What are some therapies for depression other than meds?
My boyfriend has severe depression, as well as anxiety disorders. Lately it’s been pretty bad. He’s already on a variety of medications. They lessen the severity, but like I said, it’s still pretty bad. What are some other ways he can bring his depression and anxiety under control? I don’t mean taking herbal remedies or anything like that. I mean something like exercising, which his doctor recommended.
Any help is greatly appreciated, thanks.
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Proper exercise and diet can help, make sure to get a little sunshine each day. If it’s worse in the wintertime he might try a sunshine box. I’m trying neurofeedback, don’t know if it’s working yet.
Exercising will definitely help he needs about a 1/2 hour a day.
Also talk therapy either from a therapist or with a friend or you.
I know you weren’t looking for herbal remedies but. eating fish or taking fish oil vitamins or other foods with a lot of omega 3 fatty acid does help. You can get omega 3 fatty acid from a lot of food sources, all you need to go is google it.
Good Luck to the both of you.
see a therapist.
I don’t think anyone should ever take Xanax. It is the most addicting/hardest RX to get off.
When you exercise, it releases “happy” endorphins giving you a mental lift. http://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/exercise-depression
Deep breathing/diaphragmatic breathing. Puts lots of oxygen in the body, all the organs, will help with the anxiety. http://www.anxietycoach.com/breathing.htm
Try to eat healthy - avoid sugars and fats. Drink lots of water to flush toxins from the body and keep hydrated. Really just basic healthy stuff we all SHOULD do (but don’t).
Exercise is one of the most potent treatments for depression and there is a growing body of research to support this. In several studies exercise was as effective as antidepressant medication in relieving symptoms of depression. It does not have to be aerobic exercise, but should be done at least 3-4 times per week and it may take up to 6 weeks for him to experience the difference. One of the ways you can encourage him to exercise is to do it with him. Go walking, jogging, biking or even dancing. This may not only help relieve his depression, but will give you more time with him as well doing a shared activity. If his depression is caused by a particular problem he is facing, then medication will not help, He needs to address the problem directly.
Good luck
Meds are good if they work, GUESS THEY’RE NOT. One on ones with a great therapist who takes the time to find out who your boyfriend along with his past, is great. REGRESSIVE THERAPY. I only had one counselor at a VA hospital help me like that. He was really into ((Terry Kellogg)) And got deep inside my problems, changed my life, changed me.
But as a SIMPLE & EFFECTIVE way to bring his anxiety and depression under control. I recommend he get involved with some ANXIETY and or especially DEPRESSION groups. There is nothing more medicinal than his sharing and receiving of like individuals experience strength and hope. He will see that he is not alone, hopeless, and a lost cause.
That’s what i do now, and medication may still help augment his health. But i just do groups.
he should ride his bike to a place very far away…bike riding always reduces my stress. actually i’m gonna go right about now!