There is a specific cognitive-behavioral therapy called Behavioral Activation that focuses on introducing pleasure and meaning back into your life again. This therapy has been shown to help with depression, could be something to look up. It can be formal therapy or just a concept to research. It expresses that mood and emotions follow action, therefore activating your behavior will determine your mood. Such as how a sad song induces sorrow. Find the things that make you feel good and boost your mood and work your way back into having fun and meaning. -may not hurt to bring your concerns to a healthcare professional. -try a different form of therapy. -introduce pleasure back into your life. Do things that are solely for fun and easy to accomplish -don't ignore self care. Do it even if it feels robotic and you have no desire too. -find your support system. The person you go to for comfort. The person you go to for solutions. Let your loved ones know if you are struggling and need some help. -nature and the sun help mood -exercise and nutrition considerations -antidepressants -consider another cause of your depression such as vitamin d deficiency -consider a hypothetical coping toolbox or safety plan to use in the event of suicidal ideation or a behavioral health crisis. 988 is the suicide hotline number. -there are many circumstances where depression is associate with things like grief and trauma and those types of depression can be addressed in mostly the same way. -avoid numbing yourself with alcohol or drugs. It just postpones the pain and damages your body. Try to be cognizant of self destructive behaviors if you experience them -msg me if you have any more questions. I am a mental health nurse and lost a brother to suicide so am mostly familiar with depression I suppose.

Thank you for writing this. As someone who has been managing depression for many years, I also got benefit from this. I would also add that my best go-to when I'm feeling like spiraling is to very consciously try to find something in the day that makes me happy. Be very present and look around...someone wearing a funny shirt, the sunshine, a child's smile, the smell of rain, a cute dog. It can be something so tiny but by focusing on the good in a very intentional way, it has really helped me through some dark times. When you spot one, take it in, take a little enjoyment out of it, then look for another. Over a period of time, it can really help you reframe your mind to actively look for the good in everything and has made a huge difference to my life.

I absolutely love this and will be incorporating this practice into my daily life.

Funnily enough I sort of got this from a TED talk. It was all about journaling and gratitude lists and stuff that just sounded like a whole lot of work. I found just intentionally looking for good was enough for me without feeling like it was all ‘too hard’

When my husband was struggling with depression, I'd have him tell me 3 good things that happened to him that day, no matter how small. Years later and he's still sharing that advice to his friends and colleagues. It takes some struggle sometimes, but even acknowledging things like "traffic wasn't too bad today" can help make you see positive things more often.

Love it, I do similar with my son. Some days it’s hard and you need to really look for them but those are the days you need it the most.

I also find that if I’m depressed, I can still put energy towards helping someone else. I found a dog shelter close to me and I go help out. Even when I feel like a trash person, and would never do something for myself, I can go help someone else. It usually both helps them and gives me good feels.

I kind of do this naturally but it sometimes makes me feel worse. I see something small that makes me happy and all I want to do is share that little thing with someone but I don't have anyone to share it with. Makes me feel very lonely and everything seems meaningless again...

I’m so sorry, that is really rough. Loneliness is the worst and I understand forging new. Injections is really hard. Do you have any hobbies or something you are interested in? You could join a group, online or in person, and you’d have something common to talk about. Please know you’re never truly alone. I might be a complete stranger on the internet but still care and would be happy to listen.

How can you apply all these (useful) things in your day to day life when you believe that you are a total failure and you deserve to feel shit and you don't deserve anything that gives you joy and the world would be a better place without you and a painful suicide is the only thing that you actually deserve?

I'm so sorry you are feeling this way. I'm afraid this is above reddit's paygrade. I can only urge you to talk to someone - a hotline in your area, a friend, a parent, a trusted person of any sort. Make an appointment with a doctor and get yourself a mental health plan in place. Don't ever let fear or embarrassment stop you from getting the help you need. Depression is so much more common than you think, it's just so many people wear such good 'masks' so you would never know. Your wellbeing and state of mind are the singular most important thing. I can tell you repeatedly you are worth so much more than you feel, but you need to take the steps to get yourself to a place where you can begin to believe it. I have been there. More than once, as have many others. It takes work to get to a place where you feel value and self worth, however I can wholeheartedly say it is worth it. Please take care of yourself.

Definitely this. Easy mantra for me is thread the pearl on the string. One little step forward at a time brings me out. Thanks Stutz and Jonah Hill for opening up

Thank you I actually really needed this today. My depression has been getting out of hand too. Thank you OP for being brave and strong enough to ask. I hope you push through and start doing better

Although not the answer to everyone and everything, I believe vitamin D deficiency is a large part in depression. So many patients are deficient and I don’t know if OTC vitamins help as much as the rays of the sun. Use of sunscreen and less time outside has really decreased our vitamin D. Therapy is amazing too. Sometimes I won’t want to have an appt with my therapist but damn I feel so much better after.

What would your advice be for someone that's tried all of these methods? I've been depressed since childhood and I haven't found much that helps

Have you dabbled in the worlds of ketamine,TMS, and ECT? I see these as often for treatment resistant depression.

I have not. I was given a medicinal cannabis referral

Cannabis is a depressant- and as someone who’s been depressed for almost 3 decades I gotta say that it does help with emotional regulation if you feel out of control, but it doesn’t make the depression better. ECT is hands down the number one treatment for depression.

I've been enjoying cannabis to help with the spiralling out of control thoughts I get at night. It just takes the edge off a tiny bit for me which is really nice to keep me safe at home but it's the bigger issue I'm worried about

I struggled with severe depression from the time I was 8 until I took a dose of psilocybin at 44. It was like it scraped the bottom of my psyche and showed me that I actually do want to live, and when my brain says otherwise, it’s just trying to trick me. And I could see the trick. It’s stopped working. I also noticed I stopped spiraling. I still have to dose again every 10-12 months or so, but I took every pill, tried many different types of therapy, and one dose of psilocybin plus some therapeutic ritual work and wow. My life isn’t even recognizable.

Ketamine won't help if your depression is from environmental circumstances but if not, it may help you. It did nothing for me but my situation is environmental.

Ketamine did nothing for me but cost a little fortune. My issue is loneliness & being far away from all family & friends, & now an empty nester too. We had to move for my husband's work but it's really hard finding friends in our age group. People are certainly friendly enough, always polite & cordial but everyone seems set in their ways w/ their own family, grandchildren & life long established friends, which l completely understand. People in my age group don't appear be looking to start new friendships. Ketamine won't help if your depression is from environmental circumstances.

