Depression and Self-Care,  Holistic Strategies for Managing Depression

What to Do During the Last Two Weeks You’re Waiting for Your Antidepressant to Kick In or Self-Care for Mild Depression

Image: Villa Falconieri by John Singer Sargent
Villa Falconieri by John Singer Sargent

If it can be said that there is anything good about depression, this is when you’ll see it. Assuming that you are feeling much better than you did a month ago (and if you’re not, please read A Note about Antidepressant Treatment), you may feel almost as if you’ve been reborn. After having been deprived of the ability to enjoy everything your life has to offer, you’ll notice that colors are brighter, sounds are sweeter, smells and tastes have more depth. Having had a lack of interest in things you normally enjoyed before being depressed, you may find, as I did, that you are all of a sudden interested in everything, even things you never thought about before.

Fitness (Mental and Physical)

Keeping physically fit is one of the best ways to supplement what your medication is doing. The fitter and less tense you are, the less work your medicine has to do.

  • Exercise can help your mood for other reasons. The endorphins that are generated by exercises definitely can have a positive short-term effect on your mood. And exercise also can improve your sleep patterns; poor sleep can be one cause of depression. Studies have shown that even short bouts of light exercise are effective:
    • If you have body challenges like me (MS and four ruptured discs), try Tai Chi or Qi Gong. It’s preferable to learn from an instructor instead of a dvd or online class, but go with one of the latter two if you can’t find or afford classes. Here’s a good article about the benefits of Tai Chi.
  • Sex? What’s that? Seriously, if your sex drive has returned, check out the Good Vibes web page for supplies and inspiration (21 and over only, please).
  • I always know that I’m getting better when I start singing along with music. Then I usually put on some good music with a beat and dance around my room. Try it – it really gets the blood flowing, and makes you feel alive.

Beauty and Fashion

  • I use skin care from Paula Begoun, because I have very sensitive skin, and her skin care works and is relatively cheap.
  • I also make some of my own soap and skin care (when I have the time). Here are some of my recipes (the document is always a work in progress).
  • Here’s a book I love about making your own skin care: Making Aromatherapy Creams and Lotions: 101 Natural Formulas to Revitalize and Nourish Your Skin. Some of the ingredients are expensive, but you can make substitutions. Don’t forget, guys – aromatherapy is not just for women. It will make you feel fantastic to pamper yourself too.
  • I get most of my makeup from E.L.F. – good quality for incredibly low prices, and lots of sales and specials.
  • Cosmetic Connection  and MakeupAlley are all about cosmetics.
  • Feel like fashion is fun again (as opposed to only noticing or caring that you were wearing something)? Get back in the swing of things at Fashion Net. If you’re a craft-y sort of person who makes your own clothes, check out Bluprint or PatternReview.com.

Useful Stuff for Getting Your Life Back Together

I know that when I “awakened” from depression, I realized that I had let the weirdest things go, like renewing my car registration. Other depressives, especially bipolars, may find that they need to get out of a financial hole, either due to overspending or just letting the finances go down the tubes. I hope you find something useful here to help you get things back together.

Exploration/Learning

Image: Wheat Field with Cypresses by Vincent Van Gogh
Wheat Field with Cypresses by Vincent Van Gogh

As your thoughts begin to turn more outward than inward, you may have some interest in discovery and learning.

Nature/Ecology

I realized when I came out of my depression that I had by virtue of the illness been very self-absorbed. Un-depressed, I looked at survival on a more global scale. If you do too, here are some earthwise sites to inspire you.

  • Environmental News Network has environmental news, features and a calendar of meetings and conferences.
  • The Rainforest Action Network page is beautifully done, with extensive information about getting involved in non-violent action to save the rainforests and their occupants.
  • Sierra Club Home Page provides information about its programs, mission and chapters.
  • I was surprised at how fascinating the bios of the individual wolves were on the Wolf Haven International page. It also contains photos of such wolves as Angel, Little John and Morning Star, who you can adopt.
  • GardenWeb has gardening tips and links to botanical gardens around the world.

Food/Entertaining

Now that you’re back to your old self (or better, as in my case) you might feel that you want to renew friendships that might have gone south during your depression by entertaining. Or maybe you want to just renew your acquaintance with good food and drink. Either way, the links below will help to get your tastebuds ready. Note: although I have links to alcohol-related sites, bear in mind that drinking alcohol can affect your medication’s effectiveness. Drink lightly, or not at all, and only make drinks for your guests.

Image: Cafe Terrace at Night by Vincent Van Gogh
Cafe Terrace at Night by Vincent Van Gogh

Travel

Tired of being an armchair traveler? If you’re getting the urge to get out and see the world for real instead of virtually, the sites below should be a great help.

  • My son and I made a video about how to travel with depression.
  • I love the Civilized Explorer. It’s got great photos and good writing.
  • Conde Nast Traveler has a polished and comprehensive site.
  • To get information about my most favorite travel destination, Disney World, go to the Disney home page.
  • Lonely Planet delves a little deeper into the culture of different destinations than other travel guides.
  • I’ve found some wonderful guidebooks called Eyewitness Travel Guides. They have tons of color photos, floor plans of landmarks, aerial views of cities, and facts about the area that are actually interesting.

First Two Weeks
Middle Two Weeks

7 Comments

  • Veena Persaud

    I think that I was born with depression. I am now 52. 2016 I was diagnosed. It was total shock. I now use trazododone to help me sleep. I had insomnia and that gave me clinical depression. I destroyed first marriage , almost destroyed the second. I moved like 8 times until a big move to MD. My husband still lives in ny. I am moving back to ny to be with him . Depression destroyed my relationship with my kids and it destroyed most of my younger life. I was almost never happy and had no idea it was depression . I thought that it was the ways that people feel, like a normal thing. I started bad but will end it good.God bought me back . He is here to stay .

  • Eyob Asefa

    5th week and I am feeling optimistic about things! 2 days ago I went into the library and ended up checking out a book about Psychology and have been opening my mind up to the spiritual world. I’m not 100% better as I have decided to take this upcoming week off work and school but I definitely feel much better and have clearer thoughts so my words are starting to just flow out and I don’t stutter or think hard before a sentence like I did before with anxiety/depression. I’m feeling better and reading this article kind of opened my mind up as well for how I’m feeling!! I actually decided calling a few people today and they thought I was high because I was such in a good mood! Thank you for this article it’s very logical and helpful even though I’m on my last couple weeks to feeling better!

  • Jillian Halliday

    I am now 43and been depressed since around 18 or possibly before as I used to cry everyday at primary school and I still don’t have any idea what it was and I have been put on antidepressants Friday.Think I am bipolar as my dad’s got it too.

  • David

    Start new meds tomorrow. Been a rough fee weeks. Few weeks to go before I should feel the benefit. Majorly tired of it. Hope hope.

  • David peacock

    now coming off meds in order to start a different one. two weeks with nil then new drug which takes 3 weeks at least to help. today is day 5 of no meds at all. fifth d ay out of 14. rubbish just now but confident all will be good .:)

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