Can anyone suggest alternative treatments for depression other than anti-depression medication?

Question

Can anyone suggest alternative treatments for depression other than anti-depression medication?

Answer 1

The leaves from the plant that produces passionfruit, passionflower herb, when made into a tea are exceptionally useful as an antidepressant and is also used to treat nervousness and anxiety, insomnia and nightmares, to alleviate mood swings and as a gentle sedative and relaxant.

The passionflower organic loose leaf variety of the herb encourages the uptake of tryptophan, which is an amino acid that assists deep sleep, as well as maintaining levels of serotonin, which is a hormone that is crucial in regulating mood swings and depression.

Check out this link for a complete list of herbs and their cautions ~ with passionflower it is wise to consult a nutritionally oriented physician or naturopath or herbalist if you are pregnant or breast feeding and not to use on infants or young children.

http://www.hystercity.com/modules.php?op...

Any good health food store should be able to supply you with the organic variety of this herb....... only organic will suffice as the commercial and tea bag varieties have had so much of the goodness pulverised from they could never possibly be of any therapeutic use. Also, the spent leaves can generally be reused once more as the essential oils are still so potent in them, so you really do get your money's worth ♥

Foods rich in Tryptophan do a brilliant of conquering the blues and levelling out your moods i reckon.

Tryptophan is an essential amino acid that's used by the brain - along with B6, B3, and magesium (known as the antistress mineral) - to produce serotonin (the natural feel good drug), a neurotransmitter that carries messages between the brain and one of the body's biochemical mechanisms of sleep.

The EFA's in foods rich in omega 3's such as cold water fishes like tuna, salmon, sardines and whiting are also essential in this process to nourish the neurons that are receiving the messages from the neurotransmitters. Cold water fishes such as salmon are particularly rich in the EFA's and will do a brilliant job of levelling out your stress and depression levels and smoothing any mood swings you may have.........  they will also bolster your immunity and help lower high blood pressure.

Eat more foods rich in all these things ♥

The Doctor doesn't tell you that when you go complaining of stress & depression now does he .............. he surely should though.

Foods rich in Tryptophan will help induce natural sleep; reduce pain sensitivity; act as a nondrug antidepressant; alleviate migraines; aid in reducing anxiety and tension and help relieve some symptoms of alcohol-related body-chemistry disorders and aid in control of alcoholism.

Best natural food sources of Tryptophan are; cottage cheese, meat, fish, turkey, bananas, dried dates, peanuts and all protein rich foods.

Best natural food sources for magnesium are: leafy and green vegies, organic nuts and seeds, cold water fishes such as tuna, sardines, whiting and salmon.

Best natural food sources for vitamin B3 are: the white meat of chicken, whole wheat products, roasted peanuts, fish, eggs, avoacadoes, dates, figs and prunes.

Best natural food sources for vitamin B6 are: wheat germ, fish, brewer's yeast, cantaloupe, cabbage, unsulphured blackstrap molasses, unmilled rice, eggs, oats, peanuts and walnuts.

By taking a good quality multi B complex supplement including all the B's ie: B1, B2, B3, B5, B6 and B12 you will support your body in dealing with the everyday stresses life throws at us. ie: new job, new home, school studies ...... the B complex of vitamins is essential for healthy digestive, neural and immune systsem functioning..... Don't, however, buy any of the B complex of vitamins individually, but rather as a whole complex as they work best as a group, unless under instructions from a nutritionally oriented physician or naturopath.

Bear in mind also that calcium and vitamin D and vitamin B6 are needed to effectively absorb vitamin B12, part of the B complex of vitamins, so eat more foods rich in calcium and try to get at least 10 - 15 minutes of safe sun exposure on a daily basis...... cold water fishes such as salmon and tuna are rich in both calcium and vitamin D..... vitamin B6 & vitamin B12 will be included as part of a Bcomplex of vitamins ♥

The whole food source of tryptophan and all other vitamins, minerals amino acids etc.... will always be the most nutritious and easily assimilable form.