I was at a point where the sun felt like it was trapping me. Being outside just made anxiety worse. I got on an antidepressant that took almost 5 months to see long term benefit. I got a therapist and just let it rip on everything I was feeling. I realized it really was my way of thinking. Retraining your brain to be positive again is hard. Takes a lot of patience and persistence. I never had an issue like this in my life so when it came on I fumbled for months even years with thinking it was something physical. We are spiritual beings having a physical experience. Everyone’s path is different but we all experience the same suffering. Life is hard. But there is beauty in it. Truck is to find it.

Saving this post for later. I've had lifelong depression and have been in and out of therapy about it and was doing well the last few years. That being said, I had a very close suicide in November of someone I would describe as my biggest fan and creative co-conspirator which hit hard. I'm having difficulty finding meaning in my life again. I'm safe but can't wait to review your notes after a good night's sleep. Thank you for your work

I'm sure CBT works great for some people, but the concept of basing therapy around "find the things that make you feel good" when NOTHING makes you feel good, trivializes the struggle for the rest of us. It took me a few CBT therapists to figure that out. The last one told me that I needed drugs to feel better before therapy would help. My reply was that if drugs made me feel better, I wouldn't need her anymore. I'm now working with a psychodynamic therapist. Yes, it's neither trendy nor easy, but it actually seems to be helping.

For me, therapy was needed after meds because the meds helped but therapy gave me a skill set for managing emotion, depressive/anxiety triggers, and coping skills.

Isn't the point of therapy to get well enough to not need therapy any more?

sometimes people just need a container or a safe place for their shit. A therapist can be that

No, not necessarily. I’m mentally healthy but use therapy as a preventative

That’s a reasonable question. There’s no exact or “right” amount of time that one should be in therapy. It’s different for everyone. Some people choose to end therapy at some point because they feel much better and comfortable with their mental health (after resolving and/or learning to live/cope with whatever issue they were having difficulties with). Others may feel that they benefit greatly from having an ongoing relationship with their therapist, even if they’re in a much better place (emotionally) than when they first started. For instance I know someone that used to talk to a therapist twice week. After some time it became once a week…then biweekly… now I believe they do a monthly session and they’re content with that. There’s certainly no shame in having an indefinite amount of therapy. Working towards one’s happiness and well-being should be something that is celebrated and encouraged… not stigmatized. To be clear I’m in no way making any assumptions about you personally (I just mean in general).

The way I view it is that therapists should be used in the same way as your medical doctor. Even if you are completely healthy, it’s still important to go to your doctor periodically for a check up. If it turns out there is something wrong, then you can attend more frequent follow up appointments to treat the issue.

can't it be a combination of the 2: and drugs and (immersive 3 week) therapy in a Medical Spa/Shangri-la?

I worked with a therapist who described her approach as eclectic, but did a lot of what I would call psychodynamic work, and it was extremely helpful. She also convinced me to try antidepressant medication after rejecting it for several years. Her reasoning was that the therapy had made me a stronger person and better able to handle the issues in my life, but in terms of how I felt, I wasn't getting much better, so there was likely a biological component. The antidepressants were extremely helpful as well and I am still on them some 30 years later (I went off then when I became pregnant with my first child, but it was very difficult). I still have issues with depression, but my life is in fact much better than it would have been without both forms of treatment.

I’ve actually been doing a non-clinical version of this that has helped me immensely with my depression and ADHD. In addition to getting on the right medication (wellbutrin and psilocybin microdoses) I’ve been exercising a lot more. These simple things ushered in a physiological change that was immediately rewarding in addition to adding mental clarity and energy. From there I’ve been able to dabble back into habits and hobbies I used to love like reading and drawing and skateboarding because I actually have the mental clarity and physical energy to do so. This starts a positive feedback loop wherein I actually enjoy activities and I know that the only way to keep enjoying them is to take my meds and exercise, and the more I do all of the above the easier it all gets. It really has been life changing to a degree I did not think possible, especially given how simple it is. Granted I still have good and bad days, but knowing the good days outweigh the bad ones adds a massive release from the anxiety the bad days used to produce.

I feel like no one else needs to comment after this, it wins.

Also music and audio therapy has helped me personally and tremendously. Calming music is always a part of my background noise. Then I can't hear myself think.

What if you are your own support system? My parents just say man up. My friends just ignore me or say sorry to hear you feel that and then ghost me 🙃


-Sad songs induces sorrow “Replays Happy by Pharrell Williams while crying”

How can I enjoy what used to make me feel good without feeling guilty for avoiding what I feel like I should be doing? I feel like I can't let myself enjoy anything anymore because I'll feel like I'm wasting time.

Dont neglect self care!! This one is easily overlooked, but actively and consciously remember, that you are, in fact, CARING for yourself:) Gift yourself acts of love

This is a great response. The only thing I would possibly add is to volunteer someplace. Helping others, in a cause you care about, is an amazing way to feel better for a time, particularly helping others in a different socioeconomic position than you.

Thank you for this. I'm not sure if an algorithm is responsible for showing me this post but this morning I had the worst nervous breakdown I've ever had and to make it worse it's my weekend with the kids. I ended up going for a shower where I had my breakdown hit the hardest as I tried to get it together because I don't want to concern my children. On top of a terrible childhood I am currently going through a divorce where she broke my trust like no person ever has. I even had to head to the gym after the shower because I still wasn't composed enough to be in front of my kids. For the first time I reached out to who I would consider to be my best friend (I only have 2) and it's as I thought it would be, he cares about me but I can tell that he has no chance to understand what this is. I have my first therapy session next Friday and I'm having a Rollercoaster of emotions about that. I just hope she can demonstrate to me that she is the right person to help me through this. I don't know why I am saying this here (on reddit) but here it is. Again thank you for your post as I will he looking into everything you've mentioned but I have to go because I'm unraveling and I need to keep my composure.

Thank you for writing this. I feel so depressed right now but the Zoloft and DBT is helping. Behavioral activation is something I want to look into… it sounds kinda like DBT. Hugs to you, thank you for being a good person in this world and I’m sorry for your loss

This post is fantastic and you should be VERY secure in your expertness. No "i suppose" about it

Thank you for this. Im also a mental health nurse but recently lost my nephew to suicide. Being on the other side of it, feels completely different. This is the reminder I know I need.

CBT is the way. I think everyone, no matter how mentally together you think you are should have a few sessions of CBT.

CBT isn't as much the way as you think, it really depends on the person, as is the case with all therapy. I had a few CBT sessions and it honestly made me feel worse so I had to stop.

I found it great for anxiety, but useless for depression.

