Depression help without meds?

Since you seem to be indicating that your depression is being driven by factors other than an underlying neurological disorder, you might consider trying cognitive behavioral therapy. It's been well documented as working for some patients. And while my depression is clinical and I've had the good fortune to have it well managed by medication, I've used CBT for an extra boost and found it quite helpful.

Perhaps look around in the area where you live and see if someone is certified for providing it. Since it doesn't involve medical intervention, you won't find yourself dealing with the sort of side effects and withdrawal difficulties that can occur with medications. So it's a safe bet for investigating and trying.

Wishing you good luck on this.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/cognitive-behavioral-therapy/about/pac-20384610

@rozy288 Please educate yourself on energy work. Reiki practitioners or masters are everywhere. A good one will pinpoint where in your body stuffed emotions are trapped and they will know how to lift the pain. This is based on the theory that your emotions are not in your head but are located in various chakras. Another hands-on modality is SHEN emotional release therapy. I went through training for 8 straight days. I was then free of anxiety meds for a year. Plenty of books on this ancient healing method on-line or in your library.

@david707
I had a friend in MD that did this for a living .
I live far from her so never went .
I don’t drive & feel too sick 🤢 and wiped out from 7 chronic GI illnesses 12 years, deep grief over losing my husband suddenly 11 months ago , severe insomnia, chronic fatigue, heart palpitations. I know a lot about Chinese medicine.
My brother was a Dr of Acupuncture in NY .
Also a perfusionist in open-heart surgery for 30 years.
Unfortunately I don’t live by him either .
I was a pretty health very active person most of my life until some serious issues started .
I have gone the holistic route many x .
Now the family wants me to pay $6500/7 k to see a FM Dr that my x sis in law goes to for years .
I’m so unsure . I barely can eat so I know I can’t follow a special diet . I hate eating 🥣 .

I’m off antidepressants now because I’ve tried many and side effects are brutal .
If I could sleep 💤 & get more food in me first energy , I may be able to function.
I’m not convinced on Reiki . Maybe massage therapy more ?
I tried hypnosis 3 x and can’t be hypnotized 😵‍💫.
I’ll google SHEN . Tk you for your advice.
Please 🙏 pray for me . I’m trying but failing at everything now .

@rozy288
The MD running the TMS center will evaluate your physical health including your heart to determine if you can be a candidate. He/she might ask you to get an exam (if one hasn’t been done recently) from your PCP.

Your exhaustion may be caused by your depression. It’s one of the symptoms.

Most insurance, including Medicare, usually covers it.
I’m assuming you have had a trial of 2 antidepressants which didn’t help. TMS has something like a 75% rate so while the schedule is annoying, it may be well worth the effort.

I do hope you feel better soon.
Best.

@david707
Wilhelm Reich Orgone Theory (discredited only because these guys were too sexually oriented).
Primal Scream therapy.
"This guy gives me a pain in my neck (or lower down?)"

@5148branelly Thank you for all the info .
Unfortunately I can’t get up daily & go to the 30-60 straight days of TMS therapy .
I don’t drive & feel too unstable to go alone in Uber .
I’m going to try the FM Dr & see . It’s a huge investment but my kids and my friend who goes to her says she will help me ???
I’m not convinced because the diet & fact I barely can get food in me .
I wish they could bring the TMS to me .

@rozy288 Do you have support near by? A close friend or family member? Is there a support group you could attend....not via the net but physical presence? Sleep is essential. I am 80 and from time to time I need prescription sleeping pills that give me 8 to 10 hrs sleep.
See your doctor for this. Once you no longer have anxiety about sleeping, you will feel better about facing your health issues. Another anti-anxiety substance you might try is pot. Legal in most states, you could try CBD oil, or CBD/CBN oil for sleep. I cannot take regular pot because the THC make me anxious, although many people just report the calming high. That is why companies create CBD oil and the CBN is the part of the plant that makes you drowsy. If you want to try the THC I recommend you have a good friend or family member with you. All for now...you will get through this!

