To Recover From Depression Without Drugs

A sad soul can kill you quicker than a germ. ~John Steinbeck

Depression is bad news and the antidotes get more debates than conclusions. Even the drugs that got researched, approved and dispensed at the pharmacies are often found inconclusive when it comes to evaluating real life efficacy.

But that said, humans are individuals. Drugs work different on some people than on other people. So, don't let mass debates decide your fate.

Many people do want to recover from mental traumas without drugs. By all means, try. There is nothing wrong with trying out other remedies before you go with daily medication. But one thing I must say is that when symptoms are severe, nothing can reverse  them better or faster than western medicine. I mean, the solid concentrated chemical extract you refer to as a pill, can chill.

There is such an overwhelming opposition against psychiatric treatment among population affected by depression. I can identify some reasons that give rise to problems such as harms from physical restraints, drugs side effects and stigma. They are contributed by the public, pharmacologists and psychotherapists and the medical industry.

These are, just to name a few:

• Drugs released to the market as new drugs but are only Derivatives of existing problematic drugs. Being named and marketed as NEW drugs divert existing oppositions and criticisms pointing to the related formula.

• Psychiatrists who prescribe antidepressants to users Seldom go over the medication guide of the drug prescribed. Users have to rely on the small prints on their pharmacy for guidance.

• Poor communication between therapists and patients is the main reason for patients discontinue regular visits, further increasing risks of prescription drug side effects and drug withdrawal symptoms NOT report to therapists.

These conditions persist even though it has been recommended by the American Psychological Association that "use of medication  requires close monitoring by the physician who prescribes the drugs."

These problems continue despite regulations from the FDA in 1998 aiming at requirements for drug product guidance if one or more of the following circumstances exist: 

(1) The drug product is one for which patient labeling could help prevent serious adverse effects. 

(2) The drug product is one that has serious risk(s) (relative to benefits) of which patients should be made aware because information concerning the risks could affect patients’ decision to use, or continue to use, the product. 

(3) The drug product is important to health and patient adherence to directions for use is crucial to the drug’s effectiveness.


Somehow, patients of psychiatric medicines all fall through the crack. Americans are so used to the idea of division of labor to the extend that helps psychiatrist leave all drug education and disclosure to pharmacists, and these pharmacists then rely on fiduciary instructions between psychiatrists and patients to do this job, end of the story. 

Among peers, it is commonly reported how therapists and traditional health care provides consistently use demeaning language that humiliate, embarrass and intimidate people with  mental health diagnosis. 

This is by far the No.1 reason why psychiatric care effort via the medical model never work and never will. While this may change over time,  millions of people each year who suffer from depression cannot wait. 

Depression harms people's health, lower their quality of life and can ruin  relationships. And the majority of people have turned natural remedies and alternative medicines for help. Ancient treatment methods such as acupuncture and meditation are now very popular and endorsed by many people who find them very effective.

If you haven't tried one of the following natural remedies, try it out today:

• Sunbathing is a form of natural Light Therapy, it gives you a dose of light exposure, eases muscle pain and improves focus.

• Reduce tension headache/migraine through resting in dark, quiet room, bathe in cool water, use aromas, stretching or yoga, drink lots of water and eat easy digesting food such as soup or nutritious drinks.

• Combat negative self talk by refocus your thoughts to listening to music, dancing, chatting online or on the phone, watch a movie, shower, walk and interact with others.

Do whatever you do, but DONOT stay in one place and put up with persistent Negative Emotions. 



Following is an article that promote healing depression without drugs or therapy from an eHow contributor.

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Laughter
• Smiles
• Five minutes

1. 1
   Laugh. Watch comedy programs on TV. Read 
   humorous books and articles. Rent movies by the Marx Brothers and the Three Stooges, or your favorite comedians. Do this every day, and all night long if you feel like it. Go to bed happy and get out of bed if you are unhappy.
2. 2
   Spend time doing the things you enjoy, and avoid doing things you don't. Socialize with people you like, and stay away from people you don't. Live every minute like it's your last.
3. 3
   Get out of the house. Do some things you always wanted to but never did. Buy yourself something expensive. Take long drives and get far away from home. Sit on a park bench and write. Leave your life behind and become someone else, if only for an hour.
4. 4
   Decide what you would do if you could do anything in the world you wanted, and then start to do it. No matter how impossible that goal seems, if you cut it into small enough steps, you can find a way to start. Take one minute at a time.
5. 5
   Remember you have two choices in life. You can spend the next five minutes being happy, or the next five minutes being sad. Whether happy or sad, you are using the same amount of energy in that five minutes. The choice you make could change your life forever.

My review:  Depression recovery takes serious self awareness and a real practical action plan such as making small goals to better every day life... so you can at least starting to feel better physically and then mentally.

Headaches, fatigue and draining negative thinking are capable of driving anyone insane. And they often keep folks from making a full recovery. Make small changes can help put your life together piece by piece.

Also, suggestion #4 in this article really worked for me.

Most if not all people undergoing depression complain about 'losing in interest' in life,' but there must be 'something' they would give their lives for. No matter how depressed one feels, there always seem to be latent passions in him/her.

Think of an idea that has the ability to light up a bulb in your head, and go for it.

Let's jump start your day and wake you up to the moment with just one minor change!

Sources: "Use of medication requires close monitoring by the physician who prescribes the drugs," APAThe Guide by The Offices of Regulatory Policy, Medical Policy, Surveillance and Epidemiology, New Drugs, Compliance, and Generic Drugs in the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) and the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) at the FDA, Recover-from-depression-drugs from ehow.com

Happy Springtime!

Updated 5/7/2013