Depressed and Coping: Treating Depression When Medication Fails

Depression

I am at the point now I have tried many medications. I am not having much luck. One made me gain, another made made me feel like I was on speed more ill or so tired I can't function.I just don't know what to do. I have been struggling for years and life is now tougher than ever. I am taking any suggestions?

what about situational depression?

My fatherless son, Daddy died of cancer when he was in 3rd grade,

was actively denied a public education by Wake County Public Schools in NC. It started with intractable migraines and they actively denied him any access to education for 2 years--even with 2 lawyers advocating for him. They broke numerous laws, told him to drop out. It's all proven they acted criminally but the major depression they caused by denying him his work, life, hope--isolating him from friends is not really alleviated by medication adn therapy et. al.

How to help him understand and overcome being victimized by a public school system? (all documented)

Some Good Ideas

Perhaps the best idea was to have someone (in this case graduate students) say; "I care about you. I will hold your hand. We will work through this together."

Exercise is NOT the great cure all

I have battled depression my entire adult life with varying degrees of success. For a very long time I went to the gym 3 times a week minimum, did at least 20 minutes of cardio followed by 40-60 minutes of weight training which was also aerobic in affect although not specicifically focused on that.

I can tell you that in my case I felt better right after the workout but this had NO IMPACT on my depression for more than about 30 minutes to two hours or so after a workout. None. Zero. Zip. Your statistics about the effectiveness of anti depressants mask a HUGE aspect of treatment by medication. If you have a good doctor he or she will try different therapies until they find one that works for you. It often takes several attempts due to the low success rate of any given drug, but if you keep trying you will VERY LIKELY will find somethlng that WORKS. The statistics are that with about a 40% success rate for any given therapy, that you are likely to find something that works after trying two or three different therapies.

Please, please advise depressed people who want to escape the daily struggle and need help to see a doctor. It is hard enough without bad advise that disourages getting medical attention. Please believe when I say the darkness can become light. I KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE. There IS hope, but you must get help.

...there is a better way! It's FISH OIL CONCENTRATE

You truly are what you eat. And you may be depressed because the food industry and markets have almost "forced" you to eat the wrong fatty acids for your brain.

Please read "The Omega 3 Connection: the groundbreaking antidepression diet and brain program" by Dr. Andrew L. Stoll, M.D. and ask your doctor about fish oil concentrate...

Who knows, you may be able to stop pouring in your skull all those foreign substances that do not belong with your brain!

Depresson and Celiac Disease

People who have long term depression should be tested for Celiac Disease. The blood test for Transglutinase ATG ITG are more accurate today .

Successful Depression Treatment

My wife suffered depression from 1956 until 1987,

(31 years) having to be hospitalized about every three years for treatment - twice at the Mayo Clinic.

Then the 1987 hospitalization, a doctor - after listening at admission to my description of events since 1956 - told me she didn't have an emotional problem, she had a chemical problem. I thought "Yeah, Right!" She had been taking valium, elavil, and all the later drugs for depression.

At 4PM she started taking lithium, although she had never been bipolar, the condition for which lithium was usually given.

The first time I could visit was noon the next day. She hadn't looked up from the floor for six weeks, but she came down the hall like new. One would wonder what she was doing in the hospital. The difference was instant and dramatic.

A week later we went home, she never had another minute of depression, took lithium until she died in 2003 (16 years later) of hepatitis "C" (given her by a medical dirty needle), was emotionally normal as apple pie the rest of her life.

My theory is that since lithium wasn't the latest drug out, and since drug companies get reports on what each doctor prescribes, they had to go with the latest drug out to get their perks from the pharmaceutical companies. Besides Lithium was dirt cheap, generic.

But finally there was a doctor who wanted to solve the problem instead of keep a favorable reputation with drug companies.

2006 Study

Could the author or editor please share the study from 2006 from American Journal of Psychiatry? I am writing a paper on Depression and feel as though that study could help me. Thanks.

How I control mine

I am a 50 year old female that has struggled with depression for most of my life. 4 years ago, I "bottomed out" yet again. I started meditating and balancing the chakra energy centers. In 3 months, I became depression free, more confident and positive. I practice this daily few a short while. When I had gone 2 days and into 3 without the practice, I noticed myself slipping into my former dark and negative self. I am living proof that this system works, at least for me! And it's free!

As a depression patient...

I think i agree most to the "isolating, sedentary, indoor computer culture" is the culprits of depression as i have the most depressed time when i m locked up in my world...

and then, exercises with sweat is really important because you just feel cool!

family and friends are important too! 'cos they remind you that they are there to support you no matter how you feel. Sometimes they may come up with idea that reminds you the bits and pieces of life story that you've forgotten when you're too indulged in your depressed world...

all in all, open up yourself!