Hi Rudy,

I too go through depression and have for a long time... I also go through manic stages as well. I had tried Prozac, Effexor, and Welbutrin - the latter being the best for me.
well, I had made the decision to start working on getting pregnant so I quit taking the drugs, but needed to find an alternate method of making me happy. So, what I did was re-evaluate my life, and everything within it: diet, excersize, etc...

I eat less processed sugars now, hardly have ANY caffine whatsoever. I eat less meat than I use to and more fruits and veggies. I also try drinking much more water than I used to and I would reccomend taking a Vitamin B complex.

cool, so diet was easy, but how the hell was I supposed to excersize when I didn't even have the motivation to get out of bed? Well, I lead a dance troupe and we have weekly rehearsals. I also teach several dance classes so I HAVE to be there. So, I would suggest finding someone to excersize with - be it just taking a walk, jogging, weight lifting, swimming, anything... plan a schedule and stick with it. Maybe you have to be the one to drive the friends to the pool, or something like that. then you're forced to go - and eventually it won't feel like your forced because you'll be having fun.

I try to meditate before I go to sleep. centering the mind will work wonders for you. Try Yoga everyonce in a while, or just stretch while listening to some classical music. What clenses your soul? is it a walk in the forest, the beach? is it taking time out to read a book, watch a live band? Do the things that make you feel connected with your soul, your God, your self - whatever you want to call your source of higher power.

I can tell my life has improved a lot - I still suffer from depression, mind you, but not as much or as badly as I use to. It'll take sometime to get re-adjusted since a lot of the drugs stay in your system for a while. But try to be patient and eventually the road in front of you will be clear.

Take care,
Oracle

Hi all

Well depression and anxiety is a critical condition. My mother also sufferes from depression and after doing a lot if research i found www.depression-treatment-guide.com/index.htm very helpful as it provides useful articles on how to overcome depression and anxiety.

Hi, Rudy,

Do you have an "alternative" healthcare provider? If not, do you have friends who might know of a good one to suggest? I have a really good one--of course--here in California! But, she told me definitely NOT to take the homeopathics/naturopathics along with the allopathic meds. She was really emphatic about it. They can interact in nightmarish ways, and they can also give a double reaction, as if you took twice the dosage of your allopathic meds.

Definitely seek sound advice about this before doing anything!

I tried St John's Wort and noticed absolutely nothing. It probably helps with very mild depression. I agree that the drug companies suck, but personally I cannot function normally without the meds to correct the brain chemistry. Right now I'm on wellbutrin, lexapro and lamictal, which is working really well. I liked Effexor, but if you stop taking it cold (i.e. can't afford the ridiculous cost of it) the withdrawal is hell. I thought I was losing my mind for about a week.