Alternatives to meds
Printed From: OHbaby!
Category: Support
Forum Name: Living with Post Natal Depression
Forum Description: Around one in ten NZ mothers will be diagnosed with PND in the first year of their babies life. Find support and encouragement and share ideas for coping here.
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=15299
Printed Date: 12 May 2024 at 12:47pm
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Topic: Alternatives to meds
Posted By: Kellz
Subject: Alternatives to meds
Date Posted: 14 March 2008 at 11:35am
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I have now been on 3 different SSRI anti-depressants and have reacted to all 3. The lastest being an allergic reaction 2 weeks ago- hives and breathing probs, for which I needed steriod and anti-histimine injections and tabs.
Well, now that I am over that, and the awful withdrwal process from having to have my meds suddenly stopped, I would like to see what else I can do to help myself that doesnt involve taking meds. Both my GP and I agree that the SSRI werent particularly effective- the one I reacted to I was up to te highest dose too -, and we would like to see how I go with the weekly phychologist sessions.I now also have much more family support (MIL rings daily and will have Isla whenever I want her too, and Isla stays the night there once a week), and Isla is in daycare 9 hrs a week. I am still taking Oxazepam(similar to valium) which I needed to get over the withdrawls from the anti-depressants, but am only needing a low dose. What other things have u used or heard of that would be worth a try? St Johns Wart? Or some sort of natural therapy etc etc? Edited to fix spelling! |
Replies:
Posted By: CuriousG
Date Posted: 14 March 2008 at 11:41am
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I dont know what else there is but am keen to learn. Was going to look it up on the net and DH mentioned something like acupuncture. Will come back to you when I have learnt more! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Kellz
Date Posted: 14 March 2008 at 11:45am
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Yeah a friend the other day mentioned accupunture- I had never considered that that could be used for something that isnt physical. Would be keen to see if anyone has tried that.
I am keen to try anything! Lol! I SOOOO dont wanna ever have to go through the awful withdrals that I did this time I reacted. I am going back to the GP weekly, and we will try a tricyclic antidepressant next if I do need drugs. |
Posted By: daikini
Date Posted: 14 March 2008 at 11:55am
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That family support is important!
What helped me was councelling, and practical home-help. The state of my house is both a trigger and an indication of how I am, and having the home-help come once a week made a big difference to how I coped. She would vacuum, mop, clean the bathroom and toilet, and help me do the dishes and the washing. It meant I knew the last time those things got done and could build on it further. ------------- Becca, mum of 2 girls & 3 boys |
Posted By: Kellz
Date Posted: 14 March 2008 at 2:23pm
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I used to have 3 hrs homehelp a week when we lived in Whakatane, but that service isnt avaialable here. It was more to help me out with Isla and give me a wee break too, cos we didnt have any family living closer than 2 hrs away.
Have made an appointment for accupuncture on Mon with the guy my friend sees and recommends. He said he will do a bug health questionsaire, and get me eating some different foods too,....eek my diet is so shocking at the mo,..I dont wanna tell anyone! |
Posted By: nikkitheknitter
Date Posted: 14 March 2008 at 2:57pm
| Joining a gym? Or making some time for exercise? I know for depression that exercise is really important. |
Posted By: Kellz
Date Posted: 14 March 2008 at 3:09pm
Can u babysit?!!
Seriously tho, I have been thinking I really need to re-start some sort of regular excercise, and definalty start eating better too. I am so not a gym person, have joined too many times and given up after a short time. When we have some $$, Im gonna get a kid seat for my bike and start using that again. Maybe walking too. |
Posted By: JadeC
Date Posted: 14 March 2008 at 10:48pm
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Cognitive behaviour therapy has been shown to be as effective as medication when treating depression, so that is definitely something I'd look into. It's also a short-term therapy (average 20 sessions) which is handy as it doesn't mean you're in therapy forever, and it gives you a lot of skills to help yourself in case it pops up again.
