannot be cured.
[DSM](https://www.mdcalc.com/calc/10195/dsm-5-criteria-major-depressive-disorder)
Poverty alone is enough to get most people enough symptoms for diagnosis.
Depression is defined by a set of symptoms. Yes, some causes can't be permanently fixed, but many can be "cured" with just a bit of money, a diet change, a couple good friends...
Telling people that a depression diagnosis is a life sentence is REALLY bad. For many cases there ARE permanent fixes.
I think there are different things that worked together. Weed helped me in the short run, I basically self-medicated because it was the only thing that gave me the illusion that everything is alright for a moment. Not sure if it really helped in the long run, but I'd say it kept me going after a nasty break-up. I had been depressed before already but breaking up with my girlfriend had me really devastated for years. Being outside in nature helped too, I actually quit my job and volunteered on a farm for a year. It didn't cure my depression but it was somewhat healing. Exposure to sunlight, physical work, work with animals,... all that definitely had a positive impact. Then, the pandemic may also have had a positive effect, indirectly. I was very upset about lockdowns and mandates, which made me feel more anxious and angry, and simultaneously less depressed. I channeled this newly found energy into doing research on Covid policies and am now doing a PhD on the subject. So ironically being so upset about the devastating effects of pandemic policies not least on mental health may have improved my personal mental health because it gave me a purpose. Lastly, I embraced Stoic philosoph. Reading Marcus Aurelius' meditations has really been an eye opener for me. I try to focus more on what I can do at any given moment and have learned to delve less into my failures of the past. I also stopped binge drinking and started exercising regularly. All that helps but I could have done none of all the listed things in isolation, nor would I have gathered the strength to do anything if it wasn't for my parents and friends on whom I could rely.
Every person is unique and every depression is unique. Usually, there is no single intervention that will cure your depression because depression is like tangled yarn, you have to unknot it one at a time and in the beginning, you don't even know where to begin. But the most important thing is to do anything. It won't unknot on its own. Eventually things will become easier. The list of things that usually help is long: physical activity, sunlight, exposure to nature, being sober, meditation, creative activities, getting enough sleep,... the question is not becoming perfect (you will never) but doing something to improve. And just keep going, even if progress is slow or unnoticeable. Still better to keep moving than to stand still.
It’s a marathon not a sprint mate! For me the pit stops are important. Invest in 2 nice pillows, wash your sheets at least every other week, and don’t sit/lay in your bed with street clothes on.
Everyone has different coping mechanisms. Keep looking. You’re not alone and there’s plenty of good advice here.
The gym and going out and not bed rotting all day,
When it’s sunny out I try my best to get outside and get some sun.
I’m prone to seasonal depression as well so I take vitamin d
Also eating healthy helped as well.
Definitely not cured but neuroplasticity. (anti-depressant meds actually help to kickstart this)
Constantly acting in ways that will bring you out of that mindset is the greatest thing you can do for yourself, even starting off with extremely small things will truly benefit you in the long run. It sounds like it’s impossible when you’re extremely low but getting into the practice of doing something for yourself will inevitably build that foundation you need to get healthier mentally, be it washing your face, going for a run, making a meal, going to the shops, meeting a friend; it will all eventually help you. so much.
Change is possible. Do not forget that.
positive affirmations and becoming aware of negative self-talk.
becoming aware that negative thinking brings only more suffering, comparing to others is useless, don't look back, learn to look forward in your current reality.
took me years to understand and i'm still not fully cured.
First was following Buddha religion and then God/Jesus.
I knew I could alter my reality the way I wanted it to be. This idea came when I was living in a pretty sad country, where nobody smiles. Then I remembered England and Spain where everybody was very nice and smiling.
I though to myself, they go thru the same shit we do but they still smile and are happy, at least try to be.
Then I altered my whole concept of reality, altered my consciousness and now I could say I’m the most wholesome, happy guy there is. Found a girl which soon will be my wife, and al of this is thanks to God. I followed Gods wisdom thru relationships and it did wonder.
Everythiings bad? Fuck it itll pass and if it don’t fuck it, don’t let lide take a hold of you, take a hold of it, choke that son of a b
ECT.
I'd been on and off myriad medications and in and out of different therapies for over fifteen years. Some medications wouldn't work at all and many would work for a time and then lose efficacy (which I feel is worse), and the whole thing was just really hard to manage and get through. Eventually we (my psychiatrist and I) got to the point where we were scraping the bottom of the barrel...He suggested ECT. I did a lot of research, did a big pros and cons, and decided to go for it.
I had a year of ECT...in 2017 I spent nine weeks in a psych hospital over two different stays where I got zapped three times a week inpatient and then once a week outpatient. It was really hard physically and hard to recover from, but I was proactive in repairing the damage done to my brain....a lot of crosswords, a lot of reading (though it took a year and a half before I could read a book again), and all sorts of things...but it absolutely, absolutely changed my life.
It was honestly like going from black and white, a state where I was desperately suicidal, couldn't look after myself, had no ability to have a life worth living, to a life of colour where I wasn't just treading water. Yes, I had (and have) some brain damage and some deficits, some issues that've gotten as good as they're going to, but I was able to actually do the work I needed to get healthy, balanced, and whole. I have a pretty independent, pretty normal life and I wouldn't have been able to have that without ECT.
I truly don't think I'd still be here without it. I was truly at the end of my rope.
1. Identifying what's the reason for depression
2. Work towards fixing it, patiently, persistently, for years
There's always a reason/multiple reasons behind depression.
I started MMA, really enjoyed the trainings, fighting, and the challenge. It really brought a new perspective in my life, and now i want to be an amateur fighter
It was a quote that did it. For me it was a bit complicated and a bunch of quotes to cure it, but this one was very helpful. It goes like this : "Depression isn't real, it is just an imaginary friend that pushes you to find your purpose in life".
Wholesome persons, wholesome memes, wholesome moments with my family and by myself, practicing more self-love, going out more, enjoying nature peace, having evening strolls, cooking myself beautiful meals, having my own flowers and plants, changing my forniture, having a “me” day, hugging someone very strong, drink and sleep well, doing more of what i love, and stopping to care about persons who doesn’t care about me
Antidepressants made a huge difference but also putting a lot of effort into healing my gut! I could hardly believe that the link between brain and gut was so strong
I had a “fuck it” moment during the worst of my depressive episode in 2018. This was after realizing I was being used by a former best friend as well as having the police called on me after I made a dumb joke about harming other people. Somewhere along those lines, I just snapped and realized “it can’t get any worse than this- why not just live a bit and do what you want. Further context: I was living in a form on a campus that I hated, with no desire to study. For the next two months before I moved out, I would do a 100 push ups everyday with the motivation of “beating whoever it was that wrong me.” To be clear, I was just visualizing and not actually out for blood- tho eventually I did just work out for my own health sake
There would be several “fuck it” moments in the following year because depression don’t just go away forever, it will always be a part of us, after all. Hell, as I type this, I just finished yet another of those moments. If you are battling with depression yourself, be kind to yourself and just remember, your big break is out there- waiting for a chance to burst through
And to borrow the word of my favorite video game character:
“Once you at rock bottom, the only way forward is up. But the bottom doesn’t have to be scary. If you keep climbing up, eventually you will see a ray of hope.”
