How do you fight depression? - Let's help each other

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Depression to me was always reactive. It means some fundamental need(s) of the psyche are not being met. In my case, my needs were freedom, creativity, stability, coming to terms with a shitty childhood and self-actualization.

Taking steps to meet those needs helped lift me out of long-term depression and I'm doing good now. The world's kinda fucked right now, but I'm doing good. I started by ditching my alcoholic mother's house and my unfulfilling job and becoming self-employed, working on things I wanted to work on. It took time, a decade, to gain the skills, but I never used any drugs or counselling because I knew those things couldn't help, since my problem was that I needed to just act to change my circumstances. Some pills weren't going to do that and some shrink listening to me ramble on wasn't going to do it. Only a solid plan of action and taking action could, so that's what I did. I knew it was risky but depression is a life-or-death thing for me and I'll take the risks of trying new things over rotting away in regret any day.

I'm lucky in that I know there's things I want to do any I'm a driven enough asshole to want to achieve them. I have a chronically-depressed friend who literally seems to lack enjoyment in anything at all, and has no drive because he constantly loops himself into states of inaction with rationalizations that are anything but rational. I try to help but he can't do pills or therapy, and the best I can do is fire ideas at him sometimes. He gets himself stuck in a "why bother" cycle but can't live with the guilt and disgust inaction brings. That's a tough one.
 
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I used to have a drink or two to stop feeling sad, or talk to a good friend

I cant really do either of those anymore though but I recently found out I’m not on the highest recommended dose of Zoloft like I thought (200mg a day), a friend of mine is on 250. I’m going to try that for now,

I also liked going for a drive because it felt like I was escaping the problems/overwhelming/sad, even though I’d just be going down the highway for a while , can’t do that either anymore tjough

B2_Spirit said:
e them. I have a chronically-depressed friend who literally seems to lack enjoyment in anything at all, and has no drive because he constantly loops himself into states of inaction with rationalizations that are anything but rational. I try to help but he can't do pills or therapy, and the best I can do is fire ideas at him sometimes. He gets himself stuck in a "why bother" cycle but can't live with the guilt and disgust inaction brings. That's a tough one.
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I get that.you are very kind and selfless to keep trying to help him I hope things get better

Sorry for any grammar mistakes I’m on your 32 of no sleep
 
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I've suffered through some tough times over the past few years. I got it sorted then the lockdown came and messed me up again.
My doctor talked about anti depressants for a while and I finally took the plunge. My only worry is becoming reliant on them.

Trust me, going out helps.
 
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Just working towards something has helped immensely. People have said this before in earlier posts but taking action is usually the best way to improve your overall mood. My focus in life right now is skill acquistion but my romantic prospects are pretty bare. However, I'm not too worried, as long as I'm putting in effort, then something will work out.
 
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I got off the drugs and drink a lot less alcohol than I used to. I also eat a lot better and get more exercise. I used to be on some antidepressants, but I went off those because I stopped needing them. I still see a psychologist, though. I also try to stay very busy: work, studies, friends, reading, writing, drawing, editing, music, TV shows, movies, comics, video games, forums, social media, etc. Keeping busy is a great way to stave off bad thoughts.
 
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Hard to not power level on this thread tbh...But I do a lot of sports, mainly weight lifting right now because it helps take off stress, sometimes a few walks around the block help as well? But when I feel lazy or not like anything watching videos or coming around to read on here can help as well.

or in the worst case doing art on my crappy Wacom tablet if I ever get to find that thing again.
 
