Best products from r/depression

We found 117 comments on r/depression discussing the most recommended products. We ran sentiment analysis on each of these comments to determine how redditors feel about different products. We found 270 products and ranked them based on the amount of positive reactions they received. Here are the top 20.

Top comments mentioning products on r/depression:

u/alleria11 · 3 pointsr/depression

You have to love yourself before anyone else can love you. I understand this isn't the answer you want to hear but it's true. I used to be in your shoes. You have to understand that yes support is great, but ultimately you have to stand on your own feet to be firstly healthy (no one can fight your depression for you) and secondly to be attractive.

I'll leave you a few links that have helped me come out of my hell hole.

http://www.girlschase.com/content/how-overcome-depression

  • This guy is a very talented writer. He not only has an excellent article on depression but all of his other articles are great ways to start boosting your confidence in life. Lots of decent dating articles.

    CBT - Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has worked wonders for me. I went on anti-depressants for 3 years which was needed at the time, but if I would have combined it with CBT I may have safed myself years of suffering. I'm 100% off them now and feeling better than ever. Try googleing this. This is a good place to start.

    http://www.dbtselfhelp.com/html/cognitive_distortions.html

    Get into a routine of going to bed and getting lots of rest. Change your diet to healthy foods. This will help keep junk out of your system that leads to high/crashes and keeps your serotonin pumping.

    Socialize, - www.meetup.com is a good place to start if you're not a very social person. They specifcally have "introvert" groups so people that arent used to socializing can get used to seeing other people with the same comfort level. There's groups for everything.

    Self-Esteem - Try and boost this as much as you can. I know when I was depressed I had a horrible self-esteem and it's taken years to boost it back up. Again, google has copious amounts of information on this but a book I bought and helped me was

    Working out - Not only does this make you more attractive, but way more importantly it boosts serotonin levels and will help you feel better. I can't stress how important this is. I was able to come off Effexor JUST because I began working out heavily. The nice body is a just a bonus, the way it's made me feel is incredible.

    www.bodybuilding.com - has a bunch of beginner exercises for you to start.

    Dating - Lastly, don't worry about this one too much. I know you're thinking "what the fuck? that was the whole point of my post". The world is hyped up with "quick fixes", you know 6 pack abs in 2 weeks etc. There is no EASY way out, no way to just magically press a button and become this macho attractive person. The most attractive trait a woman can see in you is confidence. You've already been through all this pain with your depression, you can do anything you want but the CATCH is that it takes time. You'll need to subject yourself to a bunch of situations that MAKE you feel uncomfortable, and by having small little victories in each situation you're able to build up confidence.

    I'll share a few articles from this guys website that not only helped me tremendously with dating and self-esteem, but with life in general.

    1 - http://markmanson.net/change-your-mind


    2 - http://markmanson.net/youre-okay


    Especially #2. Lastly, he wrote a book that I've re-read a bunch of times that is excellent and down to earth dating advice. He's honest and isn't going to sell you a bunch of this "I need to be super macho to get dates" crap. It's all a media hype. Women just want you to be confident, but in order to do that you have to treat your depression and just enjoy life which will take months, not going to lie.

    http://www.amazon.ca/Models-Attract-Women-Through-Honesty/dp/1463750358

    Enjoy man, you have lots of work to do. consider this the first day of the rest of your life.

u/[deleted] · 4 pointsr/depression
  1. Stop playing WOW. Until you get a set of friends around you first. Playing WOW is the path of least resistance, and can kill the opportunities of gaining real friends.



    Ok, making friends in life is tricky, but easily doable. Many people already have a busy life. So its best to get into some kind of hobby or volunteer work to meet some people. That way you can make some connects. Secondly, be used to people giving you the shrug. Its all good. They probably have other people in their life now (girlfriend, parent, friend) that they are trying to make sure to have time for. They aren't usually judging you, but they are judging the feeling they would get from hanging with you, and comparing it to hangin' with someone they already know.

    Make sure to be ready for the brush off when it comes to asking people to hang with you. Give them your number anyway, and maybe some other time.Consider setting party's up. If you can throw down a little cash this isn't a hard thing to do. Have your number on your facebook. Have an apartment/house warming party, BYOB. Have a get together at the local pub to celebrate whatever retarded holiday thats coming up.

    I could go on and on. But you have to have a desire, to have friends. Not a desperation to have friends.

    Good book to read is Intimate Connections by David Burns. It explains how people work in society,and how to improve your social skills.
    http://www.amazon.com/Intimate-Connections-David-D-Burns/dp/0451148452
    And not that there is, but there are rumors that its on the net in an 8MB PDF.


    ------------------

    Don't assume you know what others are thinking. This is a huge crutch. That girl might have just been tired of getting hit on that week. Maybe she has been assaulted before and has a huge wall to break down. Hell, I know when I wear headphones, it means I don't want to talk to the people around me, so I just ignore...
    Don't take it to heart when people are ignoring you, especially when they are busy doing something else.

    Good luck, Homie.

u/i_love_to_shit · 1 pointr/depression

i can very much relate to that feeling. you're actively changing things to shake it all up, but it's like wherever you go, whatever you do, you hit quicksand at some point. you start to slow down and eventually feel so stuck, you can neither go forwards nor backwards.

occupying your brain may be a short term remedy for this, but it seems like that's what you've been doing. what i need in those phases is to find a stable space inside, without having to rely on distractions or outside influences.

i think anti depressants maybe the proverbial canon used to shoot sparrows. there are so many things you can do to establish a baseline of healthy living, before being driven to taking pills.

are you sleeping enough?
do you eat healthy?
are you getting enough vitamin d? (vitamin d-deficiency has been linked to low moods. produced by the body when exposed to sunlight. can be an issue for people who are used to be outside, when they're suddenly holed up indoors. )
are you physically active? if you can't afford a gym and it's too cold outside, try out some bodyweight-exercises you can do at home with minimal gear. exercise for me has been the most effective and only 100% reliable anti-depressant for many years. working up a sweat once a day for 30 minutes did wonders for my mental clarity and physical wellbeing. if your body feels good, your mind will appreciate it.