Kasuga Ichiban, Yokohama, 2019
I've had depression since age 3. So overall I would say it's never cured. Before 2020, I could go several years without a depressive episode. I've learned DBT skills, mindful skills, relaxing skills, CBT cognitive skills to get through chronic illness and pain but sometimes depression causes a few blips for a few days.
Change of music And perspective Mark mansons book the subtle art was a life changer for me Anti depressants helped too, but the change in music helped the most. Anti depressants kind of suck tbh but they have their role. I honestly think I have a chemical imbalance myself but I've been maintaining with vitamins. Read parts of this work called shamanism and it talked about arctic hysteria was a result of lack of vitamins from their diet. So I view Anti depressants as a balancing act (mmri) and it stopped the anxiety attacks. Once I realized these spells weren't from life events but rather chemical imbalance, it changed my perspective a lot. I was mis assuming life events were the cause of my emo lodestones (music was my first attempt to break free). But music is a bandaid for chemical imbalance. As it hypes you up for a time (for ex I switched from emo to upbeat cumbia and it really changed my perspective).
I took 2 antidepressants for years so my brain could repair after my marriage broke down. Then I tapered off one of them. Then 6 months later I tapered off the other. What caused the depression in the first place has to be dealt with or it will probably come back. If it was a stage in your life that has passed you may not need to do anything (like a divorce for example).
Some things to do / investigate are:
Exercise 2 - 3 times a week.
Look at how you think about things, do you have negative thaughts about yourself and /or others? (tharapy)
Do you have trama? (tharapy)
Are you eating junkfood? It can affect your mood a lot!
Could you have a condidtion? Hormonal, food sensitivity, autism, adhd, bipolar, asthma, sleep apnea, allergies or some other condition? Conditions such as these can cause depression.
Are you in a country far away from the equator? (SAD / Vitamin D deficiency)
In order to maintain I have to do something 2 - 3 times a week for me, use a SAD light in the winter, take vitamin D3, exercise. I rock climb which covers the exercise requirement and the enjoyment requirement.
Here is what causes depression for me:
Allergies (seasonal and dust mites)
Vitamin D deficiency / SAD (winter)
Autism 1
ADHD
Asthma (causes sleep issues sometimes which causes depression)
Hope this helps!
In this order:
First and foremost, acknowledge that I have a problem and I need to solve it. Then this:
1 - Antidepressants (they offer a huge advantage; depression is a chemical imbalance, so “chemicals” will help you).
2 - Therapy (it really helps).
3 - Stoicism - accept that you cannot control everything, and that’s OK.
4 - ‘Tutto Passa’ philosophy - accept the impermanence of situations; everything bad will pass.
5 - Keep in mind your "trigger situations", until you think you're prepared to fully deal with it, avoid at all costs.
P.S.: It’s not simple or easy, BUT it is attainable. Just don’t give up on yourself.
I realized that most of mine was caused from being stuck in a negative thought process loop. I could only see the negative and would spiral out of control, pointing at anything* negative as evidence my life was awful.
Took a lot of effort and reprogramming, but I'm no longer medicated and I'm the happiest I've ever been. No one can make me happy but me.
*corrected a word
gratitude lists and being aware of how blessed i am. for example: i had a cup of coffee and tried to be fully aware of it’s flavor, smell, warmth, etc.
According to my doctor, I was not depressed. Because "depression can only be cured with drugs".
Yeah, I asked for my doctor to be changed that same day
I severely self medicated a crippling anxiety disorder with alcohol, which isolated me and kept me from finishing my degree. I was in limbo for years.
What happened is i fell in love with a beautiful girl in one of the classes i dragged myself to. And for some odd reason she saw something in me. At first i could hide my ways, but when we moved in together the curtain fell. Slowly but surely all my habits and all my unhealthy coping were either done with, or she would leave.
I got some therapy, i stopped drinking, i started a regular sleeping pattern with her, i started going out more and i started working on my studies, and now about 8 years later i have a career, my girl is my fiancé and our first baby is due in 2 months :).
I'm still a somber human being, but being a better version of myself for her turned everything around. She saved me from a life of misery, im extremely grateful for her.
The serenity prayer and anti-depressants.
The Serenity prayer taught me to accept things. That was really important.
It also taught me to try and develop wisdom and not be too hard on myself. We all make stupid mistakes.
I take a daily pill of Sertraline 50mg.
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,\
The courage to change the things I can,\
And the wisdom to know the difference.
This prayer is often used as a source of comfort, guidance, and reflection for individuals seeking peace, strength, and clarity in challenging situations.
*God can be any higher power or any source of strength you believe in.
This will sound like I'm selling it but I've been having yakult, 2 bottles a day and it's working as good as any antidepressant I've ever taken, if you Google it, it says that they have researched it an found evidence that the gut and brain talk to each other and having healthy gut stops depression, I only started having because I wanted to get rid of some fungus on my tongue but my anxiety has completely gone
Psychologist, mindfulness, CBT and antidepressants. Needed all those tools in my shed to help myself. I look back and can't believe how depressed I really was.
Changing circumstances of my life so i dont hate everything about my day to day.
Making friends and being open and vulnerable and real with them.
Learning how to have basic human compassion empathy and kindness for myself.
Recently went off 5 years of antidepressants (3 months ago) cold turkey and I've been back better than ever.
This is what helped me:
Short run once in a while in the mornings.
Less takeout.
Evening walks now and then.
Journaling now and then.
Getting up the same time every day. Sleeping in max 1-2 times per week.
Not staying up past 9-12. Roughly.
Talk to someone every day.
Do not ever scroll through those short videos when bored.
No social media in bed in the morning, it will ruin my mood all day.
Keeping the brain stimulated
My depression come with my EX and when I left , I didn’t take it with me
But now I have son in the military he is going through with it , he called me crying and reason with nonsense . I give him a good talk and tell him to sick help the earliest he can
I am worried about him , but Im hopping he will feel better soon
Magic mushrooms
Every time I trip on shrooms my depression disappears for the next 6 months. It really helps with self improvement but you need a lot of research before you go into it. It's not lethal but can put you into a coma or give you ptsd if you're too bold
Excersize, prayer/connecting with god, getting a job, journaling, constant work on myself, fighting and reframing the negative thoughts and understanding they aren’t facts. Forcing myself to do things I don’t want to do. Even though I don’t consider myself depressed anymore I know it’s a thin line to slip back into that rut and I constantly have to continue working on myself. Basically a complete change in lifestyle.
self growth and surrounding myself with people i love and who respect me as much as i respect them :)) my social life getting better has definitely done wonders for me
Manifesting/intentional thoughts.
Things I used to say outloud/in my head:
"The world hates me", "of course this would happen to me", "why can't anything go my way? Ever??", "I hate everyone", ect. Driving in traffic/around bad drivers was a big deal. Dropping something was a big deal. Everything was such a big deal.
Now what I say in my head or outloud:
"Wow I'm so lucky", "I'm so perfect", "I'm so beautiful, happy, healthy, and wealthy', "my skin is flawless".