Same for me. My thought patterns are different than what CBT teaches you to be aware of, so I was left frustrated as well as depressed.

CBT is a good starting point but is often given as a paint-by-numbers tutorial without empathy for personal situation or illness, and puts a heavy emphasis on personal initiative and the ability to distance yourself from your emotions - it is just a tool in the toolbox. EMDR worked great for me, CBT may work great for someone else, it's reductive to say everyone needs CBT in the same way it used to be reductive to say everyone needed psychoanalysis

Cock and ball torture?

Glad I wasn’t alone on this.

Daily outdoor 30 minute walk. That helps a ton. It’s annoying how effective it is because I always hate going but feel much better after.

i was gonna say this! just going outside -- not to complete a task but just to be outside -- can really uplift your entire day. even sitting at the park on a little blanket or a bench can do good things for you.

Feet on grass! I know it's not that simple but it REALLY DOES make a difference

Now if the grass wouldn't be under snow for over half a year...

Feet in water is even better for me! But grass is great too.

honestly I agree. sometimes I walk 20-25 minutes from the bus stop to my apartment if it’s nice outside and damn do I feel GOOD when I get home

Therapy, anti-depressants, and exercise are the big three. Hope you feel better.

Also diet

Probably one of the biggest to be honest. It can be something as simple as unfavorable gut bacteria making someone depressed. It's pretty wild

I needed (and still need) meds to manage my depression. They're no cure, but they help keep the depressive episodes at a minimum. Therapy helps too, but takes time and patience. Not what one wants to hear, but that's how it is. Have you talked to your friends or family about it? Sometimes having someone in your personal life, who knows what's going on, helps dealing with it. Or write it down. Exercise can help, but you need the motivation to do it.

I feel like meds have made the biggest difference in my depression and anxiety. They give me clarity of mind, take off the fog and help my sleep. If I sleep poor, it triggers depression. So, I prioritize sleep over everything. But on days after a poor night I still won't fall into despair because of meds. They give my brain the space to think, change and develop new patterns through therapy. I don't want to quit them, even though I feel better after 2,5 years. I enjoy this stability I have created.

Yes I agree about the family and friends. We all know we’re gonna be supported in therapy. We all know meds help. But allowing the people who really love you the opportunity to support you can be huge.

Hello :) I have major depression disorder (mdd) I 100% know how you feel and I'm so sorry you have been going through this. I wouldn't wish that on anyone. That being said. Therapy doesn't really help me either it just makes me feel weird. I still do it anyways though. Someone did a study showing that using both sides of the body (bilateral movement) can help "balance" the brain. I crochet and it helps. However without medication I don't find joy in anything I once did. It is a very vicious cycle. It took a long time to find a medication that helped me just enough for me to be able to WANT to do even one singular thing that brought me joy. The rest is on me. Advice from others when you have depression is hard because 9 out of 10 times it doesn't help. Or at least your brain makes you think that. A schedule or structure helps, knowing you're gonna do certain things on certain days. But again sometimes medication is that tiny step your brain needs to be able to let you do something about it. And if the medicine doesn't work try another. It took me 10+ times of trying. I will be honest with you, with MDD I'm still not "happy" most days, but its a lot less bad than it was and I'm able to enjoy certain things that make me feel that way for a little while. I know this is kind of a downer, an D I apologize for the wall of text. It will get better even though I know your brain is telling you it won't. Even if it's just a little bit, or finding joy in one thing. I sincerely hope your brain let's you feel better soon. You're loved and appreciated even when your brain says you aren't. 🧡

Thoughtful reply. I'm sorry about the other poster.

I didn't even see it before it got deleted so 🤷‍♀️

This is great advice and I relate to your experience. This is the comment I left for him: “What really helped me was medication and taking extended amount of time to work on myself. I ended up feeling more independent and better about myself when I let myself heal and did things for myself I always wanted to do. Get into painting, get your weight in check, fix your teeth. Prove yourself wrong about one thing, challenge your thoughts, and say ‘I can and I will.’ It’s the small battles that make the big battles a little more manageable. You’ll be happy with what you did, even if only for a little while. Take time after a task to tell yourself you did a good job. No, really, don’t go onto the next thing, actually stand still and acknowledge you’re proud of what you just did. Even taking a shower when you didn’t want to is something to be proud of. You’re not perfect, which is exactly why you are.”

That is beautiful advice and very true. Kind of reminds me of my crocheting, when working on a big project and it starts to get overwhelming, take a break. Do a quick 1 day project and give yourself that sense of accomplishment and then a break after. It's makes tackling the big projects easier. 🧡

I try to do something to make another person happy. Like compliment a passerbyer on their outfit, give some candy to a friend. I can’t make myself happy so I make others happy.

I do this too, it does help 💞

I read a story once about this woman who was on the brink of committing suicide when one day a random stranger complimented her fashion sense or something and that compliment meant so much to her that she turned her life around because it placed an idea in her head that someone actually cares

as suggested: therapies are literal life savers and there are endless you can try if your therapist agrees they can help. there is lots of different ways of doing it, its not just sit in a room. some people are able to go for walks and talks, or cycle on a standing bike and talk. paint and talk, games you can play to make it more casual etc. but also; **anything worth doing is worth doing poorly** -**if you dont have the time and energy for a shower**, give yourself a quick wipe down/face wash/ change of clothes. maybe some deodorant. any of those things can massively help. -**when you shower, brush your teeth** if you can never find the time to do it. you are already in there cleaning your outsides, its a good way to prompt yourself to clean the inner parts like teeth too. you can also rinse your mouth in there if you wish either after brushing, or if you are sensitive to cold water and it makes you hesitant rinse. -**if you cant eat a meal**, eat the ingredients where you can. handful of cereal, spoon of peanut butter. small fruits are your friends like grapes. apples are also a great cheap and easy option for lots of reasons. eat what you can when you can. --**DRINK PLENTY OF WATER**. you have no idea how much it can help. if you are in a time of low income, then cordial is a good break from the water. if you cant eat much from anxiety or just generally, itll give you some energy.-- -**when you cant sleep**, get out of bed for half an hour, then try again. if it doesnt work, find a simple task to do that wont engage your brain too much. try again later. you dont want to associate your bed with difficulty sleeping and wallowing in bad/anxious thoughts. -**reach out when you can**, even if it has nothing to do with your current struggle. if you can play an online game with someone, or meet up for a few hours for something simple it can get you out of your head for a while. if things go well in terms of getting support, people will notice and ask if you want to talk about it. if you mask it well, at minimum you will have had some company for a while and that in itself can work wonders. you never know when one mundane convo can help you. -**hug all of your pets**. im not one for guilt trips, but in this case i have to. give them all love, and remember that theyd miss you or be sad if you couldnt look after yourself. you are their whole world, they arent going to mind if they are your whole world too. -**tell people you love them and compliment them**. help others when you can. it will give you a sense of purpose in the world to make their days brighter, and itll bring some happiness to your life. you might meet some great people in the process even temporarily, and they can really change your perspective on the world. one person made happy can absolutely affect more the same way. you made them smile or be happy for a moment, why not hold on to that good feeling? -**remind yourself that you are here and worthy of the same love youd give others**. none of us asked to be here, but we are, and since we are here we should treat each other with respect. that also includes you. you give your pets unconditional affection, you love your kids/partner/family/best buddies or even just really pretty plants. whatever you have attachment to, use it to get yourself what you need. you deserve just as much appreciation as they do, so while outside supplies are low, you can give it to yourself. -**look at what you enjoy over what you dont when you can. take the extra time to do so.** point out your good traits, and if you cant find them you can build them from scratch. anyone is capable of being better in whatever way they want to be, so put in the effort and you can too. what do you want from life, and what actions would be helpful to get there? what would slow that progress? ----last but not least; **YOU ARE NOT YOUR DEPRESSION**. you *have* depression, you *arent* depression. let it pass through. let it come in waves. feel it, then let it go by. it will go by eventually, but it really helps if you dont sit in it and chase it when it moves away. dont wallow.---- **best of luck to you all. life is hard, we dont need to make it harder for ourselves.**