Drink loads of fresh filtered water on a daily basis too ensure that you are properly hydrated ......  at least 2 - 3 litres ...  you'd be amazed at how being just a little dehydrated can affect your mood and energy levels.

Hope this information helps you a bit.

Take care of you♥

peace 2 u

Answer 2

As simple as it may seem exercise can be key. The endorphins sent to your brain help to produce chemicals that react to help make you feel better and happier. Another way I found through some research I've done is through expressive writing or something like a journal... it's been found that people who write down their daily thoughts and feelings help to reduce depressive thoughts and are overall healthier generally so what could it hurt? Combine the two and you may find it to really help you out in many different ways!! Also just to add in make sure you are getting enough sleep... when you are sleep deprived the emotional side of the brain seems to over activate and can cause many depressive and anxiety like symptoms. Hope it helps and feel better!

Answer 3

weed

Answer 4

Sports

distractions

travel

Answer 5

since I am good and licensed massage therapist, I will give a good body or head massage to ease out your depression. It will relax your mind and body. It is a natural method rather than taking medications. Remember, health is wealth.

Answer 6

The millepertuis plant. (I am not sure of the English spelling)

This is proven to be a very effective alternative to medication taken by patients suffering from light or medium depression.

It is sold in capsule form or dried and used as an infusion.

Dosage is important :

You need to take

3 capsules a day - morning/lunch/right before going to sleep.

OR

3 infusions a day - morning/lunch/just before going to sleep.

Put 1 tablespoon of the dried herb into a cup of warm water, let it infuse 10 minutes, drain the leaves and drink the infusion.

I don't know the importance of your condition so you may want to check with your doctor first. Anyway, if you are on medication, never stop taking it without consulting your doctor first.

Having a healthy life style helps also :

-a balanced diet,

-reducing caffeinated drinks e.g. coffee, colas, etc..

-exercising e.g. walking, swimming

-relaxation and meditation techniques e.g. Qi Gong, sophrology, Reiki, Yoga

-lots of rest, of sleep whenever possible to recharge your batteries

-being able to talk about your problem with someone whose judgment you respect and trust.

Last but not least : try to figure out what is going wrong in your life because depression is the physical sign of an emotional imbalance, of a certain dissatisfaction with life, of unhappiness. Maybe you are not totally comfortable or happy in your actual relationship be it professional, familial, sentimental or other. Try to figure out the root of your problem and you'll feel better already. Then try to find a solutoin that will appeal to you and enable you to feel happier with yourself and with whom you are.

A Positive Mind Attitude is always a HUGE help but I also know it can be difficult to feel cheerful and positive when depressed. Just try.

Take care of yourself!

Hope this helps.

Answer 7

hang out with people who are special to you to have a good time

stay distracted with other things than that

u may not even be depressed, its just maybe wat they tell (maybe?)

Answer 8

therapist

Answer 9

As a person challenged with depression, I'd like to say that regardless of what conventional or alternative method you use, to combat depression, the most important thing you can do IS TO DECIDE TO GET BETTER.   No, I'm NOT saying that "it's all in your mind, and you just need to snap out of it."  I have my own opinion of people who say that, and truly believe it, and it AIN'T nice.    Nor is this meditation.  Meditation is what you can do AFTER you decide that depression sucks and you want to get better. People who decide that they will get better, are much more likely to do so. They will usually have shorter recovery times than those who play the sympathy game, or those who are hypochondriacs.  Read carefully all the other responses.  Get help from a professional if your self esteem is in the toilet and you feel like giving the sun a middle-finger salute.  Above all, please do NOT consider suicide to be a viable option.  Suicide is not reversable.

Answer 10

weed, pot, mary jane.

its all the same

and it actullay works

Answer 11

Alternative treatments for depression are many:

You can engage yourself in yoga, meditation, music therapy, spirituality, and many more. Some people actively committed to helping community services to stem their stress level. Stress management and exercise are the best techniques to fight stress and anxiety.

