Posting most of OTC supplements I take specifically to help manage my chronic depression (below dotted line). I've been battling it without prescribed meds for about 15 yrs. It got really bad when lockdown started and my job went fully remote. The isolation sent me into a deeper depressive phase after work burnout. It took me nearly two years to get my life back on track and find a supplement blend that works for me. I don't know that I'll ever fully be what I remember as my normal self again because my depression is heavily biological and getting worse as I age. But I'm hell of a lot better now than I have been in many years, and I hope that my current regimen helps me to maintain longer. Sharing for a few groups of ppl: Some folks, like me, know they have clinical depression but don't want to take antidepressants. Some folks have depression and maybe want to try tapering off of their antidepressants (NOT recommending tapering off if your prescription works for you. If the side effects of antidepressants are getting out of hand, however, there may be some alternatives here) You haven't been officially diagnosed but suspect you may be having a depressive episode or are clinically depressed. Edit: Lastly, this thread kicked off a couple of exchanges. Please check user ribbed's post in the comments - they pointed out some things to be mindful of when buying supplements online, specifically through Amazon, and provided resources for more ingredient research and supplement sourcing. They also noted to start one thing at a time, which I didn't mention here but is important - I started all of these one at a time, not all at once. ---------------------- MAGNESIUM, OPTIMALLY MAGNESIUM TAURATE - Magnesium has lots of general health benefits but has been proven clinically to help alleviate depression when taken above recommended daily amounts. Most pill, powder and liquid forms come as magnesium glycinate or magnesium chloride. Optimal form for brain tissue absorption is taurate and I've generally only found taurate in pill form. Brand I found on Amazon Double Wood supplements, 70 day supply for 25 - 30 I believe DOPABOOST - A blend of synthesized proteins and plant extracts known to promote body's natural dopamine production. Only one brand with this on Amazon 30 day supply for 40. To stretch I take half dose to make bottle last two months VITAMIN D - Several health benefits but with fall here and winter approaching getting vitamin D through sun exposure will be a challenge. If your depression is seasonal this is a problem, if your depressions not seasonal you still need to supplement vitamin d intake for normal bodily function. If your skin is any darker than say the color of bamboo wood, the amount of melanin your skin produces suppresses/reduces absorption of solar energy components which includes vitamin d. Folks of color especially check your vitamin d levels with a doctor to see if you need to supplement, basic bloodwork you get with your annual physical will tell. I take the sport research brand at double the dose on the bottle, one bottle lasts 6 months. 20 on Amazon HORNY GOAT WEED (HGW) - Testosterone production supplement. Women naturally produce testosterone also, the hormone impacts some aspects of cognition among many other things in the body. If you're having libido problems it might help there too. One of my biggest challenges with the depression has been fatigue, I was exhausted all of the time even if I did nothing all day. This is the supplement that gave me some of my energy back and also started noticeably clearing my mental fogginess (aka depression fog, this is a documented symptom of depression. If you're having trouble remembering things short term, struggling to work through simple problems and keep track of time, feeling like everything's a bit surreal or "hazy" - this is the fog in effect). I get Dorado Nutrition brand which has other things blended with the HGW 30 day supply/halve it to stretch two months, 20 or 30 I believe. NOOTROPICS - A LOT of options in this category. I take Doctor's Best brand Brain Enhancers, noticeable effect in less than half an hour. Clears my depression fog completely (HGW alone cleared only a little) and was the supplement that finally let me feel closest to normal for the first time in 15 years. I don't believe this supplement by itself accomplished this though which is why I list all the other stuff. Take half dose a day bottle comes with full dose 30 day supply. 20 - 25 I believe ZEN STRESS RELIEF - herbal blend adaptogen supplement, helps me not to have anxiety spirals if I'm triggered throughout the day. Take full dose daily, bottle is 30 day supply. WellPath brand 20 on Amazon. ASHWAGANDA POWDER - Another adaptogen, comes out or mixed with lots of things. I get Sunbird Organics dark Cocoa powder mixed with ashwa powder. Atp I don't know if I really need this one but cocoa enhancers coffee flavor and I love a good cup of coffee so I keep it. 20 bucks a bag which I think last 3.5 - 4 weeks @ 1 serving/day Hope this helps.
