How do you fight depression without pills?

[MusicOfTheManic]

[Telekinetic-Potato]

You do it by finding the things you like about life by actually looking. You keep your mind busy either by working hard at your job or getting into a relationship or getting as many hobbies as you have time for.

When you are so sad and beat up to a point where all that's rushing through your mind are images of you killing yourself. You find that last bit of will power you have and tell life it can go to hell because you're not giving up on yourself any time soon. You come up with milestones. Drivers license, Job promotion, buy a house, start that business.

You deal with depression by ignoring it and using all your time to find things you love. Use your time to try to see the glass as half full. Even if you don't see it that way, always try to recognize the good that's around you

[JudgmentDay]

I'm dealing with it right now, without any pills, as it can't merely be fixed by pills. It comes in waves. Sometimes I feel like I totally don't give a fuck and just find funny shit to laugh about. And other times I find that he best way to deal with it is not stop thinking and stop focusing on the unhappy and miserable thoughts and feelings. Find something you can actually enjoy even if for a brief amount of time and just do it. Such as travel, take a walk, watch tv, etc. Depending on what type of depression you have and what you are depressed about. The most severe no pills would ever actually fix you from how and what you feel on the inside.

[Sara413]

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy worked well for me. You basically train your brain to think healthy thoughts and push the unhealthy ones away. You will need a good therapist to help you get started on this and help you differentiate between healthy and unhealthy- it's not as simple as positive = good, negative = bad. It's about recognizing when your tho7ghts are not rational or based in reality, when they're dysfunctional, and consciously pushing those thoughts away and replacing them with healthy, reality based thoughts.

[Sara413]

On top of that, daily exercise is a huge help. It's hard to find the motivation to do it, but when you do it ALWAYS helps, and the more you do it the more it helps.

If you're really far in the deep end, at the very least you have to force yourself to get out of the house at least once a day. FORCE YOURSELF to go for a walk. If you live with others and know you can't rely on yourself to make it happen, tell them to hold you accountable, even better if you have someone come with you for a run or walk or to the gym.

[Sara413]

Someone else wrote St Johns Wort but I couldn't reply on their comment because one of us has blocked the other apparently so here is my comment on that:

Careful with St Johns Wort tho - it can interact with some medications and make them ineffective, that includes birth control and some psychoactive meds.

[Belleza2]

Gym works for me! I have clinical depression and dealing it is much worse than popping pills and I don't do that! I think pills just mess you up even more, make you suicidal sometimes so I try to find to do the things I love the most! That's listening to music, exercising or reading a good book with a good plot! Write down how I feel and ten rip it apart and find out the reason for whatever I'm feeling that triggered me to feel this way in order to not think about it at all! I know it isn't much but it helps!

[msAlovescookies]

I had depression in high school and refused to take pills as well. I did everything else I could, and I found the most effective was exercise. If you can't handle your emotions from the inside, you can handle it by taking care of your physical health. Over time, my negativity and depression decreased.
Secondly, I seeked help. You NEED to seek help. I was seeing a therapist in high school. She told me to continue seeing one when I went off to college. I didn't listen because I FELT like I was better - I was wrong. It's not that easy to get rid of and it takes a long time. I recently started seeing a doctor here at college and it's been really helpful.
Like I mentioned, it takes time to heal. Even doing everything I mentioned, it's still going to take me years to fully recover.
Good luck. I'm with you :)

[EllieLexis513]

You're guess is as good as mine because I have pills and they aren't working.

But, I find when I'm baking and doing cake decorating, I'm not sad or depressed and my bipolar episodes disappear. Find something you enjoy doing and do it when you're upset. That's what I do.

[John_Doesnt]

If you have clinical depression you can't. Mental illness is just like any illness in that it requires expert medical attention. If you're talking about being emo or some trivial depression then deal with it. But if it's actual depression than pills might be necessary depending on what your doctor says.

[-littleheart]

I focused on the better things in life, the positive things. I realized there were people who cared about me, and people I cared about. I realized there was so much I wanted to do that I hadn't done yet; that I'm young and there's so much for me to do instead of being here. I never really told anyone how I felt, hence why I never came across pills. And yes, there were days where I sat in bed and did nothing, but don't we all need days like that?

[amayra]

be true to yourself... firstly accept it you are in depression and it will take time to heal..., be with people who make you feel happy , develop hobbies, avoid thing that make you think of a reason that lead you to this, be busy , exercise , eat right find some time alone and talk to yourself it really helps... most important be patient spend some time with nature.

[Alex88F]

i started working out regardless if my mind wanted it or not
which means free endorphines
then running, and eating every meal
watching comedies and going out with friends (those who remained)
but most importantly - i wrote a lot. self analysis helps more than pills

[Spiorad_Aisce]

Many approaches - Visit mental health sites for other people's stories and experiences - It might give you some tips

[ParamountArmada]

well, whatever is causing it needs to be corrected/fixed.

[KittieCat]

Exercise, getting involved in something you like, therapy, meditation, taking one day at a time, lots of things. But everyone's different so find out what works for you :)

[ayylamo]

You can't fight depression. It consumes you until you are the depression. Either learn to live with it or don't.

[Afrochick]

exercise, meditate, st. johns wort tea, get a lot of sleep.

[Sojex]

Sheer force of will. Some people have it and others don't

[NoNamerz]

Just go on with life with a smile.

[wankiam]

you dont... the pills just make you feel numb.

[Fearless_banana]

By kicking ass in life

[Iron_Man]

I just live and go on with my life

[TheButterfly]

Why are you against pills?

[MusicOfTheManic]

Because they usually make me groggy or it makes the depression worse.

[TheButterfly]

Have you tried Wellbrution? It doesn't make you groggy

[Sara413]

Of the pills you're on make the depression worse you need to go back to your Dr and change your prescription. Unfortunately, with these types of meds it really is a trial and error thing

[TheButterfly]

@Sara413 she's right

[outmyroom]

How severe is it?

[MusicOfTheManic]

pretty bad, last few days I barely got out of bed.

[outmyroom]

You should only take pills if you must because they destroy your body. Why can't you get out of bed? Just look for the positive things in life. There always are, that's how God makes it.

[Sara413]

Pills can be an important factor in getting someone back on track. They should never be relied on as a cure in and of themselves, but they can be the difference between being completely incapable of getting out of bed and mustering the motivation to do it.

[Papier]

I don't.