have you tried meditation? you sound like you have some downtime, then this could be a good first step. check out this book: http://www.amazon.com/Wherever-You-Go-There-Are/dp/1401307787/ref=la_B000AQ12GA_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1451140325&sr=1-1
it's a very pragmatic and pretty non-spiritual description of how and why it makes sense.


none of these things have been a one-stop remedy for me, but they helped me feel better, be more active, formulate wishes, dreams, plans and lead to more fulfilling activities.

be patient and don't be too hard on yourself or those around you. we all struggle. good luck.




u/keeerazay · 1 pointr/depression

This guy, Jon Kabat-Zinn, brought meditation into mainstream medecine. He's a really interesting guy. He's just one of hundreds of mindfulness/meditation sources out there but he's a doctor and understands it all scientifically, and thats great for those like me who can't relate to the hippie type meditation that most people think of when they think of meditation. That and he's very good, better than a lot of the stuff out there imo. He's written books and you can get audio cds of his guided meditations. I do these regularly and find them very good! Leaves me feeling peaceful relaxed and mindful. Best of luck!

u/honeysuckIe · 1 pointr/depression

You have your whole life ahead of you... it kills me to see and feel your pain right now. I probably don't know the scope of what you are going through and I'm not sure of how I can be of help. I just wanted to let you know we heard you, we are listening. you aren't alone.

it's obvious that you're trying. really hard. that is SO admirable and I give you a lot of respect for that. just wish you could find some relief somehow. its possible the zoloft will need more time to take effect. be patient if you can.

A lack of vitamin B could be contributing to your depression. I too am depressed and have been my whole life I just never realized it. I don't like anti-depressants but i recently discovered SAM-e (supplement) and I'm also going to try this new vitamin B supplement called Max Stress B. here's the direct link http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0062MCRZG?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00

please do the research and make sure it's for you.

what are you going to school for? I'm just curious. Maybe what you so desperately need is a purpose in life. Something bigger than yourself. have you tried dating? online dating? interested in anyone at your school? sounds like you really want to be with someone. you seem like a great person. intelligent. your ENTIRE LIFE AHEAD OF YOU. please don't give up. you are so young. there are other ways to live. you don't have to live this way forever. you have the power of choice. every single day, every single second. you can choose something different. you can choose to live and see the world a little differently. easier said than done, i know. I still struggle with this every day. but there's hope. there's always hope. even if you can't see it right now. your life has meaning. don't throw away your life.

u/Bazzr · 2 pointsr/depression

You are normal. The only thing out of wack, is your perception of yourself, your place in the world perhaps, and what you are doing. Emotional spaces can get all messed up as we go from teenage years into adult life.

First step is to accept that you are ok in identifying how you are feeling, or not feeling. About yourself, your mum, and anyone else. You feel, or not feel for a reason. And it is something which many people go through, but never talk about, or even identify. So you have a gift in a way, in that you are identifying something about your life.

Another point is that you have worked out that things (emotional spaces, beliefs) inside you do not change, regardless of how far you move. That is good to work out :)

Next point is that you can work it out. Patience is a virtue, and it is true. Be patient with yourself, and do not be in a hurry to resolve something of which you have yet to understand fully.

I just posted this in another thread, maybe it might apply to you?

> I am reading a book at present, Learned Optimism How to Change Your Mind and Your Life - Martin Seligman. Try googling the book name, you may be able to find a copy that way if you cant find a copy to buy.

> The book is about optimists and pessimists. Your post has much about your past, and how it has affected your life. Our past has a tendency to influence our present life in ways we do not realise. I know, have been there. And finding books like this one is an eye opener. I am learning much about how I view myself, and how I view others. Well worth a read.

u/TongueDepresser · 1 pointr/depression

You might want to read this book: http://www.amazon.com/Toxic-Parents-Overcoming-Hurtful-Reclaiming/dp/0553381407

Also, have you talked with your school's guidance counselor? You are badly in need of therapy.

Your friend Ari is amazing. You are very lucky to have such a great friend. Though please, please, please realize a few things.

  • Ari is a person, too. She has her own limits. I realize the depression has you stuck in your head, but please don't push her past her limits.
  • Most girls do NOT ever want to be compared to anyone's mom. I know you just meant it as a joke, but most girls find it deeply insulting. She just wants to be your friend. She never wants to "mother" you.
  • New York is cold this time of year. And it's only getting colder. You should stay in Florida for the next 6 months.
  • Do you ever ask Ari how she's doing? Look out for her interests, too. Friendship is a two-way relationship. Make sure you're giving back to the relationship somehow.

    Anyway, yeah, you need to find a therapist and start talking about your problems to a professional. I would go to your school's guidance counselor first since it sounds like your mother is the source of a lot of your problems.

    Good luck.

    PS: Punctuation is your friend... ;)
u/moondollie · 1 pointr/depression

You're welcome and "oh dear", I didn't mean to frighten you about taking Efexor. I get so passionate on any subject involving mental illness, that I forget to take a breath and temper myself a bit.

Please be mindful of the fact that everyone is different and so are their experiences. What I experienced on this drug, or any other for that matter, is not to imply you will experience the same.

Knowing as much as you can about a drug ahead of time, prepares you if so you do have side effects, you know what you could expect were it to happen. I like to know because I don't want to be freaked out if something does happen.

The only effect I experienced from missing one dose, is dizziness the next day. Shortly after taking it, dizziness gone and I'm good. I have never gone longer than missing one dose, so I've no idea what other symptoms I might have if I missed more. If you need to stop taking this, your doctor would titrate you down. That's common procedure with a lot of drugs anyway.

