How do you get over depression, w/o medication??

so...i have almost all the symptoms of depression. my mom is about to go through a divorce, and we definately dont have money for a shrink or medication for my depression. my lil bro also has add and ocd...my sis had a head injury a couple yrs ago, and wants to get her a psycologist, and my step sis has depression and anxiety probs. we might end up kinda gettin custody over her, so i may be the last one to get help whenever we get settled in and my mom gets a job that she can actually keep. does anyone know of a way to get over depression w/o meds or a shrink...idc wat it is, even if you know an old herb remedy or something, plz give it to me...lol. anything u know about.

and ppl...i am NOT depressed cuz of the divorce...that is the LAST thing im worried about! i HATE my step dad and im gald they are finally splitting up.

"Depression has one major characteristic that you need to be aware of when thinking about what you can do to defeat it. It can feed on itself. In other words, you get depressed and then you get more depressed about being depressed. Negative thoughts become automatic and are difficult for you to challenge. Being in a state of depression can then, itself, become a bigger problem than the difficulties that caused it in the first place. You need to break the hold that the depression has on you.

An important thing to remember is that there are no instant solutions to problems in life. Solving problems involves time, energy and work. When you are feeling depressed, you may well not be feeling energetic or motivated to work. But if you are able to take an active part in your treatment, it should help your situation.

Fighting negative attitudes
Try to recognise the pattern of negative thinking when you are doing it, and replace it with a more constructive activity. Look for things to do that occupy your mind.

Activity is good for the mind
Although you may not feel like it, it鈥檚 very therapeutic to take part in physical activities, for 20 minutes a day. Playing sports, running, dancing, cycling, and even brisk walking can stimulate chemicals in the brain called endorphins, which can help you to feel better. (See Mind guide to physical activity.)

Caring for yourself
You need to do things that will improve the way you feel about yourself. Allow yourself positive experiences and treats that reinforce the idea that you deserve good things. Pay attention to your personal appearance. Set yourself goals that you can achieve and that will give you a sense of satisfaction.

Look after yourself by eating healthily. Oily fish, in particular, may help alleviate depression. Don鈥檛 abuse your body with tobacco, alcohol or other drugs, which make it worse." . . . exerpt from site below

pray

I agree with Emmy, Prayer is the best rememdy...Sometimes when your all alone, you start to get depressed thinking about things that have happened or worried about things in the future. The best thing you can do is, hang out with people. Relax. Do things to keep your mind busy. Listen to music, not sad songs!!! Eat a bowl of icecream, its good for the soul. Lay out in the sun! Try it. and Good luck!

yo te recomiendo que trates de buscar ayuda con un psicoterapeuta, el puede escucharte y si es necesario ordenarte medicamentos. Recuerda que no solo van al psicologo los locos, esas terapias te podrian ayudar mucho sobretodo a desahogarte y decir todo lo que sientes. Hay medicamentos que te ayudan pero es cierto tambien que su efecto no es inmediato, actuan mas o menos al mes de estarlos consumiendos, Asi que animo y para adelante

HANG OUT W/ FRIENDS, FRIENDS ALWAYS CHEER YOU UP. SAY SOMETHING POSITIVE EVERYDAY BEFORE YOU EVEN GET OUT OF BED IN THE MORNING, SAY TODAY IS GONNA BE A GREAT DAY, I FEEL SO HAPPY, EVERYTHING IS GONNA GO MY WAY TODAY.
YOU MIGHT NOT FEEL IT AT FIRST BUT THE MORE YOU SAY IT THE SOONER YOU WILL ACTUALLY START TO FEEL THAT WAY. YOUR TRICKING YOUR MIND IS WHAT YOUR DOING. WHATEVER YOU SAY YOUR MIND WILL TRY TO DO IT. THATS WHY IT SEEMS LIKE POSITIVE PEOPLE HAVE BETTER LUCK, CAUSE THEY REALLY DO, ITS CAUSE THEY THINK, ACT AND TALK POSITIVE, AND WHEN YOU DO THAT IT WILL OVERFLOW INTO YOUR LIFE. YOU SHOULD ALSO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP W/ JESUS CHRIST, HE SHOULD BE YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR FIRST AND FOREMOST. HE HEARS YOU WHEN YOU TALK TO HIM, HE LOVES YOU AND WANTS TO HELP YOU. PLUS EXERCISE HELPS TOO, IT RELEASES THE GOOD CHEMICALS IN YOUR BRAIN BRINGING FEELINGS OF HAPPINESS. WALK FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES A DAY.

