HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Depression questions

Support Forums
>
Depression
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
12
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 2/14/2011 12:56 AM (GMT 0)
Alright, well I normally post up on the anxiety forum but for some reason I figured I'd switch it up and post on the depression one instead.  I've been diagnosed by like 3-4 different doctors/therapists with anxiety and depression so I guess I qualify lol.

Anyways, I'm coming off of zoloft right now and wheening myself off.  I've been taking 25 mg of zoloft the last week and after this week I'll be out of meds and off them completely.  I've started taking some supplements to try and help manage the depression/anxiety.  I'm currently taknig a multivitamin daily, a b12 supplement, and started taking a fish oil.  I don't want to be popping a million things into my system but maybe if anyone here has any tips on things that I can do to try and deal with this naturally?  I'm committed to going to the gym now everyday to try and just keep myself in a good mood.  I guess the weight loss will be a plus as well because I've put on 45 pounds between the cymbalta and zoloft I was taking the last year or so.  I really just am totally focused on working on my mood and, "feeling like myself again".

Haven't felt that way in a LOOOOONNG time.  I can't even have a drink with a friend and enjoy it like I used to.  I used to love going to backyard bbqs, or going out to the bar after work to go watch a game and just bs.  I used to be (or atleast feel like I was) a mentally tough person.  I knew what I wanted, I knew what I liked, I believe in my talents.  The last 2 years, so much of myself has been missing.

I haven't felt attached or close to my family or friends. I haven't really wanted to do much of anything.  I've become addicted to my condition, I've become addicted to feeling this way.  I definetly have an OCD complex now with checking these forums and I'm not quite sure if it's ever going to go away.  One thing I do know though, my memory is getting sooo much better since I'm coming off of the zoloft.  So although I am still dealing with a lot of the anxiety/depression issues, I'm glad to atleast have some of my wits back.  Could really use them while I'm still fairly new at my new job and attemptnig to go back to college to finish my bachelors soon as well.

I guess the reason for the post here is, anyone have any tips on maybe diets that help with depression?  I'm sure eating chips and fatty foods aren't the best lol, but maybe certain types of foods that help with mood?  Atleast if I become addicted and OCD about my diet/exercise atleast it will be a positive obsession as opposed to my current one.  Also if anyone can relate to my feelings of disconnection with just about everyone.  I get sooo totally into myself and it feels as if I'm a stranger in my own house a lot, nearly all the time.  I'm thinking maybe its coming of age and because I'm 25, and I feel like I should just be on my own and doing my own thing.  But I don't know, it's just this odd feeling that I get when I'm around my friends n family.  As if they're almost complete strangers.  Real weird stuff

Posted 2/14/2011 1:27 AM (GMT 0)

Mike,

I don't know about other dietary considerations, but many people seem to feel that a low intake of omega 3's can cause depression as the brain needs fatty acids to run correctly.  I think you're on the right track with that.  There is a whole chapter on omega supplementation in the book, The Depression Cure by Stephen S. Ilardi.  You may want to check it out.  He also has several other recommendations on supplements that may be helpful to you as well.  I know adding some of the supplements to my diet has helped me.  You may find some other tips in the book to help you as well.  The book is all about using behavioral therapy instead of drugs to deal with depression.  I've tried the drugs, and unfortunately I'm one of the few they don't help so I had to seek another path.

Best of luck with your research and your journey!

Posted 2/14/2011 2:32 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Mike,

You just got some very good advice. I was always told to eat close to nature. Processed foods aren't good for us and fatty foods aren't good either. We have a member that knows a lot about diet. I hope that she posts. You can control a lot of things by eating properly. Sugar is bad for us. Especially refined sugars.

I am not real knowledgable about the diet and how it works, but I do know that I try to eat a lot of fruits and vegetables. Staying away from caffiene is good too.

I wish you luck with going off of the zoloft. I am sure you have a doctor helping you, I hope. I do have to say that alcohol depresses us even if you only have one drink. I would stay away from the alcohol as much as possible.

Best wishes,

Hugs, Karen
Posted 2/14/2011 3:52 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Mike

Ive been sick for a while now and I think Im also becomming very depressed. I can see where your at and it is a horrible feeling. Its so hard to control your emotions and the way that you are feeling. The doctor said I also have anxiety and he has given me a script for anti depressants but Im too scared to take them because im already on so many other medications. I think ide rather do it my own way. I like to listen to happy music when im feeling low. Dance like nobody is watching and sing like nobody is listening. Stuff everybody around you and focus on yourself. At least for a little while. Your family and friends love you. They will understand deep down inside. Trust me. Just work on yourself and you will find a happier life in the near future. Dont hesitate to ask for help, coz hey, lets face it, everybody needs help sometimes. Taking vitamins and supplements is great! I do so myself :) Keep sticking to a daily routine. Do you have a day to day diary? If you dont it might be a good idea to get one. Write down what your feeling. Its not good to keep everything bottled up. Smiling and beeing happy is the key turn Try and hang out with someone that makes you smile. Do something spontanious. Go somewhere youve never been before. Go for walks and listen to your ipod. Maybe even get a puppy! I dont know lol these are just all ideas that you can try. You dont have to. Just try get in touch with your inner self. Keep telling yourself ''I can do it'' Stay positive. 

