When you guys have a depressive episode on that feels real dark, how do you cope. I am not depressed all day i just get strong episodes at times that last 10 minutes or so? They make me feel like screaming for help when they hit. Do any of you guys make it without meds? I have tried them all and nothing works. Just wondering how to really cope with the bad episodes.

I'm a no-medder and I get dark bits too, like a wave of blackness just suddenly swamps you from out of nowhere so you almost can't see, can't breathe... I go somewhere I can be on my own because I do physically sometimes just collapse like it's a physical wound. I try and think about breathing, find something to do even if it's just a little task I could do mechanically otherwise, or if I have chance I put on music and try and find something which will let me cry, because that releases it. I think when it's really intense the best thing to do is find some way of getting it out, be it calling someone, writing, going and running as hard as you can, just something to get your mind away from it.

I'm a no-medder and I get dark bits too, like a wave of blackness just suddenly swamps you from out of nowhere so you almost can't see, can't breathe... I go somewhere I can be on my own because I do physically sometimes just collapse like it's a physical wound. I try and think about breathing, find something to do even if it's just a little task I could do mechanically otherwise, or if I have chance I put on music and try and find something which will let me cry, because that releases it. I think when it's really intense the best thing to do is find some way of getting it out, be it calling someone, writing, going and running as hard as you can, just something to get your mind away from it.
Do you feel like it is never going to be better when they hit. I mean i feel like it wont end at the time, it almost feels like a panic. And of course it hurts. Do you get these everyday or every once in a while. Can i beat this without meds. I dont think they will help. Have you tried them all too? I just feel so bad when they hit.

I know exactly what you mean about the panic, you just feel that something like it is going to go on forever and you just want anything to make it stop. I've only ever been on meds for anxiety, I'm otherwise completely undiagnosed because I chose not to share this with a doctor for my own reasons. Sometimes I get waves like this every day - like at present - sometimes they just hit out of nowhere on a less frequent basis.
I believe that some forms of depression can be beaten without meds. I exercise religiously, I remember to enjoy the little things, I do everything I can to go on normally and progress is made. I have diary entries from not so long ago reading like "I managed to hug someone today and they let me and it was so weird and scary...." or just the fact that I'd been able to tell someone something about myself. One of the biggest things I did was telling my best friend how much I loved her for all the support she's given over the years inspite of me being such a mess.
Depression still does knock me for six, there are things I haven't even looked at trying to adress with myself, let alone with others, but you can live with it, and as you learn to live with it you learn to beat it a bit at a time.

I know exactly what you mean about the panic, you just feel that something like it is going to go on forever and you just want anything to make it stop. I've only ever been on meds for anxiety, I'm otherwise completely undiagnosed because I chose not to share this with a doctor for my own reasons. Sometimes I get waves like this every day - like at present - sometimes they just hit out of nowhere on a less frequent basis.
I believe that some forms of depression can be beaten without meds. I exercise religiously, I remember to enjoy the little things, I do everything I can to go on normally and progress is made. I have diary entries from not so long ago reading like "I managed to hug someone today and they let me and it was so weird and scary...." or just the fact that I'd been able to tell someone something about myself. One of the biggest things I did was telling my best friend how much I loved her for all the support she's given over the years inspite of me being such a mess.
Depression still does knock me for six, there are things I haven't even looked at trying to adress with myself, let alone with others, but you can live with it, and as you learn to live with it you learn to beat it a bit at a time.
do you ever get low and feel like just setting and not talking. do you ever get the bad thoughts. Do you reason with yourself when it hits that you will be ok and it will pass. When it hits like that i feel like i am needing to scream for help. I have tried all the meds and they make me feel worse or i would get continued suicdal thoughts from them. I am scared to try anymore, but i need to understand how to deal with the pain. how have you learned to cope with the pain and deal with the bad episodes? Have you been having them long?

I spend a lot of time telling myself "this too shall pass." I try to read a lot and watch movies to distract myself. It's really hard to concentrate when you're in one of those really dark places, though. Being around my friends helps the most. I find that I virtually never plan my suicide while other people are around.