Let me know if you want more info, I'm doing my last year of training as a cbt therapist, but I really think it's a great tool for depression. I can also recommend a really great DIY cbt book (it's acutally used as our textbook!) if you want to do it yourself! ------------- http://pregnancy.baby-gaga.com/" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: Glow
Date Posted: 15 March 2008 at 8:06am
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I take omega 3, magnesium & multi-vitamins aswell as regular exercise and Its seems to work ok for me. ------------- Mummy of Two Boys B: 2004 K: 2007 |
Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 15 March 2008 at 10:14am
| My friend swears by fish oil.. she suffers from depression but will only go the natural way as she believes hers isn't a chemical imbalance. And she's become a bit of a fitness freak and I can't tell anymore that she is depressed. |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 15 March 2008 at 12:24pm
I'd be wary of St Johns Wart, it can be a bit hit and miss. Sounds like you've got some good support networks and stuff now which should be a huge help, as will the psychology (and living further away from your Dad  ). And of course me, your unofficial psychologist!-------------  Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: Kellz
Date Posted: 15 March 2008 at 7:13pm
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Thanks Glow, yeah I was thinking of going to a health shop and seeing what they can offer me.
JadeC, Im seeing a phycologist weekly. I have no idea if its CBT that we do in the sessions tho. I feel like it is definatley helping me. |
Posted By: Kellz
Date Posted: 15 March 2008 at 7:19pm
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Thanks Stacey- think I will definatly go to the health shop and get some fish oil tabs and multi vits. I seem better off the meds at the mo, and my Dr agrees, so maybe I dont have a chemical imbalance either.
Mine was definatly circumstantial depression- birth experience, lack of sleep, mega unsettled baby, problems with medical professionals getting diagnosis for Isla's problems, no family support living closer than 2 hrs drive, then moving towns last Oct and then the earthquake in dec so didnt help either. Now things are much more settled, and Im working through a lot of the issues and have more support etc, I am sure I can do this! |
Posted By: Kellz
Date Posted: 15 March 2008 at 7:21pm
Lol,..is that what u call yourself,...I would think 'fellow fruit loop' would be a more accurate discription
And thatnks about the St Jonhs Wart warning,...will try the fish oil and multi vits, and a better diet first! |
Maya wrote:Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 15 March 2008 at 8:34pm
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Ha ha ha. Takes one to know one I guess! ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: Kellz
Date Posted: 15 March 2008 at 8:48pm
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I my MIL. She gave us $$ tonight to pay for tabs at the health shop and for seeing the accupuncturist on Mon. We didnt even tell her til very recently about my PND cos we didnt know how DH side of the family would react, and now they are all being unimaginably great about it. Yay!
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Posted By: HippyMama
Date Posted: 16 March 2008 at 8:14am
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Evening primrose oil caps are good to take too, I find they are a great help especially around 'that' time of the month!
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Posted By: Kellz
Date Posted: 16 March 2008 at 9:41am
| Oh really? EPO? Ok will think about that do, could definatly do with some help with PMS, especially since my cycle is 23 days,..seems like I always have PMS! |
Posted By: HippyMama
Date Posted: 16 March 2008 at 9:12pm
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Even though the ones I take are 'horse pill' sized I make sure I do every day, otherwise if I forget things tend to really bottom out when my period hits!
I've found St Johns Wort good in the past and never had to personally worry about whether to take it on a long term basis or not - maybe 2 or 3 months max to get through the odd rough patch. |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 16 March 2008 at 9:37pm
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My sister swore by EPO when she wasn't on BCP coz she gets really nasty AF's. ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
|
Posted By: Kellz
Date Posted: 17 March 2008 at 7:59am
| Thanks guys. Im seeing the accupucture dude this afternoon, and he said he would do a full assessment and give me some diet advice etc, so will check with him, then go get me some natural drugs! |
Posted By: mum2paris
Date Posted: 17 March 2008 at 8:29am
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Good luck Kellz ------------- Janine and her 2 cool chicks, Paris & Ayja 
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Posted By: Shorty
Date Posted: 17 March 2008 at 9:37am
| Good Luck today Kellz! |
Posted By: Kellz
Date Posted: 17 March 2008 at 7:16pm
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Thanks guys!
