"...the beauty of the model is that they can do well by doing good." -Cory
Read More Testimonials»

Our Dealing With Depression Experts

Fawn Fitter

Fawn Fitter

Author of Working in the Dark: Keeping Your Job While Dealing...

Shared by First30Days View Profile»
Dr. Andrew Jones

Dr. Andrew Jones

Medical director of the Women’s Health Institute of Texas...

Shared by First30Days View Profile»
Dr. Jesse H. Wright

Dr. Jesse H. Wright

Authority on treating depression, professor of psychiatry...

Shared by First30Days View Profile»

Meet all of our Health Experts»

News

The latest news on this change — carefully culled from the world wide web by our change agents. They do the surfing, so you don't have to!

Move Over Depression

Move Over Depression

Take antidepressant drugs to treat your depression or some old-fashioned therapy—which approach is a better way of dealing with depression? The answer is both.

Like many problems and conditions in life, there’s no one right way to solve or cure depression. Generally a holistic approach works best, which means using a variety of techniques to manage your depression. Remember that your actions have a huge influence on how much power your depression holds.

Take exercise, for example. Many studies have shown that exercise can help alleviate depression. That’s because when you exercise, your body releases endorphins, which are chemicals that give you a natural “feel-good high.” Do you have to exercise hardcore for 60 minutes every day? No, but the harder you work, the bigger the reward. Remember too, that not everyone loves working out. It’s something most people do because they know it’s good for them.

Talk to your doctor before starting an exercise program and then set small goals for yourself. As you achieve them, it will build self-esteem and confidence, both of which are excellent weapons against depression.

What’s your favorite workout routine that helps you when dealing with depression? Do you find regular exercise really does help reduce your depression or are other methods, such as therapy and medications more effective? [Mayo Clinic]

Posted: 7/16/08
SanitysInsane

Oh my gosh…did someone say depression. I didn't think a drug was going to cure life for me. I mean…wouldn't it mean I was drug dependant or something. But hey if it made the people around me look less miserable what difference did it make what death looked like closer up and personal.


My first experience with a drug for depression was abysmal to say the least. I couldn't stay awake not because depression made me want to stay under the covers; but because the drug and or drug combination kept me heavily sedated. When I did surface it was only to sleepwalk over to a porcelain bowl and pray for relief to anyone for anytime.

Even after losing most of my hair and guts down a drain I didn't feel I could give up…let all those depending and deafening, gripping faces down. Soon my already low immune system was lowered even more which exasperated a blood disorder which in its turn exasperated the depression and several times I was close to losing more than my guts and hair down the drain. {It's amazing how hard one can fight for life when life itself appears to be the enemy. } I had to give in or just give up period.


10 years and life later my physician suggested that I might want to try again because drugs and their regimens had changed. Well don't you know it...today I say who cares what others think as long as today doesn't familiarize itself with a long black tunnel dripping off a steep cliff. I couldn't do the exercise thing but a friend did tell me about a drug called Wellbutrin. It comes with its own side effects but nothing like the drugs of long ago. And hey, sex is wellllllll, let's just say that orgasms can become a foreign language in a different universe. But…tee hee hee…side effects don't always last forever.