Dealing with Depression Naturally

The Other Side of Anti-Depressants

According to a relatively recent study, Australia is second in the world for anti-depressant prescriptions. For some people, for example when there’s a high risk of suicide, these drugs can literally be a life-saver. But in other cases, could they be doing more harm than good?

There are different kinds of depression, and if you research them, you’ll find that the most common forms tend to be due to things like outside situations or seasonal or hormonal conditions, rather than chemical imbalances or severe chronic mental illness. If your GP or mental health provider has diagnosed you with one of these non-severe forms that are unrelated to another mental health condition, and if you’re not at a suicide risk or in other immediate danger, it’ might be worth taking another look at whether taking anti-depressants is right for you.

For one thing, there are the side effects.  Just as there are different kinds of depression, there are different types of antidepressants - and all of them come with possible risks, which can include:

Sleep issues.  Depending on the medication, this could be insomnia, or chronic fatigue or persistent drowsiness.

Digestive problems.  Some antidepressants can cause diarrhea, constipation, nausea, and other stomach discomfort.

Lack of appetite.

Sexual issues like a lowered sex drive, erectile dysfunction, or difficulty or inability to reach orgasm.

Weight gain.

Dry mouth.

Dizziness.

In many cases, it’s possible to manage or beat depression without modern medications. Some of my clients want to get off antidepressants and I strongly urge them to do this under the guidance of their GP and with the approval of their psychiatrist, if they have one.  It is a process that has to be managed very well. But making the change could be worth it.

Not relying on medication means that you’re free from worrying about forgetting pills, transporting them when you travel, and refilling prescriptions.  It means not being concerned about drug interactions.  And it also means freedom in another way: by learning to cope with depression with a non-medical technique, you’re likely going to learn life skills that can help you face challenges and fight depressive thoughts.

Here are some non-medical ways of managing and in some cases overcoming depression:

- Therapy.  Research, like this, has revealed that therapy can be as effective as anti-depressants.

- Exercise.  Physical activity, whether a brisk walk or a session at the gym or out in the garden, is a great way to boost your mood.  Exercise releases ‘feel good’ chemicals in your brain and boosts your immune system.  The results can also help boost your self-esteem!

- Setting reasonable goals. Goals can drive you forward and keep you going. But unrealistic ones can also bring you down. Depression makes people feel overwhelmed and lose their perspective on where they are and where they should be.  If you set goals for yourself that are unattainable, of course you’re going to fail and feel bad.  Dr. Ian Cook suggests setting a small goal for yourself on a daily basis – something very simple, like washing the dishes at first.  Then, progressively, if you feel ready, you can try to achieve more ambitious things…always remembering what you want, need, and where you should be.

- Spending time with others.  Human connection is crucial for our mental well-being.  But when you’re depressed, you often want to isolate yourself.  Try to get out there and spend time with people, either friends and family, or a group that’s focussed on one of your interests. For some of us, the cooler months can add to this, so scheduling in those get togethers is important.

- Dietary supplements. There is strong scientific evidence that omega-3 fatty acids and St. John’s wort have depression-fighting properties. In fact herbs, and food in general, do offer us a whole naturally occurring medicine cabinet full of antidotes to common conditions. The pharmaceutical companies who manufacture medications use the herbal lore and knowledge of the ancient healers to create modern day medicines. They simply research, chemically copy and then patent what has always worked. This is actually an interesting little rabbit hole to go down if you are interested. Definitely worth looking at herbs for healing and mood enhancement.

- Acupuncture.  Studies are still being done to definitively determine if acupuncture could be a successful way to fight depression, but so far, it looks promising. So if the idea appeals to you, it could very much be worth a go.

Antidepressants may seem like the obvious answer when it comes to fighting depression.  But they don’t necessarily address the actual problem or provide skills to cope with depression on an ongoing basis.  Non-medical treatments and life-style changes do provide freedom from potential side effects, and in many cases may change your life for the better. Is it worth exploring?