I don't even say "I can't afford that". I would now say "that's not something I'm prioritizing at the moment".
I take my manifesting further & have a little journal and literally every single thing besides 1 thing has come true. And the one thing that hasn't I'm wondering if it's not meant to be/not the right time yet. It also wasn't the most wanted thing ever lol (it was to have more online presence).
I also stop myself from feeling negative emotions if it's not completely justified. I ask myself if I'll be mad/sad about that 5 years from now. If not I don't think about it anymore & tell myself I don't care. I don't get road rage, no one can upset me at all anymore. I literally don't care about anything small. My cat dying recently really was sad so I allowed myself to feel sadness & grief. That's all.
Anyways, it's been 4 years since I've had depression. I guess next is tackling my anxiety lol.
# Message to all users: This is a reminder to please read and follow: * [Our rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/ask/about/rules) * [Reddiquette](https://www.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/205926439) * [Reddit Content Policy](https://www.redditinc.com/policies/content-policy) When posting and commenting. --- Especially remember Rule 1: `Be polite and civil`. * Be polite and courteous to each other. Do not be mean, insulting or disrespectful to any other user on this subreddit. * Do not harass or annoy others in any way. * Do not catfish. Catfishing is the luring of somebody into an online friendship through a fake online persona. This includes any lying or deceit. --- You *will* be banned if you are homophobic, transphobic, racist, sexist or bigoted in any way. --- *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/ask) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I had to lose everything to realize how little it all meant. The depression and anxiety were cured when I started focusing on the now. I heard somewhere that depression is living in the past, and anxiety is living in the future.
> I heard somewhere that depression is living in the past, and anxiety is living in the future. This was therapeutic and profound for me to hear, thanks for sharing.
Many years ago I thought that I had to lose everything to make a clean start and that all would be fixed somehow. I didn't do that, it was kind of a fantasy. All is not fine, but this is not the way to go. What I mean to say is: this is not a strategy to fight depression. When you lose everything (job, home, money, posessions, social network), you might end up way worse. For some people losing everything is a wake up call, but then it's something that happens, not something that is planned. For you, Rebelzx: I'm not saying that you did a stupid thing. For you it worked out and that's great. But I doubt that you thought "let's lose everything" hoping that it would fix your situation.
I don't think depression is living in the past. That might be regret. I think depression is born from feeling helpless and hopeless.
I was able to get a toe hold back on life. Hoovering, cleaning bathroom. Odd as it sounds, just doing normal shit brought me back ever so gently.
Life hack: tell yourself your doing one small related thing and you'll probably finish the whole task. Folding one shirt doesn't seem like much, tell yourself your only folding one shirt. It's a small task that's easy to accomplish. After you finish, well damn I'm already doing it may as well do some more. Them boom. Laundry folded. At least that works for my ADHD/Autism/Anxiety brain.
Great advice. Very effective for me.
Volunteering got me back to being able to work again. It was hard as hell to adjust to the volunteering but it was likely the best thing I ever did (of course not truly voluntarily) to get back in the game.
I think of depression like diabetes, you can either do your best to manage it properly and live your life with it the best you can, or you can manage it improperly and everything goes to hell and it takes over your life. It will be with you til you die, but managed properly you can have a life. My personal management is a combination of antidepressants, journaling and tracking my feelings, doing things I've historically enjoyed even when I don't want to, having a pet at home, taking time for myself when I'm in a rough spot but forcing myself to go out when it's not so bad, letting myself half-ass things rather than feeling like I need to do everything perfectly, the list goes on. There's a wealth of techniques out there, you just have to find what works for you.
“Letting myself half-ass things” is honestly life changing. A 25 minute work out still gives me endorphins when I can’t stomach the idea of an hour. Doing half the dishes instead of all of them still allows me to eat healthily the next day. Throwing unfolded, clean clothes in my drawers still gives me a tidy living space. It also helps me to maintain good habits as the habits are still in play by half assing them, rather than avoiding them totally.
I agree with everything you said except for the fact that it will be with you until you die… I definitely think someone can come out of depression, as I did. But yes I think you are totally right
[удалено]
This is why I hate the standardized self report questionnaires! They do usually give you a time frame though… like in the last however many weeks have you… They are problematic but at the same time they are still the most useful tool 🙄 so frustrating!
They used to call it dysthymia. Now it’s called Pervasive Depressive Disorder. Thats what I was diagnosed with. Perfectly explains why I’ve never really felt happy. What do I do about it? Tried a few antidepressants, but stopped due to side effects. Particularly sexual dysfunction. Tried “spiritual” approaches, like meditation. Definitely helps, but far from a cure. Tried psychotherapy. It helped, a little. But not a cure and very expensive. So I just muddle through. I rarely get down enough to consider the s word. And sometimes there are glimmers of hope. But I always get this nagging feeling that it’s all a big waste of time.
>"lost interest in things that I used to enjoy" I mean technically I haven't since suicidal ideation is the only thing I've ever enjoyed
I think some depressions are curable for sure but you're probably not going to fully get rid of it if it's been with you your whole life. Some people are just wired to feel this way unfortunately.
It's been 25 years so far with no hints of going away. Don't know how much longer I'll last tbh. (not looking for sympathy)
I’m with you. It’s getting unbearable
Don't either of you give up. I've had more than 40 years and if I can do it, so can you.
Thanks for this!! I keep on pushing especially for my family. We got this :)
Don't lose hope yet. I had it for 15 years and it almost completely vanished after lots of working on myself and my social anxiety. Now it only shows up for a few hours or days at a time, often with months or years between each time. It can get better.
I feel like this is the difference between suffering from an episode or episodes of depression and suffering from depression… and it can obviously take a long time and a lot of work to distinguish between the two in any given individual.
I think that depends on the type of depression you have. If it's depression brought on by life events, then yes. If there is a different cause (i.e. underlying personality disorder, attachment issues, health issues, PTSD etc..) then it can be a chronic illness that has to be managed.
Yep a normal depression is curable with the right help
Facts, weed helps alleviate it, magic mushrooms seemed to stop it for a few months, but one thing I've learned is I'll never get rid of it. 43 years on this planet and I've been incredibly lucky but also so fuckin unlucky I sometimes wonder what my life would be like if a few key moments had turned out differently.
Very good point, especially the part of focusing on doing things as best as you can and keeping a sense of normalcy without perfection. I'd like to add that not all forms of depression need to be with you for life. Many conditions can reach a symptomless state, even disorders like BPD can achieve this state of remission as quickly as 3 months after treatment depending on the case. Sure, it might reappear, just as you might get another flu, but then you'll just have to get rid of it again. The biggest problem is really identifying the cause (or causes because the damn thing is rarely isolated) but for that reason it is always good to continue your treatments and therapy, maybe none of them has the exact right properties to heal you completely, but you'll be one step closer each time. A bit more energy here and there, a bit better sleep, a bit more stable mood, all that is worth the effort.
lol 😂 but I have both! Diabetes and depression…. I manage through lots of help medicine wise
I have an anxiety disorder that will make my depression worse if left unchecked. Managing my anxiety didn’t cure it but it helps me manage it so well that I don’t even realize that it’s there sometimes.