No one likes the idea of having to depend on medicine, but I have to and it's a fact I had to come to accept. I can function now and be content with my life. I have things to look forward to. Returning to the way I was before isn't an option - I'm not going back there. So you have to ask yourself what's more important. Feeling miserable or great? Of course we're going to pick the latter, so we do what we have to make that happen.

Taking a little white pill is only one part. Eating healthy and being active is a very big part. Picture the food pyramid. At the bottom is eating healthy. Middle is exercise, and believe it or not, medication is the point at the top.

FYI: Studies show that processed foods, refined sugars etc., can make depression worse.

This is a good article on the causes of depression.

The Feeling Good Handbook by David Burns contains lots of good tips for managing depression. He claims that a lot of people who follow his method live a healthy life without anti-depressants. However you will see in the article from WebMD, that there are a lot of factors involved in depression and I would never even hint that someone stop taking their meds. That being said David Burns' method has a lot of merit with or without medication. You might find it an interesting read.

As for alcohol....that is a depressant! So please be mindful of that because what is a depressant going to do? Counter the effects of an anti-depressant!

I like beer myself and alcohol is definitely counter indicated with all the meds I take. I choose to have a beer now and then, and drink wine with dinner on occasion, but I know what and how much I can tolerate. And to be clear, I don't advocate drinking while medicating.

This time I hope I've been able to ally your fears. :-) And always, always, always discuss these with your doctor.

u/bartleby · 1 pointr/depression

I don't know whether you are willing to try a self help book, but I have used Feeling Good by David Burns. It's been around for a long time (first published in the early 80s) and the guy is a respected professor at Stanford, so he's not some fly-by-night quack.

Anyway, the book is basically a set of cognitive-behavioral therapy tools in book format. The idea is that your thoughts are what affect your feelings and that depressed people have truly distorted thoughts. Basically, it starts by helping you recognize your moods and then giving you ways of recasting and challenging your thinking. I've personally found it very helpful and instructive, even though I was skeptical; I've learned a lot about myself.

If I had more money or a better health care plan, I'd consider in-person therapy, but this book apparently works for a lot of people--especially for those of us who want to get at the root of our depressive feelings and not just medicate the symptoms (the moods).

So, yeah. The only thing I'd warn with this book is that the first chapter is spent more or less defending the use of cognitive therapy and citing how it can be as effective or better than drugs. The real substance of the book starts with Chapter 2. :D

u/DoubleStufFarts · 1 pointr/depression

Sorry you're not feeling well, samtheshamandpharohs.

Seasonal Affective Disorder most often strikes in the winter, but symptoms are known to manifest in summer, too. The Mayo Clinic has some basic info on it here, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness has some info here.

I have SAD, but I get two depressive episodes a year - one in winter and then a second episode in summer. Bonus depression! Just what everyone wishes for! After about a decade of yearly rollercoasters, I finally got treatment. Talk therapy helps, but taking Wellbutrin has made a massive difference.

Since you write that you're paying off a bachelor's degree and are struggling financially, I'm going to guess that you don't have access to a university counselling center. You can try contacting your local chapter of NAMI to see if they have any information on local providers who offer sliding scale fees.

Winter Blues by Norman Rosenthal is a pretty well-respected book. That one, and the classic Feeling Good by David Burns were and continue to be super helpful for me.

Good luck, and I hope you feel better soon.

btw, love Hyperbole and a Half

u/Dogdogz · 3 pointsr/depression

All books listed below(besides the two you listed as read) are linked to their amazon site at the bottom of this post
"It's Kind of a Funny Story" has been my favourite book since it first came out and I'm reading "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" right now. I too am looking for similar books.
I read "Thirteen Reasons Why" a long time ago and thought it was a good book but did not take a liking to it too much.
"Go Ask Alice" and "Jay's Journal" are good reads leaning towards topics of depression.
I started reading "Cut" by Patricia McCormick in a small bookstore but never actually was able to finish it but it caught my attention and I was drawn into the book immediately. After Perks I plan to read it. I haven't been able to read the full length of any of McCormick's books but they all sound intriguing and they are definitely on my list of books to read. I suggest taking a look at her amazon website for her books and what they're about
"Get Well Soon" by Julie Barnes is also on my to-read list.
I think you would like the book "Suicide Notes". I feel like it's one of those hidden-gem books where it is not too well known but is an amazing read. I don't want to give away too much.
So, overall, I recommend checking out:

u/aenea · 4 pointsr/depression

I've been dealing with it for about 35 years now- since I was in my early teens. I still definitely have 'bad times', but they're a lot more spread out than they were before about my mid-2os, and they're a bit easier to deal with now that I know what to do. I have noticed that for a lot of people with chronic recurrent depression the earlier years are the worst- it often seems to level off when you're older.

I'd really recommend finding a cognitive behaviour therapist, because that seems to be the most helpful in teaching you ways to cope, as well as to change ingrained patterns of thinking that help you get stuck back in depression. This is a very helpful book, and there's also a very good online program called MoodGym. It doesn't replace a good therapist, but it is useful.

Try to figure out what your triggers might be, and how you can avoid them. For some of us it just seems to be somewhat biological- we just wake up one morning back in the black hole again. But for others it can happen because of fairly identifiable things- hooking up with the wrong people, making some bad decisions, etc. If you can figure out how to avoid some of the triggers, then you're at least a bit further ahead.

And try out some of the things that are fairly well accepted to be useful to at least some people, and make them a regular part of your life if you do find them helpful. Exercise, proper diet, yoga, sunlight, volunteering, meditation, learning to breathe properly, mindfulness, journalling/writing, gardening, building up a good support network etc. Not everything works for everyone, but it's worth taking a good shot at all of them to see what might work for you.

