Kick Depression's Ass!

[Angrboda]

Good advice, Sven. Most people don't realize that effective treatments for depression extend beyond pills. Drugs are helpful, and in some cases, all that is needed. More often, their primary use is to get you to a point where you can take advantage of other treatments. Diet, exercise, sleep hygiene, individual and group therapy, and socio-economic interventions all help to alleviate or reduce the incidence of depression. Sadly, U.S. health care is motivated by the dollar, and drugs are probably the cheapest intervention for insurers. I would benefit a great deal from an exercise program led by an instructor, because I have motivational problems; unfortunately, health insurance, even the special waivers I get as a physically disabled person, will not cover an exercise program.

(I used to do Tai Chi on my own, and I need to get back to that, but a class would go a long way to getting me started.)

I've never had any luck with meds. Over the past 20 years, I've been in and out of therapy, to no good effect. This past year, though, I've gotten meds that help some with the sleep, and good group and individual therapy, and it's making a difference.

I can't agree more about having a goal, either. It's still uncertain whether or not I will be able to achieve mine or not, but I'm pursuing going back to school and eventually working again, and it does a lot to keep my priorities in focus so that those mornings when I "just don't feel like it," I can force myself to do those things that I know I need to do to keep it together.

Again, thank you for an excellent post, Sven.