Sufferers of depression, what has helped you?

[lulubear]

I've been depressed for 4 years. Sought help December of last year. They switched me to Lexapro because prozac makes me sweat like a whore in church. I will be going to therapy next week and I am little nervous and doubtful.

I stopped my substance abuse and I have more energy and some clarity. Exercise and writing poetry helps me (lame ik shh) for sure.

I just wanted to hear other's experiences. What worked for you and what did not?
Do you think anyone ever really gets better? Completely better? Or is depression like addiction? Its always lurking.

[BearsAnswers]

I was on a ton of medication to get me through the worst stages of my depression. Zoloft, Wellbutrin and Trazodone, I think. It was years ago. I was on so much that the doctors were amazed I wasn't having seizures. It was what helped stabilize my depression so I wasn't suicidal any more, which then let me start to heal the problems that were causing it all. For that, I initially used a bit of therapy, which was helpful. You just need to really be open and honest with the therapist. No point having someone that is trying to help you, and then you lie to them because you are embarrassed or something.

I didn't use the therapy long, to be honest. It just pointed me in the right direction, and I was able to start dealing with the issues myself. I removed the negative, destructive people from my life and started replacing them with good humans. Made friends online with people that could relate, and they helped me have someone to talk with while I built a stronger support network in person.

I ended up not needing the medication any more either. It is lurking though, in the background, but manageable. I now know my triggers, and can usually tell when I'm sliding back into something. I can usually fix it myself at this point, but sometimes I'll need to pop back onto meds for a couple of months just to get things stabilized.

The thing is to not take it as any sort of personal failing. It's just brain chemistry, and sometimes the chemistry goes awry. Blaming yourself for having issues with the chemical balance of your brain is like blaming someone for having sickle cell anemia or something. The have improper behaviour in their hemoglobin production, someone with clinical depression has improper behaviour in their brain chemistry.

[Theguyoverthere]

As someone who was in a mental home for 1 week due to depressive journaling deeming me "suicidal" and not allowed back into the school until "proven" what I can say helps is good friends and definitely exercise. A good "runner's high" goes a long way. Years later I'm a gym goer doing really well. I really feel being active and outside of the house works wonders.

A good therapist helps but you may need to "shop around" for one. Like one therapist could just be a guy who nods and that works great if you just need someone to rant at. But if you need more interaction that one may not be for you.

[Anonymous]

I'm a psychologist myself, and I had a best friend who used to be depressed for a long time, but luckily he's much better right now. I think it's best that you take your meds and go once a week to a psychotherapy. Meds will help you feel full of energy again, but the psychologist will help you really solve your problems. It's very hard to open to someone in the beginning but it's important to endure, because first results may come after a few months.

[Thegoodgirl88]

Meds, but I don't really take them, taking to my therapist
being active walking, workout, boxing and wrestling

Just doing things to keep my mind off of everything

[muspelhem_5]

Antidepressants didn't work for me, but antipsychotics allowed me to enjoy things. But I would never recommend them, they have far too many drawbacks, and I feel like I lost a decade of my life living in a drug-induced haze.

This motivational coach (Chris MacDonald) says that physiological energy = mood, and I think that is true to an extent. He says that for the software (thoughts and feelings) to run well, the hardware needs to work.

So things like healthy sleeping, eating and exercise boost your energy, which boosts your mood.

I'm trying that approach lately, and still depressed. But I feel a bit more resilient/less vulnerable to stress.

Take care and well done for getting to where you are today :)

[NiallM]

Medication is a bandage for a broken leg, what I did was write a list of all my problems and worked through them one by one, The problems are made in your mind and its only in your mind that they can be destroyed. 2 years later I'm depression and anxiety free :)

[muspelhem_5]

Awesome :)

[TJM27]

I don't have depression but my sister does and going to therapy and just having a friend to talk to about her problems really helped her. I'm used to talking to her when she's having a bad day so you can message anytime you're feeling down and need someone to talk to.

[Kobiiz]

Hey I'm sorry ur going through that

So I was first dignosed when I was 7 after i Was adopted then i started to have flash backs of my sexual and physical abuse plus i was bullied and I started cutting at in the 5th gd and stoped during the summer I was going into 9th gd I stopped cause i went to willow springs treatment center and was there 9 months

I got out and kept my self stable for a yr... Then it was triggered when I found my bio family... But this time I knew what to do

Self positive statements such as "I can do this" or "wow! I did amazing in that play in 3rd down" I also played sports and my team helped me when I needed I found one person I can talk to about anything and know this person really cared writing songs listening to music also visualization tech like close ur eyes and invision a beautiful scene like a water fall with some one u like or love I hope this helps

[JustinCaseUDontKnow]

The only thing medication does is help with some of the symptoms
we are on our own really doing what we can to make our self feel better
it's most definitely easier said than done. I agree it's hard to do things
when our mind is constantly causing us to feel like shit.

[KhaysunDei]

I used to suffer from depression a lot especially when I first got into college. What really helped me was being selfless and caring of other people so I would be distracted from my depression. Religion also helped a lot too because I found myself longing for God. I realized how far away I was from Him so I pushed myself out of the depression and always intentionally stepped out of my comfort zone (which has greatly helped me).

[dudeinohio]

Well, getting away from your substance abuse is a good first start. You may have to go through several meds before one works for you. Everyone is different, so what works for one may not work for others. I've been on lots... still haven't found a winner :(

[Mdiller45]

Drawing, listening to music, making music, drawing on my arms with red pen, writing in a journal, writing a book and exercising. It's a proven fact that if you take a walk outside that it releases stress.

[abc3643]

Speed metal usually works. Try Hook In Mouth by Megadeth
https://vimeo.com/21675230

[meatballs21]

A friend that I trust to be my confidante.
Exercise.
Long walks.

It doesn't make it better - it just gets me through the day.

[This_guy_here]

Exercise (and perhaps my other hobbies) but exercise has worked out best.

Zoloft almost made me almost kill my self.

[Keyspirits]

Lemme be the one to get u fixed and the the soulja to keep u armed at all time baby if u become of meh 😄

[Princessofpersia]

Da fuck

[Keyspirits]

@princessofpersia u lost ur chances. Get outta here ;P

[Princessofpersia]

Never wanted them 😇😇😇😇😇

[Keyspirits]

@princessofpersia I'm not planning of being ur soulja boi anyways ;P

[2014raser]

Whenevr I get depressed, which is rare nowadays, I just listen to music.

[Dominant_1]

I think a big handsome boyfriend would help get rid of your depression

[bossdonkeydog]

Jesus not religion just jesus

[JackKerouac77]

Marijuana/exercise/social/sunshine/writing/OJ

[Princessofpersia]

It helped me to find a hobby

[Anonymous]

I listen to hardcore music.

[Despondency]

Ignoring it.

[PromiseIllBeNice]

Nothing...