It really can improve- I never would have thought that I'd reach a point in my life where I could go years in a 'good' cycle, but it has happened. Life's a bit more stressful than usual right now, but I've been doing this long enough to know that it will more than likely get better again.

u/haulgood · 1 pointr/depression

I feel you! I was on meds for depression/anxiety for about 10 years. Last year I went off those meds (the ones I was on weren't working and I thought I'd give it a shot). I recently went through a breakup after a 2 year relationship and am realizing that, although I couldn't remember being better on meds, I was in a state similar to the one you describe. The breakup would be an obvious trigger for depression, but I got into therapy soon after it happened and my therapist recommended 'Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy' ( http://amzn.com/0380810336 ) and it has enlightened me to many things that have allowed me to be in control of my moods and prevent the sadness from turning into depression.

That being said, I'm still dealing with a lack of motivation/focus at the moment. I should also note that I have ADD as well and your guess is as good as mine as to whether that's the cause or not. I still take meds for ADD and have an appointment soon to reevaluate their effectiveness.

My advice is to get the book (it's like $5 right now!), get into therapy if possible, and use your judgement from there.

Hope that helps and good luck!

u/Clesher · 2 pointsr/depression

hey man, sorry to hear. I just drop some quick advice here, it is only meant to helping you and hoping it will if you are interested:

u/squeezin_yr_shoes · 2 pointsr/depression

Some parents are shitty. The problem is, they might not know that they're shitty. And if you try to let them know, they will get defensive, and do this shit like your Dad where he blames you and makes you feel more like shit. That's the problem with narcissistic parents -- they don't have the capacity for loving compassion for their own children. Sure, they love you when you make them proud, but it's all on their own terms. They aren't proud of you for being you. They're proud of you for fulfilling their own dreams. Kinda fucked up, right?

So you're mad. As well you should be. You recognize that you don't have take this shit from them anymore. But I totally know what you mean. It feels pathetic to be mad at them, doesn't it? This is good too. It illustrates your desire to move on to a wiser and healthier point of view.

I've been at this point very recently in my life, and this book http://www.amazon.com/Self-Esteem-Cognitive-Techniques-Assessing-Maintaining/dp/1572241985 has been pretty helpful in getting me to a better place, where I'm no longer carrying around all this anger.

My opinion: Work on forgiveness. Your parents might have led you astray, but you can forgive them. This doesn't mean you condone any of their actions. It means you can recognize that they didn't have full knowledge of how they were failing you. They didn't live up to what you needed at the time. Accept that they maybe never will. Work on being self-sufficient. Gradually work on forgiving them, and this anger will gradually dissipate.

The next step after that will be standing up for yourself. Finding a healthy, non-reactive assertiveness with your parents. Deciding which boundaries to set with them and learning how to set these boundaries.

u/Mage505 · 0 pointsr/depression

I know some people say don't look at r/theredpill and they're mostly right. but doing some PUA stuff is kinda nice in this. alot of time, women is attitude and confidence.

A lot of PUA is bullshit and garbage. but the idea is fine. self improvement is great. /r/seduction is kinda meh. If i had a book to recommend to you. i'd read Mark Manson: Models

u/votequimby · 1 pointr/depression

Do you have any free clinics? Or if you are at uni school/college/uni you could try the counselling service they have available?

I get what you mean about not wanting to burden people. If you ever want to unload to me please do.

With regards to doing it on your own, mindfulness and cognitive therapies have some good evidence behind them. This book can be prescribed by doctors in the UK, and I have heard it can be very helpful. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy also works very well for some people. I've done the full 8 week course and it was really useful.

u/seeker135 · 5 pointsr/depression

Get this book ASAP.

I know exactly how "the infinite loop" works. I used to call it "circular thinking" so I'm pretty sure we're on the same page, here.

Get the book, recommended to me by my therapist. My wife and I both agree, it changed the way I thought and the way I felt, basically improving the quality of life of three people and one dog.

Read the reviews. And good on you for not trying to think your way out of a mental problem. You must be fairly well adjusted to recognize what you have. You'll be fine. In Dr. Burns we trust. :)

u/ash6486 · 0 pointsr/depression

Hey, I’m not sure if you're a guy/girl, I just wanted to tell you that I understand. I have experienced what you’re going though, and I continue to experience some of those elements even today. A combination of age + unemployment + social isolation can cause havoc in a person’s psyche, and his/her general outlook on life.

Just 2 things I initially did when I was in a similar situation:

  1. Exercise (running, in particular)
  2. Reading.

    Exercise: Join a gym. If you can’t afford one, run. And when you do, try to go a little beyond that point where your body says no. Just a little. You’re in control; you’re in charge. Push. You were built for it.

    Read: I can’t stress the importance of this. Read everything you can. It will keep you engaged, make you more articulate, you’ll have something to start a conversation about, and it’ll broaden your knowledge. All this apart from the gazillion other benefits reading brings. I will give you a list of 3 books to read, and read them in this order. Make it a point not to rush through them. Absorb every word, because the way you look at things will change after you’re done. To remind you again, read slowly. Have an open mind. Fully absorb every little detail.

    1.The Power of Now http://www.amazon.com/The-Power-Now-Spiritual-Enlightenment/dp/1577314808/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1377020642&sr=8-1&keywords=power+of+now

  3. A New Earth http://www.amazon.com/New-Earth-Awakening-Purpose-Selection/dp/0452289963/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1377020650&sr=8-3&keywords=power+of+now

  4. Switch http://www.amazon.com/Switch-Change-Things-When-Hard/dp/0385528752/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1377020663&sr=8-1&keywords=switch


    If you decide to go through with the above, read below first:

    The most important way thorough this period in your life: baby steps. ULTRA SMALL STEPS. When I started running, I couldn’t even do 200m without feeling like I was going to pass out. Today, I can run 5km within 30 minutes. I set small targets for myself; extended my run by 50 meters, or bettered my timing by 10 seconds every session. And without even realising it, I’m at a point where I can comfortably run very long distances. I approached reading the same way. I started off with 2 pages a day, and then I made it 5 pages; then 10. Before I knew it, I was going through a lot of books.

