I have done various types of treatments for depression and anxiety over the years. I'm 69 years old, and started talk therapy in groups when I was 26 years old. Because of my rough childhood, I was aware when my feelings began to make me take reckless chances with my life and others lives when I was angry. I stopped one day and even though I was afraid, I called a mental health lifeline and asked for help. They guided me to my first group therapy experience. I eventually also did one-on-one talk therapy, along with group therapy for years. In my 40s I was invited to take training and become a support group facilitator which I did for another 7 years. During all these years I still suffered from depression but learned ways to handle it better.

I also discovered Yoga during my early 30s, and used running to relieve my stress until I hurt my back. I returned to Yoga (Restorative Yoga) in my late 50s and found it tremendously helpful. I read every self-help book available, each of which helped for a while. I took EST Training (twice) in the late 1970s and it was tremendously helpful. Still, my depression returned and my anxiety never left. I suffered from panic attacks and anxirty all these years, never really handing it well.

In 1995, my husband and I moved from the high pressure corporate world of Silicon Valley, computer startups, constant change, and high salaries to a small Amish town in rural Missouri where we heard the clop, clop, clop of horses and buggies in exchange for semi trucks and highway noise. While there we declared bankruptcy at one point and I was mortified that we were no longer in the flush. We had started a bed and breakfast w/restaurant and were making no money. We finally closed the restaurant after I took a job outside our business, mostly for health insurance coverage. We broke even in the B&B after that, and stress went down again. I eventually took a job in a hospital close to town, and then my career took off again. I was offered a job in a town in Nebraska making 3 times more money, and I took it. We kept the B&B and had a young former Amish couple manage it. Then we moved to Nebraska. The hospital there was poorly managed, and I did not work well with my boss who was the VP. I was even more depressed and eventually we moved back to Missouri. I was so depressed I finally asked my GP doctor about antidepressants. He prescribed Citalopram, which took me a long time to titrate onto. I almost gave up.

I had been totally against medication to deal with depression so it was hard for me to even consider taking anything. But, when I adjusted to it, I felt so much better I was asking myself why i had put it off for so long. I now truly believe that certain chemical imbalances in the brain can make alternative treatments alone, ineffective. This is only my experience and it may be different for each person. I think the most effective treatments for depression include both medication and alternative treatment of some kind. I prefer group therapy and Restorative Yoga, as well as time spent in nature at the beach, in the mountains, in national parks, in art museums, etc. I love art and will be drawing and painting again after our move to our daughter's new home. I have been addicted to Tramadol for the past year due to a back problem. I have noticed some occasional return of anxiety now that I've withdrawn from it. I'm hoping that over the next few months this will dissipate. I don't want to change antidepressants as it's a guess about which will work.

Please feel welcome to ask me any questions you may have about my experiences. I am not a medical professional, so I can only impart my experiences.

Gail B
Volunteer Mentor