Breaking barriers: How I overcame depression

[Candombera]

Hi,
I'm new here and I’d like to contribute to your journey by telling my story.

I was diagnosed with severe depression when my son was 9 months old. Hospitalised four times with heaps of medication. Professionals,
family and friends took care of me. I tried everything: group therapy, mindfulness, art therapy, meditation, reiki and electroshock therapy. Nothing was enough to lift me up.

I eventually got a bit better and was sent home. The hospital was after all, a safe place. Being home alone with my tortured brain wasn’t
easy. The cloud got bigger and the days and nights endless.

Months went by…. I had to get a job, get my life back. Do things, pretend to be well and happy. The cloud on my head was still there, on and
off. My medication, therapy, breathing techniques, walks in nature.. weren’t doing much for my recovery. I wondered If I was ever going
to get back to my old self.


One day, a meditation teacher suggested I should call an ayurvedic doctor for a consult. I had vaguely heard about Ayurveda, the Indian science of life. Hesitant and sceptical, I decided to give it a go. I had a Skype session with the most amazing practitioner.
She suggested drastic changes on my lifestyle and my diet. Getting up at 5.30am, going for a walk, getting home, doing yoga and meditation. No red meat, no most carbohydrates, no sweets, no alcohol.

I was overwhelmed and grumpy, but I embraced the challenge. I put all my energy into this, and I started to feel much better in a couple of
months. 
My ayurvedic doctor told me on the first session that the purpose of this treatment, long term, was that I would stop taking my
medication. I told the news to my psychiatrist. He laughed at me. He said I would be on my meds at least for five years.


It’s been a year since I started my ayurvedic journey. I lost ten kilos and haven’t been sick since (not even a cold). I’m now on the minimum dose of my medication, before getting off it forever. It’s been an incredible ride. My life gave a 180 degrees turn. I’m happy and grateful to be alive .

[ro63]

Hi Candombera, Firstly welcome and what a journey you've had ,and thank you for sharing your story with everyone it's alway's nice to hear what works for people and may work for others too.I am a big fan of yoga and have been to a couple of Ayurveda workshops and it makes perfect sense to me if your dosha's are out of alinement then health issues come up ,good on you for taking on this and Im glad it worked for you ,and once again thanks for sharing.All my best Ross.

[geoff]

hi Candombera, I haven't been in contact with any professional who uses Ayurveda, but it's always helpful for other people to think about doing if nothing else seems to be working.
I don't believe that any technique you use is not worthwhile, because everyone reacts to certain types of medication and therapy, and if this has done the job for you, then I am so proud of you, because you had so much to struggle with.
Please keep in touch with us as others maybe still interested in your progress, and thanks for letting us know. Geoff.

[Doolhof]

Hi Candombera,

My questions is, how did you manage to stick to this and commit yourself to it? I start up a more healthy routine only to forget a week later that is what I had planned to do?

Congratulations to you. I admire your staying power!

Cheers from Mrs. D.

[Candombera]

Hi everyone,

Thanks a lot for your replies and support!
Yes, I'm planning to keep in touch to see if I can be of any help for others.

@Mrs. D.
It was hard at the beginning, but once you start to notice that you feel a lot better, that's enough motivation to keep going. And there's a point when your body gets used to the healthy lifestyle, and there's no turning back from that. This doesn't mean that you can have a treat every now and then! 😉

Unfortunately, Ayurveda is not that well-known here. I believe that the combination of the diet and meditation transformed the chemistry of my brain.

[Doolhof]

Hi Candombera,

I've read in many different places and heard people say that when you do something for 6 weeks then it becomes a habit and you will keep at it.

That doesn't seem to work for me. I can go swimming say for three days a week for months, then suddenly stop and forget that I had ever been swimming.

Same with walking. Every day of the week I went for a walk. One morning I just woke up and it was like I had never been walking at all and it took me months to get back into it again.

I've tried discussing this with my Dr. but he can't understand it. Nor do I. Makes no sense at all and confuses me at times.

Guess I just have to keep trying!

Cheers from Mrs. D.

[demonblaster]

Congrats, what a relief, I don't doubt that diet plays a strong part in our mental abilities.
Interesting learning about Ayurveda so is it basically the new eating you mentioned and meditation?

Question about the depression though I think you've answered it on op but did you have times when the depression lifted but majority down? or all the time.

I have Bipolar and it's before and after cycles.
I'm completely dedicated to beating this though a psychiatrist was getting a bit hacked off with me lol, saying I'm gunna beat it (Realised he's heard that soooo often, but I say cause it hasn't been done doesn't mean it can't).
I'm going at it differently though have lost 50kgs and another 30ish to go so am starting to do the vegie and salad stuff, (whoop whoop, nah it's not bad actually) and doing it by insight, untold thinking, searching for why I'm so low and working on fixing from there, huge progress so far over past 10 yrs but it's now I'm really getting stuck in.

Great hearing of someone that is back to happy, stoked for ya and healthy, did you have to replace think it's some B vitamins from red meat with nuts or other foods?

cya, well done

[demonblaster]

yeah know what you mean about the bursts then zooooom nada re motivation, think I'll stick with walking hills, very stimulating, tighten up da blubba, core strength, people contact with smiles or chats with ones ya know.
looking around, loven it.

low motivation is major to push through aye.

All best

[Candombera]

Hi Mrs. D,

Sorry for late response. Yes I wonder why you wake up one day and decide you're no longer interested in the activities you've been doing regularly. Do you enjoy doing these things? Because enjoying them is the best way to keep going.

I feel good after a walk every morning, and I'm sure you too. I'm not a swimmer but I imagine doing it 3 times a week will bring lots of benefits to your health, lift your mood etc
Don't you get a sense of achievement when you do stuff that's good for you? I agree with you on the yes, keep going! May be try different things until you find something that you can really enjoy.

Have a great day!​

[Candombera]

Hi demonblaster,

Congratulations on being so committed to beating your illness! I think that's huge.
Ayurveda is very complex to explain. But it's ultimate goal is to create balance. If you want a more detailed explanation you can Google: Deepak Chopra on Ayurveda.

For me it was mostly diet, yoga, meditation but also changing the times I wake up and go to bed, because that would affect my balance too. So now I get up at 5-5.30am and go to bed before 10pm if I can. But it could be different for others as the treatment is tailored to individual needs.

In regards to my depression, there had been moments of feeling a bit better, but most of the time I felt really down.

In regards to red meat, last time I did a blood test (few weeks ago) my GP told me my iron levels were as high as ever! Not sure where it's coming from. May be lentils, salmon etc

Wish you all the best on your recovery journey and looking forward to hearing more about it!