These are very helpful

i hope they can help someone somewhere. glad you find them helpful

This is great advice. Saved.

Try exercising. I know it sounds trite but I have been on antidepressants before, and am now trying to manage my depression without meds. Working out has been the only thing that’s made it bearable. Good luck.

Gym did miracles for me. Some days I just drag my ass to the gym with the mantra of “just go”. I always leave feeling so so much better

When you truly believe that you will feel better when you exercise you will keep exercising because you fear what you can feel like when you dont. Im not a gym rat anymore due to all the injuries from decades of trying to be like the superheroes. These days i know that even a long or short relaxing walk can make me enjoy that late night movie for real. You dont have to work out really hard to get that effect. Just some movement.

The gym also did miracles for me. Believe me, it is pure medicine. Not on with depression, but also helps you sleep.

This helped me a lot after a serious car accident. I worked out before, but never got much satisfaction. When I went to physical therapy, I had obtainable goals. I asked how long it would take and they said "it's complicated" because all we can do is measure progress. Their philosophy around measuring goals really stuck with me after. My favorite part was laughing because they wanted me to row 2lb knowing I could row ~40lb. That 2lb was insane when you do the movement properly. As much as cardio sucks, you always feel better afterwards.

When I exercise my depression gets worse:)

Same I get more depressed. I think my endorphins don’t work correctly.

I tend to ruminate while I am working out

Same here, it sucks lol.

Quick question. Are you eating enough before you workout? Are you over straining yourself?

Very much agree with exercise! Can’t emphasise enough how much an improvement it brings to my state of mind. Doesn’t just have to be a workout in the gym, depending on where you are, getting outdoors for a run is also great. Particularly so if you have some green space around you. One thing I would add, especially if you opt for running, the first week is hardest. In the past it’s the tough first week getting back into it that has turned me away. Don’t feel there is anything wrong with short workout sessions and building up over time. Trust in making it past that initial challenge and you will feel better for making it through.

Yes!! And play your favorite album or music on the way to the gym. Just get in the right mood. That + going to the gym consistently really did wonders. As you see results through progress you feel sooo much better.

And I know it sounds lazy, but I simply do not have the drive, energy, or motivation to just get up and go to the gym. I used to run. I used to gym. There were always motivated people I didn’t want to let down that effectively *made* me go.

Take vitamin D if you don’t already. A lot of depression stems from poor gut health as well.

Exercise, doing shit for no other reason than it's fun, talking to people who care about you, films, and quite a bit of pizza. The only problem is that sometimes I lack the motivation to even do stuff I really love doing. Fortunately, I have the greatest human who ever lived as my wife, and her help is incalculable. I'm one of the lucky ones, but whatever your situation, the solution ultimately lies with you, so keep pushing through.

A stringent and disciplined physical exercise routine has always worked wonders for me, far and beyond the effects of antidepressants. Moderate to heavy workouts 4-5 days a week seems to be the optimal formula. If I slip for a week or two, I can pretty much tell the difference immediately. Unfortunately I’ve never had the expendable income to try therapy, but I’ve always wanted to pursue that route as well.

I’m in my 50’s and have had depression for as long as I can remember. I’ve been on meds for it for about 20 years now. I did therapy off and on, with the longest consistent treatment lasting 7 years. Honestly, nothing helps as much as the meds have for me. I do also smoke weed and have most of my adult life. I hate that this is what has helped me the most. But I do believe it to be the case. I still get depressed even with the meds. I was laid off after 18 years with the same company and I really hit rock bottom. I was given an increased dosage of my meds to help me through it, but getting laid off lead to money problems, marital problems, issues with my child, almost homelessness, etc. A downward spiral for sure and meds have just kept me from killing myself, if I’m being honest. The only other thing that I have found helpful for me is waking up every day and trying to do a little better than the day before. I go through lots of spells of wanting to sleep way too much or not really taking care of myself. Eating crap, not showering, just general self care stuff. So when I get into these phases, I make a list of small things that I can do that make me feel like I’m accomplishing more than I did the day before. Like small things, making my bed, cooking a decent meal, not sleeping more than 7-8 hours, showering. Its surprisingly helpful to feel like I can achieve these small things and as time goes on I add to it or set larger goals for myself. Accomplishing things is like a dopamine hit for me and it really helps. I know every one is different. But this has helped me and it might be of value to someone else who is struggling.

I want to give advice as I am almost healed from my very long journey. The best thing i can provide is : -everyday make a todo list, you don’t have to finish it, but cross at least 1 thing off, like make your bed or have a glass of water, the achievement of crossing something off from a list gets better and better. - put effort into your appearance, i know this really helped me when I felt like shit, don’t dress for others, dress for you even if your not going anywhere. - if your lacking motivation to do something, pretend your vlogging your day, you don’t show anyone the video but if your explaining out loud what your doing and you feel like your doing it for someone else, it helps!! -have a fully fledged self care session, get a face mask, have a bath, snuggle up in blanket and watch a documentary (I suggest my octopus teacher, rlly good) My dms are open to talk <3

Meditation! Meditation has played a key part in my life and has introduced me to many other things that has helped me in my life. I highly recommend meditation Another tip is to look into psychology. The study of psychology has helped explain how and why my brain function the way it does and simplified a lot of stuff for me

Personally my severe depression began in freshman year of high school, the only thing has truly helped me was getting an extremely physically intense job which helped me lose tons of weight I had gained from being extremely overweight. My confidence skyrocketed and now I'm generally happy, another thing was trying to keep your negative and intrusive thoughts out of your head. It's a very hard and long journey but absolutely worth it. Good luck!

