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Natural ways to deal with depression

Started by restlesshound48 · · 👁 9 views · 99 replies

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Participants restlesshound48John Palmer9restlesstiger49Joseph Bailey41Nicole Booth25Ethan Kim4Karen Morgan6Douglas Gray8rapidtinker3Jesse Barnes5Robert Reyes4Andrew Barrett4feralrangerWalter Watson82James Miller2wanderinghawk30ironrider11Melissa Nguyen2wearyrider16Chris Grant3Eric Gray2David Hall6Joshua Patel6
ironrider11 ironrider11 Regular
391 messages
joined Oct 2020
#81 ·
Joseph Bailey41 said:There’s actually quite a bit of truth to that. It’s kind of like when a vet visits a doctor and the doctor asks, "So, what seems to be the problem?" The vet would probably think, "Oh, easy for you to say..." 😁

In the real world, nobody is measuring your specific neurotransmitter levels before they write a prescription, and the line between correlation and causation is incredibly blurry. Does your serotonin drop because you're feeling depressed, or are you depressed because your serotonin dropped? Or is it a feedback loop where both happen at once? Once you start factoring in other neurotransmitters, synaptic connections, or the size of the amygdala, trying to track all that in a living person becomes an absolute nightmare. We know through biofeedback that people can consciously influence their own brain waves, which indirectly affects hormonal responses—like that classic, somewhat cliché example of running to get an endorphin rush.

At the end of the day, you’re the one who knows your own head and how your mind works best. If you don't have a handle on that, it almost doesn't matter whether you go to a medical doctor or a veterinarian.

It’s not quite that simple, though. Someone who thinks they have everything figured out—meticulously tracking every single thought—might suddenly realize they're totally clueless about what's actually happening (like an F-Code diagnosis, say). That sudden realization might finally hit them that maybe, just maybe, it's time to talk to a professional. Someone who actually understands the mechanics of the human brain. Especially from a biomechanical standpoint. You try some self-help method, and then you realize "empirical science" isn't always what it claims to be. When you read a prescription leaflet—where half the page is just listing side effects—and you see something like "sudden death," you might actually wish you had a simpler mind. A mind that doesn't overthink everything, just follows the doctor's orders and hopes for the best. Autosuggestion, much like the placebo effect, definitely plays a role... whether you're overwhelmed or not...
Joseph Bailey41 Joseph Bailey41 Veteran
1K messages
joined Apr 2021
#82 ·
ironrider11 said:It’s not quite that simple, though. Someone who thinks they have everything figured out—meticulously tracking every single thought—might suddenly realize they're totally clueless about what's actually happening (like an F-Code diagnosis, say). That sudden realization might finally hit them that maybe, just maybe, it's time to talk to a professional. Someone who actually understands the mechanics of the human brain. Especially from a biomechanical standpoint. You try some self-help method, and then you realize "empirical science" isn't always what it claims to be. When you read a prescription leaflet—where half the page is just listing side effects—and you see something like "sudden death," you might actually wish you had a simpler mind. A mind that doesn't overthink everything, just follows the doctor's orders and hopes for the best. Autosuggestion, much like the placebo effect, definitely plays a role... whether you're overwhelmed or not...

I agree. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve asked in casual conversation, "Do you actually consider psychology a science?" Not to start an argument, mind you, but just out of pure curiosity. To me, everything from synthetic drugs and herbal supplements to mindfulness and frequency healing falls under the umbrella of "healing." That’s just how I categorize things. Basically: does it help or not? After treatment XYZ, do you feel better, worse, or the same? And honestly, speaking purely subjectively, I’d always rather take a chance on something that doesn't list "death" as a potential side effect—or anything else that brings you even remotely close to that outcome. But hey, maybe that’s just because I’m not in the middle of a major depressive episode right now, so a fatal outcome doesn't seem like a particularly tempting option. 😁

If you want a doctor (or a shaman, or a witch) to actually fix your problem, you need to describe it as accurately as possible. It’s not like they can just draw blood, run a lab test, determine your F-Code, and write a prescription based solely on that. Obviously, it’s not just what you tell them that matters, but how you say it... but the less aware you are of what is actually bothering you, the harder it will be for them to piece it together from your words.

