Most of my adult life I have been confused about what exactly “depression” is and why people experience it. Now of course I have been depressed before but it was always fleeting and within a day or two I was right as rain. What I never understood was the fact that some people could go months or years in a depressed state. Was I just lucky? Did I have an abnormally nice life and did I fail to understand what kind of life realities other people face? I still wonder about these things.
After my first pregnancy I experienced a week long postpartum depression episode. But even then I realized I was really in mourning. Even though I was elated to have the child I always wanted, I mourned the loss of simpler days, the excitement that had built for over 9 months, and the constant stream of attention I got while pregnant. It took me about a week to “get over it”. That experience wasn’t really helpful to me in finding why other people struggle so much with depression. An experience last month did help me understand and become a bit more empathetic though.
It was the first week of May I believe and all three of my kids and I had just gotten over a cold. I was feeling much better but yet I awoke a couple mornings with an earache. Then I woke up a couple days later in a state I had never before experienced. I just felt so wrong…. I felt like I was watching the world in a fog and everything made me cry uncontrollably. I took a shower hoping to shake off these yucky feelings and a toy dinosaur in the tub made me cry. I imagined my youngest son being grown and gone and me being alone and I wept and wept. The kid is four years old and I felt all was lost because I couldn’t stop him from growing up and leaving me. I knew I was being irrational but I couldn’t shake these feelings. I would sit on the couch and not move. I didn’t want to talk to anyone, go anywhere, blog, or even take care of my own kids. I did the bare minimum and then camped out on the couch as long as I could. I started asking the older kids to take care of their younger brother and when my husband came home I retreated to my room and let him handle everything. I just laid in bed and stared at the wall. I felt like life had no meaning or value and I wondered why even bother getting out of bed and YES the whole time I knew something was seriously wrong with me but I couldn’t make myself care enough to do anything about it. I did however have an “Aha” moment that I was depressed before I rolled over and stared at the wall again.
This went on for a week or so until I started getting a stabbing pain in my ear, which finally motivated me to go to an urgent care center. I ended up finding out that I had an inner ear infection, an outer ear infection, swimmer’s ear, and a sinus infection. The doctor was amazed I was functioning as well as I was and while I am usually very anti pharma, I grabbed the antibiotic prescription and ran to the pharmacy. Within a few days I felt back to normal and I was so relieved and yet kind of sad for people who can’t easily determine that it is a medical problem making them feel the way they do. Once again I had an easy out… an illness or imbalance that needed to be corrected and once it was.. right as rain again. I think I ended up getting so sick because I let myself get run down, I stopped drinking my green smoothies, I was eating too much wheat and bread, and I was experiencing a lot of stress. Sadly, in the fog I thought I must surely be depressed because of my marriage. They always say you shouldn’t make big decisions when you are grieving. If they don’t say the same about those in a depression they should. I set off a wild chain of events that started after I asked my husband for a divorce and some things you just can’t undo. Seriously, I wonder what other chaotic things I would have/could have done if I hadn’t taken steps to fix the imbalance.
This morning I was watching a video by a doctor that explained how 80% of anti-depressants don’t work and how they only publish the few studies that might show a benefit and the hundreds of studies done that show absolutely NO benefit are never published. It just makes me wonder about what underlying health issues could be causing depression and why we aren’t addressing that instead of trying to medicate away the symptoms. On the flip side, those that sell supplements, herbs, or healthy foods are not allowed to state the scientifically proven health benefits of their products or face prosecution by the FDA which claims that only drugs can “cure” illness.
What help is there for the depressed when it is unlikely that the meds they are taking will actually help and it is illegal for health practitioners to direct them to natural cures? Its a tangled web of lies and deceit and peopel will continue to suffer.
Here is an article by a doctor with 7 Steps to Treat Depression without Drugs. It is a great read. And here is the video I was talking about.
What say you? Have you ever experienced depression or know someone who has? What helped?
Running really helped me when I slipped into depression. I didn’t have to run long or far, but I pushed myself every day, just a bit past my comfort zone. Praying for those in the depths of depression today.
I used to be a runner too. The natural high you get from running, as opposed to other forms of exercise, can’t be beat.
Thank you for such an honest post. People need to be more open about experiencing depression and anxiety because then we can educate and help each other. It is so much more common, especially in women, than most people realize. I was slammed one evening with a bizarre, intense anxiety disorder that I recovered from after 2 months of agony and treatment. For me, running did nothing…therapy, vitamins and Zoloft helped me. Now if I feel it coming back I can do thinks like running and what is suggested in the video and it will help without the awful side effects of medication. But back when it was severe I needed medication. I just think that if more people discussed depression and anxiety, that it would not be so tabu, and people could help each other!