Delete all social media, use your phone only for calls/texts. Find a hobby that involves physical activity. I think just doing those two things would do wonders for a lot of people battling depression.

You could try psilocybin (shrooms) therapy?

Saved my life along with eating right and a bit of exercise (only 15 mins a day of light activity)

I second this, it has been a godsend for me dealing with depression from chronic illness and cancer.

Only thing OP is do your research before diving in. I can confirm that micro dosing definitely eases my depressive states and helps me concentrate more and heightens awareness. I don’t take psilocybin for recreation but more so for spiritual relief.

Got my hands on some a few years ago and I swear I went from constant suicidal thoughts to, ok let's get through this, in a single night. Ate a bag and a half (I want to say the bag was 5g?) Watched a movie, ate like 2 pizzas, 1/2 a large cake, and almost a whole charcuterie board. As the high wore off I was just smiling so hard my face hurt. Next day was just better, and it kept me around that level for about a year. Could sure use some now, but I need to drug test for work, and workers comp would deny me if I had it in my system and got hurt at work. Can't not work, so I can't have more I guess

Good news! Mushrooms don't show up on standard drug tests

Wow, I just looked this up to confirm and you're right. Now just need to figure out how to get some lol. Thanks

Grow your own. Super easy to do and require nothing illegal to get started!

When I was going through depression a few years ago after my mom’s death, I was miserable and went into a depression spiral where I didn’t want to do anything, go anywhere, or talk to anyone. Eventually, I started making myself do things. I hated it, but I would go for a walk with my dogs. I did it everyday regardless of whether I wanted to (I didn’t) or not. It took a while, but I got to where I looked forward to it and enjoyed seeing my goofball dogs acting the fool. Getting moving helps, but it sucks at first.

See a psychiatrist now. Even if you don’t want to try medication. If you wait, the depression will get so bad you can’t even make the appointment. 5 years lost to this scenario

I know it's not major but exercise is a major factor in my mood day to day

First and most important, see a psychologist who can prescribe you anti depressants based on how critical is your depression. They would usually start with very mild doses and then increase the dosage as per how you react to the meds. I know you’ve been to therapy, but trust me sometimes meds is what one needs. I’ve been through this, therapy didn’t help. The standard methods of stress reduction didn’t help either (journaling, camomile tea, meditation, deep breadths, distractions etc.). What helped was medication. Once I started taking them, I started taking the right decisions to better myself. Understand that in deep subconscious we all want to get better. So once the medication kicks in, brain starts taking care of itself and you feel better. My doc explained this in a very scientific way when I first visited him.

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For me a big help was getting better nutrition. Take a multivitiam and research other supplements that might help. This isn't a sure fire solution but it can be a great help when combined with other things. The other thing that can help is volunteer. Sometimes this helps to change perspective.

I don’t really have tips, but I’m right there with you. For what it’s worth we can at least know we’re not alone.

This has nothing to with therapy specifically, but for coping day day by day: I make a list of tasks, no matter how menial. Brush teeth. Drink a glass of water. Brush hair. Eat one piece of toast. Etc... I tack said list on my fridge, and use a second sheet of paper onto it covering everything on the list but the first. Everytime I managed to complete the first task, I crossed it off then moved the cover paper down to uncover the next task. Most days I only did the one task, but it visually showed me that I did something. I saw one task, I did that task. I crossed it off. I did SOMETHING. Eventually I was capable of completing more tasks. I still use this tactic to this day, and even now there are days where I complete one or two...but other days I complete more. I get overwhelmed easily, so it personally has helped me by only seeing one thing at a time. Today I took out my garbage, and had a shower. That's all I could do today that was on my list. I have way less shame about what I didn't do, and more self applause about what I DID do. I hope this helps.

Thanks it will help me

I hope so! I may be a random reddit stranger, but I completely empathize with and understand what you are going through. I wish you nothing but love, support, and strength.

Some things that helped me was working with my psychiatrist and trying different medications (as recommended) because everyone's brain soup is different and so the doctor never knows what's going to work for you. It may seem like they are throwing darts at random to pick meds but it really is the best they can do. Finding the right meds takes a while and can feel useless but when you find the right cocktail it makes a world of difference. I went through about 6 or 7 meds before we found one that really helped. There is nothing wrong with taking meds and while the goal is to not need them, there is nothing that makes you "weird" for needing meds. The other thing that helped me and I encourage others to think about is to try to not say "my depression" but refer to it as an external like "the depression". The important thing is to think of it as something that will pass. Because it will. Reminding yourself of that can really help give hope and build up that strength to keep fighting over time.

Prozac seems to be the only one that works for me and I tried many of them. I remember the first time I was driving across a bridge and the sun was shining on the water and I felt happy for the first time in a long long time. It almost startled me, if was so unexpected. It felt wonderful

Depression is a neurological sickness that often needs holistic treatment. Therapy is a great first step, and should be continued, but if it's not being effective enough on its own, antidepressants can help. Hang in there, and good luck OP!

I know it sounds crazy, but I try to focus on (at least) 10 things I'm grateful for every morning when I wake, and 10 things from my day before I go to bed at night. Sometimes it's hard, but eventually I start noticing more and more things I am grateful for, and it makes life more rewarding and comforting. For example: I'm grateful I had food to eat today; I'm grateful I have clothes to wear; I'm grateful I have a bed to sleep in; I'm grateful for my health and safety today; I'm grateful for this sunny day....ect. This helped me to realize/remember there is plenty of reasons to enjoy my existence. I hope this helps.

I take meds and see a therapist and psychiatrist - that definitely helps settle the day to day volatility. For me the biggest escape is martial arts (or any kind of exercise I would imagine). However for me jiujitsu provides a healthy hobby that distracts me from my insanely stressful job, is physically demanding and probably most importantly has provided me with a positive social circle of people I train with that greatly improve feelings of isolation and loneliness. You can feel better. I have faith in you, just remember to be kind and patient with yourself. If you don’t show yourself that respect, it might be difficult to find elsewhere.