Posted 2/14/2011 2:02 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Mike,

It's Genetic posted a thread for you about diet. I am sure that there is a lot of useful info there for you.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 2/14/2011 5:42 PM (GMT 0)
They say that St. Johns Wart is supposed to help but check it out with your Doctor first as it does have
interactions with other conditions/meds like for asthma....Maybe ask your regular
Primary care Doctor what helps...might be a starting point...Try to find a vitamin store other than gnc,
that might be able to answer your questions, without pushing a lot of vitamins...
(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((Mike619er))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
Just a note, it's very nice if we can do things naturally, but there are meds out there if
you need to be on one, Medicines should not be feared, as they might be able to help.
Posted 2/14/2011 9:54 PM (GMT 0)
Heliobactor virus is right on track, too, Mike. He knows what works for him, and I've tried many of the things he recommends. They all are part of a healthy effort to get depression in remission.

Getting rid of some negative, unresolved feelings from things in the past is a liberating experience, also. That will give you real peace if you are able to forgive whoever is responsible and move on to a new view of your life within. Get that organized and the outside things that are bothersome will dissipate like April showers.

Some have said that depression is caused by a failure to have
mild narcissistic needs satisfied. That may be right, although there is a great difference between being narcissistic and having normal mild
narcissistic desires satisfied, such as having admiration, approval, and
attention. Those will come to you if you get the inside right within your being. Those folks who advocate that depression is caused by failure to have those needs met are talking about early childhood needs that are not met. Good parenting techniques do satisfy those needs. All of us get some failure of narcissistic supply in infancy and early childhood, so those needs for affection, attention, and approval are stronger in us than they are in people whose attention needs are fulfilled.

Getting By knows the name of a book that is excellent about healing the child within. In fact, that may even be the name of the book; I can't remember for certain. She can tell you more about that than I. I know that regaining the child within and healing the wounds of childhood do wonders to create stability and self-respect. (We all have the child within as long as we live; the secret is to learn to satisfy the needs of childhood ourselves or to rely on a Higher Power to supply them. Alcoholics in remission can tell you more about that aspect of healing.)

Take care and here's wishing you success in forgiving and moving on.

It's Genetic

Post Edited (It's Genetic) : 2/14/2011 4:37:03 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 2/14/2011 11:43 PM (GMT 0)
Wow thanks guys for all the feedback I really appreciate it. I was actually talking to a person at work who knows someone who takes St Johns Wart and said that it helped her friend a lot. The topic came up because I talked about how I used to work at a vitamin company a bout 6-7 months ago. Was just letting it be known that I didn't admit to being depressed/anxious to anyone at my job lol. That would never wind up being a good idea... I'm going to definetly read over Genetics thread on diet and see if I can use some of those tips, also maybe even look into that Depression Cure book. I know I might be able to feel better on "some" medicine out there, but I'm 0-2 and 45 lbs heavier from the ones I've tried. Cymbalta and Zoloft did nothing. So I don't know, I'm just REALLY against taking any meds after my last year and half experiment with them. I'm hoping coming off them is really the right choice because the job I'm at now has GREAT benefits and I can really make a great career out of it in the lnog run too. I just hope I don't bug out or anything when I come off this stuff.

One thing I'm already noticing now that I'm coming off of the zoloft, I'm one crazy moody SOB. I get ridiculously mad/sad out of nowhere. Maybe that's because I was just used to being so absolutely numb when I was on the cymbalta/zoloft that now when these feeelings come back they feel so strange. Anyone else deal with this when they came off antidepressents? I got talked to today by my manager because she said I made a smart comeback at her in front of everyone and she thought it was disrespectful, and yea it was a little out of line but there was no cursing or anything. But it's just...I don't know. I don't know whether I did it because of my mood swings lately or because me and my boss just genuinely don't see eye to eye. I do know that I snapped at my younger brother who's 18 over the weekend over something retarded. Get worked up pretty easily, I'm just chalking it up to wheening off the meds though.

