BS: sinking feeling.. natural remedies ?

Subject: BS: sinking feeling.. natural remedies ?
From: GUEST,Sara
Date: 21 Dec 05 - 02:28 PM

I have had quite a hard year. I don't seem to be pulling myself out of it, and every couple of days I get tearful and down.

I don't want to take anti depressants becuase I don't feel like this all the time, and I am scared of getting hooked on something like that.

It's a feeling that comes in waves.

Has anybody got any ideas for natual remedies that they think work ? I have heard ST John's wort is no good in this sunny climate.

Subject: RE: BS: sinking feeling.. natural remedies ?
From: Amos
Date: 21 Dec 05 - 03:17 PM

Saint John's Wort doesn't depend on climate.

Vigorous physical exercise will make a difference.

Making sure you get enough B-complex is a good eidea, also.

A

Subject: RE: BS: sinking feeling.. natural remedies ?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 21 Dec 05 - 03:20 PM

Lemme 2nd that... get out and get your body moving... You'll feel better and it'll really help ya sleep!

Subject: RE: BS: sinking feeling.. natural remedies ?
From: Peace
Date: 21 Dec 05 - 03:35 PM

I thought that St John's Wort makes one's skin sensitive to sunlight.

See a medical doctor. If that isn't how ya wanna go, see a naturopath. Amos and Clinton have given you some good advice. However, you should rule out a physical cause first, and just as people who represent themselves in court have a fool for a lawyer, people who self diagnose/medicate may have a hack for a physician, IMO.

Subject: RE: BS: sinking feeling.. natural remedies ?
From: Sorcha
Date: 21 Dec 05 - 03:44 PM

Extra Vit. D and E may help too.

Subject: RE: BS: sinking feeling.. natural remedies ?
From: Ebbie
Date: 21 Dec 05 - 04:58 PM

Sara, I know the feeling. I slso know that when I've gotten into that kind of thing it is often because of a mindset that I let myself cultivate. Something that I call 'poisoning my own well.' I rarely do it now but I'm still capable of it.

Like the others I suggest first finding out if there is a physical cause for it that needs treatment. If medication is not called for, then just plain doing something for someone else can do wonders. Visiting a housebound neighbor, or calling a hospital or nursing home and seeing if they need someone to read a story to young'uns or writing a letter for an old'un can send you home with your heart soaring. (Sometimes a nursing home resident with dim eyes has literally not had a letter read to them that they received a week ago, because the staff is so busy. Other times, an old person wants to hear a letter read and reread- staff rarely has time for that.)

That, combined with fresh air and exertion, may do the trick. At the very least it will buy you some time to think things through.

Music - making it, hearing it, writing it - is my first antidote, of course. A close second- or parallel to it is writing something original. Take a subject dear to you or close at hand and find out where it leads.

Good luck.

Subject: RE: BS: sinking feeling.. natural remedies ?
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Dec 05 - 05:48 PM

Try falling in love.

Subject: RE: BS: sinking feeling.. natural remedies ?
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 21 Dec 05 - 05:52 PM

Yes...see adoctor. Depression can be a sign of heart trouble. Especially a feeling of impending doom...take it seriously...if you check out clean on that...make sure your diet includes enough fats, especially fish oils, especially if you have a Native American, Scandinavian or Celtic ancestry...don't metabolize fats like some other people as theyhad access to marine fats...interesting physiology or so I have heard. Don't let people talk you into a low fat diet unless you feel just absolutely great on it,which, ifyo are on it now, I would say you don't. Chocolate..dark and bitter and good quality. mg (or I know..chocolate covered fish).

Subject: RE: BS: sinking feeling.. natural remedies ?
From: Ebbie
Date: 21 Dec 05 - 06:47 PM

ewwwwwww. mg, chocolate has its limits.

Subject: RE: BS: sinking feeling.. natural remedies ?
From: GUEST,Dave'sWife w/out cookie
Date: 21 Dec 05 - 06:51 PM

St. John's wort has very similar drawbacks to SSRI drugs so I would advise anyone considering using it to discuss their choice thoroughly with a pharmacist. Doctor, Naturapath.

People are under the flase impression that if it comes from a plant - it's not medicine, forgetting that most of the synthetic medicines we use all the time were derived from natural agents. Good example being Aspirin. Willow Bark tea os just salicylic acid in another form.

It is true that using a medicine dervied from it's natural source is sometimes preferrable. A good example of this is plant estrogens which do not carry some of the risks that synthetic estrogens do. Why? Beats me. Being a believer in God, I'd say he/she planned it that way.

I do encourage you to see a doctor and not simply so he/she can diagnose you on the fly. A few years ago, my husband had symptoms of depression and it turned out to be the lingering effects of a tick bite - Lymes disease.

