How do I stop this vicious cycle?

[Anonymous]

I'm clinically depressed and 80% of the time I feel like crap. I suck it up somehow and go about my day as I normally would. The problem is that everything makes me super sleepy and tired so I basically shut down for at least 5 days (I sleep through the day and I'll be awake for just 5 or 5 hours then I'll go back to sleep) and cancel every plan. Then, after I've "recovered" I feel even worse and I want to turn it all around and stop this madness.
I'm seeing a shrink and he's no real help. Meds are out of the question.
Any ideas?

[SoCk3t_PoCk3tZ]

What can we do to help you feel better?

I understand that depression isn't something one can just "snap out" of. What I did find helpful though through my own experience with being depressed, was to exercise and get outside in the sun, with supportive people. To have someone there with me, who encourages me to get out more, helped a lot... It took a lot of time, and I refused many opportunities but with someone so persistent in being there.. I eventually gave it a go. It was a step by step process, and took a lot of their patience... Being inside I find only fed the negative thoughts.

You are so important though & are yet to realize your worth.
x

[Oxxymoron]

I think you might need to change up your routine a little. Get out of the day to day cycle and try some new things. Surround yourself with people you love friends/family or maybe you could totally immerse yourself in a new hobby preferably something that allows you to relieve stress and keeps you active. Yoga, meditation, running, boxing, paint balling, painting, sculpting etc. most importantly you need to work on changing your mindset, if you think negatively, these negative thoughts will surely have an effect on your overall behavior (including your emotions and stamina)

[VictoriousSausage]

Look, the best way to sort this is to raise your opinion, you need to get a great opinion of yourself, i've had this in the last 3 years, and the best way to sort it is to gain some perspective, to see whats around you, and how people see you, go out, do awesome things, be an awesome person, and see yourself being magnificent, beautiful, amazing, and when you see others seeing you like that, you can really feel better, also, the whole sleep thing, that does pass, but be sure to get to sleep and get proper amounts of sleep

[VictoriousSausage]

Thanks for the MHGuy!

[Attractive_Guy]

Yeah, stop doing that.

Which is actually the only answer there is. The whole "suck it up" thing isn't worth much; it's better to take what you can in stride and move forward slowly than to compile stress and breakdown repeatedly.

Cry a bit more.

[EasyForYouToSay]

If you have clinical depression, it means that your body is not producing the right chemicals in your brain in the right amounts, or that the receptors in your brain aren't working correctly.
The only proven way to completely treat clinical depression is with medications that combat these deficiencies. So if you're refusing medication, you're refusing the best treatment available. It would be like a diabetic not using insulin.

If your psychiatrist or psychologist is not helping you, find another one.

[Asker]

That's the thing- antidepressants were designed to treat stress not depression. They do relieve some of it but they aren't the cure for depression.

[EasyForYouToSay]

Where did you hear that? Because I'm pretty sure it's not correct. There are many classes of antidepressants, and while some of them are quite useful for anxiety disorders, they're designed to treat clinical depression. SSRIs in particular, were developed as a drug to treat depression, without the side effects of the earlier antidepressants. They're the most commonly prescribed class of antidepressants now.

[Asker]

I've read an entire article about it. The author made really strong points about it. It included a lot of research and it explained how antidepressants were made to treat stress- they were given to rats which were under stress and after a while it made them relax.

[EasyForYouToSay]

Would you mind linking me to it?
Antidepressants are used to treat a range of mood disorders. Just because they can also be used for anxiety and stress, makes them no less effective for depression.

[Asker]

healthimpactnews.com/.../
"Antidepressant drugs were not invented for depression. Researchers used certain drugs to manipulate the behavior of stressed animals, and then concluded (erroneously) that the drugs would be “good antidepressants.” But chronic stress does not cause the same molecular changes that depression does, making the hypothesis incorrect. So, antidepressants were actually designed to treat stress, rather than depression—which is one reason they are so ineffective. - See more at: healthimpactnews.com/.../#sthash. VsynGApH. dpuf"

[Asker]

"An imbalance of neurotransmitters in your brain may not trigger depressive symptoms in the way that has long been believed. Instead, the biochemical events that lead to depression appear to start in the development and functioning of neurons. This means antidepressants focus on the effect of depression and completely miss the cause… yet another reason why they are so ineffective for most people. "

[Anonymous]

Eat right drink lots of water get some fresh air and excersize... if that doesn't give you a little boost then i will tell u what else i do... i am not really really into social media but i do use pinterest for myself great ideas one being positive qoutes and i read them and or i post them on my private instagram account.. i always believe u get back what u put out there so stay positive treat people how u want to be treated even when they suck kill them with kindess soon they will envy the way u look at life but life is too short dont sleep it away... like i always say tufn off the drama and turn up the music and dance thisnis ur life live it ✌out girly ✨✨shine on 🌙✨

[Anonymous]

Not sure if this can tie in but try upping your iron intake for the tiredness. And change therapists, the one you're seeing may not be working for you.

[apple24]

I am the same way if u find a way tag me the answer.

[Asker]

If I ever do find something that works, I'll make sure to tell you. I suppose it's good to know I'm not the only one going through this.

[apple24]

Yeah I am doing so bad I had to drop out of all my classes except one!

[Asker]

Oh wow, you're in college? I'm still in HS and I've skipped a lot and my teachers hate me for it.

[apple24]

I was the same way in high school. I skip so much I had to get a court order and I had depression but now i have it worse and i am older and I fail all my classes for 2 semesters. Yeah I never worked or made any friends and I gain so much weight. I am lets say unfixable at this point.

[Asker]

You're acknowledging the problem and that's a start. I know I'm seriously messed up atm but I'm holding onto hope that I'll be alright someday.

[apple24]

Tell me about it- no experience in job, I am failing all my colllege classes means I am only allowed to take a few classes, I don't know what i want to be anymore, my dad won't pay to go to trading school.
I am depressed and firendless and tired and the old thing i have is gag and food! I just don't know how to get out of it anymore!

[Asker]

This may not be the cure for depression but I've found that keeping myself busy makes me feel accomplished and good. Doing nothing is my worst enemy because I just focus on the negative stuff and that makes me feel down and while I'm busy it keeps me distracted from the negative thoughts.

[apple24]

That's true!

[Intraluminal]

Meds work, so in a sense you're setting yourself up for failure: you don't want effective treatment.