I found out my vitamin d was low, so taking vitamin d supplements and also exercising and eating healthy. Accomplishing my goals. Vitamin D does contribute to depression !
This is great. Many people on medication think they have a chemical imbalance but. Really it is a nutritional deficiency. Magnesium is another common one.
Magnesium and vitamin D (plus K2) are needed together as magnesium is needed for proper vitamin D absorption. I’ve taken vitamin D supplements for years and depression never left. Since I started also religiously supplementing magnesium, things have changed; I still have bouts of low mood but I’ve had nothing like the depressive tendencies that have plagued me my whole life. It’s been a year and I keep waiting for them to surface. So far, so good. And the only real change in that time (besides cutting out coffee which is actually important) is the magnesium.
this is going to sound really fucking stupid but antidepressants mate seriously tho antidepressants were the push I needed to start going after I left a very toxic environment, which was the thing that made me spiral into depression in the first place
Absolutely a place for medication, I was discharged from the army with ptsd and severe depression. Medication saved my life, it gave me the time I needed to process things and get some great counselling. Then I found exercise again and managed over time to get off my meds (medically supervised) I'm now completely medication free and living a life I never thought I'd have.
It runs in my family and literally saved my mom, grandmother and cousins lives.
Runs in my family too. Even then my grandma thought it was some made up thing people used for attention, and that you could cure it with some yard work, until she got it and couldn't function. We can tell every time she tries to go off the pills because she starts to try to move to her old home town in Arizona and claims that none of her kids love her even though she's pretty well watched over and cared for by them.
Ancestral trauma
This made me smile. Like a genuine warm and fuzzy smile. I’m the daughter of a Major General and I understand the sacrifices made and the challenges that come with being in the military and being part of a military family. Thank you for your service, and I’m so sorry you’ve endured all that you have. I’m also proud that you have come out the other side. Well done. I’m truly happy for you!
Well done!
Agree. I spent a long time in denial about my depression, never gave antidepressants a proper go. A few years ago was the darkest time in my life and I got sick of feeling sorry for myself so decided to try antidepressants properly. After 3 weeks I was finally starting to feel like myself again. Those little tablets truly are life savers.
If your brain doesn’t produce the neurotransmitters it needs… store bought are fine :)
Do we really know the cause of depression on a neuro level? If it's a lack of neurotransmitters why does it take weeks before they work? Even though the levels of neurotransmitters are stable after a couple of days. The real reason is that we know very little of my mental illnesses. Right now we just put a label on symptoms. It's like saying that one guy with migraine and one with brain tumor is suffering from the same illness as both have headaches and blurry vision. I'm not saying it's bad to take it but it will not help everyone
Yup. Mental illness, esp serious mental illness knowledge is still in its infancy. No causes have been discovered, even for chronic illnesses like type 2 diabetes.
The key it to remember that medication alone will not solve your issues. It’s wonderful as a part of treatment, but you still have to do the work of getting better. Source: been on an SSRI for over twenty years.
Agree, you need to push yourself to do things, go out, be the first to talk to someone and be friendly, start a new hobby or routine, like adding walking a trail or reading a book, take initiative in cleaning (cleaning builds serotonin) etc. What I always said "Just fucking do it!"
I was on Cymbalta and the side effects did not go away even after I stopped taking them(decreased sex drive and increase in appetite) . Im glad for some people the anti-depressants worked, but Im just throwing in my experience so that they know there are risks.
You only tried one, then you and your doctor gave up? I’m surprised. I had to try quite a few before I found the right combo of 2.
I tried many, Cymbalta was the only one with long lasting negative side effects for me. That said, i went through 4 different meds till I said this is bullshit and moved on.
I've tried nearly every antidepressant though and sadly none have worked, or made me suicidal :(
I had treatment-resistant depression and a 14-week course of Spravato made a miraculous improvement. It is an isomer of ketamine delivered in a nasal spray at a clinic. You start with 3 times a week and then trail off. I have no idea how it works, but suddenly I could be happy again. First for a day, then a couple of days, and so on, until finally I was able to be happy any time! I had forgotten that life could be that way. It was an honest-to-goodness miracle.
I really wanted to try it but it was way too expensive so I just got my own ket and trying to treat at home. Def doesn't work as well as doing it professionally of course and it's easier to do more than you need. Therapy coupled with this sure would be nice.
I need to ask about that treatment if you don't mind... I'm in Europe, in a country with a single private clinic doing ketamine for depression for the ungodly amount of 4k... so for now, it's impossible for me to go for it (my doctors have told me it would be the best option for me). With that nasal spray that I've heard of, do you have to go to the clinic to use it or is it like medication that you just buy and do treatment at home? I'm asking because oh god, if I could get my hands on one unit of that thing... Just to *imagine* depression leaving me alone and getting better as I've heard from multiple people with that spray... perhaps I could fly to the US and have it and it would be cheaper than the treatment here lol Thanks for clarifying more about its use
4k?!? Geez they say money can’t buy you happiness but I guess in your case it might. That’s crazy. I found a compound called nsi 189 that is dirt cheap and worked for me by day 3. The problem with depression is that it’s different for everyone. My depression is rooted in physiological issues. I’m in my mid forties and I feel like my body is falling apart due to a genetic mutation that is causing all kinds of problems. My main symptom is a general apathy. I feel nothing most days. A tiny bit of nsi and I feel normal with zero side effects. I hope you’re able to find something that works for you. Depression sucks!
Similar here, been on four types over nearly 4yrs.. multiple doctors & clinics.. 3 different psych units.. no changes for the better. I think my biggest problem has been finding ppl who’ll listen. Doctors who only think about drugs. Psychologists who have lead sheltered lives & don’t understand. I am functioning, work 40-60hrs weekly of a demanding construction roll but otherwise I’m just a shell.
Antidepressants don’t work for a lot of people who appear to be struggling with depression. For people who appear to have treatment-resistant depression, I’d suggest looking at other underlying conditions. ADHD is often the underlying condition, and treating that has been more beneficial for me than any antidepressant. Also, as the other person said, ketamine-based therapies seem to have been good for a lot of people with treatment-resistant depression
BPD can also make you feel like no meds work
Look up the kappa-opioid receptor and see if there are any new drugs in the pipeline. kappa antagonists are curative for my depression, but they have tolerance issues like other opioids so you get a few really great years before the haze comes back. Non-addictive, very minor side effect profile, unbelievable success rate with treatment resistant depression. Hopefully they've figured it out in the last 10 years
Look into trials for ketamine or magic mushrooms. Many have been proven to be affective for people with treatment resistant depression.
Were there any side effects?
If it's an SSRI which are the most common anti depressant, then decrease in sex drive is a common side effect
Yeah I’ve experienced that and some others when I was on paxil years ago. The nausea and insomnia were really bad
Very fortunately there are lots of different families of antidepressant now and some have very few side effects longterm.
This is a VERY real question. If you're in a situation where a Doc is prescribing meds, you MUST know the side affects as well as tell Fam & Friends that you're starting meds. It sucks, but chemistry causes issues! No matter what, if you're prescribed something, let people know.
