Just come off anti depressants. Natural alternative suggestions

We use the term ‘depression’ too often and too lightly.
Clinical depression is life threatening condition and needs to be understood much more.
If you have ever suffered from clinical depression, you would know that it is very difficult to treat.
A sad/ fed-up feeling which can be helped by going a walk is not clinical depression.
Please don’t belittle the condition.

Your method of tapering off sounds really prudent and wise! I've always felt less is more when it comes to meds. Cognitive Behavior Therapy works for some and it's fairly easy to manage. A licensed therapist could be of help.

I agree with you "Zakouma". Clinical depression is all consuming and it is sheer hell to find the motivation to do anything at all that might make it better, " go out for a nice walk", "meet up with friends" etc. Well-meaning friends will say but unfortunately, that doesn't work when you are in a deep black place. I find a course of prescribed medication is the only answer. When feeling a bit better, a little gardening and walks do help.

During a very dark period I remember being out with OH and him saying "Look at that beautiful view". My response was "I can see trees and a hill and a lake but why is that 'beautiful'?
When you are well many things happen during the day which gives you a little boost (maybe a pretty flower or a laughing child or something tasty to eat) and that keeps your mood topped up. When you are depressed the same things happen but they have no effect on you

See that you get enough exposure to sunlight so that your body can make vit D. Or take vit D3. Also the B vitamins, B6 and B3 being very important. Magnesium and vitamin C 2 to 3 times a day. Except for vit D3 which is fat soluble, the B vits, Magnesium and vit C are all water soluble, so one does not really overdose. The body takes as much as it currently needs, and the rest is excreted. That is why small doses of Magnesium and vit C more often, are better than 1 larger serving only once a day.

Research a Dr Bach flower essence for upliftment They work really well

I don't think anybody was belittleing depression?

Just throwing around a few ideas really.

Its good to get different perspectives.

peploe

We use the term ‘depression’ too often and too lightly.
Clinical depression is life threatening condition and needs to be understood much more.
If you have ever suffered from clinical depression, you would know that it is very difficult to treat.
A sad/ fed-up feeling which can be helped by going a walk is not clinical depression.
Please don’t belittle the condition.

spot on, ive suffered it for too long,ive tried most things, which offers brief relief. I will quote, 'depression is a serious illness that has to be taken seriously' Ive known 6 people to commit suicide with this vile condition. A cure seems to be distant , no magic bullets yet, I use a combination of exercise,meditation, journal,diet,and hope.........

I have recently come off Citalopram as well. No side effects and not feeling sleepy all the time as well.

Bach rescue remedy

Clinical depression is a hormonal balance condition and must be regarded as something to put right. The ideas on this chat are all most valid and helpful. As a retired classical homeopath, I have treated this condition many times. Everyone is different and a skilled classical homeopath recognises this and matches the remedy to the person, not the ailment - the opposite to a regular antidepressant drug. Practical homeopathy is also useful but rarely permanent or long term. Never, never self medicate with homeopathy.

Well done for coming off the drugs, and hope all goes well with the cancer treatment and with you too as you cope with it all.

I would say, speaking from experience, keep off the alcohol, which in itself is a depressant as I’m sure you know. Good luck ❤️

I'm glad that this topic has given rise to some useful suggestions. I have used Bach Rescue in the past so a bottle on standby is a good plan.

One of my loved ones has unfortunately had to succumb to antidepressants, wife with a debilitating illness and two young children. He needed to discuss the fact that he didn’t think the dosage he was on was helping and could he speak to a GP by telephone due to his working hours. The next telephone appt was for three months time! This was just before Christmas, he came iff them was pretty rough. Now started on a higher dose with regular contact with GP. He was the last person I would think needed to take them. Always happy go lucky, we just cannot foresee how people can cope when life throws a curved ball!

unfortunately had to succumb to antidepressants

Do we talk of a diabetic succumbing to insulin?

Or a person with a broken arm succumbing to plaster?

Nobody chooses depression.

