Why do some people prefer natural treatment for depression?

Deborah Gray is the creator of the Wing of Madness depression site Living With It Creator, Wing of Madness Deborah Gray lived with undiagnosed clinical depression, both major... Send Message Subscribe: Deborah Gray

Wednesday, July 02, 2008
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Since I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, several people have suggested bee stings as an alternative treatment to the interferon beta shot I do once a week. The first time a helpful soul suggested it, I was stupefied for a minute. I mean, honestly. How is being stung by bees preferable in an...

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Untitled Comment
Amanda
Monday, July 21, 2008 at 12:56 PM

Deb,

I agree with pretty much everything you've said. It also stupifies me why people will try everything natural under the sun, but won't go near antidepressants. The scary thing is that most of these 'natural' cures haven't even been through tests, so there's no way of knowing how they effect people.

re: Untitled Comment
Deborah Gray
Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 11:47 AM

As I said, the tendency to choose a natural treatment over antidepressants is to a great extent due to the general resistance to admitting that one has depression, and that it is an actual illness. And that's because of stigma, which, let's be honest, still does exist. So it's a lot easier to say that you're talking St. John's Wort because you're in a funk than you're taking an antidepressant.

At the very least, people who are taking a supplement or herb to treat their depression should make sure there is no contraindication with either prescription or over the counter drugs they're taking, or even another herb or supplement.

re: re: Untitled Comment
Deborah Gray
Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 11:48 AM

Let me clarify that. It's my opinion that the tendency to choose a natural treatment over antidepressants is to a great extent due to the general resistance to admitting that one has depression, and that it is an actual illness. There may be other factors that are at work here.

Exercise as a natural treatment for depression
BPsychotherapist
Thursday, July 24, 2008 at 12:43 PM

For mild depression, I believe that repetitious motion exercise for 20 minutes helps people feel much better and walking is cheap and requires no special equipment. Studies show it helps all mental illnesses.

re: Exercise as a natural treatment for depression
B
Thursday, April 16, 2009 at 02:27 PM

I find that when I exercise, it makes my depression and mood worse even with my antidepressants (which I take faithfully along with discussing things with a therapist). Extra exercise, such as swimming, walking, going to the gym etc., over and above my regular daily activities such as, working, cleaning, cooking etc. has a tendency to make me cry, and angry and my thoughts become erratic. My personal study, with myself, I am one of millions and not one who can be lumped into the vast majority of people, because I am unique and not a lump like most everyone else.

I know everyone says "studies show" but all the studies shown are completely one sided, they do not show the percentage of people that had adverse reactions and what those reactions were, beliefs of the people performing the studies etc. these all have a huge impact on the studies. So "studies show" means nothing because the studies are based on force fed information to push a specific view and are not performed to educate and expand our knowledge.