A good physical can rule things out and give you some peace of mind. Then you can go out, excerise, fall in love, post a thread in the music section looking for a Song circle in your area, etc. etc.

Best wishes!

Subject: RE: BS: sinking feeling.. natural remedies ?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 21 Dec 05 - 09:35 PM

Simple. Quit eating the lead shot in that duck you shot.

Subject: RE: BS: sinking feeling.. natural remedies ?
From: Janie
Date: 21 Dec 05 - 11:25 PM

Definitely see a doctor to rule out any medical issues.

Try some cognitive behavioral "therapy", with or without a therapist. David Burns has some decent self-help books out with CBT exercises. St. Johnswort can indeed cause photosensitivity. In rare cases, it can also cause kidney problems. It is more closely related to the MAO inhibitors than to SSRI's, so there are also some dietary precautions. Having said that, there is also decent imperical evidence that it can be helpful with milder depressive episodes.

If by "hooked" you mean to develop a physical or psychological craving, that does not occur with any of the antidepressants of which I am aware. If other interventions (the exercise, nutrition, CBT, etc.) don't take care of it, I urge you to not categorically exclude antidepressant medication as an option.

As a couple of others have already noted, exercise and good nutrition are important, as is practicing good self-nurturing.

Best of luck to you.

Janie

Subject: RE: BS: sinking feeling.. natural remedies ?
From: open mike
Date: 22 Dec 05 - 01:28 AM

time for a bouy!
it is easy to fall into a bummer palce around the holidays.
ther eare some light bulbs that offer full spectrom for
the lack of light sometimes brinigs on negative feelings.

Subject: RE: BS: sinking feeling.. natural remedies ?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Dec 05 - 02:02 AM

Depression is a natural state in humans, and hopefully it is temporary and indicates that you are going through a period of adjustment of some sort. The "talking cure" is the best, so finding a counselor (someone with training in this field) would be a good start. Medications defer the cure, in my opinion, by dulling the sensations that you're trying to work through. Use the meds if the depression is so great that you need them, but talk it out as best you can also. (It has been said that having a good friend to talk with is as productive as seeing a psychiatrist for minor depressed situations).

Take care of yourself. Get the exercise Clinton and Amos suggested. A good walk will do, but if that isn't possible, then try rearranging your living room furniture. It's the endorphins that are released by exertion that help you feel better. Eat a healthy diet and STAY AWAY FROM SUGAR. Get enough sleep.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: sinking feeling.. natural remedies ?
From: KT
Date: 22 Dec 05 - 02:52 AM

Hi Sara.

Lots of good suggestions above. Here's another one that may bring some comfort.

Get yourself a little notebook and begin a Gratitude Journal. Every night, before you sleep, write three things from the day for which you are grateful. Don't elaborate, just jot them down in a few words. Don't allow it to be a struggle to come up with something and don't put any "shoulds" into it. Just list three things. They may be as simple as "conversation with lady on the bus" or "good lunch" or "beautiful day." After a couple of weeks, don't be surprised to notice a subtle shift in your mindset and your outlook.
If you decide to join mudcat, drop me a PM to let me know how you're doing.
Wishing you all the best,
KT

Subject: RE: BS: sinking feeling.. natural remedies ?
From: MBSLynne
Date: 22 Dec 05 - 06:33 AM

St John's wort can make your skin light sensitive so that sunlight can cause dermititis. It also has the drawback of lessening the effectiveness of some other medications such as blood thinning drugs (and the pill!)

Try lemon balm. It's a natural mood-lifter and is also very mild and safe. You can drink it as a pleasant tasting tea on a regular basis with no problems. As others have said, excercise and fresh air release endorphins and help to lift mood

As soon as someone feels down everyone starts on about depression. #Depression is a very different thing from the 'blues' and certainly needs attention. It's perfectly possible to self-treat for the blues though.

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: BS: sinking feeling.. natural remedies ?
From: Paco Rabanne
Date: 22 Dec 05 - 06:40 AM

Buy a Les Paul and a 100watt marshall stack. Works for me!

Subject: RE: BS: sinking feeling.. natural remedies ?
From: kendall
Date: 22 Dec 05 - 08:01 AM

I've battled clinical depression all my life. Nothing helps. All those anti depressants such as Prozak and Zoloft make it worse by turning me into a zombie. Exercise? sounds good, but when you can't muster the energy to unload the dishwasher, where are you going to get the energy to walk?

Subject: RE: BS: sinking feeling.. natural remedies ?
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Dec 05 - 08:10 AM

Sara, be safe and get a physical.

Subject: RE: BS: sinking feeling.. natural remedies ?
From: gnomad
Date: 23 Dec 05 - 06:37 AM

As the serious replies seem to have run down, I now feel free to post the silly one I've bottled up since I saw the thread title:

Cork







Alright, I was getting my coat anyway, I KNOW I should get out more.

