Depression..

[septemberose]

Is such a complicated subject.

To keep a long story short, I've stopped taking Lexapro for depression, but I'm so confused on what to take to help with my depression. I know a healthy diet can cure it in time, but I'm so scared of being depressed again.

[barose]

A few weeks ago I started a thread similar to yours, except I never took medication despite doctors recommendations. I got a lot of helpful info. Let me see if I can find it.

ETA: http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=30942 Here it is.

I know the #1 recommendation is to stay 100% for a period of time with the understanding that everyone will start to heal in their own time. I've been raw since April and I go in and out of depression. Though I'm not jumping up and down in glee, I do feel better sticking to the raw diet and exercise. Sweaty, heart pounding cardio is definitely a mood booster for me.

[cashewy]

My advice is to not go it alone. Find a well-trained holistic health care provider such as a naturopath or chinese medicine practitioner, nutritionist or therapy/ meditation technique that is a good fit for you

there are some very well developed tools that are available and lots of well trained, experienced people that will love to help. Good luck. and love to you

[justinesmith]

I understand where you are coming from. I have severe depression and PTSD that has effected me since childhood. I KNOW in my heart that the ONLY way that I won't have to be on medication is to be raw. It is NOT EASY to stop meds (i've been on 7 different depression meds over the last 5 years) but we all know that all meds do is suppress, not cure. It sucks.

During my transition to raw, I have had depressive episodes ~in fact just last week my hubby came home early from work out of concern for my well-being and it is awful. I congratulate myself though for staying raw, not self medicating with alcohol (my tried and true favorite), not overeating or indulging in cooked and pulling through. You CAN do this even when it feels like you can't. Detox is a bitc* for depression but it doesn't last forever.

You need to make your own decision when to end meds, don't let anyone tell you what you "should" do when it comes to you. Be careful and please feel free to contact me if you need anything. TAKE CARE. :)

[isabelephant]

Hi Septemberose,
I've been reading Conscious Eating by Gabriel Cousens, MD. In it he addresses natural supplementation and raw diet as treatment for depression. I know he has written a complete book on depression called Depression-Free for Life: A Physician's All-Natural, 5-Step Plan. Here's some links:

http://www.amazon.com/Depression-Fre...8170027&sr=8-4

www.treeoflife.nu

[septemberose]

Thank you for all the advice! and barose That thread helps a lot!

isabelephant I will definitely check out that book.

justinesmith Thank you for the support. I will be in touch. :)

cashewy Thank you. :)

[Little Mango]

Look into Bach Flower remedies.

Much Love x

[Rawfoodjunkie]

Hi. I have had serious bouts with depression when I was on the SAD diet and especially after I was diagnosed with breast cancer 3 1/2 years ago.

I commited myself to a 30 day raw juice diet and then later stayed raw. As personal testimony, I can tell you that the raw food diet - plus rhythmic aerobic exercise that gets your heart beating rapidly - will lift the gloom.

Scientific studies have shown that over time aerobic exercise can be just as effective as meds.

Alina

[PRIL]

I didnt read all of the reply's.
I stopped taking anti depressents and I went through 6months of anxiety I cannot explain. My chest felt like a boiling pot, unheard of lonliness, and I would shake for hours a day. By 5pm every day I was calmed down.
My advice from someone who knows, is never stop cold turkey which I'm sure you know and always wean extremely slowly. And girl you might need this medicine. I do. I take a low dose of effexor 90mg. That is a low dose for that like an equivalent to 10mg lexapro. I just hope you know there are tons of women and men who suffer daily with depression and food can help and it will but it will always be there. Know you arent bad for feeling sad most of the time. Depression isnt a bad thing its just something we have like others who have blood disorders or diabetes(that isnt caused by overeating). It isnt our fault we just have it in the brain.
And if your family is like mine the are in denial, but girl they allllll have it. I am going to counseling and taking medicine and trying to eat healthy. I have a better like by educating myself on the things I cant change but can control.
Love yourself and find a support group.
Love you
pril

[luckitri]

What is most scary is that the doctors really do not know why their anti-depressants work - it is all theory and speculation.

Personally, now that I am no longer cycling it is much easier.

Sometimes I think it is this modern life, or plastic residue, long term side effect of immunizations - it could be anything. Of course we really don't know how it was years ago. Maybe lots of people suffered in silence but I really don't think they had it as prevalent as today.

Also, having a job where you feel valued and can see progression is important as well as having family that is supportive and builds you up instead of tears you down. These 2 things are absent in many lives today. We do not have career paths - just dead end jobs with no security and many families do not any longer know how to be supportive - just tear each other down.

[tanawana]

I hope you just didn't stop taking Lexapro cold turkey??

Anyhow, another thought, unless I missed it - a Daily session of yoga and/or meditation really helps.

[PRIL]

Yoga and meditation only help people with stress not depression and anxiety crazy
love,
pril

[rawmom2006]

Yoga will help depression and anxiety also staying raw will help. I forgot who said it but Dr do not now why antidepressants work. People get very upset if you question anyrhing to do with the whole industry of antidepressants. Years ago I was on many different kinds and I quit cold turkey the Dr yelled it was not safe but I was fine. Recue remedy is good for anxiety. Changing the way you see things is a long process and I think some people suffer more lows then other people. I wish you luck.

[tanawana]

Yoga and meditation only help people with stress not depression and anxiety crazy
love,
pril

Hmmm, never knew that and have heard otherwise - oh well it was just a thought anyhow

[GoingtoRAW]

I have never been on medication for depression - although I'm sure I probably should have been. In fact I was in therapy for about a year because of some serious mental health issues with my son. The therapist recommended at some point that in addition to the therapy sessions that I see a psychiatrist to get some meds. I think he felt I was on the verge of some kind of break down - largely due to the stress of trying to help my son with his issues. He was probably right. I had to keep reminding him that I don't even like to take aspirin - I usually ride out my pain. So I made a decision to bypass that recommendation to get on meds. I am an addictive person and I really feel that if I start on meds I will never, ever be able to get off of them.

Since I have been on raw I know that the more raw my diet the better I feel. I had gotten away from raw for a while and I was having a really hard time mood-wise. I sunk into a serious depression (largely because of what I had been going through with my son), and I knew from past experience that the only way for me to get out of it without medication was to get back to raw. I did that and within a few days, literally a few days, I felt like a new person. I was waking up without the help of the two alarms I set at night. My disposition changed. I stopped yelling at my kids (well not so much any way ), and I have just been better able to deal with things because my mind is clearing up. Raw has really worked for me....

I understand the need for medication though - I have just chosen not to take that route because right now the alternative seems to be working. I am looking forward to the day that I am 100% raw because I know that I will feel even better.:)