Answer 12

a complete profile of amino acids, specially those neede to produce neurotransmitters

When you have a lot of protein in your blood you become more ALERT, you concentrate better, and you’re HAPPIER

get recipes here:http://powerdrinks.wordpress.com/fill-up...

Answer 13

"Most depression is not due to a chemical imbalance, or genetic factors. Low serotonin levels are a result, not a cause, of depression.

Despite the prevailing ideas for the last few decades, this is now known to be a fact. (1)

This misunderstanding is also the reason why drugs for depression miss the point, and treat the symptoms instead of the causes.

"

What Treatments Actually Work?

SO FAR in the Learning Path, we have looked at a lot of background on what clinical depression is, how it works, and what the facts are as far as research goes. Now you will see what this knowledge leads us to know about depression treatment.

What are the drug treatments for depression and just how effective are they?

How effective are alternative approaches, such as therapy, at treating depression?



How to best treat depression?

Recent depression research shows that how we perceive our depression, what we actually think it is, is actually important in the efficacy (efficiency) of the treatment we undergo. What this means is that knowing all the facts about depression, really understanding depression, is incredibly important.

So if you have completed the Depression Learning Path this far, you will be well placed to make the most of whatever treatment you choose.

Research into treating depression

So much research has been done on depression, the right information is out there. However with so many vested interests, as well as different fields of study, it's hard to get a clear picture of what is actually the most effective way overall to beat depression for good.

Much of what you read here is based on a massive meta-study controlled by the US government, incorporated the findings of over 100,000 individual pieces of research. The research was carried out over a fifteen year period. (1)

The research compared the use of depression medication against various types of therapy. It also looked at how effective each treatment was at preventing further episodes of depression.

By comparing this volume of depression research on a "like for like" basis, we get a pretty clear picture of the most effective way of treating depression.

Treating depression with drugs

It's possible that, like millions of others, you may be taking drugs (antidepressants) of some kind to treat depression. Antidepressants are often the first treatment option prescribed by health professionals.

By understanding that antidepressants actually treat what is a common symptom of depression, rather then the condition itself, we can begin to understand some key facts about antidepressants, namely:

Why antidepressants are only effective in around one third of cases, and partially effective in another third. The other third of cases get no benefit at all.

Why the rate of relapse is so high when depression is treated with antidepressants alone?

For many people, the side effects are more unpleasant than the depression itself, so they discontinue treatment.

We'll also consider why, if these drugs are as good at beating depression as we are told, is depression on the increase, and sufferers treated solely with antidepressants have an 80% chance of having a second episode of major depression?

If depression is making you feel really bad, the relief that antidepressants can sometimes bring can be very welcome. However, if you want to have the best chance of avoiding a relapse further down the line, it is essential you get the right kind of therapy, or skills training. We'll look at this later in the Depression Learning Path.

The cart before the horse

One of the main reasons given for depression being described as an illness (and therefore to be treated with drugs) seems, at the least paradoxical, if not misleading.

It is reasoned by some that the high rate of relapse after drug treatment indicates that depression should be treated as a chronic disease, i.e. treatment by long term, high dosage medication.

This is the explanation used, rather than the fact that drugs do not treat depression, merely the symptoms.

Yet, if we consider:

The average length of depression, if left untreated is 8 months.

Depression medication, typically, has to be taken for 6 weeks before it is known if it is effective or not, and then continued for 6 months.

Citing relapse as a reason, some treatments recommend a "3 phase approach' which can last well over 2 years.

Other treatments, such as a combination of cognitive, behavioural and interpersonal therapy, have a much lower rate of relapse. (We recommend that relaxation techniques are also used, to calm the emotions and allow a faster, more effective participation in therapy. It is also essential that the patient's lifestyle is checked to ensure that their basic emotional needs are being met.)

Also, we should take into account the side effects of drug treatments, which we will come to soon.

Then it is clear that:

The ever-growing use of antidepressants as the primary weapon against depression, is highly questionable, particularly as a long-term solution.