Subject: RE: BS: sinking feeling.. natural remedies ?
From: John O'L
Date: 23 Dec 05 - 05:03 PM

Meditation and/or Tai Chi.

Also, KT reminded me, write out all that upsets, annoys, frustrates you. Write it all out in detail. A letter to yourself. Burn it afterwards, so you know you can write the deepest truths and no-one else will ever know. Rage if you need to, scream, cry, laugh, whatever. Get it all out.

This is not to replace what KT advised, which seems to me a very good suggestion. Do them both.

Subject: RE: BS: sinking feeling.. natural remedies ?
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 21 Dec 08 - 08:36 AM

Rather than start a new thread I thought that I would revive this one.

A recent problem with earwax caused me to feel claustrophobic. Whilst I am now able to hear properly and the discomfort has gone I have been left feeling very low and having irrational thoughts. I am starting meditation after Christmas and am looking into alternative therapies.

In the meantime somebody recommended 5-HTP. I bought some yesterday and took one last night. It made me feel sleepy. I have read quite a bit about it but really would be interested in hearing from anybody who has experience of this alternative remedy.

Subject: RE: BS: sinking feeling.. natural remedies ?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 21 Dec 08 - 09:59 AM

See the SAD thread.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: sinking feeling.. natural remedies ?
From: katlaughing
Date: 21 Dec 08 - 10:43 AM

Good luck to you, eanjay. I didn't know what it was so went looking and found this site of interest, though pushy commercial.:-) You might be more interested in THis One in which users rate their experiences with it. The quality of the brand you get seems to make a difference. I may try this after I check with the coumadin clinic about side effects. It sounds as though it could be helpful for a lot of things. Thanks for posting about it.

kat

Subject: RE: BS: sinking feeling.. natural remedies ?
From: SINSULL
Date: 21 Dec 08 - 10:55 AM

This site recommends that you take it UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF A PHYSICIAN:
http://depression.about.com/cs/altmed5htp/f/5htp.htm

Irrational thoughts for any significant period of time need to be addressed with a professional. It can be related to something as simple as a malfunctioning thyroid. It can of course also be depression.

PM me if you would like to hear my story. I have never regretted getting help.
Mary

Subject: RE: BS: sinking feeling.. natural remedies ?
From: Sleepy Rosie
Date: 21 Dec 08 - 12:04 PM

St. Johns Wort was a sunshine hit for me. As far as I'm aware it is only not recommended for genrerating skin sensitivity to the Sun up to two hours after ingestion. So no problem if you reserve taking it to the evening.

Look at ensuring your brain is supplied with essential fatty acid oils in plenty. If you don't do Cod Liver Oil then go for Flaxseed. Take plenty of these.

Even 20 mins of something like 'trampette' bouncing to your favourite upbeat music at home a few times a week, can make the difference. Get out of breath regularly to help naturally produced happy chemicals do their job.

Cognitive therapy is one of the most effective and *solution based* psychotheraputical approaches out there, and will *not* encourage any form of dependency.

Good Luck, Sleepy

Subject: RE: BS: sinking feeling.. natural remedies ?
From: Bobert
Date: 21 Dec 08 - 12:25 PM

Several people have mentioned exercize and speaking from experience this is the core of dealing with depression... When you work out your brain releases endorphines into your system and they are like harmones that hate depression cells and go arounf killin' them sumabiches... All it takes is one half an hour a day of heart pumping exercise and in one month's time you'll see a big difference...

Plus, the second most important parts of depression is knowing it will ***pass***...

Storms never last
do the, Baby
All clouds pass
with the wind (I think Don Wlliams wrote that and it's true)

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: sinking feeling.. natural remedies ?
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 21 Dec 08 - 01:47 PM

I've now looked at the SAD thread and although I'm not one for the sun I am going to make more effort to get more sunshine next year. I am just getting over a chest infection but once that has cleared I will definitely make sure that I get more exercise.

Kat, I had already seen your first link but I found the second link and Mary's link very interesting. I was recommended Serotone 5-HTP but all I could find at short notice was my local health food shop brand http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/pages/product_detail.asp?pid=200 which is on offer at the moment.

Although I have heard about St John's Wort before I really don't know much about it. Until this last week I had never heard of 5-HTP.

Subject: RE: BS: sinking feeling.. natural remedies ?
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 21 Dec 08 - 02:06 PM

Forgot to say that I've just taken a Cod Liver Oil capsule :-) My husband has been taking them for ages but I haven't bothered so I thought I'd give them a go.

