Anyone know any natural alternatives to SSRIs?!

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

Sorry, there are NO alternatives for SSRIs.
If there were, people wouldn't get depressed in the first place.

Healthcare provider

How do you now the weight gain, dormant feelings(?), and lacklustre sex life are not caused by your illness?

There are methods which work well with medication. One is meditation, another is cognitive behavioural therapy. I had CBT for anxiety and it worked really well. I was on and off medication for the few years I had CBT. Now I have learned through my years of experimenting with what works for me that a medication is the most useful thing, along with a good diet and avoiding stressors for reducing the severity of anxiety attacks. Some people can manage quite well without medication, I hope to in the future when I no longer live in a city (which is a stressor for me).

first off, congratulations for wanting to take control and try alternative treatments for depression. Chronic depression gets boring (I know) and after a while the meds become less effective (that has been my experience with Wellbutrin at least). These alternatives have worked to help me deal with depression in a more positive and self-affirming way: meditation; relaxation; FRESH AIR; and I have also read that fish oil has benefits as well: http://www.webmd.com/depression/features… Also: have you heard of "tapping?" It's related to accupressure, is easy to learn (google "tapping" until you find a site that talks about a technique that relates to mind-body health) and very quickly relaxing. Also, it can be done just about anywhere whenever you feel the need. You can even "think" it, once you're familiar with the technique, and it can work that way, just by thinking it, with enough practice.

Yes- with a little help from Balch & Balch: (nutritional experts)

Zinc- 50 mg daily
Chromium Picolinate - 200 mcg.
B-6 50mg 3 times daily
B-12 500mcg once daily
Choline - 100 mg 2x daily
Inositol - 100 mg 2x daily
St. John's Wort - tea - as directed

Eat a diet with plenty of raw fruits and vegetables, and whole grains. Avoid processed foods, alcohol, tobacco, sugar and caffeine, and exercise at least 30 minutes a day..

Don't know about the SSRI's but I have had great luck with D3 supplements. I take about 5000 IUs a day. I also take Niacin B 3 but not sure of the dosage, I take 4 pills but can't tell you off hand what the dose per pill is.
For anxiety, Valerian Root is awesome. I take 1-3 as needed. All of these I buy relatively cheaply at Wal-Mart.

You may have spent years looking for me, but I have spent the better part of my entire life looking for you to tell you this

http://bit.ly/DepressionFreeMethod