Depression isn't really like having the flu; it's more like having a fever. Both can range from mildly uncomfortable to life-threateningly dangerous, but neither is a "disease" in and of itself—they are signs that something is going wrong in the body or the mind. So, what exactly is happening? The easiest way to figure that out is to try changing something—to introduce a new element into the equation and see if there's any result. To me, that feels much closer to actual science than blindly following instructions based on studies funded by the very person trying to sell you a specific magic potion.
wearyrider16 wearyrider16 Active Member
76 messages
joined Sep 2010
#83 ·
Man, it’s incredible. That Hershey's scent hits you right at the five-minute mark, and honestly, watching it melt in my mouth is basically therapy for a bad mood.
One more bite, then another, then another... and then for dessert, we have the queen herself, the one and only Ferrero Nutella... oh man, so good...

I'm starting to wonder if this counts as self-care or just plain old gluttony!🤣
Joseph Bailey41 Joseph Bailey41 Veteran
1K messages
joined Apr 2021
#84 ·
wearyrider16 said:Man, it’s incredible. That Hershey's scent hits you right at the five-minute mark, and honestly, watching it melt in my mouth is basically therapy for a bad mood.
One more bite, then another, then another... and then for dessert, we have the queen herself, the one and only Ferrero Nutella... oh man, so good...

I'm starting to wonder if this counts as self-care or just plain old gluttony!🤣

Natural. Cocoa & mindfulness. 🙂
ironrider11 ironrider11 Regular
391 messages
joined Oct 2020
#85 ·
wearyrider16 said:Man, it’s incredible. That Hershey's scent hits you right at the five-minute mark, and honestly, watching it melt in my mouth is basically therapy for a bad mood.
One more bite, then another, then another... and then for dessert, we have the queen herself, the one and only Ferrero Nutella... oh man, so good...

I'm starting to wonder if this counts as self-care or just plain old gluttony!🤣

Depends on whether you're diabetic or not...
Chris Grant3 Chris Grant3 Member
24 messages
joined Jan 2017
#86 ·
wearyrider16 said:Man, it’s incredible. That Hershey's scent hits you right at the five-minute mark, and honestly, watching it melt in my mouth is basically therapy for a bad mood.
One more bite, then another, then another... and then for dessert, we have the queen herself, the one and only Ferrero Nutella... oh man, so good...

I'm starting to wonder if this counts as self-care or just plain old gluttony!🤣

Weight-gaining 😬
ironrider11 ironrider11 Regular
391 messages
joined Oct 2020
#87 ·
Joseph Bailey41 said:I agree. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve asked in casual conversation, "Do you actually consider psychology a science?" Not to start an argument, mind you, but just out of pure curiosity. To me, everything from synthetic drugs and herbal supplements to mindfulness and frequency healing falls under the umbrella of "healing." That’s just how I categorize things. Basically: does it help or not? After treatment XYZ, do you feel better, worse, or the same? And honestly, speaking purely subjectively, I’d always rather take a chance on something that doesn't list "death" as a potential side effect—or anything else that brings you even remotely close to that outcome. But hey, maybe that’s just because I’m not in the middle of a major depressive episode right now, so a fatal outcome doesn't seem like a particularly tempting option. 😁

If you want a doctor (or a shaman, or a witch) to actually fix your problem, you need to describe it as accurately as possible. It’s not like they can just draw blood, run a lab test, determine your F-Code, and write a prescription based solely on that. Obviously, it’s not just what you tell them that matters, but how you say it... but the less aware you are of what is actually bothering you, the harder it will be for them to piece it together from your words.

Depression isn't really like having the flu; it's more like having a fever. Both can range from mildly uncomfortable to life-threateningly dangerous, but neither is a "disease" in and of itself—they are signs that something is going wrong in the body or the mind. So, what exactly is happening? The easiest way to figure that out is to try changing something—to introduce a new element into the equation and see if there's any result. To me, that feels much closer to actual science than blindly following instructions based on studies funded by the very person trying to sell you a specific magic potion.

