Great idea sisses to have a support group.
I was alone too when I suffered from Depression. I only had my psychiatrist to share my anxieties and problems then. It was too difficult. Now am better and off from my medication.
It was terrible to suffer from depression and would be really happy to support our sisses who are presently undergoing this illness.
Btw, for those who were done with anti-depressant meds. Did you experience any side effects?
Mine is losing weight.
i have not taken any anti-depressants because i have mild depression only and i do not want to take them because they have lots and lots of side-effects. ( it can even change your personality )
current studies show that anti-depressant drugs are not even effective in mild to moderate depression. it is only very effective in severe depression like yung ayaw mo na gumising sa umaga at hirap ka bumuhat sa higaan because you are so depressed at sobrang wala ka nang appetite.
for less severe cases, what really works is Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Exercise. Yes it is exercise, as in Cardio 30 minutes of walking and running 5 times a week will keep you up.
Supplements help a lot too. i tried 5-htp, st. john's wort, inositol and none seem to help me. The only supplement that worked for me is L-Tryptohan. i have read all the studies about it and it only works if you take it on an empty stomach 1 hour before meals.
i take 3 X 500 mg capsules before breakfast and 2 X 500 mg capsules before lunch.
In CANADA, L-tryptophan is prescription only drug for depression (brand name is Tryptan). In US, EUROPE and Philippines L-tryptophan is considered FOOD SUPPLEMENT

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Actually TRYPTOPHAN is also found in Meat, Milk and Vegetables. You might be thinking na eh di kumain na lang ako ng maraming meat. WRONG! To be effective, Trytophan must be absorbed in the stomach na walang ibang kasamang protein because it will lose its effectiveness. That is why you should get Pure and Isolated Tryptophan on an Empty Stomach.
Once Tryptophan is absorbed in the stomach, it increases the FEEL GOOD chemicals in the brain called SEROTONIN (makes you feel happy). Any excess SEROTONIN is converted by the brain to MELATONIN (which makes you feel sleepy).
So you know if your brain have made enough SEROTONIN if after a few hours of taking L-Tryptophan you feel Sleepy.
In case, of Anti-Depressants, it works by preventing the breakdown of Serotonin. So ang mangyayari pag nasobrahan ka ng Anti-Depressants, you could have brain damage because of EXCESSIVE Serotonin.
If you Overdose on L-Tryptophan, nothing will happen because any excess Serotonin will just be converted by the brain to Melatonin which will make you very SLEEPY and DROWSY.