Thanks again to everyone with the helpful tips.
Posted 2/14/2011 11:51 PM (GMT 0)
Your moodiness is probably because you don't have enough seratonin in your system. Have you ever taken welbutrin? It doesn't cause weight gain and sometimes causes weight loss. I know that you don't like trying different medications, but sometimes we have to do it to find the right fit. There are many going through this right now. So don't give up on it. Maybe take a break and see how you are going to feel, but if you are already getting a short fuse, it doesn't sound like a good idea to go off of the meds.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 2/15/2011 4:23 AM (GMT 0)
mike,

listen i had the exact same issue that you have......What i tell you take very serious because this will help you.....find god pray to him.. form a relation ship with him ask for his healing ......And in time he will heal you if you show him you have a purpose....give a hand to others and he will give you a hand.....keep your head up i know how hard it is belive me

Posted 2/15/2011 3:28 PM (GMT 0)
Mr. Help is right, Mike,

Getting things straight within is the answer for us all. Because we're
not supposed to talk about religious matters, I try to skirt around that,
but, ultimately, that's the only real resolution to finding and living with peace and contentment. He is so-o-o-o right.

It's Genetic

Post Edited (It's Genetic) : 2/15/2011 2:14:12 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 2/15/2011 11:17 PM (GMT 0)
CHOCOLATE!! No, seriously. And the nice thing about it is, even if it doesn't work, it's a great excuse to eat it.
Posted 2/15/2011 11:43 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, Chocolate, Mike,

It contains a very similar stimulant to the nervous system that caffeine
does. You need to cut it out of your diet if you're subject to depressions. Sorry, but it's true.

It's Genetic
Posted 2/16/2011 12:03 AM (GMT 0)
I don't really eat anything that has chocolate so that's not a real problem. I used to LOOOOOVE coffee though, I've been drinkin strictly decaf though fo rthe last year. It was a little weird at first but now I'm used to it.
Posted 2/16/2011 12:08 AM (GMT 0)
Oh and just to comment a little bit and just share my feelings on the religious post. It's kind of hard for me to explain...

I have always believed that you have to stay true to who you are. That's probably my biggest problem with dealing with this anxiety/depression is because I feel like an absolute shell of my former self. But the one thing I have always and still do believe in is that we are in control of our own decisions and actions. It's not that I don't believe in god, it's that I just personally believe he rewards those who have lived a good life and done the right thing by themselves and others after our lives are done. I have never really prayed for forgiveness, I have prayed for a miracle a couple of times. When I was really young I prayed that I wished that my uncle wouldn't die from cancer which he wound up fighting through and has been in remission for about 10-15 years now. But honestly I can't think of another time I really truly prayed or thought about how god impacted my everyday life.

I know myself, I am extremely OCD. No matter what I do, I do it to the extreme and think about it ALL DAY. If I was to start reading up on, studying religion, and praying a lot, it would totally consume me. And I know I wouldn't like the person I would become. I believe in a higher power and I think as long as I live my life out with plenty of good deeds, then I'll be alright :).

Just the thought of me becoming extremely religious scares me, makes me feel like it's not me.
Posted 2/16/2011 12:19 AM (GMT 0)
I understand what you're saying. The effort doesn't have to be an
extreme, unreasonable reliance on a Higher Power. It's the idea that a
Higher Power is omniscient, (all-knowing),omnipresent(present everywhere)and omnipotent(all-powerful) and these things are not the domain of people. We are subject to these spiritual realms through the presence of the Spirit.

I shouldn't go into this any more than to tell you that your post is on target, in my view. Your heart is in the right place. That's why I'm a little puzzled by the depression. It's almost as if your depression is being caused by something in you diet rather than a strong chemical imbalance. I'd recommend that you give up decaffeinated coffee, as well. There's still a remnant of caffeine in decaffeinated coffee as well as another chemical used to remove the caffeine. Try lemonade instead.

Get the acidity of your flluids reduced to a greater alkaline condition.

That's about all I know to tell you, except that those on the forum who are advising you to continue your medications are right; while one doesn't work, another one or two might. You might find that a cocktail of meds works best for you. Don't disregard the idea of taking meds just yet. Keep trying to find the right combination, please.

It's Genetic
Posted 2/16/2011 12:34 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Genetic, I have tried a lot of meds in the last 2 years I just am going to try and go off and give it a shot. I know I was bad at one point thats why I needed to go on them, but I was at a different job at that point and honestly....as messed up as these last 2 years have really been for me. I really do believe that I have gained an incredible amount of experience/faith in myself. I no longer run or avoid things like I used to, well most things anyway. And I'm currently working at a bank now and trying to get back into the finance career field, somewhere where I always wanted to be when I was younger, but a dream I gave up on when I decided I wasn't good enough to do it and decided to "run" back to my family business and just accept that life. Which I began to resent more and more as time went on, partly because of the way they ran the business I guess, and also partly because I was accepting failure.

