Alternative treatment for depression?

Q.I can't seem to tolerate antidepressants. I have tried 5 already ( Serzone, Zoloft, Surmontil, Aurorix and Hypericum) and have had a bad reaction to each one. I am looking for more treatment options (apart from cognitive/behavioral therapy or ECT ).

A.Exercise is a most helpful treatment for depression. Try 30 - 45 minutes of aerobic (pulse accelerating) exericse 4+ times a weeks for a while and see if this helps. Sleep deprivation 24-48 hours has been known to break bouts of depression. If its situational, you'll need to address the situation. If it's seasonal, then light therapy might help. I've been there...i'm glad i wasn't stupid enough to try prozac but all of the ssri's are poison as far as i'm concerned. As for depression on bad days i get by with klonopin. It all depends on what the cause of your depression is as well......aromatherpy is suggested for some people as well as few other self help tips that you may or may not already know....but there is no magic bullet that will suddenly change you to a joyous person. It always an uphill struggle. Depression?? Or is does it start out as anxiety and ends up depression? I have the type that starts out as anxiety and ends up as depression. For years I would snapped at my children, husband, co-workers, or any one that was in my path. I could feel the anxiety mounting and could not stop it. I knew if I did not stop the mounting stress and anxiety I would end up feeling depressed. But I felt there was no way of stopping what I could not control. Even with eliminating of much of the stress in my life this cycle seemed to continue. When I was checked for mania and depression, only depression would be evident. I thought it might have been PMS, but it was not that either. All I can say is thank God for my sister. She is the one who finally found something that stopped this anxiety build up and depression cycle for me. She introduced me to some nutrient supplements that eliminated the anxiety build up and depression. I have so much energy now, but not anxious energy. It is a quiet, strength of energy which is so different that my children, husband, and people who know me well know when I have forgotten to take my nutrient supplements. The nutrients I am taking are Essential Minerial, OPC, and Una da Gato that is from New Vision. I know I am not a doctor, but all I know is that they work for me. One 'alternative treatment' for depression is getting regular, aerobic exercise. According to a psychiatrist I once saw for SAD, it is very effective, and it's good for you. I've found it helps. I've also found that keeping a regular schedule, getting up, eating, going to bed at the same times every day, helps as well.

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