No, they don’t. I’m very grateful for mine. If you met me professionally or socially I would probably be ‘the last person you would think needed to take them’. But I do need them, and have needed them for almost 40 years.

Sorry my previous post was unecessarily sharp.

B12 or St John’s wort helps with depression, I take B12 to stabilise my over thinking due to fibromyalgia, hated the side effects of amitripuline . Hope you can find something that works for you

No, zakouma, your post wasn’t too sharp. You understand clinical depression, as do I. Taking prescribed medication isn’t a sign of failure. I have no faith in ‘natural remedies’ for clinical depression. The likes of St John’s Wort (which isn’t suitable for those who, like me, have epilepsy) or Bach Remedies are not for the severely depressed.

If you have circumstantial depression which it sounds like then you knoewhy you are feeling so low . Life is a pile of poo sometimes it becomes extremely difficult to deal with it, especially when things come all at once. Clinical depression is different .
Anti depressants work for some people
But when you know what’s causing it in the first place why would you medicate yourself? So you go round in a fog? That’s what I found anyway there are problems whether you can resolve them or not that you have to deal with going round in a blur going on or whatever isn’t really gonna make them go away SSRIs bad things and all they do is mask everything like a Band-Aid on a wound. Percent the route to the loot is therapy if you can get it private all through the NHS because it is available through talking therapies that you might have to wait awhile to me something , somewhere where you can offload gives a bit of perspective. It doesn’t make the problem go away but it makes you feel a little bit stronger and how to deal with it with coping mechanisms . Good luck x

Many of us don’t know what causes our depression. I am one of them. For many of us antidepressants work. Don’t knock them.

Lostmyglassesxx

If you have circumstantial depression which it sounds like then you knoewhy you are feeling so low . Life is a pile of poo sometimes it becomes extremely difficult to deal with it, especially when things come all at once. Clinical depression is different .
Anti depressants work for some people
But when you know what’s causing it in the first place why would you medicate yourself? So you go round in a fog? That’s what I found anyway there are problems whether you can resolve them or not that you have to deal with going round in a blur going on or whatever isn’t really gonna make them go away SSRIs bad things and all they do is mask everything like a Band-Aid on a wound. Percent the route to the loot is therapy if you can get it private all through the NHS because it is available through talking therapies that you might have to wait awhile to me something , somewhere where you can offload gives a bit of perspective. It doesn’t make the problem go away but it makes you feel a little bit stronger and how to deal with it with coping mechanisms . Good luck x

I disagree with most of this. You would probably call my depression as circumstantial as it is strongly linked to a chronic bowel condition which makes life very difficult.
Shortly before Christmas I finally admitted I needed help as I didn't want to continue living and I was already employing "coping strategies" and other self-help.I have been on antidepressants since then.
I am not "going around in a fog". I am actually able to think much more clearly now than before I started to take them. Talking therapies are not suitable for everyone - and accessing an appropriate one has been impossible in my case.
To say that you shouldn't take medication if you know what is making you depressed is a dangerous comment

Bit weary of the Band Aid analogy. I didn't stick a big metaphorical knife in myself.

I became ill and needed help.

And, getting prescribed medication is not a quick fix, one's got to go through a period of trial and error and lots of patience to find the right medication that will work. Years ago, when I was in a completely dark place after my divorce I was put on Prozac by my wonderfully understanding & intelligent GP. After some years I recovered but over decades the depression came back after other life-changing experiences. I have tried citalopram & Sertraline but those did not work. I am now on Fluoxetine which is serotonin-based like Prozac and I am feeling more balanced after a long while. Don't give up. It is worth trying prescribed medication, be patient and see what works for you.

I have just come off Citalopram as I was on it due to a number of time limited complex family issues I had no control over. I take Kalms if necessary However I have joined the library which allows me to down load the Borrowbox app which is a free of charge. I'm allowed 8 boors at a time. I have down loaded all sorts of novels and enjoy many different stories on my tablet. This means that I can always relax and cheer myself up any time. It all free.