My appt went REALLY well! I am even more confident now that I will beat this,.. and become a better person for the experience! Having accupuncture twice a week for next 2 weeks while I wean off the Oxazepam. Did a full health assessment today. Thinks a lot of my problem is hormonal. Have some natural remedies to take, as well as fish oil. Changes in my diet to make. Not radical ones thank goodness, mostly just stuff I should be doing anyway- no junk, choc etc etc. Off to the supermarket now! |
Posted By: mum2paris
Date Posted: 17 March 2008 at 10:31pm
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I'd love to know how this goes and will be following with interest Kels, sounds all good!
Maybe OT, but i tend to find that drinking coke makes anxiety worse and recently read something actually stating that too so was interesting. So i guess eating well kinda makes sense really instead of putting all the bollocks into your system. ------------- Janine and her 2 cool chicks, Paris & Ayja
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Posted By: Glow
Date Posted: 18 March 2008 at 8:25am
Glad it went well Kellz ------------- Mummy of Two Boys B: 2004 K: 2007 |
Posted By: Kellz
Date Posted: 18 March 2008 at 1:14pm
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Thnaks everyone. Yeah Janine, Im sure improving my diet will definatly help. Cos my engery levels were low I have been drinking heaps of dietcoke and having lots of choc and junk,..but really that just makes my body even worse,..needing more water etc to battle of the toxins Ive been feeding it.
Im feeling really positive that Im in control of me, that I can beat this! Did a big healthy grocery shop last night,..poor DH thinks his throats been cut (his words!). Off for accupuncture this afternoon! |
Posted By: Shorty
Date Posted: 18 March 2008 at 9:12pm
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I am pleased you are feeling positive!
I loved accupuncture before I had T, it is nice to know it has many more means. I always find Chocolate isn't the answer and an improvement in diet does so many wonders. I hope today;s session went well :) |
Posted By: Kellz
Date Posted: 18 March 2008 at 9:21pm
| Yeah it did go well thanks. I had 6 needles for anxiety and insomnia,...I was really zonked out just lying there for an hour! Was great! Going back on Thurs. |
Posted By: Kellz
Date Posted: 18 March 2008 at 9:22pm
| Went to a PND support group run by plunket today too, for the first time. There wasnt anything avialable where we used to live. It was ok, but only one other person there. Its only once a month too. |
Posted By: HippyMama
Date Posted: 23 March 2008 at 9:32am
| How are you doing now Kellz? |
Posted By: Kellz
Date Posted: 23 March 2008 at 12:20pm
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Im ok thanks. Had a bit of a blahk day yesterday, but I had them when I was on meds too,...but they are much less often at the moment!
Im down to 1/4 of a tab morning and night now of my valium type anxiety meds, and will hopefully be off them altogether in the last week. Have had 2 sessions of accupuncture so far, focussing on depression, insomnia and metobolism. Havent noticed any difference with my sleep,...but Im no longer constipated (long standing problem) so yay! The sleep preoblem is affected by still having to get up to Isla about twice a nigh too, so I didnt expect miracles with that! Diet gone a wee bit out the window already. I will go food shopping again tomorrow and get back on track. Been mostly avoiding junk, definalty have eaten way less choc than I usually would, and still no coke! So its not all bad! Still have un-resolved issues with my parents that I need to deal with, but dont feel strong enough just yet. |
Posted By: Kellz
Date Posted: 28 March 2008 at 7:25pm
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UPDATE :
Im now down to just 1/4 of a tab of Oxazepam a day! Yay! Have now had 2 weeks of 2 treatmenst of accupuncture a wek. 2 more booked for next week. Taking my supplements and trying to eat healthier! Saw phycologist today,..hes really pleased with me, and doesnt think there is anything else he needs to do for me,..so I have a follow-up appt in a month! |