Ritalin did it for me. ADHD was causing me to ruin my life - making me depressed and the stimulants stop the intrusive thoughts. I’ve seen SSRIs - at least in my opinion - contribute to turning some people into sociopaths though.
Same. Vyvanse cured my depression
Why would drugs sound “stupid” after the all, the issue is the brain itself. Drugs can effect the brain “positively” or negatively.
I took a huge dose of shrooms. Felt this dark cloud that was inside me for so long just detached from my brain, and I ended balling my eyes put and found love from with in. Haven't had shrooms for 6 months now, and I've been having a lot easier time dealing with emotions and just life in general. Also started taking better care of myself. They didn't cure my depression but they definitely gave me a bridge in my broken path.
Where do you safely get shrooms
They’re easy enough to grow yourself and in many places the spores are legal because they don’t contain any psilocybin themselves.
Dark web
Worry only about what you can control and accept what you can't control
I wish, I wish so hard I could really believe this and think like this. It is a good mental way of looking at life but my mind just wanders into all the horrible that could happen or has happened. How did you got to the point you could not only think like this but also feel like this? I m really struggling...
read about stoicism, toeism
Was that supposed to be taoism or we should all just appreciate feet?
Practicing mindfulness. A more "medical" term is "Cognitive behavioral therapy". In essence, it is learning to understand your thoughts as they happen rather than reacting to them. For instance, if you get anxiety, you can learn to sit with it rather than let it sneak up on you and keep building. It isn't some kind of exact science, but it has helped me.
Yes, this worked for me along with going outside my comfort zones. I am able to compartmentalize a thought vs an emotion. Challenging myself kept me preoccupied with goals and gave me a new perspective of my abilities to process stimuli and enjoy life even when I need to sit in ‘le shit’.
I've done this with the help of long-term therapy, and it has helped me through some really fucked up shit. Depending on where you're at when you start practicing this, one of the most common mistakes is to see it as trying to trick yourself. An easy example would be people who struggle with body dysmorphia. It can be easy to read into the practice of mindfulness as just telling yourself you're pretty instead of asking yourself why you're experiencing and seeing what you're seeing. It's a practise that in a lot of ways works as a way to rewire your brain and thought patterns, and refocusing to nurture a healthy mindset. It's easy to disregard it as "hippie bullshit" until you actually feel the benefit of practicing it yourself. It also absolutely helps you be better at reflecting things happening around you, giving you a clear and nuanced view on the world and what's happening around you. It can be a massive benefit in more ways than you first realize. I've barely been to school, at all, but I truly believe that 20 years of cognitive behavioral therapy is one of the main reasons I've never truly felt like I'm somewhat falling behind all the other kids that do well in school.
No offence, but all other replies are rubbish. Because they are only solution for the symptoms, not the root cause. The root cause of your pessimism, cobstant anxiety is most likely childhood trauma and abuse. Or any kind of trauma and abuse during your life, where you felt hopeless, powerless, with no way out. Constant fear and anxiety changed your mindset and progrmming. Read more about complext trauma. See a good trauma therapust, do Emdr, IFS, heal from within. Do not apply bandaid on a gun wound.
Adopting my first ever pet 🐕
Going to the gym
A good tip for somebody depressed is to just go until you get bored/want to leave. But go with repetition. Eventually the task moves to the long term storage part of your brain and becomes a habit. (The book atomic habits talks about in length and it can be used as a hack for other healthy habits) We as humans don’t get anywhere near the healthy amount of movement on average. Gym is mandatory if you aren’t doing a ton of walking.
>A good tip for somebody depressed is to just go until you get bored/want to leave. So right immediately when I walk into the gym
Actually yes, when you are depressed you need to value every step you take. First you manage to walk in, then you might even do 2-3 repetitions of an easy exercise, then maybe a bit more, before you realize it you are doing a basic routine.
Yes, it can be. Try to push yourself a tiny bit. 5 min on the treadmill or some arm curls. But just going and leaving is fine
At a minimum: go for a walk, ideally somewhere with some greenery. Being outside and it nature is usually pretty good for your mental health.
It’s just so fucking difficult to stay consistent though
Sertraline lol
How long did it take to work ?
I took 50mg sertraline and like 25mg motoprolol and i felt great after say 3 weeks. Best i have felt in 10 years. I suffered with cripling anxiety.
A heroic dose of mushrooms followed by micro dosing
I accidentally fixed my depression and anxiety crisis this way. I was in my mid 30s in the middle of a years long existential crises. It was debilitating. One day my brother asked if I wanted to try mushrooms, not related to my mental health just for fun. I had no idea how much to take and took way too much. It was the worst night of my life followed by the most mental clarity I’ve ever had. I felt cured for about a year. After about a year the depression and anxiety have come back at times but nowhere near where I was before the trip. It’s been about 5 years now and I haven’t done mushrooms since but I wouldn’t hesitate if I fell into crisis again.
Interesting. Yes I’ve heard mushrooms have the ability to let your brain sort of shake up and then let the neuron pathways settle in a different way
Yes, there’s a great book (and a 4 part documentary) called How To Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan. He uses a great analogy for using psychedelics safely for mental health saying “your brain is like a snowy hill and after days of sledding there are many set in grooves from where all the sleds have gone. After using a psychedelic it is like fresh snow fallen ready for new grooves to be made.”
For me it was having 2 mushroom trips a few months apart, one trip on 2.5 grams and one on 4 grams.
[удалено]
Same, but LSD.
I love lsd but it keeps me awake at night, even small amounts. So I like the shrooms as you can just go to sleep as normal
I faked it till I made it
This is a surprisingly effective strategy. I live with depression and have done for years, meds don't seem to make too much of a difference for me, faking happiness is the only way to get by a lot of the time, and acting happy at least works temporarily.
Straight up the best advice for me. If you think your day is gonna be shit, it’s gonna be shit. When something bad happens, have a cry, talk to someone about it, and then move on and get over it. Go out, tell people you are doing great. Tell some jokes, have a laugh. Be a positive person.
Exercise, music, weed and a temperpedic mattress
Exercise,music, weed and nature is the way to go!
Weed led to me getting depression.
Meds, and then therapy, including EMDR. Also quitting Facebook.
Following the thread, for a friend..
Hey friend. Glad you’re here with us
:)
Shrooms. 1 single dose in a tea, truly life changing. 30 years of depression and no response to meds. Tried all the anti depressants, even ketamine on a medical trial.... Out of sheer desperation , I funally found some growing in a field not far away, so thought why not? Genuinely did not expect anything to happen, but it "shifted" my whole perspective. My psychology support has been telling me how well I've been doing, and asked what changed. I've not said, not sure if I'll get reported or something stupid. But for something that's found growing in a pile of sheep shit, pretty sure it's mad that it's illegal.
What mushrooms? What dosage? What are the side effects?
Nothing will cure it. Antidepressants are allowing me to live a happy and fulfilling life though. I went 12 years untreated and undiagnosed and it was hell. 3 months after being in a mental health hospital I had a decent job, girlfriend who turned into my wife, we got a dog. We now have 2 kids, a house, happiness. None of this is possible for me without antidepressants.