As you can see I got a lot of issues lol. Anyways, the last time I went off meds I was really bad, but I was unemployed then. I'm the kind of guy who needs to stay busy, who needs to have a purpose. I'm hoping now if I come off these meds and am working full time (which I am now), at a job where I have great benefits (which I do), that I can still see a therapist routinely and just try and regain back that calm relaxed faith in myself that I've honsetly been desperately trying to find again.
Posted 2/16/2011 12:38 AM (GMT 0)
Yes, you've mentioned in a current post that you use alcohol. That's a real no-no for depression and for bipolar, Mike. I'd advise having a conference with a psychiatrist regarding the use of alcohol. You need to know which illness you have: bipolar or depression or the depressed side of bipolar, type II illness right now. He'll help you tremendously and get you on the right medication if that's what it is. (and the meds for bipolar illness may or may not overlap with those prescribed for depression illness.)

Good wishes,

It's Genetic
Posted 2/16/2011 12:44 AM (GMT 0)
Go cautiously off the meds with help from the doctor. Especially now that you are working full time. This might not be a good time to go off of the meds. This could make working rather difficult. If you are feeling good (or even just okay) with the medications, I wouldn't advise going off of them at this point. Be careful. And PLEASE use doctor's help.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 2/16/2011 12:46 AM (GMT 0)
Well my therapist is out on vacation until March, I have an appointment with him March 5th so I am pretty much flying solo until then. he said to call him at his office if I have any questions or anything because they get fowarded to his cell. But I've never been one to really nag doctors and call them up. I know they don't want to be bothered on vacation, and I'm ok for the most part. It'll be alright I'm sure, nobody else I can really consult regarding wheening off
Posted 2/16/2011 1:00 AM (GMT 0)
Does your doctor know that you are weaning off the medications???
Posted 2/16/2011 1:33 AM (GMT 0)
Yes he told me how to do it before he left on vacation. At the time I was taking 25 mg a day and he told me tos tart taking them every toher day for 2 weeks and then to stop.
Posted 2/16/2011 2:37 AM (GMT 0)
That sounds easy enough. Is 25mg a low dose?

Hugs, Karen
Posted 2/16/2011 11:54 AM (GMT 0)
That's what I'm trying now Nicole. I've been working out for the last 2 weeks and although during the day I haven't really found it helping all that much yet. I'm seeing a big difference in my sleeping patterns. I am getting more sleep lately and actually feel like I actually got some rest when I wake up. For the longest time Iw ould just wake up feeling as if I just shut my eyes for an hour, not like I actually got some sleep. So I do believe there is definetly a connection to working out and anxiety/depression. When is the last time you seen an athlete or someone who is really good shape (not just skinny/thin, someone who is actually fit) who is really depressed? Seems like they're always full of energy and ready to go, so I'd say go for it Nicole. That's what I'm doing now and its definetly helped out with my sleeping in the last week or so. I'm hoping to keep it going and see it help some more.

And yes Karen I was originally prescribed 50 mg from my original therapist and he was ALWAYS trying to up the medication, add medications on top of the zoloft. It became a ridiculous battle that we'd have where I would tell him no I didnt want to and he would tell me he thought it was in my best interests. I only battled him because Ive tried last year taking cymbalta/ativan/ambiena nd that didn't work. Even tried taking zoloft/klonopin/ambien at one point and that didn't work too. So it just got to the piont where mentally I was done with drugs, they weren't doin it for me. So I found this new therapist who got me down to 25 mg per day and then instructed me how to get off the meds now while he's away. He said he was hoping to hear that I was off of them totally when he sees me march 5th and was looking foward to seeing how I was doing and then taknig things from there.

And I've also talked to a friend I have about zoloft because he takes it as well. He says that 50 mg is the smallest recommended dosage of it. Now I know maybe I could have upped it and it might have helped some things, but I was so fed up with the weight gain, the numbness, the not caring, the guilt of actually taking antidepressants that it just became smoething I didn't want to do anymore.
Posted 2/16/2011 1:02 PM (GMT 0)
Mike,

Welbutrin isn't suppose to cause weight gain. I am on pristiq/abilify/xanax. It works well for me. I wish you luck going off the zoloft. Keep posting and let us know how you are doing.

Nicole,

Exercise does help. I walk. It releases endorphines in our brain which make us feel better. It is like a natural morphine that we have in our bodies. We also have a natural valium in our bodies and that can be released too. Find an exercise that you enjoy. Take it slowly at first and then work your way up. I hope that this works for you.

Hugs, Karen
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
12