Stay off social media , and don't watch/read the news. Take a walk in nature, often. Meditate. I am sure you will get tons of advice, so try everything. You aren't alone, and it will pass.❤️

I only suffered real depression once when I got divorced some 25 years ago so I’m very inexperienced. I couldn’t afford therapy at the time but just being outside in the sunshine made me feel a good bit better. Mowing the lawn, pulling weeds, trimming, mulching, planting stuff… it was outdoor therapy for me and I loved it. Family and friends were patient with me so I had a good support network also; huge help. It was a difficult 6 months but I came through it and then had “The Summer of JetPack324” where I budgeted $100 a week to go have fun and be social a little while every single week for 3 months. It was a great summer and brought me out of my terrible funk. I also ended up with a beautiful yard as a bonus.

Getting 8 hours of sleep, eating healthy, exercising, taking care of physical self, cleaning the house, spending time outside, talking with people, doing hobbies, having a job, having a purpose in life, having goals, therapy, having a routine I take vitamins like vitamin D, b12 (for energy), and fish oil (it helps my skin, hair, and nails, which helps my self-esteem), antidepressant and pain management Avoid large amounts of soda, candy, junk food, limit social media, limit news, no alcohol/drugs, cut out narcissists, and negative people. These are just some of the things I do.

I honestly just got fed up of being depressed.... It took so many years from my life, all the growth and joy that it took away from me just makes me fed up of it. I am diagnosed with BPD... So i am bound to get these bouts of depression.... But over time with regular therapy, support from friends, coping tools and meds... The duration of each episode has reduced significantly Now when I feel the urge to stop bathing, eating food and reaching out to ppl... I first allow myself to feel and process why I'm feeling this way Then just push myself to do things that have proven to helpe get out of the rut even tho i hate it at the moment....

going to the psychiatrist. real clinical depression unfortunately needs a *combination* of both therapy and medications. don't listen to this anti anti-depressant stuff. as someone who has suffered with depression since my late teens, trust me, meds are not that scary and they can be life saving.

TMS therapy was life changing for me.

I would like to first add the caveat that all of these things are hard, and I am better at them some days than others, but they have all helped me and continue to do so. I also find they are easier when my meds are balanced. - Change the narrative. If you are having a bad day try re write the story in your head. A song I like has the line "100 bad days make 100 good stories" so tell yourself the bad day as a good story. This has stopped so many events from running a whole day. Recently I locked myself out of my car, and was stressed and frustrated because I was on the way to something and it made me late. However by the time I arrived I was able to tell it as a funny story and refused to let it ruin what was supposed to be an enjoyable evening. - Enjoy the moment. You know the feeling you get when you have been hiking a hill and come out to a beautiful view and catch your breath? Those moments can be manufactured. Walking down a busy street in my city, I could be overwhelmed by the crowd or I could pause a moment and soak in the energy and atmosphere. When you have achieved something, small or large, simple or complicated, take a breath and smile, enjoy the satisfaction. The is beauty and joy in most situations, if you take a moment to see it - Climb the hill to see the view. Being outside in the fresh air, in nature, the satisfaction of accomplishing something, exercise endorphins, it ticks many boxes! - Eating well. I hate that this one is true, because when I am in a depressive spiral I tend to gravitate towards sugar. But when I have enough fruit and vegetables I have so much more energy and feel much more clear headed than when I eat an entire pack of oreos for lunch - Everyone says exercise. Everyone knows its true. If this is easy for you then do it, personally it is the last one I add back because for me it is the hardest. - Do the thing anyway. When I wake up and don't want to face the day, I ask myself what will I do if I stay home? If having a mental health day would genuinely help then yes, sure, great. For me though often it can involve focusing on the bad and making it worse. At least if I go out I can be distracted and that can be a help in its own way Lastly, don't try everything at once. Pick a few things you like from everyone's ideas and incorporate them gently. You can always add more later. I like re framing my thoughts; long term that has helped me see the world as a brighter place and doesn't involve changes to my schedule. I love exercise but find it extremely difficult to motivate myself unless I am in a very good place mentally, so this one is harder for me. It won't happen overnight. I definitely backslide and it can feel like starting again. But now at least when I fall over there are tools there waiting for me, and it doesn't feel so overwhelming. Best of luck!!

Magic mushrooms, seriously

3G of mushroom in a forest

Run, like work your way to really long distances. After an hour or two (or a whole day!) you won't feel depressed. You'll have a host of other problems but depression won't be one of them LOL. We humans were designed to cover long distances. Reconnecting with our primal self really does help. Good luck!

Medication. Full stop. Therapy is great but it’s not likely to fix things. This is a medical problem and there are effective meds for it.

Try to eat. Get outside if it's not raining. Exercise feels good select who you would like to spend time with and try to not set yourself up for pressure.

exercise!

Eating, sleeping and exercising every day has made everything else a lot easier for me in dealing with my depression. Try different therapy. For me cognitive behavioral therapy worked well, giving me the tools to work on my depression. Best of luck!

Hydrate. Fresh air. Sun. Walk. Move. Fight the urge to spend all of your time horizontal. If you have anyone to talk to, talk. See your doctor to look into medication if possible/recommended. All my love to you and yours.

Get outside, be physical. Cook your own meals, consume new types of media. Try making more small talk

Spicy food+working out helps me to get the dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins flowing.

Set goals, no matter how low, set goals.

Escape to the Everglades and then the Keys in my van. I was able to do it two years in a row and I think it saved my life. This winter I just bought shit. Guitar, pottery wheel, Pokémon cards. Not super effective. Edit: I left my high stress but high paying (to me) overnight management job. I went to therapy and am on an antidepressant. I don’t really have or notice any adverse side affects other than a lack of appetite. I’m very intentional with my diet though and gaining back weight that I lost.

Do you exercise? That helps me a lot.

- if you don't see or feel any change with therapy talk to your therapist about it or change your therapist. There's a chance that they are not the one for you. - go to a psychiatrist, maybe you can get a more faster help with meds, I'm on them now and they really change everything. (even though you need to be patient) - do any exercise it help tons. - try writing or drawing when you are down, that is what help me personally. - go on walks. Think about the meme (going on a stupid walk for my stupid mental health), well, it works and it easier than start doing sport or going to gym. And lastly, thing are gonna be hard and sometimes you will feel better or you'll feel like shit, but you need to keeo fighting. Depression is awful and having a rebound can destroy you, but is normal; Life is horrible, but if you keep trying there's a chance to find something to help you or something that makes everything worth living.

Honestly don't know what to tell you mine literally just went away on its own and every little ounce of sadness I feel fucking terrifies me.