Key Understanding

The 'chemical imbalance' treated by antidepressants is almost always a result of depression, not a cause.

Antidepressant medication can be useful for some people in lifting severe depression symptoms quickly, but should not be the sole treatment for depression.

Without appropriate skills training, therapy, or whatever you want to call it, there is no reason why the depression shouldn't come back when a similar life situation arises again.



Treating depression with psychotherapy or counseling

All psychotherapies are not the same, and some can worsen depression, rather than improve it.

When discussing using the treatment of depression with psychotherapy, it is important to make some distinction in the types of treatment. While some have been shown to have high success rates, others are shown to be less effective than actually leaving the depression untreated.

How does therapy actually work?

Therapy for depression works in many ways - emotional support, problem solving, examining and changing thinking styles, checking basic needs are met, looking at behavior, teaching social and other skills and so on...

However, a good way to think about it is to look at the Cycle of Depression. Good therapy or counseling will break the cycle as quickly as possible, in as many places as possible and give you skills to ensure it stays that way.

In fact, the quickest way to lift depression is to cut down the amount of negative rumination, or introspection the depressed person is doing.

Depression Medication

"Despite extensive development, no one type of depression medication has been shown to be more effective than any other" 1

THE MAIN difference between types of depression medication, (marketing and cost aside), is in the limitation of side effects. A huge amount of research continues into how drugs affect depression sufferers, and each finding reveals a new twist.



What is obvious is that despite each new development in depression medication, depression is still on the increase.

By considering the side effects of medication, the wide range of conditions these drugs are used to treat, and the "hit and miss" success of depression drugs, what is clear is that prescribing medications for depression is far from an exact science.

In fact, most drug companies will freely admit they don't really know how these drugs work in treating depression. For example, recent research show that despite their name SSRIs, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, may actually work by affecting levels of glutamate, not serotonin.

Here we'll look at how antidepressants work, or at least how they were intended to work.

"Regarding depression as "just" a chemical imbalance wildly misconstrues the disorder. "It is not possible to explain either the disease or its treatment based solely on levels of neurotransmitters,"

Yale University neurobiologist Ronald Duman, Ph.D.,

Psychology Today

March, 1999



Given that this is the basis on which all depression medications work, we can begin to see how developing effective treatments for depression must go beyond medication. Effective treatment must treat the causes of depression, not just the symptoms.

Types of depression medication

Antidepressants were first used in the late 1950s. Now they are divided into three main classes:

Tricyclic drugs (TCAs). (sold as Amitriptyline, Imipramine)

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) There are three types of MAOIs, phenelzine,(Nardil) isocarboxazid and tranylcypromine, ( Parnate) and moclobemide.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors(SSRIs) - were developed in the 1980's and are the most common prescribed today. They are sold under brand names such as Prozac, Paxil, Prozac, Luvox, Zoloft, Celexa.

Newer "reuptake inhibitors" work on blocking the reuptake of different neurotransmitters (brain chemicals). Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors are becoming popular. (SNRIs)

In general SNRIs cause fewer side effects than TCAs and MAOIs.

Another type is Bupropion (Wellbutrin) - which is a dopamine reuptake blocking compound. It acts on the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine.

Tricyclic agents are used in the treatment of:

depression

panic disorder

obsessive-compulsive disorder

post-traumatic stress disorder

occasional chronic pain.

SSRIs are used in the treatment of:

depression

panic disorder

obsessive compulsive disorder

bulimia nervosa

social phobia

MAOIs are used for all types of depression. They have also been used when 'atypical' features were present with the depression such as excessive sleeping, over eating and anxiety.

If you are on antidepressants they may have a different brand name  

Answer 14

I don't know what is causing your depression.  That is the key to your help.

If it is an unknown reason, you may have a vitamin/mineral deficiency.  That can  create all kinds of symptoms.

Supplying your body with what it needs should really help.  

check out the video below.  let me know if you have any questions.