Any way to beat depression without drugs (can you even beat it with drugs or do they just numb u out)?

there are some natural cures.. not using drugs.. but they take determination and motivation.. it is easiest if you have a friend to support you.

exercising is great for the body, physically and mentally. it gives your body something to focus on besides the depression, and if you have a friend to go on the workouts with you, it is even better.

in addition, start something you have always wanted to do. maybe it is singing, maybe it is art, maybe you join the local bike club, whatever... just find something that you can do on your own or with a group to take your mind off of things and focus on something you find interesting and take a focus in.

If you are on the right medication and taking the right dosage, I don't feel you are numbed out. I have been on meds for at least 4 years and I tried going off for about 2 years, and I was a suicidal mess. My parents didn't think I needed meds, but I'm sorry, I do. They don't make me a bright ball of sunshine or anything but man, I'm so much worse without them. I think if you have milder forms of depression, you don't have to take meds. You can probably engage in therapy, exercise, have a strong support system, and in general, keep yourself healthy and busy, and possibly manage your depression. The key is balance. A person with depression needs to find the correct balance of elements in their life.

Yes, but you have to really want to get better. A good friend can often be all you need. but it takes time, and it's hard to see that ur getting better but when you look back at how you started out it's anm amazing difference. I know i'm young but i have helped plenty of my friends out or as far out of their depressions as i could given their situations. and those i have known, and the one time they had me take a anti depressent, it numbs you out, and when our not on the meds you cant remember the days that you were on them. it's just a blank spot in your memory.

try to stay away from drugs, dude, so so bad! ive had a few friends take mood enhancers for depression.messed them up even worse. and u can only trust a shrink as far as you can throw em, and they eat good...

excercise,writing, work, hobbies, st.johns wort,- natural.

Saint Johns Wort from any drugstore and lots of exercise. Watch your sun exposure. Pray

Antidepressants work quicker than the following; 2 - 6 weeks, but you may have to adjust dosage, or types, whereas St. John's wort is effective for most people, and doesn't develop tolerance and the few side effects are rare, and fairly well tolerated. It doesn't cause sexual dysfunction, sleeping problems, or weight change, but takes 4 - 6 weeks to become effective. A recent, independent German double blind study showed it to be as effective as Sertraline (marketed in the USA as Zoloft: a commonly prescribed antidepressant) in cases of major depression, with far fewer side effects, and those were generally better tolerated, with a lower rate of discontinuation. A multidimensional approach to treating depression without medication follows. All except for no. (7.) are safe to use with medication, but not St. John's wort, because of interactions, and it's sensible to check out anything else first with your doctor.

(1.) Take 4 Omega 3 fish oil supplements, daily: (certified free of mercury) it is best if consumed with an antioxidant, such as an orange, or grapefruit, or their FRESHLY SQUEEZED juice. If vitamin E is added, it should be certified as being 100% from natural sources, or it may be synthetic: avoid it.

(2.) Work up slowly to at least 20 minutes minutes of exercise, daily, or 30 - 60 mns, 5 times weekly. Too much exercise can cause stress, which isn't wanted when dealing with depression.

(3.) Occupational therapy (keeping busy allows little time for unproductive introspection, and keeps mental activity out of less desirable areas of the brain).

(4.) Use daily, one of the relaxation methods in sections 2, 2.c, 2.i, or 11, and/or yoga, Tai Chi, and/or the EFT, in sections 2.q, 2.o, and section 53, at http://www.ezy-build.net.nz/~shaneris whichever works best for you.

(5.) Initially, at least, some form of counselling, preferably either Cognitive Behavio(u)ral Therapy, or Rational Emotive Behavio(u)ral Therapy.

(6.) Maintain a mood chart, and daily activities schedule, as per page Z.13, in section 2, at ezy build.

(7.) As options, if desired, either a known, effective herbal remedy, such as St. John's wort, 900 mg (standardised hypericin content) 3 times daily, totalling around 2,700 mg, or supplements, such as SAMe, taken with a vitamin B complex which is certified as being 100% of natural origin, or Inositol (from vitamin and health food stores, some supermarkets, or mail order: view section 55).

Also, 80% of people in the Western world have low magnesium levels, and these are known to cause depression & anxiety. Try the magnesium supplement types shown in http://www.real-depression-help.com/ Some of these will be available in pharmacies, or supermarkets.

An improvement can be noticed in as little as a week, if a deficiency is the cause. Also, iodised salt is preferable to regular salt. This is a shortened version of the much more comprehensive post, which may be seen on page Z.13, in section 2 of ezy build, above, but to gain full appreciation, it's really best to view the whole of section 2.