    Let me know how it goes. I believe that change comes about from within, only when you really, truly, deeply want it. If nothing changes, it means that something about your circumstances is ‘comfortable’, and you didn’t fully want a change in the first place. Ask yourself how badly you want to get out of the situation that you’re currently in. After some honest self-reflection, come back to this. Trying to make a turn for the better in your life through reading and exercising might sound ridiculous to you, but like I said, small steps. Set yourself goals, and after you’ve completed them, you can move on to the next stage. Good luck! Let me know how things go, don’t hesitate to PM :)
u/batmannotthisday · 2 pointsr/depression

Sounds tough my friend. It seems you feel some uncertainty and are looking to try to find yourself, which is difficult given the negatives in your life.

It can be very hard to change your mindset or perspective on the things going on in your life. But working on changing your mental perspective, just like one would work out the physical body, can really help with converting your thoughts to positive, leading to positive emotions. A research-supported method for changing one's perceptions is cognitive behavioral therapy. http://www.amazon.com/Feeling-Good-The-Mood-Therapy/dp/0380810336 is a famous book on cognitive behavioral therapy, and the book helped me a lot when times were rough.

I wish you all the best.

u/macarthy · 2 pointsr/depression

I have felt like this over the years. But you do have to work at happy. Its harder for us than others, but even those with a better balance of chemicals in their brains, work at it.

Have a read of Learned Optimism, or something similar to understand it better.
http://www.amazon.com/Learned-Optimism-Change-Your-Mind/dp/1400078393

u/musicforairports · 2 pointsr/depression

Have you looked into Feeling Good by David Burns? It's a cognitive-behavioral therapy based book and only costs $8 + shipping. There's a few studies on its effectiveness. (I believe Feeling Good was used as the book in question for all of the 'bibliotherapies'.) I don't know enough to evaluate the strength of these studies' findings, but if anyone could shed some light on this I'd be very appreciative:

u/FifteenthPen · 3 pointsr/depression

I'm not a doctor, but that sounds pretty definitely like dysthemia or even major depression. If you can bring yourself to do it, do try and find a therapist who can help you out, especially if you have insurance or go to a college that has student psychological services.

What you are going through is perfectly normal for depression. It's not your fault or your failing, it's a condition that can happen to anyone, no matter how good their life seems. It's an illness, and without the proper treatment and knowledge--which no person can be reasonably expected to figure out on their own--it's extremely difficult to overcome. With professional help, though, it can be overcome, and you can get your life back.

If a therapist isn't an option, I highly recommend finding a local depression support group if possible, and getting ahold of The Mindful Way Through Depression somehow. It will open up your eyes and help free you from the burden of the self-loathing that accompanies depression, and it will give you some great tools for coping with it on a day-to-day basis.

u/dwade333miami · 1 pointr/depression

No problem! Sorry for the late response. I am getting much better. The worst is behind me now, hopefully.

  1. My psychiatrist and therapist told my parents. They saw how poorly I was doing and met with my parents after calling them up to explain.

  2. Meds don't make me feel numb. They make me feel normal!!!

  3. There's a lot I can write about this. Do you like to read? I recommend http://www.amazon.com/Feeling-Good-The-Mood-Therapy/dp/0380810336/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1382736170&sr=8-1&keywords=feeling+good , http://www.amazon.com/Self-Esteem-Cognitive-Techniques-Assessing-Maintaining/dp/1572241985/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1382736207&sr=1-1&keywords=self+esteem , http://www.amazon.com/Seven-Jewels-Codependency-Robert-Willard/dp/0971642508/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1382736237&sr=1-1&keywords=seven+jewels+of+codependency .

    Those are supposed to be three links by the way. I'm too lazy to fix them though :P.

    Diet and exercise are very important though. I would say to get at least one to two servings of vegetables and one to two servings of fruit every day. Exercise at least thirty minutes daily. Get some sunlight every day. Ask your doctor about vitamin D supplementation. You will learn other things with a therapist such as identifying triggers and challenging negative and illogical thoughts. I forgot to mention that journaling helps a lot too. It's important to explore your feelings and it will speed up the recovery process along with giving you an idea of how you're progressing.

    You've got a great attitude. It will help you immensely! Keep the questions coming!
u/sekith · 1 pointr/depression

I was in denial for a very long time about the things/events affected me. I always thought I could tough it out and endure everything till it went away. I never wanted to admit the fact that I got hurt from such events.

I also had a terrible psychologist who i found out was only an intern through http://www.networktherapy.com/directory/find_therapist.asp then I used that site to get a better psychologist. You need a psychologist that fits you, its different with everyone. My psychologist pretty much broke me down until I cried lol but I felt a lot better afterwards.

But ultimately I found out my root of depression from reading multiple self-help books and then narrowing it down.

I started with this book that my psychologist gave me. It really helped me define and pinpoint what exactly i was feeling and why:
http://www.amazon.com/Feeling-Good-The-Mood-Therapy/dp/0380810336

I knew my parents were the general cause of my depression so I searched on Amazon.com and found a great book called "Toxic Parents". It really helped me understand why my parents are the way they are. From that book it found out that it was generally my mom who was the problem because she was emotionally manipulative, then I found a book called "Emotional Blackmail" in the related searches from Amazon. That book helped me the most.

But ultimately, keep searching within yourself. The more it hurts or makes you angry, the closer you are. It felt very humiliating to me at first because I thought I was becoming a weak pussy, but then I realized that everyone is insecure and has weakness. When you admit you have a weakness you feel vulnerable, but being vulnerable is the only way you can understand yourself and become intimate.

Theres a GREAT ted.com talk about this, I highly recommend it:
http://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_listening_to_shame?language=en
http://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_on_vulnerability?language=en

Try journaling about it. Write about how memories/events made you FEEL. Ask why you feel that way.

I thought doing a journal was useless, as well as doing stupid worksheets in the "Feeling Good" book. It really doesnt seem like it'll help, so i was very reluctant about it so my psychologist pretty much FORCED me to do it and i realized it helped a lot.

The main reason why writing things down helps is because it gives you objectivity and perspective that you can't get when you just have things up in your head.

