What are signs of depression? Can you fix it without taking medication?

[Anonymous]

I think I'm depressed. What are the signs of depression?

[ironeddie]

I copied and pasted this from the link below. To give you an idea of what the signs are.

There are a lot of ways it can be treated with or without medication. If you read this and feel you may be suffereing with depression. (as opposed to a down period). I recommend going to your doctor and starting there. It can hopefully be treated with exercise and or changing thought patterns.

But please if you are going to see your doctor about it. Do it soon. Take a hold of it now.

When I was diagnosed, about 35 years ago the treatment was "Get over it". 35 years ago. It's only been the last 3 years I've actually been getting any real help. I feel a lot better. But still have a ways to go. My life is a mess. Hopefully it won't always be.

Read the link, do some more google searches. If you are depressed please go to your doctor. I wouldn't want anyone to end up like me. You don't want to be in my hell.

Depression is a mental illness that affects a person’s mood—the way a person feels. Mood impacts the way people think about themselves, relate to others, and interact with the world around them. This is more than a ‘bad day’ or ‘feeling blue.’ Without supports like treatment, depression can last for a long time.

Signs of depression include feeling sad, worthless, hopeless, guilty, or anxious a lot of the time. Some feel irritable or angry. People lose interest in things they used to enjoy and may withdraw from others. Depression can make it hard to focus on tasks and remember information. It can be hard to concentrate, learn new things, or make decisions. Depression can change the way people eat and sleep, and many people experience physical health problems.

www.cmha.ca/.../#.U44HuvldWiU

[TedStar]

If you have felt Low Mood or Anhedonia plus any of these below for two weeks then go and see a DR or psychiatrist. They can accurately diagnose you
Mood changes:

Low Mood
Anhedonia
irritibility

Biological changes:
Disturbed sleep pattern
Loss of appetite
loss of libido
loss of energy
pain

Cognitive changes:
Hopelessness
Loss of self esteem and worthlessness
Guilt
impaired attention and concentration

Behavioral changes:

Psycho motor slowing
Agitation
Social withdrawal

[beckamazara]

If you feel low, exhausted, have little or no interest in socializing, loss of appetite, etc you may be depressed.
Of course there are other ways to treat depression. Exercise is known to help treat depression. Also, getting out in nature is another thing that is supposed to help get rid of depression. In Japan doctors will prescribe someone suffering from depression to go into the forest for a certain amount of time (example: for half an hour for 7 days a week for 3 weeks)
You should definitely talk to your doctor about how you are feeling and they may have some other suggestions. If you are afraid they will make you take medication remember that they can't make you do anything you don't want to do

[Sex_Panther]

General sadness persisting for X weeks without a rational reason ( such as grieving ) is general depression. Depression relating to rational reasons is treated differently.

Chemical depression cannot be fixed without medication. It is lifelong and an abnormality of the brain.

General depression can be fixed in general by changing the situation or nature of what is actually the cause.

Depression can be a side-effect of many medical conditions however and should be checked if there was a sudden change in diet, routine, health, or environment.

Sidenote: You CANNOT treat depression with vitamin C or exercise. Exercise will increase endorphins for a time. Vitamin D would actually be what would improve your mood the most (I.E. sunlight), not C, this dude is a moron, and Vitamin D deficiency must be diagnosed by a doctor. Do not take Vit. D pills as a supplement without a doctor's notice.

[Blondiee2014]

Yea medication is man made there are lots of cures for depression , vitamin c and exercise help a lot.

[pancakee]

you cannot diagnose it actually.

[TedStar]

you can't? what about the DSM 5?