So, thank you for that post.
There is much research showing that exercise is a natural cure/treatment for depression as the endorphins released create feelings of wellness and joy. I’ve suffered with depression on and off my whole life and have been on and off of antidepressants as well. I absolutely think that those suffering need to do several things. One, get a physical and make sure there is nothing medically that could be causing these feelings (hypothyroidism can make you feel depressed). Two, take a good multivitamin and fish oil supplement. Three, get out and exercise! Even if you just walk a little a day, it all helps. Lastly, if folks just cannot do the smallest thing (and I’ve been there) talking some medication to get out of the rut long enough to enact some of these other things can be a last ditch effort. Which means you are taking some drugs, but you can possibly lessen the time.
I had post pardumn depression for 1 year after birthing my daughter, and the main cause of it was anxiety and all the worring the doctors caused me. I just woke up one day and realized how depressed I had been and that I no longer was… I wish I had read this blog way back then… Thanks for this though, there are olots of people who can benefit form all this.
Thank you so much for this post! I just had my son about a week and a half ago, and have already had several depressive “episodes.” I’m sure they’re all totally normal, but it’s nice to hear that 1) other people get these episodes, 2) that there are natural alternatives, and 3) I’m not the only mom who has cried about their little one growing up too fast! (And mine is only a week old! LOL)
Exercise, hydration, a diet of real food (little/no preservatives), and achievable goals were my key to fighting depression.
Wow. Loved the article link. I have tried to get off antidepressants ofr years and the side effects are so severe it is unreal. I am going to try to do the same again this summer, but the depression symptoms usually come back 10 fold. not good when you are not only caring for yourself.
I am going to inquire with my dr. about some of the text mentioned and make sure I eleminate some of the things mentioned as a probable cause.
Thanks again.
Not totally the same thing but I have anxiety and I have found that many natural things help me a lot. I use homeopathic remedies and herbs as well as adding omega fatty acids, vitamin d and other “brain foods” to my diet. It’s helped a lot.
I suffered a very sudden attack of anxiety/depression that lasted about 3 months. It was completely unusual for me as I’m very easy going and never anxious. Mine was caused by birth control. I’m convinced that many women who have depression/anxiety have a hormonal imbalance caused by birth control. I was on the Nuva Ring, but both my sister-in-laws experience similar reactions to their oral contraceptives. I decided to take sertraline just to get me back on my feet. My hormones have balanced now that I’m off bc and I’m slowly weaning off the drugs. Now I’m just focused on staying healthy by what I eat!
I really have a problem with people that make blanket statements. Everybody is different and different things will help. I have always had a healthy diet and exercised but unfortunately have one of those genetic makeups that leads to depression. Both of my parents suffered from depression. One used alcohol to treat his problems and the other became psychotic. I suffered with depression for years until a doctor finally prescribed an antidepression drug. It is a very slight dosage but is the difference in day and night. It does not take all the symptoms aways but makes them managable (like a regular person’s life). I have been on them for fifteen years and would never go off.
i have to agree. the depression i suffered from was certainly no “baby blues” that a run around the block or a fish oil vitamin could have cured. while that works for some, i think people need to hear the other side. and that is that some people have a very real, very serious condition that does need the help of a professional. and that there is nothing wrong with you if that is the case. and if women need medication, then that’s what’s best. for me, i am definitely a better mother on my antidepressants. like you said, night and day. i just don’t want anyone to feel any shame over being beyond the baby blues because it is different for everyone.
Thank you for this. You’ve just motivated me to make an appt with an allergist to check on potential food allergies.
People need to look at possible physical reasons for the depression first. Things like an overgrowth of of yeast or your B12 being low can cause depression and even paranoia.
I’m pregnant with my second child. With both pregnancies I took Omega 3 supplements. With my son I had a couple of nights of “the baby blues” and that was it! I have done quite a bit of research on how beneficial Omega 3’s are not only for the baby but also for the mom to help her deal with hormones during and after pregnancy. I honestly feel that the Omega 3’s helped me avoid any kind of depressive episodes after the birth of my first child and am positive it will be the same with my second one due in November.
Wow, simply an awesome post, and coupled with the video, I am proud to share it with others on Facebook.
This doctor…I wonder where he is, I want him to be MY doctor!!!!! =D I am tired of bad medicine! Tired of doctors going to school merely to be over-glorified pharmacists with a hidden bias and a Mercedes in the lot. I think Hippocrates would have them all lined up and fired and their licenses removed for violating their oath to humanity.