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.
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.
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.
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!
Bongmaster
That’s a pretty close approximation to how many former psych patients describe the results of antidepressant pharmaceuticals, for that matter. (YMMV).
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?
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.
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.
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.