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Sounds dumb but I feel relief after I changed my diet to a more fatty one. Avocados, eggs, fish, fatty meat and animal fat in general, dairy, olive oil, butter were all added. Some dark chocolate (70-90%) and pistachios. I used to eat mostly carbs and some protein, minimum fat and maybe it's just placebo but I feel slightly more chill and I don't feel depressed per se, just the ocassional melancholy. Maybe my brain needed it, or maybe Imma die from a heart attack, lol, but hey, at least I won't die depressed.
(I also try to sleep a lot, my ideal is 9 hours. Plus I walk anywhere between 10-25k steps a day. Plus I'm taking some supplements like magnesium, coq10, vit C and D, selenium. I feel like magnesium before bed helps a lot. Oh yeah and have some ginger and turmeric guys, it's gooood)

After those changes I did some internal ones and I make sure to enjoy something visually pleasing every day. Cause it's nice. Be more in the now. Meaning trying to have more of those "eeeeh fuck it, why not" moments. I think it's the physical changes that let you feel that way but you still need to refocus on not wasting seconds of your life. And by that I don't mean any grindset bullshit. Just sitting in your chair drinking coffee is enough if you're happy.

Also, fuck irony and cynicism, that shit's poison for your head.
 
For me, it's forcing myself to do the shit that invokes anxiety levels sufficient enough to severely depress me. It's most definitely an "easier said than done" kind of thing. Even a modest amount of physical activity will help immensely.

50mg of Zoloft also helps,but antidepressants are not magical happy pills. They really only exist to stabilize you enough to keep you from ending it, and even then your mileage may vary. In the end you really have to get your own ball rolling.
 
Depression is cognitive most of the time. Some people just need reassurance that failure isn't imminent and success doesn't define life. Off the top of my head, I think the correlation between major depression and anxiety is a positive 0.37?
 
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Guntlapices said:
I used to have a drink or two to stop feeling sad, or talk to a good friend

I cant really do either of those anymore though but I recently found out I’m not on the highest recommended dose of Zoloft like I thought (200mg a day), a friend of mine is on 250. I’m going to try that for now,

I also liked going for a drive because it felt like I was escaping the problems/overwhelming/sad, even though I’d just be going down the highway for a while , can’t do that either anymore tjough


I get that.you are very kind and selfless to keep trying to help him I hope things get better

Sorry for any grammar mistakes I’m on your 32 of no sleep
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The maximum dose is 200 mg. 250 mg is a supertherapeutic dose. Some psychiatrists do that, but it can be dangerous to do so. Maximum dosages on medications are usually for a good reason. Going 25% above the maximum suggested dose is quite a jump.

RangerBoo said:
Do any of you guys know of some good alternatives in dealing with schizophrenia? I have it myself and while I take medication, some days I can feel like my grasp on sanity and reality loosening. If any of you guys know of some alternative (like vitamin supplements or what not) that can help with brain health will be welcomed.
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You want strictly non-Rx suggestions, or Rx as well as non-Rx? There are actually quite a few supplements that can help with schizophrenia. as well as some medications that one wouldn't normally think would help.
 
Stop being a sad kunt and start being a sick kunt. You're gonna make it bro

 
Considering my depression is related to my hormones via PMS. Tracking my cycle with an app has helped me prepare for it and telling myself it’s not going to last forever kinda helps. So far I just bare with it.

Crying while depressed helps temporarily because it releases endorphins and oxytocin. You can go for a hike afterwards and release more feel-good brain chemicals.
 
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Lily Says 41%! said:
SAMe and saffron supplements have some promising evidence.
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Curcumins in turmeric improved depression symptoms in 62.5% of people vs. 64.7% of Prozac users experiencing improved symptoms. The paper is all about how turmeric should be taken with Prozac to maximize efficacy because they can't piss off Big Pharma by suggesting turmeric is equal to Prozac, except turmeric has zero side effects.


I've been taking 1000mg for about 3 years since reading this paper. It definitely helped me go from hating life to thinking life is okay.
 
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Laughter is the best medicine. Not literally, but you know what I mean. Watch funny youtube videos, look at memes, whatever
Recently I realized that the pursuit of happiness, or valuing happiness too much, is a big part of my depression. If I'm not feeling positive emotions at every moment, I feel like my life isn't going well and it never will. Furthermore, I feel like everything I do is a waste of time if it's not directly contributing to college or something else obligatory. So anyway, I'm looking for ways to not be so focused on ALWAYS being happy, y'know? And trying to see value in the things I do that aren't just work related.
 
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