Be patient, you won't fix this overnight. Its also a painful journey, but you really do become stronger. Feel free to vent or message me! Or ask me anything! Don't worry about asking me personal things because I really don't care as long as your not my employer and can get me fired lol

This is also the best advice I can give you without asking anything about you and why you feel the way you do. I think I can help you figure out your root of depression if you give me some hints. But don't feel pressured to answer unless you feel comfortable about it!

I wish you the best of luck! I'll try my best to respond asap!

u/brdistheword · 3 pointsr/depression

also, this will help you it's a little annoying to set up but set aside an hour to commit to signing up (it's free!) and starting it. it's online CBT training. it's self guided so you must set aside time to do it, even it's a few minutes at a time. if the therapist you saw did talk therapy, it was likely CBT and so this will be similar. it helps you fight cognitive distortions.

also, try this book. it is the best 7-8 dollars you'll spend all week. it's similar to the previously linked mood gym, but uhm, it's a book. get a notebook or scratch pad and do the exercises.

u/imhere4dalaughs · 0 pointsr/depression

"not with therapy, meds, exercise, yoga, hobbies, change of scene, stable routine, more sleep, less sleep, more work, less work, more socializing, less socializing" - I think you did not change one think. Try this....try changing YOURSELF and your perspective of life.

This might help.

When the without fails you, look within.
All the best!

u/Bhruic · 2 pointsr/depression

I'd probably recommend Feeling Good by David Burns. I'm not sure if it comes with a CD, but it goes through the basics of CBT fairly well. You might want to read it with your boyfriend, or have him read it as well, so that he can understand what you're trying to do and how to support you through it.

u/TDFCTR · 1 pointr/depression

This was recommended by my therapist to me, and I found it useful. But it's good to have a professional to check on your progress.

www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1593851286?pc_redir=1406369818&robot_redir=1

u/casperrosewater · 3 pointsr/depression

Yes. There is a pdf copy of "Feeling Good" floating around the web for those willing to search for it. I couldn't get into it but that's me; it's worth a try.

I found found these two simple links helpful:

The Inner Smile

Bruce Lee’s Top 7 Fundamentals for Getting Your Life in Shape

u/secretcrazy · 6 pointsr/depression

Here are some good resources from a clinical perspective

http://mindfulwaythroughanxiety.com/

http://www.amazon.com/The-Mindful-Way-Through-Depression/dp/1593851286

Please note that if you have been studying from a more religiou perspective you wil find that though the western psychological science if mindfulness is inspired buy buddhism it has many differences too

u/nasT11 · 9 pointsr/depression

As someone who has struggled with depression my whole life, it does sound to me like you might be at least mildly depressed. This inventory can help you decide for yourself: http://healingheartscc.com/docs/first_steps/FS_DepressionQuiz.pdf (it's not some crackpot quiz, many doctors actually use this to assess patients)

I highly recommend this book:
http://www.amazon.com/Feeling-Good-The-Mood-Therapy/dp/0380810336

I think I still have a PDF version of it that an awesome fellow Redditor sent me a while back, if you'd like to check it out. It's been a life saver for me. Let me know & I will see if I still have it. :)

u/snwborder52 · 1 pointr/depression

I recommend therapy. It's much easier to go through CBT with someone helping you along than trying to do it all by yourself.

That being said, here is a book if you want to go that route.

u/kidfay · 1 pointr/depression

Okay, I know where you're coming from. I'm 23 and I've only been coming out of it in the last 2 years or so. First of all, I highly recommend this book.

As for dealing with the loop of pointlessness, I've been there too.

It helped me to directly confront it. Existence is absurd. There is no meaning or point to anything. But that fact is not something to mourn or lament, it is a great thing--it is so freeing! There's no way to mess up life because you're not being judged and there's no way to fail.

Actually you've way ahead of the crowd! Most people never realize this and squander their lives thinking they have to fill roles or acquire certain things or compare themselves to the people around them. They try to fill their lives with consumerism and possessions without even realizing it or why.

Everyday is hilarious if you take a step back and pretend you're hiding in a bush to make a nature documentary on humans. One thing is people take themselves way too seriously. Go to a store and watch some.

Another thing is that feeling depressed makes me feel more unhappy because I don't feel like I have a reason to be unhappy. It's okay to feel feelings. Moreover feelings are feelings--they just happen and they aren't always logical.

Something that definitely helps me feel better is exercising, which can be as simple as going for a bike ride for an hour.

A big thing that makes me feel bad without realizing it is stress. When I get stressed out, if I don't realize it, I start to feel especially nihilistic.

Do you know if you have something like social anxiety? I didn't realize that I did. Once I confronted that, lots of things got better as well. The level of alienation I felt greatly diminished.

Lastly, the economy is crappy. Might as well not worry about things you can't control. Volunteering is a good suggestion. Is there something in your town you can get into? Something I unexpectedly fell in love with was making newspapers. I got into a student newspaper for a few years and I was a generic engineering student amongst a bunch of poly-sci's. It could be as simple as photography--does someone have a camera you can regularly borrow? You can learn about the mechanics of cameras, which are everywhere, and then go for walks and find some cool photos.

Finally, 99.999% of humanity has been little drops, but the amazing thing is that the complex and productive world that we find ourselves is the result of thousands of years of their everyday decisions.

u/cursiveiota · 1 pointr/depression

This was recommended to me by my therapist many years ago. I ignore his advice for about 10 years. I recently picked it up and found it helpful.

Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy -- There's a workbook as well, but I don't have that, so I don't know how useful it might be.