This is very bad advice. Go get meds. Supplements can make it worse and if you take all this shit ^ you won’t know what’s making you better vs worse. Judging by the length of this post you are currently manic
First off mania's correlated with a specific type of depressive disorder and that's not the one I have. Second a few questions for you: Have you had experience with any of what I listed to verify that any of these have poor effects? I ask this sincerely, list them so people can make an informed decision. Have you taken prescribed antidepressants or know if anyone who's taken them who have had any of the numerous documented side effects? Lastly, do you know what antidepressants are made of and how they work? I've done the research on the questions I'm asking you and haven't recommended anything that I haven't been taking for at least 6 month and that's approved by my general health physician. I posted this lengthy post because of posts like this, like yours. There are too many folks telling diagnosed ppl to "go on meds", even though (I'm guessing): - They don't have or support anyone with clinical depression - They don't know any of the science behind prescribed antidepressants - They don't know the side effects of antidepressants. If you fit any of the three categories above please share your experience so other folks can review a variety of perspectives and make a decision for themselves. If you don't fit any of the three categories your opinion really is irrelevant. 👋
thanks dr walmart
Eat more fish. Fresh kinds.
I read through your list, and I didn’t see it called out specifically, but vit B6 is the companion to magnesium, meaning it partners together for optimal absorption to the body, similar to the vit c and iron and vit d and calcium pairings.
I've had a lot of stomach trouble with vitamin B supplements but yes that's recommended to help with depression also. I wasn't aware of calcium and vit d combo benefits. I take a calcium supplement also so this is good to know. Thank you.
It’s why lots of milk has vitamin D added.
Exercise and sunlight
Only with sunscreen though
Sunscreen gives you skin cancer
If you need to correct nutritional deficiencies, absolutely go for it. But if you're going herbals for a pharmaceutical effect, why is this better than getting actual pharma? The herbal supplement industry is known to be a massive massive sham.
There are absolutely tons of vendors who sell phony or low quality products in the industry. But being dismissive of all herbal remedy is like throwing the baby out with the bathwater. If you research a vendor, their process, the clinical testing processes for their products you can find reliable legitimate sellers of herbal supplements. Second I personally prefer OTC stuff because they're more accessible. If I lose health insurance or can't get a prescription renewal and all of my medicinal treatment is prescribed I'm screwed. Stopping antidepressants cold turkey can be really....really ugly. Stopping one or two of these supplements? I'm back where I was a few years ago. I know what that looks like and how to weather that state. I don't know what being off antidepressants looks like or how to deal with some of the complications that can bring. And I'm at a point where I don't want to risk having my life come to a grinding halt because of a condition I induced. Third...there seems to be this disconnect between herbal supplements and pharma medicine and I really don't get it. Not you exclusively I'm saying - people talk about all herbal supplements like they're garbage and people are choosing to eat garbage instead of "fresh food" (pharma). But....most pharma medicine started in herbal remedies. Most medicine period started in herbal remedies. People crap on herbal medicine despite several populations in first second and third world countries still using them effectively to this day over or in conjunction with pharma medicine. If pharma meds work for someone, great, not knockin' em. They're not the only way to get results is all.
I don't want to be dismissive because I think too few people take ownership of their health. But I think you're deluding yourself about the level of scientific rigor you can achieve by mixing and matching 20+ herbal supplements from 5+ companies you found on Amazon. Eg Dorado Nutrition is not a reputable company. They're 3 years old and don't have any information about their 3rd party testing on their website. Translation: they buy cheap Chinese crap thats been "3rd party tested" and resell it. I am glad that you feel good though. I don't think it's impossible to find a mix of supplements that can help. Bacopa, which you are taking, is shown to be anxiolytic in studies. But I also can guarantee there is a lot you're taking that you don't understand due to lack of research or mislabeling or contamination. For example a lot of Bacopa supps are contaminated with heavy metals. There are just too many avenues for unknowns. Obviously you're going to do you, but I'm just throwing this out there for anyone else who wants to do the same thing. Start with proven ingredients by doing research on Examine, try things one at a time, and source from Pure Encapsulations or Thorns. Now and Jarrow are next tier. Doctors Best is no longer a high tier company. Don't buy thru Amazon bc of their mixed stock policies. This is more expensive but worth it for something you're trusting with your health.
You can buy magic mushrooms at head shops in Oakland. They are gonna have 100x more impact than anything you listed here
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