God forbid. The problem with these healers is you can never actually tell what’s going on. You don't know what the core issue is... or if the fallout you're dealing with right now is just because I ate too much of this or that, or if my portions were totally off yesterday... maybe, just maybe, I wouldn't have spent half the day glued to the toilet today. It's all based on these observations and trying to find some kind of truth in certain parameters. Maybe this whole bathroom disaster has nothing to do with "if only I hadn't." Maybe I actually manifested this crap myself. Wouldn't you just confirm that pattern again if things played out this way? One minute you're feeling super confident in your own pedantic—maybe even obsessive—way of analyzing things and deciding what's true... then you realize how far from the truth you actually are. Once you see that, you can never really go back to the safety of what you thought you knew. You end up needing a little nudge from someone else just to validate your own mess. Whether it's a priest, a neighbor, or some random person on the street... it doesn't matter. When everything is this uncertain, anyone will do...

Snorting baking soda for migraines? Apparently, Ivanka’s recommending it on some blog for a two-week stint. Some guy tried it—can't remember where he heard about it, though... if this isn't legit, he'll be feeling like his whole body's on fire. Reading through Ivanka's Facebook posts, she sounds so incredibly certain about it. It's coming from someone who's cycled through everything: modern medicine, magnetic therapy, chiropractic, holy water, old wives' tales, yoga, meditation, clean eating, chia seeds... you name it. At this point, what's there to lose? Snorting powder probably won't do much more damage than how crappy he already feels every single day. After two weeks, either things get significantly better, or—more likely, given how predictable life is—absolutely nothing happens. Either way, how do you even tell the difference between a placebo effect and something that actually works? It's so damn convincing that people feel the need to spread the word whenever they get a chance, thinking they're doing something good. You try to save someone being tortured by migraines, or if it doesn't work for them, you just nudge them down a notch toward that "screw this, I'm done" stage... all because you genuinely believe there might be some kind of solution out there...

Once that light-sensitive, nauseating, killer migraine finally breaks—maybe even just on its own—the actual fix doesn't even matter. You'll forget the whole concept at light speed. Days feel different, the world looks different, even how you interact with people shifts in tone and intensity... It’s like nothing ever happened. Just a tiny scar, a little scratch on the hard drive. Hopefully it stays a one-time thing and doesn't happen again. You're back to "normal." Maybe a headache, or whatever, acts like some psychosomatic trick to pull you out of that mindless daily grind long enough to actually ask yourself some questions... stuff you wouldn't bother asking when life is just rushing by. A moment of quality time for yourself, if you want to call it that. Maybe the pain itself is just a suggestion to find some decent downtime that doesn't involve migraines, depression, allergies, or facial tics...

Sometimes you just get lost in this massive sea of information where everything feels uncertain and questionable. Especially who you are, who you should be, what kind of person you ought to be, whether you're being real or fake... good, bad, calm, anxious, too passive, too hyper... And right now, life feels like it’s hinting that things are fundamentally wrong. Like there's some deep truth—some "chemical shift"—sounding an alarm that everything is messed up and needs to change, partially or totally. Then comes the glitch. That inability to process things, not because you're just zoning out, but because you're actively struggling, and you can't seem to un-glitch. Just a chronic loop. Same as the headache. Maybe it passes on its own. What came, went. In the meantime, regardless of how it feels, you end up dealing with the same old certainties. It's that obsession with finding an instant fix, which is probably the same exact problem as "how it started."

Hands are just the Devil's playground. And that's just the beginning for the rest of the organs....
ironrider11 ironrider11 Regular
391 messages
joined Oct 2020
#88 ·
Chris Grant3 said:Weight-gaining 😬

Depression caused by having way too much "ton and po" on you... naturally cured with some Hershey's, followed by—if her highness, the esteemed madam, Ferrero Nutella doesn't do it—then even more... It's an Ouroboros. Three tons of it. Barely moving. At this point, they aren't even physically capable of carrying out their own brand of depression anymore...
Joseph Bailey41 Joseph Bailey41 Veteran
1K messages
joined Apr 2021
#89 ·
ironrider11 said:Depression caused by having way too much "ton and po" on you... naturally cured with some Hershey's, followed by—if her highness, the esteemed madam, Ferrero Nutella doesn't do it—then even more... It's an Ouroboros. Three tons of it. Barely moving. At this point, they aren't even physically capable of carrying out their own brand of depression anymore...

🤣
Chris Grant3 Chris Grant3 Member
24 messages
joined Jan 2017
#90 ·
Honestly, if you're dealing with some depreciation, I don't mind a little bit of a slump. It's fine by me.
ironrider11 ironrider11 Regular
391 messages
joined Oct 2020
#91 ·
Chris Grant3 said:Honestly, if you're dealing with some depreciation, I don't mind a little bit of a slump. It's fine by me.