I hope you found something to help you with your struggles.

u/mitchrodee · 1 pointr/depression

This book is not to help you deal with your current situation, but may be of help in the future when you're dealing with the emotional baggage you and you siblings will carry with you as you become adults. Part of being a parent is putting your childrens' needs before your own wants and desires. While they aren't completely neglectful, they aren't exactly meeting your needs.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0553381407

u/goodtwitch · 2 pointsr/depression

I found this book, Feeling Good by Dr. David Burns to be helpful. The book explains how depression is based in distorted thinking. I made a worksheet based on the book and doing it daily did eventually help relieve my depression. If you want a write-up describing the worksheet I have it saved and I can send you a copy. Good luck.

u/crpyvnce · 1 pointr/depression

I strongly recommend you check out this book. It really helped me overcome my loneliness, when I was in a similar situation. I honestly don't look at myself or my life the same way. For 10 bucks, it's worth a shot.

u/my_captcha_NNYDFH · 2 pointsr/depression

It is definitely going to be tough. You're pretty young (assuming so if you just graduated school) so getting into an exercise regime might not be as bad as it could be. That being said, I'm around that age, and getting back on the horse when coming back from the depths was just plain miserable. I'm really glad that I pushed through it though.

Here's a book that helped me out a bit: The Mindful Way Through Depression It's a good introduction to meditation if you've never tried and you might find a lot of the discussion of depression to be oddly comforting. It's also not just an 'eastern' book on meditation (meaning steeped in some sort of religious / philosophical outlook,) some of the co-authors are 'western' doctors / researchers.

I cried for the first time in years after reading the first few chapters. Much of what they describe is right on the money.

u/reddog323 · 2 pointsr/depression

What I'm hearing is that your in a lot of pain emotionally, and somewhat physically, for reasons that aren't your fault. May I suggest something before you take that final step? Try everything to address it..and I do mean everything. Think of it as research project. It would give you something to do, and you might discover something that works. You owe yourself that much.

A few suggestions.

Cognitive therapy. It's [clinically proven](
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/anxiety-files/201111/cognitive-behavioral-therapy-proven-effectiveness) to help with a number of disorders, including depression and anxiety. You don't need to see a therapist for it to be effective, and it can even be done online.

5HTP. It's a serotonin precursor, sold as an inexpensive supplement in most health food stores, and it may work where standard SSRI's like Celexa don't. Although it's worth trying other meds too. I had to experiment for quite a while until I found something that worked for me consistently.

My point: you've been in crisis for a long time now, and that can affect your thinking. Put an all out effort into alleviating your symptoms , and see if affects your thought patterns. Again, think of it as a research project.

Finally, keep dabbling with the writing. You obviously have a talent for it, and it can be a good outlet. There are a number of writing subreddits if you need inspiration.

u/vgtaluskie · 1 pointr/depression

The image of the ocean's vastness and floating alone in it clinging to another's raft is a vivid description of loneliness. If you want to help inflate your own raft, I'd highly recommend giving this book "The Mindful way through Depression" (http://www.amazon.com/The-Mindful-Way-Through-Depression/dp/1593851286) a try. I was lucky during my own depression to have a supportive "raft-sharing" relationship come into my own life...this book really helped reframe how much of depression my own way of looking at things was creating. I hope it can do the same for you. Be well.

u/wotsthestory · 1 pointr/depression

You're thinking of psychodynamic psychotherapy (the old Freud-based crap). That's the outdated cliche we still see in the movies and on TV all the time. Modern scientific therapies are nothing like this. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is more like attending a course, either by yourself or with a group, and you are given insight into how your mind works, along with techniques/tools that you can use to change your patterns of thinking.

Another option is a counsellor, they are trained to listen and reflect, rather than analyse you.

There's also mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. This book helped me a lot:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Mindful-Way-Through-Depression/dp/1593851286

u/rocktopotomus · 3 pointsr/depression

medication can help, but so can;

exercise, lots and lots of exercise

mindfulness meditation (r/meditation)

*cognitive behavior therapy (i'm reading this book)

u/datoo · 1 pointr/depression

This is the book my old therapist recommended to me. I've read the beginning of it and found it to be quite helpful. I'm going to read more today in fact because I'm in a bad way myself.

u/no_art_please · 1 pointr/depression

I'd recommend picking up a copy of this book:

http://www.amazon.com/Feeling-Good-New-Mood-Therapy/dp/0380810336

If you know psychology, then you may be familiar with these techniques of cognitive behavioral therapy. The author argues that your mood follows your thoughts, and that there are certain patterns of distorted reasoning that reliably produce negative moods. The book helps you identify these thought patterns and prevent them from becoming habitual and automatic. These techniques have been shown to have positive and lasting effects on mood. It's less than ten bucks too :) I think that the techniques work, and my negative moods typically persist only for as long as it takes me to remember what I've learned (which can take some time, I still need more practice.)

u/AnEmptyVat · 1 pointr/depression

It may help if you share your location - or nearest large city for local therapist referrals. You can also check out these books:

The Mindful Way Through Depression: http://www.amazon.com/Mindful-Way-Through-Depression-Unhappiness/dp/1593851286

MBCT workbook: http://www.amazon.com/Mindful-Way-Workbook-Depression-Emotional/dp/1462508146

Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy
http://www.amazon.com/Mindfulness-Based-Cognitive-Therapy-Depression-Edition/dp/1462507506

u/SoundProofHead · 1 pointr/depression

I have social anxiety too. I was advised to read this book. Unfortunately it was hard to read for me, mostly because english is my second language but also because I got bored with it. Anyway, there are books about it and there are people specialized in it. It seems efficient.

u/OtisTheZombie · 1 pointr/depression

Why do you think being a controlling bitch is such a bad thing, for that matter? I'm married to a controlling bitch and I like it.

Granted, if I were rich people would call me "eccentric," but since I'm not they call me bonkers.

I know it may sound like I'm making light of your situation, but I'm not trying to be rude. I have battled depression for my whole life. I used to hurt myself, too. One day, I made a conscious choice to get better, and this book helped me do it. It's a little goofy, but CBT saved me.

If you need to talk and think I could help, don't hesitate to send me a message. I'm a good listener!

u/karbonv2 · 2 pointsr/depression

oops forgot to actually link the one I was talking about: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1593851286/ref=ox_ya_os_product

I think therapists can be useful for helping define what your problems really are. Do you think that your depression issues might be due to an ongoing situational problem (work, relationship, family) or something more biological?

