Depression help without meds?

Yes! CBT (cognitive behavior therapy). I have been in therapy for years (chronic severe depression, which luckily is mostly controlled with medication); but what I found really helpful is a CBT workbook. You can either do the lessons/exercises by writing in the book, or, as I do, use a journal or notebook to write your answers. The workbook helps you identify and look deeper into how your emotions effect your behavior and how your behavior effects your emotions (it's a cycle). Amazon has lots of choices. If you have a therapist to help you through it, even better. I wish you well in your journey.

Thanks Dave,

You make a lot of good points. Once you find a good Dr or medical or psychological professional, hang onto them. I met my psychologist in 2008 while living in CA. We retired and moved away from CA, but I still have monthly Zoom calls with her.

And you're right about using addictive substances, whether they be benzos like Klonopin, opiates, and of course, alcohol. I haven't had a drink in 14 years and have no desire to re-start. These substances can take control of us, and that is not a healthy way to live.

Joe

@dorma
I have always been extremely sensitive to drug side effects since I was in my teens. I have a few suggestions for you. Have you had your Vitamin D, B12, Folate and Ferritin (iron storage) levels checked? All those deficiencies including low iron storage (with or without full blown anemia) can cause depression. If your ferritin level is under 30 on lab values, please consider taking iron daily and work with a doctor who will help you get it above a therapeutic level. Secondly, have you tried St. John’s Wort? It is a natural supplement with lots of research to back its anti-depressant benefits. I take Standard Process St John’s Wort-IMT and it has helped me.

I have been tested for most of those; I was told everything was fine. Thank you for the thought of St. John's Wort; I had not thought about that. I will get some!

One day my iPhone gave me a depression/anxiety quiz. It said I had severe depression and anxiety. I couldn’t imagine that was true as I had always been happy, hopeful, and glad to be alive. However, my fall was gradual and I had not become really aware of how depressed I was. It was true though as I hadn’t left my room for very often for nearly a year. I decided to look into getting help and didn’t want to take medications. I worked much of my life in Clinical Trial Research. Did some looking around online and found Epic Brain Center in Reno, NV. I live near Reno so this was convenient. It was life changing. In all my dreams I could not have had a better outcome. I never dreamed I could feel so hopeful, so happy, so energetic again. I did ten 30 minute treatments. The very best thing I have done for myself in decades. All I can say is look into it. Find a place that does EMBP treatment near you. It is similar to TMS only much more effective. If you go to the reviews at the Epic Brain Center website many mention life changing or similar words. Mayo Clinic has this treatment, I don’t know what department but they do.

Thanks! I've never heard of that before...but I will check into that.

I am currently on escitalopram. I think it works okay. I still get bouts of depression but they aren't constant. I laugh because my doctor and therapist keep asking if I think my dose is high enough - I tell them "yeah" because they don't know what I would be like without my escitalopram - not pretty. My experience is an antidepressant will work for me, until it doesn't. I've been on a number of them over the years. I'm hoping the escitalopram will keep working for the foreseeable future.

@thisfatoldlady
Yes I think my escitalolpram is working also. Those type medication were never consider to be uppers just maintenance.

My medication specialist also wanted me to consider raising mine recently as was really getting down as I am a care giver and my wife was really have some serious medical issues. I declined.

A couple of years ago (I was escitalopram) I lost my sister unexpectantly. I did not go into derpression like I thought I would. I contacted my psychiatric medication specialist thinking something was wrong. I was told, no that is the escitalopram working.

I was told I would be on escitalopram for life.