Can I help myself without resorting to medication?
Q.I don't want to go to a doctor... it's a 6-month waiting period. And even less than that I do not want to take medication if that's the diagnosis. I don't want to become dependant on drugs... I don't want to become some sort of messed up basket-case (no offense to anyone who may be taking medication... but I've seen a lot of people in this category).
A.you have left yourself wide open for some serious flamimg by referring to God and Meds as "unrealistic" because they are probably the two main supports most of the people here rely on. Apart of course from each other. There is no way to self combat real depression. It is like trying to shoot the moon with a cap gun. Meds are one of the few ways you can have a holiday from yourself and give yourself a chance to be strong. Don't worry about your prejudice against the drugs though. I also had those feelings up front. "Well I am not one of those poor people" or " I can sort this out, I am strong". The longer you have that attitude however the longer you will stay depressed. However if you really are "one of those people" you had better get used to the idea as quickly as possible. I'm glad you took the initiative to post here. You've taken the first step, which is to admit to yourself you have a problem. I'm not trying to sound like a 12-Step counselor, but I think without recognizing you are depressed, you cannot commit to any sort of plan to combat the depression. Admonishing others here not to respond about drugs or God is obviously going to limit the sort of responses you get. As for drugs, I believe many persons have tried virtually every non-pharmaceutical approach to dealing with depression and found they respond *only* to drugs. Others denounce drugs altogether as so much medical establishment hocum. You will have to decide this issue yourself, but my advice, for what it's worth, is not to discount the possibility that you might respond well to antidepressant medications without first exploring it. Personally, I stopped taking ADs a year ago. For me, I am learning and trying to recognize my depressive cycles as they come and go, and to modify my outward behavior to the extent that I can. I find that when I am aware that I'm depressed I can sometimes take a "cool moment" before going off half-cocked to bite off someone's head. Also, I am able to tell myself to chill when I find stress pilling up too much. Finally, I do retreat to the sanctuary I call home too much, but at least I know why I am doing it. The awareness of my depression itself is helpful in dealing with it. Once I quit worrying that there must be something wrong with me, I could concentrate my energies toward finding ways to "fix" it, if that makes sense.
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