Zero movement or just staying stagnant, combined with all that refined sugar, processed junk, those new chemical cocktails from smoking cigarettes, heavy drinking, legal and illegal drugs, plus all that trash food and additives... honestly, it might even kill a cockroach—and those things are basically indestructible...
Andrew Barrett4 Andrew Barrett4 Active Member
163 messages
joined Jan 2018
#92 ·
wearyrider16 said:Man, it’s incredible. That Hershey's scent hits you right at the five-minute mark, and honestly, watching it melt in my mouth is basically therapy for a bad mood.
One more bite, then another, then another... and then for dessert, we have the queen herself, the one and only Ferrero Nutella... oh man, so good...

I'm starting to wonder if this counts as self-care or just plain old gluttony!🤣

🤣

I was reading way too fast.
My first thought was just: who the hell is Hershey's? How have I never heard of them? : wtf: 🤔
😂🤣🤣
(I wasn't actually craving sweets, more like some meat from a butcher shop or sausages 😬)
wearyrider16 wearyrider16 Active Member
76 messages
joined Sep 2010
#93 ·
ironrider11 said:Depression caused by having way too much "ton and po" on you... naturally cured with some Hershey's, followed by—if her highness, the esteemed madam, Ferrero Nutella doesn't do it—then even more... It's an Ouroboros. Three tons of it. Barely moving. At this point, they aren't even physically capable of carrying out their own brand of depression anymore...


All my life, I was told that farm-fresh milk is pure gold—that cows graze on mountain grass under the fresh breeze just to give us that perfect dairy. They told me milk chocolate is fine for kids, and that hazelnuts are packed with protein and essential minerals like manganese, copper, magnesium, phosphorus, and iron. Plus all those vitamins like E, B, and folic acid.
The commercials always show these beaming faces, perfect teeth, and beautiful scenery.
Happy families eating them every day.

But now it turns out they were lying to me.
That I was just being misled.

Honestly, I'm pretty annoyed now.

It’s actually pretty rude.

I'm going to sue them all.

They need to be held accountable.
Eric Gray2 Eric Gray2 Regular
254 messages
joined Jul 2014
#94 ·
Seriously, can we please stop with the spam?
Ethan Kim4 Ethan Kim4 Member
19 messages
joined Oct 2006
#95 ·
I don't think this counts as spamming, since what we eat is directly linked to our mental state, whether we're feeling okay or struggling:

http://www.nutritional-psychology.org/

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/...d-201511168626

I hope these links help someone out, and I really hope the mods don't delete this.
(My posts have been disappearing lately, which is pretty awkward. It’s like trying to hold a conversation with myself when the other person's replies vanish—it starts feeling a bit like a one-man show, which isn't a great look when we're talking about mental health, right...)
Andrew Barrett4 Andrew Barrett4 Active Member
163 messages
joined Jan 2018
#96 ·
I'm categorizing this under 'Hamlet-style soliloquies presented in a pseudo-dialogue format' 😂
David Hall6 David Hall6 Newcomer
8 messages
joined Feb 2023
#97 ·
restlesshound48 said:Sometimes I think—or maybe I just refuse to believe, because that feels like too strong a word—but I don't know what else to call it.🙄

I’m not sure if there's any hope left for anything. I don't personally believe there is, but I'm asking here in case anyone actually knows otherwise.

Is there a "natural" way to manage or heal depression? Something I can work on by myself?

Your gut microbiome plays a massive role—in many cases, it's decisive. You can actually shift your mental state by adjusting your diet and using probiotics.

It's easier to start when you're younger, but it's never too late; you'll still see the effects regardless of your age.

The main hurdle with probiotics is usually the cost, especially since you need higher doses for more serious issues. That said, you can get the basics on a middle-class budget. If money is tighter than that, look into water kefir; people often give away starters for free on local community boards, and you just keep multiplying it.

Beyond that, find some healthy stimulation for your brain or endocrine system—something that actually provides a sense of satisfaction.
Joshua Patel6 Joshua Patel6 Member
39 messages
joined Dec 2009
#98 ·
So, here is my situation: for years now, I have been managing my depression and anxiety using strictly natural methods.
I actually diagnosed myself; I have never actually sat down with a professional or a psychiatrist.

