“Are there ways to deal with depression without medication?”
I'm afraid I might be depressed but I don't want to take medication. Are there ways to deal with depression without medication? I'm also 32 years old. I'm just afraid that the medications aren't going to work.
8 Answers
Mild level depression can help with life style change. Food, sleep, sunshine, exercise, meditation etc
Sometimes psychotherapy will be sufficient to treat depressive symptoms but other times medication is necessary with or without psychotherapy
You should first get a thorough evaluation to determine whether you have clinical depression, or some other disorder that can cause depressive symptoms. The choice of whether to start with medication treatment, psychotherapy, or both will depend on many factors. Antidepressants are well proven and work well for most people. Specific types of psychotherapy, namely cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and interpersonal therapy (IPT) have also been shown to be effective treatments. Most people with depression do best wth the combination of medication and therapy.
There is Transmagnetic Stimulation, or TMS, and Neurofeedback are alternatives. Check NeuroStar website for more information for TMS and NeuroCore Brain Assessment for Neurofeedback.
Dear patient,
First, I suggest you go to a psychiatrist for an evaluation to rule out depression and see what the psychiatrist thinks it’s best if you have a diagnosis of depression you can be started on an antidepressant there are quite a few I’m sure one will work for you therapy in combination with medication treatment have better outcomes you may try therapy, but sometimes you do need medication treatment if you symptoms persist more days than not for at least two weeks and they are interfering with your daily living seek a psychiatrist if symptoms persist.
Good luck,
Dr. Mendoza
First, I suggest you go to a psychiatrist for an evaluation to rule out depression and see what the psychiatrist thinks it’s best if you have a diagnosis of depression you can be started on an antidepressant there are quite a few I’m sure one will work for you therapy in combination with medication treatment have better outcomes you may try therapy, but sometimes you do need medication treatment if you symptoms persist more days than not for at least two weeks and they are interfering with your daily living seek a psychiatrist if symptoms persist.
Good luck,
Dr. Mendoza
Yes, psychotherapy can help with mild and moderate depression with a diet and exercise program.
Yes, seeing a therapist on regular visits and change your eating habits to a healthy and vegetarian over meats. Soy meat products are good. Yet that takes time and therapy is faster. Get outside and be around people and friends. A spiritual advisor and life coach is great.
The short answer is yes. Four courses of action that are used are: (1) psychotherapy for minor-moderate forms of depression (2) consider nutrition using a diet like the mitochondria diet; (3) look aat Dr. Amen's BrainMD site, take his Brain Type assessment and consider supplements fro the report you receive; (4) for severe depression an alternative to meds is TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) or ECT (Electroconvulsive Therapy)
