Depression success stories
Here are a couple depression success stories. If you have your own success story to tell please share it with us. They really help to provide encouragement for people who are still suffering. Send me an email.
Omega 3 depression success story
(from Wendy)
My story - sorry, it's the short version.
I was a compulsive gambler. Why? Because I suffered from depression. I've suffered from depression most of my life, just didn't know it wasn't normal. I started gambling because of the natural high it gave me from winning and the escape I would feel when I'd sit at the casino all day by myself. My teenage age son was in a lot of trouble with the law. I could not cope. Depression and suicidal thoughts controlled my life.
I started taking Paxil in 1995. I was at the maximum dose. I still wasn't 'right' but I didn't know what else to do. In 2005 my husband left me for my brothers wife, my son was in jail, and my life was a complete mess. I attempted suicide in July 2005. I spent a week in the psych ward and was doped up with a continuous cocktail of prescription antidepressants. I completed 10 months of therapy. I was still so depressed I couldn't hold a job, I couldn't get out of bed most days, I couldn't deal with the slightest amount of stress. I slept 15-20 hours a day!
Finally, 2 and a half years later, a physician's assistant told me to take 3600mgs of fish oil a day. I did for a little while but then I quit because it's, quite frankly, a pain in the butt to take 3 horse pills a day. I quit all the other meds except the Paxil (because withdrawl is so bad, but am only on half what I used to be) but was still extremely depressed. I started taking fish oil again to raise my good cholesterol and viola! NO MORE DEPRESSION!! I cannot believe how good I feel! Alive! Vibrant! Happy!
This video is a success story of a Canadian woman named Gloria. She was diagnosed with major depressive disorder as well as schizophrenia.
I received this email in May of 2009.
Hello,
I recently have started having trouble with anxiety. After several weeks of panic attacks and generalized increased anxiety I saw a psychiatrist who recommended I try fish oil as a step before going on a SSRI as recent research had shown fish oil to be useful for anxiety disorders. I started researching the link online, and came across your website.
Your story is so similar to my experience that I could not resist sending you a message. Everything, form the slow buildup of anxiety--particularly the day after drinking, the age of onset, and the symptoms e.g. less ability to cope with everyday stress, dislike of crowded places, freaking out over imagined health problems, even the initial attack sitting on my couch after dinner etc. etc.
Anyway, I've been wolfing down fish oil for the last two weeks and I already feel almost back to normal. My initial reaction was to assume a placebo effect or coincidence, but again after reading your story, I'm ready to chalk it up to the fish oil. Thank you for sharing your experience, It is stories like yours that drove me to seek help quickly and to keep an open mind about effective treatment that have helped me get to the bottom of my problem much quicker than I might have otherwise.
Thanks again,
(Name removed to respect the person's privacy)
I thought it was particularly interesting that his psychiatrist recommended trying fish oil before prescribing an SSRI. Apparently some main stream medical practitioners are starting to believe in the omega 3 theory. I am surprised that he is feeling back to normal after only two weeks. It took me much much longer. Although, I think my condition was probably a lot worse than his was.