Hello and welcome to Healthcare Magic. Thanks for your query.

From the description of your problems, it appears that you are suffering from chronic depression, also known as Dysthymia. Now, you have rightly pointed out that this is due to chemical and hormonal imbalances in the brain and that's precisely the reason why antidepressants are given - to normalize these imbalances.

However, if you are particular that you don;t want to take medication, then you can try psychological therapy. There are specific forms of psychotherapy, like Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), which are proven to be effective in the management of depression. However, this requires a qualified therapist and duration of therapy may be 6 to 12 weeks, with periodical reviews therafter.

So, I would suggest that you find a good CBT-qualified therpist in your area for psychological therapy for your depression.


Wish you all the best.

Regards,
Dr. Jonas Sundarakumar MBBS., DPM., MRCPsych.(U.K.)
Consultant Psychiatrist

I can understand it must be distressing for you to feel like this. And as psychiatrist, I agree with you that one tablet of an antidepressant is not the remedy for the pain you are feeling. At the same time, we need to find a solution for relief from this suffering. So you do need to see someone who may be able to help you.

Sadness is a common emotion. It’s a ‘customary’ reaction to loss, failure, rejection; all of which are inevitable in everyone’s everyday routine existence. All such situations involve pain and the blues they cause are warranted. But staying sad for too long, letting the sorrow engulf you, and inability to snap out of it is not justifiable. That’s the difference between sadness as a passing emotion; and depression as a disorder that needs attention.

In your case you are aware of how you feel and you know you want to feel better. However you are clear that you do not want medication. At the same time I would recommend that you have an open mind and see a professional. Maybe we need to assess what exactly is this emotion you are feeling. Maybe its anxiety? Maybe stress? Possibly a hormonal influence over the mood? All these are manageable but we first need an evaluation.

I would really recommend you to be a little flexible here and meet an expert, get an evaluation and then we can plan whether you need some form of cognitive therapy, behavior therapy or other modalities of treatment besides a mere antidepressant pill. You live once and you ought to live healthy in mind and body. Please do not deny yourself of treatment of a problem that is distressing you. Do take the right steps and things will get better for you!

Do let me know if you have further queries.
I hope you feel better soon.
Warm Regards,
Dr. Shefali Batra
Founder,
MINDFRAMES