for me exercise help with it a lot it takes a lot to make myself do it but i almost always feel better afterwords, lifting weights is what i do and it help manage i do not medicine for depression due to interactions with other meds.

but you should really try to get out some even if you arent going out with friends. go to a park or just a walk.

hope this helps

I've been trying to exercise lately. It's so hard to even get myself up and move around that much. I do feel a little better afterwards, it's just getting motivated enough to actually get up and do it.

i have that same issue. once you get started play some music it will help keep you from getting distracted and help you keep going. try to keep high energy music slow music will slow you down or cause you to stop. but getting started can be very hard but just think about the reward.

also eating health plus exercise makes your body feel better and when your body feels good you feel better. and i also understand it can be hard to take the extra 10 mins to make a well balanced meal when you can just slop together what ever is in the cabinets. but try low fat high protein (if you don't work out tho drop the proteins down a little because proteins are high in calories and if you aren't working out then you arnt burning the calories)

every little bit helps if you dont take meds

I wouldn't mind taking meds if I was sure that it wouldn't make me gain weight. Are there any antidepressants that will not cause weight gain?

most but not all antidepressants have a chance of weight gain but its not like it will 100% you might and you might not.

this might help you.
http://health.msn.com/health-topics/depres sion/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100144 756#

some antidepressants cause increased appetite and that is why you gain weight with some. log your food before you start an antidepressant so you know how much you eat and once you are on the antidepressants try not to eat much more than that also eat up until you start to feel full if you are having to eat more. high fiber low calorie foods are best to help feel full and eat less

also it can make you gain weight if it slows down your metabolic rate... best way is to build muscle tone. muscle tone = muscles are in a slight contracted state(this is what give it the hard or stronger look) and to be contracted it burns calories which leads to a faster metabolic rate

there are many things you can do to change the way you feel that do not involve medication. the most important being to change your outlook on life.

there are some really amazing books on this subject... you may want to check out two in particular, "the power of now" and "living from the heart".


good luck.

I have suffered from depression since I was about 13. (I am now 25) But for the past 5 years, i've managed to keep it under control. It IS very hard to stay motivated, especially durring the winter months. But I also have a huge dislike of medications due to side effects that I don't think are worth it, which led me to seek natural remedies for my depression and anxiety. Good diet and just getting out, walk around, get fresh air and get your blood pumping are always a good foundation, but these are the herbal supplements I have found extremely helpful (see link below) The one that I have stuck with throughout the years is one called "L-Theanine" and can be found in almost any health food store, and I've never had ANY side effects.

http://altmedicine.about.com/od/healthcond itionsatod/a/Depression1.htm

Hope I could help!

I have been on almost every anti-depressant under the sun. None of them have helped me, if anything they make me feel like a puppet and I don't like that. So, I started finding hobbies. I've always been an artistic person, and although not being completely reliable, art has definitely helped. Go to your nearest hobby/craft store. Buy some yarn, teach yourself to knit, buy some paint, or any art media, and get into it. You don't have to be a good artist to be an artist. You don't have to think your good to make art. When Andy Warhol (famous artist) was critisized on his art, he would reply "Because I am an artist, and you and no one else in the world can tell me I'm not."

Just go around your hobby/craft store and shop around for something that may interest you. I have gotten into knitting (kinda boring though), but I've found knitting is the cheapest creative outlet, needles are as cheap as 2 dollars and yarn is about 3.50 for the good stuff. I made a mozaic for my frontyard, etc.etc. The possibilities are endless. I'm currently getting into felting wool. So, just do some research and get to your hobby store. Honestly I was in the same position as you were. I'd given up on anti-depressants and if I wasn't at work I was at home in my bed.

Doing crafty/artistic things gives you a creative outlet and can help you escape. You will also find that the self-graification is tremendous.

Art therapy is actually a field of work. They work in hospitals with children and adults. They also work in prisons. Statistics show that those with depression were dramatically uplifted after the therapy.

You can also try out your local herbal store for some herbal remedies for depression.

Turn off the tv and get out there and see people even if you sit in a mall to look at people going by helps you more than being in front of a TV, go to a bible study, go to a book club. Interact with people, this is the best treatment.

its funny when people tell u to 'go out' n do this or that, lol. with severe depression u cant even get out of bed, these people obviously dont have very bad depression.

ive tried many meds, none work on my depression anymore. the only thing that helps with my social anxiety n to a small part my depression (only enough that i havent actualy 'comit' suicide) is effexor or pristiq. the side effects are low until u go off them, which u must do very very slowly. ur more apt to lose weight on these 2 drugs if anything. hope this helps.

I agree with carcass on this one. I'm not saying what everyone else said is wrong in terms of helping some, but with major depression, your goal is to be around tomorrow. I've tried meds, psych hospitals (what a joke they were), and counseling. I am considering ECT (electric shock therapy). I just haven't found anything to help. I almost turned to drinking today, but I know me, if I do, it will become an issue I abuse.

To answer the original question, Let me know if you find the answer. I haven't.

meditate, im trying it and hold some optimism. It might not sound as good an option but its pretty much sound so far

carcass passed away by hunging suicide, do you agree now?