There are a ton of things you can do WHILE YOU WAIT TO GET IN TO A THERAPIST... and even that does not have to be expensive. Many churches offer free counseling, at least a few sessions. Some also offer support groups for families going through divorce. You might look into it; it really helps to know you're not alone when the world is crashing down around you.

Some nutritional/herbal tips: Up the Vitamin C and B-complex, especially considering the stress you're under right now. St. John's Wort helps some people; it's available at any GNC or health food store -- ask the owner of the store for advice here. I really saw a benefit from a product called Calm ES, but it's hard to find and a bit pricey. Above all, do the things that are nutrtionally sound for everyone: drink lots of water, get outside (sun therapy!), exercise, eat healthy whole foods (try to stay away from processed stuff. I know, easier said than done), and don't isolate yourself from the people who love you.

Hang in there! You're gonna make it!

What you are describing is Situational Depression. That means you are depressed because of your current environment and family problems. You can't get rid of them, so you are going to have to do deal with it by getting a new activity (a school club, library club, start going to a church, join the newspaper staff, join a soccer team, etc.) if you can. Journaling is therapeutic for people who are as good at English Language as you ! Tell your siblings one new joke every day and laugh out loud. Laughing is excellent medicine. You are in a tough situation and only time will make it better. Situational Depression, if untreated for a long time, can become Major Depression because your body chemistry changes when you are depressed. You have to find natural UPPERS for right now. Your mother would know if there is a mental health program in your county. It would be based on income. AND, there is always the dreaded school therapist/guidance counsellor. Good luck.

I have struggled with depression before as well. The best way to get over depression without meds are things that you really just don't want to do when you are depressed. Lots of sunshine , friends, activities you enjoy, brain work (activities that require use of). Avoid depressants like alcohol and other drugs that work as depressants. The succesfulness of these things depends on the severity of your depression. I like to read the bible and listen to positive encouraging music as well. Eat healthy foods and maybe even be a little selfish and focus on yourself. Good luck, I hope you get to feeling better soon.

Try 5HTP, you can get some at your local health food store.

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a serious brain disease that causes extreme shifts in mood, energy, and functioning. From high to low, from euphoria to depression, from recklessness to listlessness, it affects approximately 2.3 million adult Americans鈥攁bout 1.2 percent of the population.

Men and women are equally likely to develop this disabling illness. The disorder typically emerges in adolescence or early adulthood, but in some cases appears in childhood. Cycles, or episodes, of depression, mania, or "mixed" manic and depressive symptoms typically recur and may become more frequent, often disrupting work, school, family, and social life.

Depression: Symptoms include a persistent sad mood; loss of interest or pleasure in activities that were once enjoyed; significant change in appetite or body weight; difficulty sleeping or oversleeping; physical slowing or agitation; loss of energy; feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt; difficulty thinking or concentrating; and recurrent thoughts of death or suicide.

Mania: Abnormally and persistently elevated (high) mood or irritability accompanied by at least three of the following symptoms: overly-inflated self-esteem; decreased need for sleep; increased talkativeness; racing thoughts; distractibility; increased goal-directed activity such as shopping; physical agitation; and excessive involvement in risky behaviors or activities.

"Mixed" state: Symptoms of mania and depression are present at the same time. The symptom picture frequently includes agitation, trouble sleeping, significant change in appetite, psychosis, and suicidal thinking. Depressed mood accompanies manic activation.

Especially early in the course of illness, the episodes may be separated by periods of wellness during which a person suffers few to no symptoms. When 4 or more episodes of illness occur within a 12-month period, the person is said to have bipolar disorder with rapid cycling. Bipolar disorder is often complicated by co-occurring alcohol or substance abuse. 4

Severe depression or mania may be accompanied by symptoms of psychosis. These symptoms include: hallucinations (hearing, seeing, or otherwise sensing the presence of stimuli that are not there) and delusions (false personal beliefs that are not subject to reason or contradictory evidence and are not explained by a person's cultural concepts). Psychotic symptoms associated with bipolar typically reflect the extreme mood state at the time.