“What are some alternatives to antidepressants?”

Regular exercise helps, but you can also take 5-HTTP (hydroxytriptophane), the immediate precursor to serotonin in the brain. If there are significant symptoms of chronic fatigue, oversleeping, overeating, etc., then take the precursor of norepinephrine, namely, L-tyrosine.

1. Cognitive behavioral therapy
2. Regular physical exercises at least 45 minutes a day 5 days a week
3. Meditation
4. Brain exercises like puzzles and crosswords
5. Going out enjoying nature
6. Healthy, mutually supportive relationships

Although it is difficult to answer your question without knowing specifically what kind of depression you have, not all depressions are the same, there are some general principles that can help patients recover, unless it is an emergency. First of all, some of the depressions are caused by general medical conditions. It is very well known that "underactive thyroid", which your PCP will report to you as "your thyroid is OK" (meeting, your numbers are within "normal limits") can cause a lot of symptoms that are very difficult to tease apart from depression. for some females, regulating their hormones work better in an antidepressant. You might have symptoms of depression related to inflammation, vitamins/nutrients imbalance, etc., in our office, we also offer some neurotransmitter labs that can help us choose supplements that will more likely help in your kind of depression.