Medication Resistant Depression

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I know there's a similar thread like this but I didn't want to hijack it.

I'm looking for natural recommendations that might help with medication resistant depression. I have severe depression and I've tried several different medications. I don't really have social anxiety issues or take meds for anxiety. I do have sensory issues but it's rare that they cause issues in social situations unless I've had a burnout.

I've probably tried a dozen antidepressants. The ones I remember are Prozac, Pristiq, Lexapro, Wellbutrin, Zoloft and right now I'm on Effexor/venlafaxine.

Please don't recommend marijuana, it's illegal where I live and I wouldn't do it anyway. But I'd be open to other things (not illegal drug related).

Thanks in advance. (I'm not looking here as an alternative to professional help. I see my psychiatrist next week and was hoping to do some research on natural treatments before then, so I'll research whatever is recommended here.)

Electroconvulsive therapy

Emotional freedom technique

Eye movement desensitization therapy


Counseling

Ketamine has just received FDA approval for treatment resistant depression, in two forms: IV administered in doctor's office, and nasal spray. It works differently than earlier antidepressants, causing new branches to form on neurons which will lead to new learning.

The only down side I see is that it is available as a street or party drug, and can be addictive. There's always the chance that people will circumvent doctors, self-medicate and become dependent.

I would ask your doc about that. Supposedly, people feel better within an hour, not six to eight weeks!

Are there any activities that help? Stimming? A special interest?

Thanks for the suggestions so far!

I previously talked about ECT with my therapist but not with my doctor. I no longer have a therapist since she left and I didn't want to get used to another one. Besides, my depression is clinical so talk therapy doesn't really help since it's not situational or environmental but chemical.

Ketamine I would have to do a looooot of research on before considering due to the side effects and addictive potential. I'm not sure I'm comfy with that but it does sound interesting and I read it can be very effective when used correctly. I just don't like the idea of taking any potential substance I could become dependent upon, especially since addiction runs in my extended family.

As for activities and special interests, yes they do help but only to an extent. For example, I often want to do things and have the motivation to do them but I'm just too depressed to do them. This includes interests, hobbies and even normal activities like eating and cleaning.

I’d highly recommend talking to your psych about ECT. I suffered for years from depression and tried every class of ad going. Multiple ones. Some worked for a little while and then stopped. Some did nothing and some gave me severe side effects.

I was in and out of hospital with schizoaffective disorder bipolar type but the depressions were going to kill me. Eventually I had ECT and my god. What a difference it can make. Whilst my hospitalisations haven’t stopped I haven’t been depressed or suicidal in over 2 years. 2 years. I’ve been suffering since I was 13 and I’m 29 now. Trust me. It’s worth it.

I would probably do ketamine before ECT if that was an option. They can give it in infusions so it isn't as if you necessarily have to have your own supply to abuse, you go to a clinic like twice a week? to get infusions. Just know its really expensive from what I've heard. This assumes you live in the US. If you live in europe I would suggest you give Stablon a try.

Stablon...sounds both funny and wrong No I'm in the US. If it's very expensive I won't be able to afford it, and it sounds like something my insurance won't pay for.

Voldemort - how often do you get ECT treatments?

I talked to my psych about trying ECT & she insisted that my depression was not sever enough. Said ECT was only for people who would need to be confined to a mental facility long-term otherwise. ECT has major side-effect/complications. Most people have problems focusing & memory problems after getting ECT.

One way of doing hobbies is to put together a list of stuff you need to do.

Then there are two ways of tackling the list. One is to try and do at least one thing on the list, maybe every week.
Another it is to just work on it whenever you feel up to it. For me, getting into a regular routine works best, even if the activity only takes 10 or 15 minutes.

Those few minutes means a lot over time.

Hi BrokenPieces
(It might be the thread I started that you mentioned in your first post, I don't know.)

I just wanted to say that I did try ECT because everybody kept telling me how well it worked, so I gave it a shot. It did nothing good for me, my depression was the same during and after, but I'm one of those that have gotten quite severe side effects with memory loss, continuing problems with my memory even now over a year since the treatment, and also problems with concentration and learning that I've never had before. I cannot completely know that this is due to the ECT, there is a possibility that it is side effects from medications(I was put on A LOT of medications) and even though I don't take any medications now, I can't rule it out. I also did a suicide attempt during this time and even though the docs couldn't see any persistent damage to my brain, I still think there could be a possibility that the cognitive problems stem from that. Maybe it's all of those things combined and maybe it's none of them, no way to know for sure.

I don't write this to scare you out of trying ECT, and I really hope that you don't see it that way. I have heard of a lot of people who have been helped very much by ECT. I just wanted to tell you how it turned out for me. My docs did not warn me about side effects, and they were very confident that ECT would make the depression go away completely so I was very dissapointed.

Again, I don't want to discourage you to try it, but I also felt that I wanted to tell you how it did (not) work for me.

Natural things I tried previously were SAD light therapy and St. John's Wort tablets, I had to cease with these tablets after being put on a blood pressure tablet which cause cardiac rhythm issues [so do check first].
I was put on Citalopram but then was suffering from neck pain and put on Amitriptyline too but this combination started to make me feel like I was having a heart attack!! !!
Now on Duloxetine (Cymbalta) which has significantly raised my mood and simmered anxiety.

I see you haven't listed that so maybe worth a mention during your appointment.