Depression without medication help.?!
Question:
Depression without medication help.?
I suffer from depression.I've had breast cancer, and for a while I was on Cipramil.I weaned myself off with the doctors help as I don't want to be on anti-depressants.Is there anyone else out there that's had cancer and depression? How do you cope?
Additional Details2 weeks ago
Hi Ann B:
I don't want any more chemicals in my body.And I just feel medication only masks the problems I face.
I've had chemotherapy, Herceptin and radiotherapy.I'm looking for healthy options.
Answers:
I took control over the things I could. I went through all the anger, depression, and fear that goes with the diagnosis.
Then I began the process of living. If I have a week or a month or a lifetime, I have no intentions of spending it miserable. What's the point?
For me I had to stop and take a real look at my life. What makes me happy? What doesn't?
Next, I had to get a plan to increase the happy part. I had to start looking at the things I had control over such as job, hobbies, dreams, goals, etc.
I went to cognitive-behavioral therapy briefly and launched my journey to a successful life. I took up yoga, self-hypnosis/progressive relaxation, and got off all the meds. I learned to be kind to myself. I was always good at being kind to others but realized I treated myself like crap and allowed others to do the same. That stopped.
I put myself first for the first time in my entire life and liked it.
I took up some new hobbies, went to school and got a job I love that is flexible so that when I am sick I can still work or can return to work. I love my job and feel good about what I do. I can't always work, and had to cut myself some slack about that. Sometimes I work half-time. Sometimes I work full-time and sometimes I don't work at all.
I simplified my life and prioritized it. I kept the important things, and dumped the rest. I took control over the things I can and stopped trying to control or change the things I can't, including people. I am only responsible for my happiness. No one can make me feel any way I do not want to feel. I stopped trying to fix the world and decided to fix me.
I do more of what I enjoy and replaced the things I can no longer do with other things so I didn't feel so depressed. For a long time I focused on all I lost, but it made me feel hopeless. Hope and excitement about life is key. You have to feel productive and you have to have dreams. I took up some things I never would have before and found out a lot about me.
Ino longer take on more than I can and refuse tor beat myself up over it. I am my own one-man cheer leading squad.
I got educated, got informed, made choices, and got good treatment.
I take care of myself now by eating high nutrition foods, getting consistent sleep, eating regularly, and taking real good care of myself. I picked up yoga and learned to control my body better.
I make sure I find joy and have fun. I dropped the people bringing me down. I don't tolerate mistreatment from anyone, including myself. I started living. I exercise every day at the level I can.
Those are the basics. I had to make a short-term plan and a plan in case there is a tomorrow. I set priorities and started a journey toward happiness as I define it.
Best of luck to you. Live. Laugh. Love.