Hi,

I have been depressed lately and I am looking for ways to cope with it and recover without the use of medications.
I heard that meds were addictive and I don't want to take a chance.
Does anyone here have any tips on how to recover from depression?

    

Go with friends or take a vacation with your family. These could help you get away from depression.
As long as you have someone to listen and understand you, they can help you out.

Find something you enjoy, this can be hard when your depressed but not impossible. Try things, even if you think they will be boring try them anyway. Find something you like to do and do it from time to time.

Actually I've never entered into a depressed state. If I were in your position I would hang out with some friends and maybe try telling them about my problems. Talking can do wonders, believe me!

Regards!

Have you ever considered talking to a professional about this? There are many professionals available that can help you with your depression without prescribing medicine. Counselors, social workers, and psychologists all provide therapy for depression, even though they are not able to prescribe medication. If you do decide to go this route, I would recommend looking for a therapist that utilizes Cognitive Behavioral techniques to help with depression. This type of therapy has research that backs up its effectiveness.

If this is not an option for you I would look into some books on depression.

Counseling has helped a lot with my depression-related issues, but I do take meds as well. I resisted medications for a long time, but my last major depressive episode was so severe that I had to do something to balance my brain chemistry. I've been on meds for two years and I don't have any addiction problems.

Here is a more natural method, you can take fish oil pills. Research has found that fish oil pills help with depression.

Get out and keep busy. Join a club, learn a new skill, exercise. Don't allow yourself to think sad thoughts. It's hard I know but if you keep busy you won't have time to sit and think bad depressing thoughts.
I am not a huge fan of medications either. I do agree with all the other comments. You should have someone to talk to. Someone who is a good listener. Someone who will be there for you when you are feeling down. It helps when you know there's someone you can count on.

You can best do this by reading avidly up on this disease, learning the characteristics of this illness, factors and cures and read up on the medications also.

I suffered from depresison for a number of years.
I tried medications and hated them.
If I forgot to take one it made things a lot worse
I started on natural vitamin supplements like St John's Wart and one my friend reccomened called vitality plus which made me feel a fair bit better

vitalityplus.com.au