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Depression

I've had severe clinical depression for almost a decade now. There are pills I could take to let me feel emotions, but I've been off them for a few years now. Is it possible to overcome major depressive disorder without having to take medication for the rest of my life? Has anyone else here accomplished this?

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Permalink Reply by John Smith on December 17, 2010 at 11:50pm

Perhaps Tonya,

it would take a lot of work to compare with the harmful competition though, with each mental illness given it's own category, large active membership, privacy protected community, continuously active chatrooms, etc. I've grown rather jaded(burnt out) with available mental health help that's either been systemically incompetent to sufficiently guide me or contaminated with whoo, and fighting for free speech and a bill of rights for support seekers online. I no longer trust the professional or amateur psych. community. I'd love to find or offer a few suggestions to create such a place, but in the grips of low energy times can't be nearly as proactive on it as I'd like to be.

Permalink Reply by Tonya Wynn on December 1, 2010 at 12:58pm

YES!!! I read many books, most of which were close to useless. Please read UNDOING DEPRESSION, NATURAL PROZAC, there are one or two books on self-esteem by Nathaniel Brandon. Also good is reading up on diets that are anti-cancer; Okinawan diet, and the Soy Zone.
I have suffered from depression on and off since I was a child and am fairly normal now. A quick guide: get 4 hours every day of direct sunlight, preferrable outside adn get a half an hour or more of vigorous exercise daily...walking your dog and/or gardening are easy, cheap solutions. Get a full-spectrum, 800+ lumens lamp and try to be by it often in the winter (read, have it in the kitchen or bathroom...'grow' light). Avoid TV, esp. drama-sitcoms....it makes one feel that life is more exciting and quicker and easier than it actually is and our own lives just seem bland next to them. Keep a list of your successes and riches/assets/gifts/talents and read them at least once a day.
I am so much better now than I was for over 15 or even twenty years, evem though my finances and lovelife and beauty are much worse.
I was rarely on medication.

Permalink Reply by Napoleon Bonaparte on January 22, 2011 at 10:10pm

I have been on Venlafaxine, Chloropromazine, Arapriprozole and Lithium for up to ten years. I also had eight years of professional help and was fortunate to have good care. I am healthy and happy.

I expect that I will be taking the medication for the rest of my life and I can't really see a problem with that !

Permalink Reply by New Atheist on March 30, 2011 at 9:36pm

Hey Sean, sorry about your struggle. I have different symptoms but I can see that you sound on your way to getting better because I notice your determination. For me, that has sometimes been the only thing to get me through is my sheer determination. I agree with everyone who mentioned nutrition. You can check out books from the library. I know you've had bad experiences from psycho therapy so maybe a support group is more your style? From what you've said about assholes in the family perhaps there is some emotional abuse that was never fully dealt with? I hadn't realized the trauma I was dealing with until later in life. All my emotions came flooding and I realized I'd been dissociating before that. Anyway getting CBT for that really helped me deal with it. Hope you figure out a good plan.

Permalink Reply by Sean T. on August 2, 2011 at 1:46am

Heh. Maybe. I went to a therapist for a while this past Spring, and it was the best experience I've had with one so far. I found her to actually be insightful. Unfortunately, she had to move away to a different job, so I'm not seeing anyone at the moment.

Also, the drugs I thought might help, haven't. I've been trying different combinations with no results. Right now, I'm taking Liothyronine, Bupropion, and I'm using an Emsam patch. I might as well be taking placebos.

I was also in a relationship for the first time. It was nice, but it's over now. I thought maybe it would work out, but I was wrong. She loved me, and I really tried to love her back, but it wasn't enough. I don't seem to be able to feel love at all. Lots of guilt, though.

I also learned that I don't like people touching me in any way. I though I'd enjoy affection, but I don't seem to be able to. Not even kissing or sex. I'm not sure if it's because of my depression, or if that stuff is just really overrated.

I still don't feel like a real human being, just a cheap imitation. I guess it's kind of funny when I look at it all from an outside perspective. At least I still have a sense of humor. That and I get to die someday, thankfully. I'm not in a rush, though. I don't want the people I know to think of me as "emo" or something, or be upset. I have enough guilt already. They don't even know about my trouble with depression. I'll just keep it all between me and the internet. Hehe.