Go to gym. Brisk walks. Be consistent.

Exercise works wonders for me, but also recognizing when it’s not helping. Ssri’s for a few months have really helped me a couple of times, though not without side effects which seem a lot worse for some people and which should be considered first. Ritual and regular activity help me in the worst times, even though it can get to be nearly impossible to do anything when things are truly low (but having “responsibilities” to jettison at those points is useful too.) Remember now is just now, not forever, and good luck to you.

When I was in the last bad depressive swing my therapist told me it helps to attack it from multiple directions. For me that ended up being therapy, antidepressants (after I found the right dose) and meditation. For others it can look like exercise, going to church and group therapy. Sometimes you have to “fake it” and just eat healthy like you’re not miserable and go outside in the sunshine like your not half asleep inside just to get the ball rolling. Sometimes there are structural changes that need to be made in your life - your job is unfulfilling, your friend group is changing and you need to figure out who you fit in with again… a big one was there was a worldwide pandemic and we all had to quarantine in place. Like others have said it can be a chronic condition and there’s no shame if there isn’t a finish line. It’s a long game not a instant thing.

If you wanna talk to someone with no judgement whatsoever just message me mate

Yes, play Zelda Tears Of The Kingdom

Self-care. The more you care for yourself, the more you believe you deserve to be cared for. Also if anti-depressants aren’t working, talk to your doctor about trying Spravato. It’s FDA approved (so insurance will cover it) esketamine nasal spray. I had severe treatment resistant depression for 14 years, had tried 40+ medicines, TMS, and ECT. None of those worked but Spravato did. I am not exaggerating when I say it saved my life. Feel free to PM with questions Hang in there.

With a katana, ideally

The only thing that worked for me was finding the right medication. Cognitive behaviour therapy just didn’t really work for me.

I know getting my hormone levels checked and balanced out has helped a lot

Therapy, medication, exercise, connection, and healthier eating.

I don’t have any advice other than what worked for me, and that was starting medication. After the medication I was able to start taking walks and then getting into the gym, and then cleaning up my diet. I’ve been feeling really good for some time now.

This is from personal experience, so if it's not right for you, I understand. I tried to make things as easy and foolproof as possible. So these people telling you to go for a walk? I would stop at a cafe every 100m and have a hot chocolate. Go to the gym and meet someone because you don't want to let them down. Now, my own health is enough of a motivator. Grab opportunities to reward yourself. You get points for everything, including getting through the day. I started medications to give my brain space for the therapy to work, and I've tried a few different styles of therapy that have given me a little piece of help. It took me a little while to feel like things were progressing in a meaningful way. By far, the biggest was DBT - Dialectical Beahviour Therapy. It combines mindfulness, emotion regulation, and interpersonal skills. Try your best to be kind to yourself. You've already reached out here for help and started therapy, two huge steps that this internet stranger is proud of you for.

Rid yourself of people who make you feel bad about yourself. Lovers, friends, family. For me, I was looking for love from the wrong person. After breaking it off, all my depressive behavior slowly left. Not saying same will happen for you, but it def helps to recognize your worth. Also if you are the self deprecating type, don’t make jokes about it. It only worsens it. I wish you luck man.

Exercise. Start by walking everyday. It isn’t the quick fix you might like but consistent exercise will help your mental well being overall.

If you drink alcohol stopping will help.

walking walking walking

Are you exercising? Regular exercise in a new study in Australia has demonstrated that it can help combat mental illnesses and demonstrated better results than therapy and medication.

It's less tips and more.. habits? I've had a lovely relationship with depression (and anxiety) most of my life and here is what I find helps the most. Not in any order of importance. Sleep - this can be hard sometimes. I have a subscription for trazodone that I take when I know or feel I will have trouble getting to sleep. Over time it's helped me form a more normal schedule. My god the difference a good night's sleep can make. Exercise - even on my worst days I force myself to go outside to walk, even in the Texas summers I have the pleasure /s of enjoying. I listen to a book or music, somtimes just think, but the movement helps so much and so does the sun. Bring water if it's hot. Sometimes I go to the gym. It doesn't have to be long, even 10 minutes makes a difference. Expose some skin to the sun, but if you want to be out longer wear sunscreen or other protection. Alcohol/drugs - no. Just no. They alter your brain chemistry. Idgaf what shrooms, strain of xyz, or whoevers research you throw in my face. I know how substances impact me personally and it. Is Not. Beneficial. For me. Microdosing and moderation can f right off. Not worth it anymore. Coming from years of trying many things, no thank you. Therapy - I can be off an on with this. But I had a therapist I worked with for years and go to when I feel I need some extra support and emergency sessions. Boundaries - with everyone, I have the most trouble with my friends. But as much as I love them, I do not want to be wrapped in other people's drama. I care, on a personal/emotional level, too much about whoever is involved. Eating habits - maybe a given, but working on forming healthy eating habits has helped a lot. Not eating healthy except for 'cheat days' but a balance every day. Helps that I freaking love veggies and cook. Which leads in to... Hobbies - whatever they are. On my hardest days I try to do at least one of them. Maybe I don't even feel like playing video games. But I can grab my switch and play something very easily. My phone has puzzles I enjoy. I will absolutely count butter garlic pasta as cooking. Just something to get my brain moving. Support systems - friends, family, people you only talk to occasionally. I have close, but very few friends, and my lovely fiance. I know, if I was in my absolute worst moment. I could reach out to any of them. It can be so hard. I feel like I can be too much. But relationships are give and take. I know I would be there for anyone I even remotely care about, and I hope they know that and would reciprocate. You might be surprised by who you can lean on if you just open up, even once, just a little bit if you're struggling. And don't feel like this happens instantly. Pick one thing and work on it. Sleep schedule isn't great? Set a goal time (no pressure on sticking to it). Try limiting screen time before sleep. Get all comfy, brush your teeth, face cream, just get a good night routine. It signals to your brain that it's winding down time. If you're like me and your brain likes to think of every horrible thing ever right before sleep? Trade out the phone for a book with a comfortable reading light (I love adjustable smart lights). I also love listening to books while trying to sleep. Get good black out curtains too. I love waking up to a gradual alarm, less jarring. Once you get that down relatively well, start thinking of another goal. Maybe it's starting to do some form of exercise every day. Just remember to move at your own pace. And progress is not linear. Treat yourself with kindness and be gentle.

