# Non-phamaceutical remedies for depression **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 4, 2002, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-phamaceutical-remedies-for-depression/140534 "2002-12-04T22:08:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![mrcrow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@mrcrow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrcrow)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-phamaceutical-remedies-for-depression/140534/21 "2002-12-05T08:59:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Alescus \* > \*\*Another vote for St. John’s Wort. Whilst it should IMHO be regarded as a ‘pharmaceutical’, it doesn’t have the associated costs. I’ve heard it lacks some of the undesirable side effects of regular antidepressants, but since I’ve never used those, I couldn’t comment personally. \*\* SJW is given on prescription in some european countries one of the worst side affects of anti depressants is anxiety and sleeplessness also the dosage cannot be too high and they take a while to work the under lying causes of depression are better to be understood this doesnt mean not takeing medication it just means understanding yourself as in any illness it is good therapy to read about it as much as you can and if you can, and the depression is not to constrictive, get out and walk, exercise. sharing with others helps as well, especially if they suffer as well…better if it is not concurrent though… and realise it is not a ‘psycho’ disorder. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-phamaceutical-remedies-for-depression/140534/22 "2002-12-05T10:49:14Z")
Boy, do I wish there _were_ “happy pills” - as for regular sex - I like that one, but since I hate going outside my front door… don’t meet any people. I agree that reading about it, and learning that others have it help to make one feel less alone in the whole world. A sidetrack question - HOW to sort out sleep cycle - any sleeping -type pills that work ok with Paxil/Seroxat? I don’t want anything to make stuff worse. (Sorry for hijack of OP) Good luck to us all. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-phamaceutical-remedies-for-depression/140534/23 "2002-12-05T14:47:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Celyn \* > \*\* > > A sidetrack question - HOW to sort out sleep cycle - any sleeping -type pills that work ok with Paxil/Seroxat? I don’t want anything to make stuff worse. (Sorry for hijack of OP) > > Good luck to us all. \*\* PLEASE check with a doctor or pharmacist for drug interactions, but I’ve found melatonin (low dose, 1 mg) to be extremely helpful in letting me sleep through the night when I’m having bouts of insomnia. I don’t take any antidepressant drugs, though. ---
**Author:** ![Bongmaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Bongmaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bongmaster)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-phamaceutical-remedies-for-depression/140534/24 "2002-12-05T15:42:13Z")
I don’t agree that pot is a good solution for truely depressed people. It will become a habit and eventually make the problem worse. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-phamaceutical-remedies-for-depression/140534/25 "2002-12-05T16:29:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bongmaster \* > \*\*I don’t agree that pot is a good solution for truely depressed people. It will become a habit and eventually make the problem worse. \*\* And this from a guy who calls himself Bongmaster…taek heed! ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-phamaceutical-remedies-for-depression/140534/26 "2002-12-05T21:57:42Z")
**Bongmaster** > [@](#): > > I don’t agree that pot is a good solution for truely depressed people. It will become a habit and eventually make the problem worse. That’s a pretty close approximation to how many former psych patients describe the results of antidepressant pharmaceuticals, for that matter. (YMMV). ---
**Author:** ![Payne\_N.Diaz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b77776/32.png) [@Payne\_N.Diaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Payne_N.Diaz)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-phamaceutical-remedies-for-depression/140534/27 "2002-12-05T22:17:05Z")
I have tried Prozac and Effexor–Prozac made me feel like an emotionless zombie (this on the first dosage) and Effexor did nothing at all. I have (_ahem_) low testosterone, which can produce symptoms of low-grade depression, but when I take it I don’t feel happier, just hornier at a time when I can’t do anything about it. Well, there is _that_ but it gets old after awhile. (So, . **Celyn** , howI]you\* doin’? [ 😃 ) The once a week therapist was actually for my kids, who have ADD and issues at school, but he would talk to me as well. He’s a jerk, though, who blames all my kids’ problems on me. What I really need to work on is some way to get women to follow me home, or something. Know anybody who wants a 48-year-old, homely fat guy with bad teeth and no money? ---
**Author:** ![Elalyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/779978/32.png) [@Elalyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elalyr)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-phamaceutical-remedies-for-depression/140534/28 "2002-12-05T22:57:51Z")
Ah, but you’re assuming that having a woman follow you home would solve at least some of your problems. On of the things my therapist told me (I’ve had clinical depression) was that you can’t hang your happiness on an outside condition. People who think “I’d be happy if only…” whatever, often find that the “solution” doesn’t actually change anything. You are the only one who can permanently boost your own ego. My advice would be to get more exercise (I’m not a doctor, but could that also help with the testosterone issue?) and also watch your diet. Most people with depression eat too many sugars and carbs, since they have a short-term calming effect, but long term, they drain your energy. Go for more protein and vegetables and see if that helps at all. Good luck from someone who’s been there. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2002, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-phamaceutical-remedies-for-depression/140534/29 "2002-12-06T00:53:48Z")
Also keep in mind that “non-pharmaceutical” really doesn’t apply to St. John’s Wort. Pharmaceutical companies make and distribute it, and it has neuro-pharmacologic actions. ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2002, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-phamaceutical-remedies-for-depression/140534/30 "2002-12-06T00:55:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by AHunter3 \* > \*\ ***Bongmaster** > > That’s a pretty close approximation to how many former psych patients describe the results of antidepressant pharmaceuticals, for that matter. (YMMV). \*\* Fortunately for all of us, that’s academic, as we do not promote illegal activities on this website and there will be no further discussion of using marijuana as a depression treatment in this thread. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-phamaceutical-remedies-for-depression/140534.md?page=1)