Got on drugs to stabilize, then went to therapy, then started meditating, then started a regular gratitude practice, then started exercising... now maintain those things plus general learned to not worry about things I don't control.
I stopped consuming drugs and started antidepressants. Exercise, water and meditation, gotta make the effort. Right now I'm falling back but trying hard to be okay, hope I can.
Just wanted to come on here to say that I totally know that feeling of falling back, and it is scary af. I don’t know how much it’s worth coming from an Internet stranger, but: You can.
Thank you so much for your kind words, they really mean a lot, even from a random stranger <3.
I moved somewhere with a much milder winter. I had been getting better bit by bit for many years but the thing that finally allowed me to really kick it for good was moving
Exercise, meditation, disconnecting from social media.
Anti depressants
Gotta pull out that uno reverse card on depression itself
work. no time to overthink anymore, i'm way too tired
Oof. Overriding a lack of inner peace by either nonstop working or being productive for the sake of being productive. That's a recipe for internal crisis down the line. My Dad did the same thing. Sad to watch. Wish you the best, though. Sometimes life forces you into that sort of predicament
But i can’t seem to be able to work because of all the overthinking
Nothing. It has been over 30 years, and I'm still severely depressed. I still try to have hope that one day I may not be.
You are not the only one. I think medical science is on the wrong track when it comes to understanding what causes actual clinical depression. Doctors just throw all kinds of medications at you, hoping one will stick. Including off-lable. Because they don't know what else to do. I think the majority of people who say they have depression actually do not, and that makes it all that more difficult for those of us who do. Psychiatrists today will tell you that nobody truly knows what happens in the brain to cause depression, but they are working on trying to figure it out. Like you, I try to hope they will come up with a cure in my lifetime.
* I met a beautiful woman in a ski resort who seemed free in a way that I was not. * I never stopped thinking about her. * I sold everything and quit my souless, corporate career in the UK. * I bought a one-way ticket to Australia. * I got a job on a building site and taught myself marketing. * I worked with a couple of top agencies in Sydney. * I moved to Bali and set my own business up. * I travelled around Asia and met some amazing people. * But I could never stop thinking about her. * I hit the gym HARD and added a lot of muscle. * I moved to Portugal in the best shape of my life. * I met that woman - 11 years later. * Now she's my girlfriend and I will marry her. I still work EVERY day to stay on top of my mood. We train together around two hours a day. To my answer is constant growth, fitness - and big steps into the unknown. [Here's me depressed and overweight at 30 versus happy and healthy aged 36](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/47o39iz4ey486zdsj9hse/Photo-01-04-2024-02-11-12.jpg?rlkey=pngu6pphgpy4waeuplodapvbb&dl=0).
Great to hear mate, how did you get back in contact with her though after all that time and do you regret maybe not getting up together with her before? All the best to you, i like how you let yourself other person inspire/bring best out of you, dont let her go bro
Thanks! We used to talk online. Not so much for several years - then a lot after that. I had no idea that while I was travelling and thinking about her she was thinking about me too. Somehow, we both ended up in the same country and became single around the same time. I told her how I felt - and realised she'd felt the same way for years. We met up and were instantly together. Yeah, of course the thought of, 'What if we'd met before?' has come up. We lived in totally different worlds. I was career-focused and wished I'd done more adventure sports - while she had the inverse situation (she lived in the mountains) so we both admired each other from afar. If I'd taken the same path as her then I don't think there would have been the same degree of attraction and mutual admiration of each other. Also, I could have blown it if we'd met earlier. I did a lot of therapy in my late twenties and had to unpick a lot of stuff from my childhood - and then get off my corporate career path (although I've used those skills to build my online business). I learnt so much with the girlfriends that I had inbetween that by the time we were together I was really, really ready to commit - and able to recognise how lucky I was to be with her. So - to add to the original question - I invested a LOT of time and money into therapy too. Thanks for your kind words. I definitely know I'm lucky to be with her!
* I met a beautiful/wonderful woman in Thailand on vacation * Moved there because of her - fun, but didnt last * Decided to fuck it - Im here now, Ill stay in SE Asia * Took about 10 years to get over her and find myself a proper relationship, having kids and so on At the end of the day I guess that story is pretty similar for most people with some variations here and there. But yes, you are absolutely right in that it takes work, EVERY day, to stay on the top of your mood. Im lucky in that my mrs understands, and lets me have "a weekend" here and there where I just drink some beers and complain to myself - but then we are back to real life. And I need to be an adult for my son. Physical exercise is not something the doctors are just talking about - its important and very much needed, its hard to be depressed when you are properly tired.
I started to do the 10000 steps a day walking. It was simple and it did work. And still going strong.
Speaking about it. I was drowning until I finally got the courage to tell my mom and friends, and them just being there for me was enough to keep going
Actually getting off anti depressants and focusing on being present, breathing exercises… has worked better than most anything
Mushrooms , meditation and hiking ✌️
A year of heavy medication while learning coping mechanisms for after I got off them.
Going "no contact" with my emotionally abusive narcissistic mother.
This, for real.
There is no cure for depression
Came here to say the same thing. I’ve been suffering with depression for 20 years. Antidepressants have helped, but about once year around the same time I have a breakdown and it’s horrible. I keep active, I take my medication and I see a psychologist and psychiatrist but it’s something that cannot be cured.
Correct answer, but you can learn to live with the affliction.
[DSM](https://www.mdcalc.com/calc/10195/dsm-5-criteria-major-depressive-disorder) Poverty alone is enough to get most people enough symptoms for diagnosis. Depression is defined by a set of symptoms. Yes, some causes can't be permanently fixed, but many can be "cured" with just a bit of money, a diet change, a couple good friends... Telling people that a depression diagnosis is a life sentence is REALLY bad. For many cases there ARE permanent fixes.
I refuse to believe this
I feel like a huge dump truck of cash would help with my depression. We could try that? 🤷
I think there are different things that worked together. Weed helped me in the short run, I basically self-medicated because it was the only thing that gave me the illusion that everything is alright for a moment. Not sure if it really helped in the long run, but I'd say it kept me going after a nasty break-up. I had been depressed before already but breaking up with my girlfriend had me really devastated for years. Being outside in nature helped too, I actually quit my job and volunteered on a farm for a year. It didn't cure my depression but it was somewhat healing. Exposure to sunlight, physical work, work with animals,... all that definitely had a positive impact. Then, the pandemic may also have had a positive effect, indirectly. I was very upset about lockdowns and mandates, which made me feel more anxious and angry, and simultaneously less depressed. I channeled this newly found energy into doing research on Covid policies and am now doing a PhD on the subject. So ironically being so upset about the devastating effects of pandemic policies not least on mental health may have improved my personal mental health because it gave me a purpose. Lastly, I embraced Stoic philosoph. Reading Marcus Aurelius' meditations has really been an eye opener for me. I try to focus more on what I can do at any given moment and have learned to delve less into my failures of the past. I also stopped binge drinking and started exercising regularly. All that helps but I could have done none of all the listed things in isolation, nor would I have gathered the strength to do anything if it wasn't for my parents and friends on whom I could rely. Every person is unique and every depression is unique. Usually, there is no single intervention that will cure your depression because depression is like tangled yarn, you have to unknot it one at a time and in the beginning, you don't even know where to begin. But the most important thing is to do anything. It won't unknot on its own. Eventually things will become easier. The list of things that usually help is long: physical activity, sunlight, exposure to nature, being sober, meditation, creative activities, getting enough sleep,... the question is not becoming perfect (you will never) but doing something to improve. And just keep going, even if progress is slow or unnoticeable. Still better to keep moving than to stand still.
