Depression/anxiety recovery stories how long did it take to get over what helped what type of meds were good?

did going to work help did exersice help did having sex help what foods were good and how did you put it behind you i will apreciate sensible answers

I really like that you posted this question!!!
I was just given Welbutron xl a week ago to help with my depression.... So far so good... So we'll see how I am in the next couple of weeks!

450 MG of licorice (contains 8 different antidepressant compounds, mostly MMOAI's, all of which are the same ones singled out in the prescriptions)

450 mg of St. John's Wort (most widely used antidepressant herb ever, similar mix of compounds in licorice)

Fixing sleep disorders

Excercise

Sex and laughter (Maybe not at the same time, mind you).

All my experiences with "conventional" medicines have been horrible. Effexor worked for my mood, but seriously messed up my concentration and ability to think clearly, and for the most part ruined my creativity (not to mention my wallet). Trazadone was cheap but tended to make me feel sick and didn't really do anything to my mood. Prozac has yet to have a single study done that mentions that, when used alone, it has any effect on mood whatsoever - it's the world's most expensive placeebo, just with cloudy-headed side effects.
Exercise, SAM-e, wait it out---realize that, like everything else, it had a beginning, and will have an end.
all i say is stay away from meds. Thoughts work the best and they can work overnight and you never have to go back. If you appreciate the happy, more happy will come. if you "appreciate" ( even if you don't try) the depression, depression will come.
'The Secret'
Im 15, almost 16, and have experienced terrible depression and anxiety problems. I tend to fall on the ground and shake, and once this happened at school. I was sent to the hospital, where i was kept in the "child mental health ward". It was the worst experience ever. Ever since, i still havent gotten back to normal. I cut- alot. seeing myself bleed makes me feel alive, and i fear that that is the only way to feel alive. i have to talk to many councellors now, and i have to take an over-the -counter anti depressant--- prozac. i feel suicidal all of the time, and if you do too, try to get help. sure, life sucks, but mabey, just mabey you'll be able to make it.
Depression is not something you just get over. Unless there is a reason for it. If you are going through a divorce or loss of a loved one, then in time it will. If it is clinical depression due to a chemical imbalance you have it for life. The key is to control it. First of all, everyone reacts differently to meds. What works for one person may not for another. Only you can tell it something is working. If it is not you need to contact your MD asap. Even if you have to call 5 times to try something new just do it. That is is job, don't let him get impatient with you. If he does, get a new Doctor. Excersice definately helps. It releases endorphins which are a natural mood enhancer. I don't know of any foods that help but I am sure the more you take care of yourself the better you will feel.