I've been trying to read it little by little because sometimes it really hits home. It talks about a few patients' personal stories, provides logical reasoning about depression and thought patterns, and offers many strategies for coping. It was like the authors knew intimately what it's like to go through this. I'm not a spokesman or trying to sell it, lol.

u/Epictetus13 · 3 pointsr/depression

Your mileage will vary.

One book I particularly hated was Feeling Good by David D. Burns. I had been given it by a well-meaning relative. At the time, it felt like someone was offering me a squirt gun to deal with a five-alarm inferno. It was a very dark time, and suicide seemed appealing. I didn't go that route, mostly because I knew my family would be emotionally destroyed. I wondered, though, what it would be like if I did kill myself, and in my suicide note, I had said something like, "Hey folks! Sorry about the mess, hope it hasn't bummed you out too much. If you're still feelin' down after a day or so, why don't you check out Feeling Good by David fucking D. Burns? That book'll make you snap out of it in no time!"

To be fair, I read very little of it, but at the time it seemed so glib. Maybe it was just the title. I understand a lot of people have found some real comfort from it. But it obviously doesn't work for everybody, certainly not "tremendously". If it did, this whole subreddit, and a huge amount of the medical establishment, could be eliminated.

With that said, David Foster Wallace didn't write self-help books, and ultimately he found no help for himself. But he probably wrote some of the best prose about depression that there is.

Also, it's not a book, and it only offers understanding rather than help, is Stanford Professor Robert Sapolsky's lecture on depression, available on youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOAgplgTxfc

u/Mittins001 · 0 pointsr/depression

why do you think people look at you with disgust? who are these people? They probably think the same thing, that everyone's judging them, but honestly everyone's just judging themselves. We interpret other's actions without knowing what they're thinking while we expect people to understand our actions without knowing what we're thinking. Don't tell yourself you're a waste of time. I told myself that for years and it stopped me from opening up to my friends and family, which I felt like I had none for a long time. I know you probably don't want to hear this, but there's this book I read recently that helped me change what I was thinking. I knew about it for years before I actually looked at it because my mom was pushing me to read it and I thought it was some christian book. It talks about the self-hate all of us go through. Anyways, here's the link to it, you can probably find it in a library or order it online. Combating self hate is a constant battle, one I face every day. Hope this helps at least a little.

u/commanderjade · 3 pointsr/depression

Have you tried mindful meditation? I've found this book quite interesting: The Mindful Way Through Depression: Freeing Yourself from Chronic Unhappiness
http://www.amazon.com/The-Mindful-Way-Through-Depression/dp/1593851286/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=3BXGNNETPG82N&coliid=I2RQNKSQNXA1PW

u/whatsthepoint351 · 1 pointr/depression

Just started reading this book:
http://www.amazon.com/Feeling-Good-Therapy-Revised-Updated/dp/0380810336

It's sort of like a self-help guide for CBT. You can pick it up used for pennies on Amazon. I am only about 50 pages in so far, but I feel like I am really learning a lot.

A word of warning: As I began to actually do the exercises in the book, I found myself feeling more depressed at first! You probably don't realize just how many negative thoughts go through your head every day. When you attempt to notice all of them, it gets to be very overwhelming and discouraging. But just keep hanging in there, everything takes time, and we're all here to support each other.

u/Tigersftw · 2 pointsr/depression

Ugly parents don't always make ugly children and pretty parents don't always make pretty children.

Attractiveness is not everything. I'm reasonably good looking yet I still never had a girlfriend and am 23. I can't get one not because I don't want to, but due to my fucking depressive brain. I've been avoiding them all my life, including sleeping with them and even though I get hit on all the time I can't do it and it fucking hurts. It's not your looks you just blame them, if it were only about looks I would be slamming honeys every weekend, but I do not.

I know exactly how you feel.That fucking hand tightening around your heart increasingly squeezing it, the knot in your throat, that hurtful pressure in your chest, anger and hate gaining more and more strength, the feeling of wanting to rip yourself out of your own body.

Let me guess you also fall in love with every girl that notices you as well right, but your never good enough? Sometimes they have boyfriends and you hate those guys because they are getting what you would love to have? You fantasise about being aggressive towards them, humiliate them in front of her to show her you are better?

You also sometimes feel like people hate you because of the way you look, and that girls secretly find you disgusting and would never touch you? It's all in your head dude because I have those same thoughts. I know a guy who lost his legs and arms and uses synthetic extensions for all limbs yet has a hot as girlfriend. She's awesome and attractive and loves him although his disfigured. They've been going out for 5 years and they're the happiest couple.

What I would advise is to start meditating which is what's slowly pulling me out of my depression because you start connecting certain feelings with certain thoughts. You start realizing that you can do what you're being told you can't and how badly the brain lies.

You should read the book The Mindful Way through depression and follow it and do not rush through it. Take your time and you will wake up. You will slowly realize how deceiving your brain is by making you feel a certain way and than enforcing the feeling with thoughts. Projects those same negative feelings and thoughts in the future and BAM I don't want to live because my future is hopeless. Meditate, meditate, meditate and go through the pain you feel.

It's hard to explain how it works but remember hating certain foods as kid and liking them as an adult? It's like that the more you meditate the better a person you become. You're decisions, thoughts, interest all slowly appear because the negative stuff is being tweezed out but you have no idea how it happens. Suddenly you no longer feel that bad, you do more, stuff becomes more interesting but you have no idea why.

To answer your question, if you kill yourself you're a damn fucking bitch of a male and you do not diverse a girl. If you are willing to take the pain (and mindful meditating involves feeling the feeling and letting the thoughts just be and it's so painful you won't believe it.) you will get there. Meditating sometimes hurts so bad that I want to give up and jump off a building but I fucking keep hitting it and the more I do it the easier it gets.