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I suffer from the classic version of depression . I started with bouts of it when I was seventeen, but it wasn't until my late thirties or early forties that it got so bad that I had to seek help. Over the years doctors prescribed Zoloft, Prozac, Paxil, Lexapro, and Wellbutrin.

I got a little relief, but the pills made me so tired all I could do was lay around and then I put on weight, which made me more depressed. So I decided to try a natural approach.

Here are the steps to recover from depression - these are the same steps that I have used:

1) I can't stress this one enough. Drink WATER, WATER, WATER, and more WATER! Drink approximately half your weight in water in ounces each day. (ex: If you weigh 150 pounds you need to drink 75 ounces of water a day). Your water should be bottled or filtered water.

If you are a soda drinker, cut back, better yet, quit drinking that STUFF! If you are a soda drinker, start using soda as a special treat. When I was growing up in the mountains of West Virginia. We only made it to the grocery store a couple times a month, but when we did go we were allowed to get a bottle of coke. What a treat, and that's the way it should be. It has no nutritional value and only makes you fat.

Do not and I repeat do not drink diet soda. I have done research on the artificial sweeteners that they use and have found information that artificial sweeteners can cause brain tumors. Soda is a tough one for me, because I love Cocoa Cola, so if I do drink a soda I drink regular. If you are a coffee drinker, drink your one cup in the morning to get you going then no more the rest of the day.

2) Use a natural anti-depressant. I have used prescription anti-depressants and as I said before, I did get a little relief from my symptoms but I gained thirty pounds on the prescription drugs, which made me more depressed because of the weight gain. I gained more weight than when I was pregnant. There are a lot of side effects to consider when you take prescription drugs. I do not want to have to worry about the side effects on top of my illness.

Make sure the ingredients are herbs for depression. I've tried a lot and some work, some don't. Unfortunately I have found there is no magic pill. It's pretty much trial and error, as everyone's body chemistry differs. I take them still and my husband says I'm a whole lot nicer to be around and I have a lot more energy. My spurts of anger and mood swings have all but vanished. Something that my husband is very happy to see gone! He'll even remind me to take them, less I forget!!

3) Use good Multi Vitamin Supplements.. Don't buy these at department stores,but instead buy them from a store that specializes in natural vitamin supplements or online from a reputable company. I buy mine from the company in the above link but there are a lot of good online companies. Just make sure they're natural and have been tested.

4) Other vitamins and supplements that you need are a good fish oil supplement that has your Omega Oils. You can also buy a Flax seed oil that has the omega's in it.

5) Eat a good healthy diet. I will tell you here to start using as many natural and organic products as possible. All of the chemicals that they put in our food are making us sick. Try to buy meat that is organic or has not been injected with hormones and chemicals. We women are already having to deal with our own unbalanced hormones. We do not need the ones that they give to the cows and other animals in our system making things worse.

Try to get vegetables and fruits that are organic. If you can't afford organic, buy a fruit and vegetable wash that removes the wax and chemicals from the produce. Try to eat the deep colored fruits and vegetables they have more of the good nutrients in them.

6) Exercise. This is a hard one. When you are depressed, the last thing you have is energy to exercise, but you need to exercise to get your energy back. A catch 22. Start out slowly, even if it is only a ten minute walk or ten minutes on your treadmill. Something is better than nothing.

7) If you are a woman and are near menopause, use a Natural Progesterone Cream. I am 44 and use one. There are a lot of god ones out there but make sure it's natural and not synthetic. I have noticed that my mood swings have subsided and no more hot flashes, but it does take about three months of using the cream to get results.

When you suffer from depression, it is a tremendous battle, but it is one worth fighting. My family had to put up with so much during my severe bouts of it. Depression hurts your relationships. I would get mean and say hurtful things, then cry all the time. I would spend weeks in bed at a time. On my good days I work, read, and do research about depression. I hope that my information will help you. It may take some time, but you will get a handle on it and if you treat it with natural products, a healthy diet, pure water, and exercise, you will be able to keep a handle on it.

Remember, if depression hurts you depression hurts everyone around you! So please seek depression treatment and help.