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exploring alternatives
Mar. 28th, 2013 08:43 pmThe antidepressant I've been taking is almost gone, and I really don't want to go to a new doctor to get more. I very much dislike going to the doctor, especially a new one where I have to start from scratch and answer a million questions and get poked & prodded. I'd like to put that off until I have to go anyway.
So I guess it's time to explore the alternatives a bit more. I took St. John's wort for a while last year, but I don't think I took it long enough to see the difference. In my online explorations I've come across a few others.
Sam-e: I've been taking this for years, for my knees more than my mood. I don't know if it really helps, since I was depressed for a long time while taking it. But I'll continue taking it because it really does help my knees.
5-HTP: someone gave me a bottle of this, which says it "supports serotonin synthesis." Has anyone had any experience with this?
Folic acid, B6, and Magnesium: all of these are in the vitamins I already take, as well as Omega-3 which I also take and is recommended. Would it be worth it to get extra supplements?
Exercise: I know I need more exercise. I know it makes me feel better. I've been a winter slug, but now that spring is (supposedly) here, I plan on getting out more. A lot more. I've been walking on my lunch break; I need to start walking after supper again, now that it's light out later (and also less cold).
Cutting back on sugar: I know I eat too much sugar. I was actually already trying to do this, for other reasons. I guess I really do need to cut it back, if not out. There's no way I'm giving up chocolate! Just cutting back on it.
Does anyone have experience with any of these remedies? I really don't want to be on meds forever, but I also don't want to be depressed again. I've been doing so well, I don't want to slip back. It wasn't debilitating, but it wasn't fun, either.
So I guess it's time to explore the alternatives a bit more. I took St. John's wort for a while last year, but I don't think I took it long enough to see the difference. In my online explorations I've come across a few others.
Sam-e: I've been taking this for years, for my knees more than my mood. I don't know if it really helps, since I was depressed for a long time while taking it. But I'll continue taking it because it really does help my knees.
5-HTP: someone gave me a bottle of this, which says it "supports serotonin synthesis." Has anyone had any experience with this?
Folic acid, B6, and Magnesium: all of these are in the vitamins I already take, as well as Omega-3 which I also take and is recommended. Would it be worth it to get extra supplements?
Exercise: I know I need more exercise. I know it makes me feel better. I've been a winter slug, but now that spring is (supposedly) here, I plan on getting out more. A lot more. I've been walking on my lunch break; I need to start walking after supper again, now that it's light out later (and also less cold).
Cutting back on sugar: I know I eat too much sugar. I was actually already trying to do this, for other reasons. I guess I really do need to cut it back, if not out. There's no way I'm giving up chocolate! Just cutting back on it.
Does anyone have experience with any of these remedies? I really don't want to be on meds forever, but I also don't want to be depressed again. I've been doing so well, I don't want to slip back. It wasn't debilitating, but it wasn't fun, either.
