Have you overcome depression?

[pawnraider]

Have you overcome depression without the use of drugs or any other kind of help or therapy whatsoever? If so, I would like to know how you're doing now. Especially if you thought at one time that everything was beyond your control or spiraling out of control. Did you just wait it out or "outgrow" your depression and if so, does everything appear to be better now than before? I would appreciate your response.

Thanx.

 

[Krissy Cakes]

No I haven't overcome my depression but I am praying for you and everyone who has depression cause it sucks.

Praying!

 

[Tigger45]

I've wrestled with anxiety and depression on and off most of my life. I've found that if I limit negative people in my life and limit negative thinking by recognizing when I'm thinking negative and replace those thoughts with praise and thanksgiving. Seriously. These two things have helped to create a much more pleasant life experience for me.

 

[andy b]

i ditched the tablets and started meditating ( dont laugh ) and found Jesus and have never looked back the strengnth our lord jesus has given me is worth a 1000 therapy sessions god bless brother

 

[Received]

I was never formally diagnosed, but as a therapist I can pretty strongly say I was diagnosable with dysthymic disorder (a lighter version of depression in terms of symptoms that lasts a few years rather than minimally a few weeks).

There are many treatments for depression, and because we have scientific methods we don't really need to ask if treatments work for one person or another, because we know that it works for entire populations in terms of averages, effect sizes, and statistical significance. It simply is wrong to say that scientific studies are of no use; at the same time, it's also wrong to say that because one study has worked in terms of an averaged sample of people that it worked for each person in that sample and therefore for each person in the population at large. I've compiled a list of some of the most popular interventions in my thread, Non-Medication Treatment Approaches.

For me, the two biggest helps have been challenging my thoughts and getting active. For me the latter usually works best, but I've seen the power of the former as a therapist with many of my clients -- instances where a single question opened up a line of thinking that resulted in a huge reduction in depression. For me, getting moving means getting active, which takes care of rumination, which moderates depression. That is, the more I think about negative things, the more likely I am to feel depressed, and feel more and more depressed. I get moving by breaking things down, using what I call the 15 minute rule, where I tell myself, "just do this for 15 minutes and see how you feel," after which I have always felt better after starting the active thing that seems very difficult when I'm inactive. And it helps immensely if this active thing is a really meaningful thing. Some days it helps even to break things down to the smallest degree, such as when I tell myself "just put your feet on the floor," when I'm laying in bed.

But the studies say there are multiple angles for treating depression, from the cognitive (disputing thoughts and beliefs, which is in my view the root of the problem), to the behavioral (getting moving), to exercise (at least 3 trials per week at 30 minutes with heartrate at 60% of its maximum), to nutrition (increased Omega-3 fatty acids, most expediently gotten through consuming fish oil at 2-3000mg per day), to even sunlight (phototherapy: 30 minutes of 10000 lux light exposure primarily in the morning) and sleep.

 

[UnworthyAcolyte]

Yes and no. Yes because ultimately it was God that healed me, and brought me to him, but no because medication helped me stabilize my moods to keep me from harming myself. The meds were/are really an immediate short-term solution that I plan to phase out anyway, but I think God deserves much more credit for putting so many supportive people in my life.

 

[TheDag]

I did use medication for a brief period. My GP left it up to me to decide if i should take it or not. What he did point out was that the medication would get me back to my best but if my best wasn't very good then I still wouldn't feel very good. I took medication for approx two months.

Things that have helped is seeing a counsellor. For that to help one needs to be willing to participate and be honest with the counsellor.
Identifying things that can get you down which for me is when my son goes to his mums house in school holidays so I arrange to meet up with friends. Also having a plan in place so if things get overwhelming I can put my plan into place. This means that I don't really need to think if I feel down but I still get take action to keep going. I am fortunate in that I have several friends who I can call anytime including the middle of the night.
One other thing is keeping busy. Since I lost my job as well I started doing volunteer work where I had to help others a bit. This gives me a distraction. One of the worst things is having too much time to dwell on problems.
Trying to remember achievements can also give me strength.
Finally when if I start dwelling on negative thoughts to much I say out loud "Now is not the time for these thoughts"
There is more that I do as every bit helps and not every strategy is suitable in every location especially that last one!

 

[TheDag]

Have you overcome depression without the use of drugs or any other kind of help or therapy whatsoever? If so, I would like to know how you're doing now. Especially if you thought at one time that everything was beyond your control or spiraling out of control. Did you just wait it out or "outgrow" your depression and if so, does everything appear to be better now than before? I would appreciate your response.

If you like I could send you something I've written about my experience. While it talks about what I went through the main focus is how to help someone with depression. If you are interested then send me a private message with email address.

 

[Jeshu]

I found that faith in God's love brought me most healing.

Now I can't say that I don't use medications, I have a depressive illness so times of depression are going to come my way no matter how much ability I gain in dealing with it. Medications have stabilised me and make my moods turn less fast.

However faith in God's love has taught me to deal different with life, adding positives to my psyche attacking the negativity depression brings, in this way I can overcome the torture that is depression.

Faith in God's love brings hope alive, and hope is an awesome wonder in a depressed heart!