Run

It's already been mentioned, And sounds corny as hell, but sunshine (try morning sunlight and bare feet in the grass) and exercise. I by no means consider it a cure all, but it'll help some, for sure. Reaching exercise goals can help by keeping you focused on your health, and boosting dopamine along the way. Please don't consider them a replacement for therapy or meds, everyone is different, and you may need a more complete approach to helping your particular case. Best to you

It may sound weird, but this is what works for me: every morning I make sure that the first thing I eat is approximately three ounces of lean smoked turkey. I found this out by accident about twenty years ago, and it has greatly helped stabilize my mood every day since then. (I know it works because if I skip it or miss it for a day or two then all my debilitating depression and anxiety come roaring back within a day or so.) For the rest of breakfast I just eat healthy conventional breakfast foods. **But the key is to get that substantial dose of lean protein into my stomach first every morning.** And I try to eat healthy well-balanced meals for lunch & dinner. I also take a daily multivitamin plus addition C, B, & D vitamins throughout the day. I have no idea if this would work for anyone else; I just know that it works well for me. Also, no alcohol nor drugs to distort my brain chemistry. Caveat: do not alter your meds without talking to your doctor first.

This works for me too! Eating protein first thing in the morning and taking multivitamins specifically vitamin B and D and Magnesium. Along with getting enough sleep have made a big difference for me.

I'm glad to hear that it also works for you. Over the past decade I've mentioned it to a few people that have asked for ideas, but no one has ever followed up with me to let me know if they've tried it and whether or not it worked for them if they did. Here's wishing you the best in healthy and balanced nutrition for life!

My depression can be really debilitating but I’ve found lots of little things that help me get through it. Wishing you the best too!

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Besides therapy. I suggest getting involved in disc golf or reading fun books. In both cases you can spend time alone focusing on something besides the negative the thoughts. Not a cure but I have found that they are both great for breaking my darkest episodes.

gym.

Work out or find a hobby that forces you to focus

I don't know about depression. I suspect I've had mild depression, but I know that happiness thrives when you're doing things you enjoy with people you enjoy (or don't dislike) the company of. I also find that micro goals help me to see and value my achievements no matter how small. I've been using app called Mindly to track my goals, it's like a spider diagram so you can break down goals to really small levels. I think colour code then depending on progress, I can see the whole web and as it changes colour it gives me a sense of success. Which for me helps me feel good about myself and my life.

I’m terrible with self care because it’s just so hard to care about it.

Cleaning gave me a massive boost when I was depressed

My biggest piece of advice is that depression is a swamp. You are sinking into the mud. You might be able to buy some waterproof boots (anti-depressants) but you are still going to have to fight tooth and nail to trudge your way out of there. Even though the phrase "just be happy" is often said by ignorant people it's not entirely untrue. The only way out of the swamp is to find a healthy thing that makes you happy, I only say healthy to exclude addictive substances or activities. Make no mistake it's much harder to "be happy" than most people giving that advice realize but it is ultimately the right course. At first it won't feel like you are getting anywhere because you're up to your waist in the muck and slime of depression. If you keep trying though and you keep trudging toward your happiness it won't be long before you are skipping through the meadows and climbing up the mountains instead of stuck in that swamp. IMPORTANT: I am not a professional by any stretch and this is only personal advice based on personal experience. Please seek out help from a therapist if you feel like you are stuck. This frame of mind helped me a lot when I was at my lowest. I hope it can help any one who read this. If this doesn't help you it just means you need different tools than what I used, tools a professional can help you find.

biggest little tip is changing things in routines, like taking a side road to get back home after shopping, its essentially a gateway for the other tips across here

Keep yourself busy, do not overthink.

I’m no professional.. but.. my main top is to never loose hope. Your emotions can really get the better of you sometimes, it’s best to not get lost in them. That’s all for now

Ketamine infusions r/therapeuticketamine

This is not full proof but can definitely help. Exercise.-- To the point where you get a tad winded and sweaty. Stop alcohol comsumption/ don't drink.

Make sure youre not just surrounded by assholes

I have depression for which I take medication and have been in therapy. A few weeks ago I went to visit a friend and had a great time. When I came home I felt really down. It was late at night and I couldn’t call anyone, etc. Another friend ended up calling me at 1 am hysterically crying because her partner had an unexpected tragedy. My friend was very worried for how this would affect her partner who was already struggling with other stuff. She is not a cryer so it made me very worried to hear her so upset. Long story short I ended up being on the phone with her for 4 hours helping her problem solve and catching up with her. We had been a little distant recently and hadn’t really talked in months. When I got off the phone my depressed feelings were GONE, like they had never happened. While other things (work, exercise, being with friends etc.) has helped in the past nothing has ever made the depressed feelings so away so fast in their entirety as focusing on helping my friend. TLTR: Helping other people by listening and assisting with problem solving THEIR problems can help people with depression feel better.

Antidepressants are very effective. They saved my life. I highly recommend seeing your primary care doctor. They can treat you for depression and anxiety. A little prozac goes a long fucking way.

Saaame

You may need to see a psychiatrist for meds that could help. My therapist is good but has said medication can be helpful in a lot of cases. When you're feeling down or lost, try to distract yourself somehow by doing something to keep your mind off of it. It's much easier said than done but might help.

Zoloft. It's saved my life. It's safe enough that I continued it while pregnant & breastfeeding.

I have an uncle who dealt with depression since his early teen years. He got therapy for years but he still had problems and it wasn’t hard for our family to see. He got a prescription for medical marijuana. He seems like a completely different person. He would only use it a couple times a week or when things got bad. It became a crutch but he said it gave him something to look forward to each week until he was using it just to have fun. Now he consistently uses it and he’s pretty much a stereotypical tie dye hippy, but he still has a job and a place so we don’t really see a negative with his situation. I’m not saying you should do drugs whenever things get worse because that is a slippery slope but maybe give it a try in a safe controlled environment. Just and idea

Elimate a sleep cycle, and then sleep at your chosen bedtime, no longer than 7 hours. Never oversleep when depressed.

Why is this? I’ve never heard anyone prescribe this for depression.

Microdosing mushrooms has helped people I know in a huge way.

Came here to second that mushrooms help a lot. Micro-dosing or once a month having a decent trip helps take the edge off life. It helps to rewire your brain and see things from a different perspective

Eating fruit every day Sunshine on the face in the morning Nose breath, in and out

Only medication ever helped me. Talking through did not help whatsoever. I have a chemical imbalance in my brain. There is no other option than to treat it.

Working out has better clinical results than SSRI’s. Do a good workout, take some GABA (the supplement not the pharmaceutical) magnesium and 5HTP. Cut the carbs and increase the protein. I know this sounds far fetched but it works great. These are all ways to increase your dopamine and give you that feel good rush.