I had a period of three years of severe depression after the loss of my father in 1978.
I hope I never go through an experience like that again . I was in the military, so I got
good medical treatment for it. Since that time I've had short low periods that were
enough to affect living well. I read an article on St. Johns Wort and decided to try some. After using it for a few months, I found that the lows I had been experiencing
were not ocourring anymore. I dont believe in "nutritional supplements" as a rule,
but this stuff has worked for me. I wouldn't use it as a substitute for proper medical
treatment, though. A serious case of depression can ruin a persons' health and life.
Good Luck.

 

I never heard that sunlight can help, thanks for that tidbit!

 

fl1a, what exactly is saint johns wort...? Ive heard of the stuff, but I dont really know. I have looked abit of information up about it on the internet, but I like to hear from people that actually use it.

 

It's a plant extract (at least the type I use) it comes as capsules or tablets. I take
the 300 mg. dose. It doesn't have a pronounced effect. It just seems to keep me
from getting despondent and lets me handle problems without the feelings that there
is any more than just the actual problem. I've had a bit more sensitivity to the sun
using it, and it takes at least a month using it according to the label directions before
you notice the effect. It basically keeps me on track. But having had severe
depression, I would strongly advise contacting a doctor to get it under control first.
The S J W is for lesser cases.

 

Does she like what she is doing, or would she rather be doing something else?

UBU applies.

If her life sucks, she's late doing something else...

Ight - I think I see where this is going .

ONLY YOU CAN DECIDE WHAT YOU WOULD BE HAPPIEST DOING.

Pick a direction...

There is no way in this world that you can "CHEMICALLY" make your life right.

Don't even bother to go there, it will just screw you right up.

THERE ARE NO SILVER BULLETS.

 

Well she loves her job, if thats what you mean greywolf. She has good funds, good family, good friends the whole nine yards, and she realizes she doesnt have a reason to be depressed. I did alot of readding up on this, and alot of times, the only way to get "help" is unfortunatly by chemicals. Trust me though, I am trying to find and get information on every other thing to do before that.

 

Read that vitamin b helps sometimes. Easy to try before a prescription.

 

You probably have already used it, but on the chance you havent, WEBMD can be a
good source of info on these matters.

 

A combination of:

Registering and becoming an FTE poster ,Being outside, Excerise {like swimming walking someone's dog or even getting one for herself },taking a Multi-vitamin,having/getting a hobby,setting some goals ,and trying to a part of positive things can have a huge impact on one's self.

I also agree on the chemicals for a kick start to over-coming the past baggage to get to a point where the first things are mentioned are more
' just part of her lifestyle ' that is positive,rewarding & builds self-esteem.

Now,if you excuse me I have to figure out how to take my own advice.... as I get too much negative feedback on certain things I do

 

Well I did get her to register on here awhile ago lol. As for some of the other advice mil1on thanks. Its really good avice for sure, I have been trying to get her more active and eating alot better stuff and what not. It is hard to take ones own advice too!

 

I'm married to a shrink, so we talk about this a lot. First the headlines.

Meds without "talk therapy" (group or one-on-one) are much less effective, than talk therapy without meds...most times the combination of meds and talk therapy are the most effective.

St John's Wort is no more effective in quality double-blind studies than a placebo. Sorry. Please do not shoot the messenger.

If all the things in her life are supposedly fine but she's depressed, the problem could be an existential crisis and/or bad thinking habits.

As stated above, depression can be the person slipping into "bad" or negative responses to everyday problems. This can imbalance the brain chemistry. Anti depressants will help to a point, but only as a crutch...talk therapy is called for to find the root causes of the negative responses. More and more literature on the subject points to the necessity of retraining the brain to be "happy"...or seeing the world as the proverbial glass being half full.

Unfortunately, insurance companies and their medico lackeys are pushing more meds and fewer visits to the therapist because it's cheaper.

Existential issues are more widespread than many realize. For a very simple and incomplete explanation, it describes a condition where a person is conciously or subconciously questioning his/her existence,and its meaning. Even very religious people go through this,and it's not from lack of faith, but a growing sense that they are not living a life with meaning that RESONATES with their soul.

One can have a great social and material life, a good family, but have a growing sense of misery or depression if the life is not reaching their soul. And here's a kicker...many times you do have the life you love, but you don't see it because of all the BS messages we get overtly and subliminally every friggen day from outside sources that we don't have enough of whatever it is we're supposed to have.

Meds can't help with this, only good honest self examination. An effective therapist can really help.

 

So that was you E1P1, crawling around in my brain with a microscope

Great post ! and very precise.

Btw, you never replied back....to my reply PM

 

Thanks,and my apologies Dennis, I haven't forgotten. I'll 'splain soon. Give me a day or two.

Erik

 

Prep, this can help when seasonal depession is the problem.

Read up on season depression if she really hits the skids druing thise winter months.

She might not need pills if this is the only time she really feels blue.

Look into light therapy.

http://www.clevelandclinic.org/healt...asp?index=6412

 

Encourage her to seek professional help.
It can be a really serious matter.
Professional counseling would be a good start, but be careful there are some quacks out htere.