Beat Depression with Determination

What are the four steps? This is it? I was expecting more from this article. - 3/11/2013 12:16:09 AM

I read the article and have suffered from depression since I was a child I am almost 60. I am on medication which does help but still I am fighting it every day. I wish I lived where I had more sun since that does help. The first thing I do in the morning is get dressed so I can face the day. Then I try to find a way to be busy where I don't think about how I feel. I quilt, teach sewing, knit, clean house, visit friends etc. So hang in there but know that you will always have it you just need a pro active approach to dealing with it. - 12/7/2012 3:08:33 PM

I have clinical depression and medication has been very helpful for me. Exercise can give me a short-lived natural "high", but it's never kept my depression away. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy was good, but it was so hard to get appointments with my doctor that I just stopped going.

I don't want to leave a negative comment, but this article was very unhelpful. The first step goes into very little detail and the remaining steps are completely skimmed over. Very disappointing. - 7/3/2012 5:53:19 PM

This sends a poor message. They STARTED the depressed people in the study on medication. Isn't that supposed to be the last resort? Antidepressants- and more specifically antipyschotic medication- are the most commonly prescribed medications today, for ANY condition. Speaking as someone who just spent the last four months getting of of meds, they aren't a cure all. They're prescribed to those who don't need them, their success is limited, and they cause far more problems than they solve. Please be weary of these medications, especially with your children as antipsychotics have now been approved for five-year-old children.

I'm sure there are many people who have been helped by medication but all other treatment options should be explored first. Although I don't think five-year-olds should be on them either way.

- 5/28/2012 10:03:43 PM

This article is absolutely insane. The writer casually mentions a study, but does not provide a source for this information so that others can verfiy her interpretation. Why do the people on this site write medical articles mentioning studies but not cite the study or the peer-reviewed published article that was referred to in the study? Why are sources so difficult for the people at SparkPeople that write articles?

The writer also uses the term 'depression' which isn't a very clear descriptive term. Is she referring to unipolar depression, bipolar depression, major depressive disorder, a depressive episode? Using the term 'depression' in this way is like writing an article about a sandwich and never explaining if you are referring to a hot sandwich, a cold sandwich, an open faced sandwich, a sub sandwich, a hogie, oir a wrap!

This level of vagueness is pervasive throughout SparkPeople. You would think they would get people that actually know what they are talking about to write articles so that they are clear and can be fully understood! - 5/11/2012 11:52:30 PM

It has now been determined that 95% of the body's serotonin is housed in the gut, not the brain. Pushing meds instead of a healthy diet and exercise is just wrong. There are too many people relying on meds and for many of those people, the meds just simple don't work and have horrible side affects. - 3/24/2012 10:46:33 PM

For some of you exercise may be the best way to help with it. I however suffer from clinical depression. Even exercise don't lift my mood. For some of you who are med free that is all and good. I don't have this option because mine is neither situational or fixed with exercise. - 1/20/2012 8:08:26 PM

What about the HUGE benefits of exercise to those of us with depression?

Also, depression meds such as SSRIs have not been tested for long term use. Any "solution" that requires indefinite use is not a solution, to me.

I found that in my experience, selfishness, unforgiveness, and unwillingness to apologize for wrongs I've done to others led to depression. Oh yeah, also having no spiritual component to life.

After being diagnosed with 4 major disorders, I am now med-free for 5 years!

Jeff
- 1/20/2012 8:42:01 AM

In the early 90's, depression and anxiety found me in the middle of a health crisis, but I think it had been building for a while. I tend to internalize and analyze; so, physical malady tipped me over the edge. Being a spirit-filled believer, I sought counsel as to what to do. My pastor and a Christian psychologist told me to seek the help of a physician (drugs) in order to re-balance the chemicals in my body. I was surprised at that. My life's goal is to never be on any drugs, but I did it and it helped. When I leveled out and took some classes on coping with outbreaks of stress, etc., I searched for natural supplements and ways to keep me balanced. Today, I have a normal life, drug-free. I stay close to my faith in God, try to eat right, take whole-food vitamins and supplements, exercise a little and obey the warning signs of yielding to stressful situations. I remind myself to smile, live in the moment with friends and family, enjoy laughing and being happy that I'm not tired, stressed and depressed. I am enjoying life and pursuing my love of writing. During the bad times, my husband, though he didn't understand depression, was a sounding board for me, keeping the communication lines flowing. Somehow talking about the fear always released pressure. It still does. I also had a friend who came, prayed and counseled me when I called. Because surviving emotional sickness takes more than a pill, it takes the right attitude towards life's stresses to climb the ladder to wellness, and determine to stay there! Honesty and openness with friends and family, and my faith in God, are mandatory in my life. I want to continue to be "who I am supposed to be" for God, for me and for others. - 1/27/2010 2:31:49 PM

I have been treating depression on my own because I fear getting on meds because of the side effects and lack of duration that it helps. Just like Laydog said. I have heard that people feel worse if they go off meds than before they started. I live in the north so I think some is lack of sun and vit D. I tried that last winter and it did help. - 7/20/2009 6:27:13 PM

I've learned that regular exersize helps keep me from getting depressed. If I go several days without exersizing, my mood hits rock bottom. It's so hard, though, to exersize when I'm depressed! - 3/19/2009 11:13:40 AM

I was 1st hospitalized in 1991,then 1994,2003,2003.I have been on 33 different meds and countless supplements. I am Bi-polar. Thus far noting has ever helped me. ECT did not help. I keep praying and know that God will help me in his time. Right now the depression is very bad.(4-months now) - 3/9/2009 6:43:58 PM

I have been fighting depression for many years and have found that medication alone is NOT the answer. One very important part of feeling healthy is to have someone to talk to when things get tough. Having lots of support is very important and a big key to helping in contolling of depression
- 1/5/2009 10:43:13 AM

I must remain vigilant as medications seem to stop working for me after a year or so. Then its on to the next one. Attitude and spiritual growth are key for my maintenance. - 4/25/2008 11:22:20 AM

Wonderful!
I was afraid, when I read the title of this piece, that it was going to urge depressives to try harder to get out of their depression, supporting that dangerous patient misconception that "If only I could have the fortitude to get myself together and try harder, I could get out of this." Of course, that doesn't work, and then the patient feels even more of a loser than before.
So I was happy to see what a practical and sensible article this is. Thanks, Liza!
P.S. I'm a physician and a depressive - in remission, thank God. - 2/4/2008 11:24:52 AM