I have CBD oil and tried many brands . Tried the CB/ THC combo too . I have been on Ambien for years but now I take nightly for last year .
It’s lost effectiveness. I take Melatonin in between.
Can’t do pot or plain THC caps , makes me more anxious like you .
I have my two kids 33 & 37 & they are married & have 16 & 6 month old grandbabies close by , but I don’t drive . They are very busy with life & homes , work & babies & life .
Thru want to see me but I at 64 am always so sick ( 🤢, barely can eat , heart palpitations, insomnia & panic attacks , sheer fatigue).
I’m getting weaker . I used to tahr great care of myself and my appearance & looked way younger than my age . My husband did too . He passed suddenly in my arms 11 months ago . That was the end of me . I literally am physically unable to do much of anything. I look terrible most every day , I’m not caring for myself & don’t care .
I have 1 friend 45 minutes away that comes and helps me weekly or every 2 weeks . She’s my X sis in law & friend of 42 years.
I actually have other old friends that live within an hour but everyone knows the shape I’m in & don’t want to be around me like this . I’m a different person, very depressing to be around.
My two dogs & I aren’t even in our beautiful home 🏠 anymore last 20 months. It’s sold since Oct , 2 hrs away .
I can’t even go to my daughters for dinner 🥘 because I can’t eat much nor want to . My heart PVCs are horrible with the Gastro illnesses of 12 years.
I don’t want to go to any grief groups as they are too triggering.
I do weekly therapy telehealth last 9 months, tried a couple psychiatrist, and quite a few different antidepressants. I need to find a new one as I do not like current one at all . She’s cold 🥶 and just throws meds at me .
I get terrible side effect from all I’ve tried .
I’m def stuck in this broken body & mind in here .
I have half the space as 1:4 yard , half my life in boxes in garage packed & not to be unpacked in this house 🏡 that’s 3 x price .
All I want is to be able to sleep 💤 & be able to eat a meal & not suffer everyday.
I really just want my love back & our pond home 🏠 we had .
You are kind to make all the good suggestions.
I’ll be seeing this Functional Med Dr that cost a fortune end of May of my friends . I’m scared to death of everything. I used to be soooo strong in mind & body .
I want to be able to see my grandbabies & I’m so close but I just can’t get past all my health problems so I self isolate .
I walk my dogs 2 x a day & not much else . Weather has been great last 5 months here in Palm Bch Co but I know what’s ahead soon .
Been living in FL 7 years. NC on acre 6 years prior , & NE Ohio 23 years. Org from Long Island. Have not lived there since HS though .
Also just lost a best friend of mine of 46 years in Feb . I’m crushed over that too .
Tks again … David

Thank you Dave. It's always good to meet a kindred spirit. I still get weird looks when I say I worked for 100% commission. My point to these people is simple - If I sell something, in my case it was management consulting projects, and those projects return a profit to the company, I want 25% of that profit. Not very complicated, although I had to watch the project manager's accounting very closely.

But I was around at least once a week to check progress, and I attended all interim-project updates with clients. And in a prior life I was in finance/accounting, so I understood what I was looking at.

So the downsides are 1) working on an RFP for weeks and not winning, and 2) selling an unprofitable project. The 1st happened a lot more than the 2nd.

And I had one of those jobs where comp was base plus bonus. Those comp plans sucked. There was no way to tie the bonus to profitability.

Funny story - I overheard a guy about my age at the gym and also retired how he would have made so much more money had he gotten his MBA. Turns out this guy was a career-long insurance adjuster. NOT a risk taker.

I didn't butt in, but an MBA alone is little more than table stakes to get a job you want. I have an MBA and it did help a little. But I made money because I was willing to take on risk, work without a net, and accept the bad times and move on.

Education is fine and needed, and I learned a lot getting my MBA. But people are delusional if they think they'll be thrown buckets of cash because they have the degree. Be smart, have confidence you can do the job and deliver, take on acceptable risk, and insist on a cut of the profits that is easily verifiable.

But back to my insurer-adjuster friend - he had an average career and was compensated accordingly for not being willing to take on risk. An MBA would have been a waste of time.

Thanks again Dave! Always a pleasure!

Joe

@rozy288
You’re dealing with some tough stuff. Some assistance from your friend might help.
I hope things b improve for you.
Best.