As for how effective this truly is... well, I honestly can't say for certain. Perhaps if I were on actual medication, I would function more smoothly. As it stands, it takes a significant amount of effort just to keep my head above water.

There isn't any grand, complex philosophy behind it—it really just comes down to eating well, staying active, and getting out into nature.
Nature was quite literally my savior back in my early twenties when things were at their absolute worst. It provides a sense of balance and helps restore my serotonin levels.

My routine involves practicing yoga, limiting my TV time, reading spiritual and philosophical literature, and finding a certain peace through my own spirituality.

Out of a seven-day week, I would say that on average, there are three days where I am simply not okay. During those times, it feels like a black hole has opened up; sometimes the feeling is intense, and sometimes it’s a bit more muted. This past weekend was particularly difficult; I felt hyper-sensitive to everything around me and spent most of the time crying because I was hit by that realization—again—that there are certain things and situations in life that I simply cannot change (unless I change them at the cost of my greatest happiness).

Today, however, feels much better. I feel cleansed, and despite the miserable weather outside, I am doing alright.

To maintain all of this—all these methods I use—requires constant effort and self-discipline; it’s a struggle to find motivation from one moment to the next. There are days when I feel like weeping just at the thought of having to go practice yoga, but I manage to push myself through it. And I always feel a sense of joy afterward, simply because I succeeded.

The only "crutch" or medication I ever occasionally take is Xanax.
John Palmer9 John Palmer9 Active Member
62 messages
joined Mar 2023
#99 ·
Joshua Patel6 said:So, here is my situation: for years now, I have been managing my depression and anxiety using strictly natural methods.
I actually diagnosed myself; I have never actually sat down with a professional or a psychiatrist.

As for how effective this truly is... well, I honestly can't say for certain. Perhaps if I were on actual medication, I would function more smoothly. As it stands, it takes a significant amount of effort just to keep my head above water.

There isn't any grand, complex philosophy behind it—it really just comes down to eating well, staying active, and getting out into nature.
Nature was quite literally my savior back in my early twenties when things were at their absolute worst. It provides a sense of balance and helps restore my serotonin levels.

My routine involves practicing yoga, limiting my TV time, reading spiritual and philosophical literature, and finding a certain peace through my own spirituality.

Out of a seven-day week, I would say that on average, there are three days where I am simply not okay. During those times, it feels like a black hole has opened up; sometimes the feeling is intense, and sometimes it’s a bit more muted. This past weekend was particularly difficult; I felt hyper-sensitive to everything around me and spent most of the time crying because I was hit by that realization—again—that there are certain things and situations in life that I simply cannot change (unless I change them at the cost of my greatest happiness).

Today, however, feels much better. I feel cleansed, and despite the miserable weather outside, I am doing alright.

To maintain all of this—all these methods I use—requires constant effort and self-discipline; it’s a struggle to find motivation from one moment to the next. There are days when I feel like weeping just at the thought of having to go practice yoga, but I manage to push myself through it. And I always feel a sense of joy afterward, simply because I succeeded.

The only "crutch" or medication I ever occasionally take is Xanax.

I don't really take any medication, besides those natural things I mentioned; I just mix some pure cocoa, sugar, and hot milk in the morning, and after that, I feel pretty great and energized. I figured maybe it might bump up my blood pressure, but I guess not, since it stays right around 132/90.
wanderinghawk30 wanderinghawk30 Member
32 messages
joined Dec 2018
#100 ·
John Palmer9 said:I don't really take any medication, besides those natural things I mentioned; I just mix some pure cocoa, sugar, and hot milk in the morning, and after that, I feel pretty great and energized. I figured maybe it might bump up my blood pressure, but I guess not, since it stays right around 132/90.

Wait, hold on. Are we talking about a clinical diagnosis here, or just feeling a bit unmotivated and using cocoa and warm milk to kickstart your day?

Clearly, I misread the room with this thread title. When I hear the word "depression," I think of that absolute rock bottom, that dark place where things felt life-threatening—not just feeling a little sluggish or "down."

So, are we actually discussing general blues and lack of motivation, rather than actual clinical depression with an official medical code?

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy A52 using Reddit

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