I’ve suffered with severe clinical depression and suicidal ideation for a long time; over 40 years. Out of a combination of pride, shame, shyness and being intensely private, for most of that time I’ve self treated.
Given that extensive experience, you might ask, “What is the best treatment for depression?”
Hah. You should know better, there is no, single “best” treatment for any mental health problem. There is the “best” treatment for you, at that time.
Those qualifiers are necessary, because what works for me might not work for you, at any time. I have a friend who holds therapy to be completely useless, he prefers shooting the shit with mates who share the problem.
Therapy has likely saved my life.
I have self medicated for decades with exercise. Hard exercise. The times I’ve been at my best are the times I’ve been going to hot yoga, and/or hot Pilates 3 or 4 times per week.
Lately, hard exercise doesn’t help as much. It keeps the demon at bay, but doesn’t fight him back.
So, what’s the best treatment? Sorry, you have to figure that out for yourself.
Be open.
Try different things.
Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.
But, most of all, understand that your problem isn’t going away. It isn’t going to solve itself.
So try something. Anything.