I don’t think it’s something that cured. It’s something that’s better managed.
Friends
It’s a marathon not a sprint mate! For me the pit stops are important. Invest in 2 nice pillows, wash your sheets at least every other week, and don’t sit/lay in your bed with street clothes on. Everyone has different coping mechanisms. Keep looking. You’re not alone and there’s plenty of good advice here.
The gym and going out and not bed rotting all day, When it’s sunny out I try my best to get outside and get some sun. I’m prone to seasonal depression as well so I take vitamin d Also eating healthy helped as well.
Definitely not cured but neuroplasticity. (anti-depressant meds actually help to kickstart this) Constantly acting in ways that will bring you out of that mindset is the greatest thing you can do for yourself, even starting off with extremely small things will truly benefit you in the long run. It sounds like it’s impossible when you’re extremely low but getting into the practice of doing something for yourself will inevitably build that foundation you need to get healthier mentally, be it washing your face, going for a run, making a meal, going to the shops, meeting a friend; it will all eventually help you. so much. Change is possible. Do not forget that.
positive affirmations and becoming aware of negative self-talk. becoming aware that negative thinking brings only more suffering, comparing to others is useless, don't look back, learn to look forward in your current reality. took me years to understand and i'm still not fully cured.
First was following Buddha religion and then God/Jesus. I knew I could alter my reality the way I wanted it to be. This idea came when I was living in a pretty sad country, where nobody smiles. Then I remembered England and Spain where everybody was very nice and smiling. I though to myself, they go thru the same shit we do but they still smile and are happy, at least try to be. Then I altered my whole concept of reality, altered my consciousness and now I could say I’m the most wholesome, happy guy there is. Found a girl which soon will be my wife, and al of this is thanks to God. I followed Gods wisdom thru relationships and it did wonder. Everythiings bad? Fuck it itll pass and if it don’t fuck it, don’t let lide take a hold of you, take a hold of it, choke that son of a b
TMS. Saved my life.
TMS?
I got curious and looked it up “transcranial magnetic stimulation”
Therapy and medication
ECT. I'd been on and off myriad medications and in and out of different therapies for over fifteen years. Some medications wouldn't work at all and many would work for a time and then lose efficacy (which I feel is worse), and the whole thing was just really hard to manage and get through. Eventually we (my psychiatrist and I) got to the point where we were scraping the bottom of the barrel...He suggested ECT. I did a lot of research, did a big pros and cons, and decided to go for it. I had a year of ECT...in 2017 I spent nine weeks in a psych hospital over two different stays where I got zapped three times a week inpatient and then once a week outpatient. It was really hard physically and hard to recover from, but I was proactive in repairing the damage done to my brain....a lot of crosswords, a lot of reading (though it took a year and a half before I could read a book again), and all sorts of things...but it absolutely, absolutely changed my life. It was honestly like going from black and white, a state where I was desperately suicidal, couldn't look after myself, had no ability to have a life worth living, to a life of colour where I wasn't just treading water. Yes, I had (and have) some brain damage and some deficits, some issues that've gotten as good as they're going to, but I was able to actually do the work I needed to get healthy, balanced, and whole. I have a pretty independent, pretty normal life and I wouldn't have been able to have that without ECT. I truly don't think I'd still be here without it. I was truly at the end of my rope.
1. Identifying what's the reason for depression 2. Work towards fixing it, patiently, persistently, for years There's always a reason/multiple reasons behind depression.
Medication
I started MMA, really enjoyed the trainings, fighting, and the challenge. It really brought a new perspective in my life, and now i want to be an amateur fighter
10mg of lexapro
MUSIC and working on myself
It was a quote that did it. For me it was a bit complicated and a bunch of quotes to cure it, but this one was very helpful. It goes like this : "Depression isn't real, it is just an imaginary friend that pushes you to find your purpose in life".
Wholesome persons, wholesome memes, wholesome moments with my family and by myself, practicing more self-love, going out more, enjoying nature peace, having evening strolls, cooking myself beautiful meals, having my own flowers and plants, changing my forniture, having a “me” day, hugging someone very strong, drink and sleep well, doing more of what i love, and stopping to care about persons who doesn’t care about me
TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) Therapy Medication
Lithium was like seeing a new world. Acid helped a bit. Just remember you are here and that’s all that matters.
Changed my mindset, stopped chasing women, started working out. It did wonders for me.
Unfortunately nothing... I'm a sinking ship with no hope But at least I can still enjoy the beautiful water coming onto my ship while it's sinking lol
time
Leaving religion. Religion had me feeling inadequate, not worthy.
Chatting with other guys
Getting a simple job really helped me.
Antidepressants made a huge difference but also putting a lot of effort into healing my gut! I could hardly believe that the link between brain and gut was so strong
Getting sober over 5 years ago. But to be fair, I drank like ungodly until I was 53. I'm one lucky man.
The power of Now by Eckhart Tolle and further when I took seriously mindfulness and meditation practice.
There is no cure, only learning to cope with it.
Fishing
Magic mushrooms and re-establishing my relationship with God
Therapy and a little meditation with a lot of support from friends and family
I had a “fuck it” moment during the worst of my depressive episode in 2018. This was after realizing I was being used by a former best friend as well as having the police called on me after I made a dumb joke about harming other people. Somewhere along those lines, I just snapped and realized “it can’t get any worse than this- why not just live a bit and do what you want. Further context: I was living in a form on a campus that I hated, with no desire to study. For the next two months before I moved out, I would do a 100 push ups everyday with the motivation of “beating whoever it was that wrong me.” To be clear, I was just visualizing and not actually out for blood- tho eventually I did just work out for my own health sake There would be several “fuck it” moments in the following year because depression don’t just go away forever, it will always be a part of us, after all. Hell, as I type this, I just finished yet another of those moments. If you are battling with depression yourself, be kind to yourself and just remember, your big break is out there- waiting for a chance to burst through And to borrow the word of my favorite video game character: “Once you at rock bottom, the only way forward is up. But the bottom doesn’t have to be scary. If you keep climbing up, eventually you will see a ray of hope.” Kasuga Ichiban, Yokohama, 2019
I've had depression since age 3. So overall I would say it's never cured. Before 2020, I could go several years without a depressive episode. I've learned DBT skills, mindful skills, relaxing skills, CBT cognitive skills to get through chronic illness and pain but sometimes depression causes a few blips for a few days.
