If you're stable and not on meds - what helped?

Anybody here using treatments that aren't pharmaceutical to achieve stability?

I feel really alienated from the rest of this forum in some ways because everyone seems to automatically accept pharmaceuticals as a part of treatment and rarely explore other avenues first. My own treatment started with chemical drugs and it slid downhill until I took charge and worked toward positive change. Nobody told me about the other ways of getting better.

What helped you?

i have been on meds since i was 7 years old
cant remember what its like not to be on meds

I was reasonably stable (not now though).

While I was, I was taking vitamin B complex supplements every day. They seemed to keep me reasonably stable while my depression wasn't so severe. As it got worse I had to go back to meds. I have also heard that Omega 3 supplements are supposed to be helpful. I tried them, but they made me start having panic attacks for no reason at all- then again I react to everything I'm not meant to. Otherwise iron supplements may also help give you a bit of a lift.

I don't really want to have go with the pharmaceuticals option, but my depression is at a point where it is not going to go away without it. Even my psychologist has been telling me that because I have so many deep depressive episodes that happen for absolulely no reason. If I could get away with just the natural alternatives and therapy, I would.

lilyfairy wrote: I have also heard that Omega 3 supplements are supposed to be helpful. I tried them, but they made me start having panic attacks for no reason at all- then again I react to everything I'm not meant to. Otherwise iron supplements may also help give you a bit of a lift.

dose it realy im on fish oil and have panic attacks
how did you find out it was omega 3 causing the panic attacks

ladyswan wrote:Anybody here using treatments that aren't pharmaceutical to achieve stability?

I feel really alienated from the rest of this forum in some ways because everyone seems to automatically accept pharmaceuticals as a part of treatment and rarely explore other avenues first. My own treatment started with chemical drugs and it slid downhill until I took charge and worked toward positive change. Nobody told me about the other ways of getting better.

What helped you?

Hi, Ladyswan;
I have serious doubts about the efficacy of psych drugs, as they induce a drug induced persona that really doesn't get to the bottom of the issue, and cause serious health issues that can lead to a drastically shortened life-span. Usually with depression it's an occluded past trauma that gets restimulated which can be remedied through age regression therapies. One book called 'waking the tiger' seemed pretty effective, the therapies in Dianetics and Self-Analysis especially are great at gently lifting a person out of chronic melancholy. I also started reading 'born to win' which describes Gestalt Therapy. Interesting, but unfortunately real therapies have fallen out of favor for pill-popping/pushing.

I wrote a short journal about beginning meditation that helps "reboot" or refresh me and worked for a few others here: http://chironian.deviantart.com/

Also, most people in your state also have a case agitator, or anti-social person in their present life- a person who automatically keeps you from getting better, who deliberately pushes your buttons. The criteria for recognizing this person(s) and handling him/her can be found here: http://www.scientologyhandbook.org/SH11.HTM
"Predicting People" can help you understand the emotional tone scale, your place on it. It's helpful material there, even though I'm not a member of the CoS.

Also, even though I look at bodily remedies (most of those already posted here before me are spot on with what I know) as an indirect means of freeing the spirit, I think people are naturally supposed to be much more active than they are. Adding a half-hour walk where you look at things in the distance and go somewhere new every day is therapeutic. Taking up a more strenuous exercise regime, I'd suggest something like yoga or tai chi, can liberate you.

Also, among people with whom you relate, put your foot down harder, nip ill-manners and actions in the bud. A lot of people caught up in the psych system have a very high ethic, but are conditioned and cowed to be too nice for their own good, and the good of their relations, and by association, do not inform as they should the operative morality of society.

Hope you find this helpful,
Neil

ladyswan wrote:Anybody here using treatments that aren't pharmaceutical to achieve stability?

I feel really alienated from the rest of this forum in some ways because everyone seems to automatically accept pharmaceuticals as a part of treatment and rarely explore other avenues first. My own treatment started with chemical drugs and it slid downhill until I took charge and worked toward positive change. Nobody told me about the other ways of getting better.

What helped you?

Do you have a bad past?

Bad past in what sense?