Subject: RE: BS: sinking feeling.. natural remedies ?
From: LilyFestre
Date: 21 Dec 08 - 02:10 PM

I have been using Ashwagandha, an Ayurvedic herb (sometimes referred to as Indian Ginseng, but it's NOT) that can be found in decent health food shops. Here's a link to some useful information about the herb.

http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2006/jun2006_report_ashwa_01.htm

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: sinking feeling.. natural remedies ?
From: bobad
Date: 21 Dec 08 - 02:20 PM

It seems that 5-HTP has the same effect as those "happy pills" aka Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft etc. They all work by raising the level of serotonin in the brain albeit by slightly different mechanisms, nevertheless the end result is the same ie.☺

Subject: RE: BS: sinking feeling.. natural remedies ?
From: Jeri
Date: 21 Dec 08 - 02:40 PM

St John's Wort interferes with estrogen. Check with your doctor

You don't get 'hooked' on antidepressants. They correct an imbalance in brain chemicals. If they work, you feel better (not a LOT better though, if you get my drift). If they don't work, you may not have an imbalance. I took Welbutrin for a bit and it did absolutely nothing for me other than gradually eliminate my ability to sleep. If meds work, they work, but you don't get addicted to them.

Talk to a doctor. It may be a chemical thing, or a psychiatrist or counselor may be able to give you ideas for tools you can use to get yourself out of the dark.

Subject: RE: BS: sinking feeling.. natural remedies ?
From: SINSULL
Date: 21 Dec 08 - 02:53 PM

Re: addiction. Jeri's right. If you are suffering from clinical depression, seratonin boosters will help. Stop taking them and you will become depressed again sometimes even more severely depressed than before starting the medications.

I thought after completing years of therapy that I could cope with my depression without Prozac. Under a doctor's guidance, I came off it slowly and was fine for about a month. Then panic attacks kicked in. Seems I was so severely depressed when I started therapy and drugs that I never "felt" the panic attacks before. Actually I didn't feel much of anything.

Without Prozac I eventually spiralled down into serious depression but at least knew what had to be done to get back to normal. I don't consider this addiction anymore than I would consider my high blood pressure medications addictive because they control not cure the problem.

Many new and improved drugs have been introduced over the past 15 years but I would have to stop Prozac for at least a month beofre I could start something new. Thank you, no.

Happy Pills? Not in my case. I am as cranky as ever. But I can see the forest for the trees. And I live a happy life.

Subject: RE: BS: sinking feeling.. natural remedies ?
From: Sorcha
Date: 21 Dec 08 - 03:01 PM

And 'addiction' is not necessarily a Huge Evil. You do NOT get 'addicted' to meds that you NEED. Even pain pills. If people are in PAIN, they need pain pills, and studies have shown that when the pain and the need for medication goes away, they are NOT addicted.

It's when we abuse meds that we create problems.
Me, if I don't take my lexapro regularly, someone will die. Me or someone else, but someone!

Subject: RE: BS: sinking feeling.. natural remedies ?
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 22 Dec 08 - 07:28 AM

I recently sent an email to a local hypnotherapy and holistic centre asking about their treatments. I was thinking of things like reiki. In the past I have twice had an Indian head massage, the first time it was brilliant but the second time it didn't quite have the same effect. This is part of the reply from the hypnotherapy centre:

Clinical hypnosis is a very useful skill to enable us to make positive and beneficial changes in our lives. It also assists us to achieve deep relaxation, which in turn reduces anxiety. Depression can sometimes be contraindicated with hypnosis, depending on the level experienced, so we always obtain the permission of your GP before proceeding with therapy.
Holistic therapies are also useful to promote relaxation and encourage a general feeling of wellbeing.

Subject: RE: BS: sinking feeling.. natural remedies ?
From: CarolC
Date: 22 Dec 08 - 11:51 AM

I have found playing the accordion to be a very effective anti-depressant (no joke). It seems to have a beneficial effect on brain wiring or brain chemistry. I realize not everyone is in a position to take up the accordion and also that not everyone who is in a position to do so is necessarily so inclined, but for those who are, it's definitely worth a try.

Subject: RE: BS: sinking feeling.. natural remedies ?
From: SINSULL
Date: 22 Dec 08 - 12:01 PM

Eanjay - that sounds like a reputable clinic. Most major hospitals now have hypnotherapists on staff to work with depression, pain relief and weight control.

Subject: RE: BS: sinking feeling.. natural remedies ?
From: jeffp
Date: 22 Dec 08 - 12:13 PM

Increasing your ratio of protein to carbohydrates can help. Sounds silly, but it was suggested to my by a psychologist. Seems to be working.

Be careful with antidepressants, because if you have bipolar affective disorder, they can trigger a manic episode which can be even worse than the depression, leading to a roller coaster of emotions and moods.

Subject: RE: BS: sinking feeling.. natural remedies ?
From: katlaughing
Date: 22 Dec 08 - 01:33 PM

St. John's Wort is also contraindicated if you take blood thinners such as warfarin aka coumadin. Tincture of it makes a wonderful topical treatment for bruising, though!:-)