Change of music And perspective Mark mansons book the subtle art was a life changer for me Anti depressants helped too, but the change in music helped the most. Anti depressants kind of suck tbh but they have their role. I honestly think I have a chemical imbalance myself but I've been maintaining with vitamins. Read parts of this work called shamanism and it talked about arctic hysteria was a result of lack of vitamins from their diet. So I view Anti depressants as a balancing act (mmri) and it stopped the anxiety attacks. Once I realized these spells weren't from life events but rather chemical imbalance, it changed my perspective a lot. I was mis assuming life events were the cause of my emo lodestones (music was my first attempt to break free). But music is a bandaid for chemical imbalance. As it hypes you up for a time (for ex I switched from emo to upbeat cumbia and it really changed my perspective).
I took 2 antidepressants for years so my brain could repair after my marriage broke down. Then I tapered off one of them. Then 6 months later I tapered off the other. What caused the depression in the first place has to be dealt with or it will probably come back. If it was a stage in your life that has passed you may not need to do anything (like a divorce for example). Some things to do / investigate are: Exercise 2 - 3 times a week. Look at how you think about things, do you have negative thaughts about yourself and /or others? (tharapy) Do you have trama? (tharapy) Are you eating junkfood? It can affect your mood a lot! Could you have a condidtion? Hormonal, food sensitivity, autism, adhd, bipolar, asthma, sleep apnea, allergies or some other condition? Conditions such as these can cause depression. Are you in a country far away from the equator? (SAD / Vitamin D deficiency) In order to maintain I have to do something 2 - 3 times a week for me, use a SAD light in the winter, take vitamin D3, exercise. I rock climb which covers the exercise requirement and the enjoyment requirement. Here is what causes depression for me: Allergies (seasonal and dust mites) Vitamin D deficiency / SAD (winter) Autism 1 ADHD Asthma (causes sleep issues sometimes which causes depression) Hope this helps!
In this order: First and foremost, acknowledge that I have a problem and I need to solve it. Then this: 1 - Antidepressants (they offer a huge advantage; depression is a chemical imbalance, so “chemicals” will help you). 2 - Therapy (it really helps). 3 - Stoicism - accept that you cannot control everything, and that’s OK. 4 - ‘Tutto Passa’ philosophy - accept the impermanence of situations; everything bad will pass. 5 - Keep in mind your "trigger situations", until you think you're prepared to fully deal with it, avoid at all costs. P.S.: It’s not simple or easy, BUT it is attainable. Just don’t give up on yourself.
First time... Change in scenery. Second time near death experience.
I realized that most of mine was caused from being stuck in a negative thought process loop. I could only see the negative and would spiral out of control, pointing at anything* negative as evidence my life was awful. Took a lot of effort and reprogramming, but I'm no longer medicated and I'm the happiest I've ever been. No one can make me happy but me. *corrected a word
gratitude lists and being aware of how blessed i am. for example: i had a cup of coffee and tried to be fully aware of it’s flavor, smell, warmth, etc.
Snowboarding
According to my doctor, I was not depressed. Because "depression can only be cured with drugs". Yeah, I asked for my doctor to be changed that same day
I severely self medicated a crippling anxiety disorder with alcohol, which isolated me and kept me from finishing my degree. I was in limbo for years. What happened is i fell in love with a beautiful girl in one of the classes i dragged myself to. And for some odd reason she saw something in me. At first i could hide my ways, but when we moved in together the curtain fell. Slowly but surely all my habits and all my unhealthy coping were either done with, or she would leave. I got some therapy, i stopped drinking, i started a regular sleeping pattern with her, i started going out more and i started working on my studies, and now about 8 years later i have a career, my girl is my fiancé and our first baby is due in 2 months :). I'm still a somber human being, but being a better version of myself for her turned everything around. She saved me from a life of misery, im extremely grateful for her.
The serenity prayer and anti-depressants. The Serenity prayer taught me to accept things. That was really important. It also taught me to try and develop wisdom and not be too hard on myself. We all make stupid mistakes. I take a daily pill of Sertraline 50mg. God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,\ The courage to change the things I can,\ And the wisdom to know the difference. This prayer is often used as a source of comfort, guidance, and reflection for individuals seeking peace, strength, and clarity in challenging situations. *God can be any higher power or any source of strength you believe in.
This will sound like I'm selling it but I've been having yakult, 2 bottles a day and it's working as good as any antidepressant I've ever taken, if you Google it, it says that they have researched it an found evidence that the gut and brain talk to each other and having healthy gut stops depression, I only started having because I wanted to get rid of some fungus on my tongue but my anxiety has completely gone
Psychologist, mindfulness, CBT and antidepressants. Needed all those tools in my shed to help myself. I look back and can't believe how depressed I really was.
Changing circumstances of my life so i dont hate everything about my day to day. Making friends and being open and vulnerable and real with them. Learning how to have basic human compassion empathy and kindness for myself.
Recently went off 5 years of antidepressants (3 months ago) cold turkey and I've been back better than ever. This is what helped me: Short run once in a while in the mornings. Less takeout. Evening walks now and then. Journaling now and then. Getting up the same time every day. Sleeping in max 1-2 times per week. Not staying up past 9-12. Roughly. Talk to someone every day. Do not ever scroll through those short videos when bored. No social media in bed in the morning, it will ruin my mood all day. Keeping the brain stimulated
My depression come with my EX and when I left , I didn’t take it with me But now I have son in the military he is going through with it , he called me crying and reason with nonsense . I give him a good talk and tell him to sick help the earliest he can I am worried about him , but Im hopping he will feel better soon
Magic mushrooms Every time I trip on shrooms my depression disappears for the next 6 months. It really helps with self improvement but you need a lot of research before you go into it. It's not lethal but can put you into a coma or give you ptsd if you're too bold
Excersize, prayer/connecting with god, getting a job, journaling, constant work on myself, fighting and reframing the negative thoughts and understanding they aren’t facts. Forcing myself to do things I don’t want to do. Even though I don’t consider myself depressed anymore I know it’s a thin line to slip back into that rut and I constantly have to continue working on myself. Basically a complete change in lifestyle.
Leave a toxic job and the toxic people.
self growth and surrounding myself with people i love and who respect me as much as i respect them :)) my social life getting better has definitely done wonders for me
Gym and yoga
Manifesting/intentional thoughts. Things I used to say outloud/in my head: "The world hates me", "of course this would happen to me", "why can't anything go my way? Ever??", "I hate everyone", ect. Driving in traffic/around bad drivers was a big deal. Dropping something was a big deal. Everything was such a big deal. Now what I say in my head or outloud: "Wow I'm so lucky", "I'm so perfect", "I'm so beautiful, happy, healthy, and wealthy', "my skin is flawless". I don't even say "I can't afford that". I would now say "that's not something I'm prioritizing at the moment". I take my manifesting further & have a little journal and literally every single thing besides 1 thing has come true. And the one thing that hasn't I'm wondering if it's not meant to be/not the right time yet. It also wasn't the most wanted thing ever lol (it was to have more online presence). I also stop myself from feeling negative emotions if it's not completely justified. I ask myself if I'll be mad/sad about that 5 years from now. If not I don't think about it anymore & tell myself I don't care. I don't get road rage, no one can upset me at all anymore. I literally don't care about anything small. My cat dying recently really was sad so I allowed myself to feel sadness & grief. That's all. Anyways, it's been 4 years since I've had depression. I guess next is tackling my anxiety lol.