Meds and counseling are very broad subjects, in a way anything we do is either a med or based on counseling. (The counseling can come from professionals, self help books, friends, or reflection on our lives.)

That being said, here are some things I have done.

Find something to use as an anchor; a favorite TV show that you can look forward to same thing for a book.

Identify your triggers and avoid them until such time as you can conquer them. For example, if huge crowds bother you, then avoid stores during peak hours. Shop online, or have somebody go with you (or for you!) if you must shop during peak hours.

I am trying to remove clutter from my life. I find that it bothers me, yet I accumulate it.

Have you been able to identify things that contribute to your depression?

Yes I have been able to identify things that contribute to my depression. Thanks for the input. I appreciate it.

That's great advice I'm glad I saw this I'm going to try those. I'll post how it goes as I try.

You can try to make life as calm and serene as possible. Make things as stress free as possible. Those are always the first things to tick off the list when dealing with Depression or Anxiety type illnesses.

Keeping your head free of clutter, i.e. all those jumbled emotions/feelings/stuff that keeps us wound up and checking, double checking, triple checking every thing we do, questioning every choice we make. All the self-doubt, guilt, fear, pain...all of it, if you can get it out of your head and put it somewhere else, it can be very freeing and the emotional load feels much lighter. I do that by Journaling, every day before I go to sleep I sit in bed and download all the crap/stuff from my head into a Journal so I don't carry it into another day. I also carry a Journal with me so if I'm having a particularly stressful or bad day I can just "write it out".

I'm BiPolar, 28 yrs. now, so I don't get to consider not taking meds or not doing Therapy, but using Journaling, using Relaxation Techniques, Deep Breathing Exercises helps to not need the Therapy quite as much and keeps things Stable so med changes aren't needed and doses are able to be kept on the lower end.

I think its great that you're trying to handle this in some type of organic way, just 1 note. Depression is an illness, its not something that you cause or bring to yourself. Sometimes when we let ourselves think of an illness as less than it is, we also tend to mask what all it actually takes to completely treat it. Not being able to keep Depression at bay in a totally organic way is not a reflection of your capabilities, its just a very difficult illness to treat.

I wish you well.

Thank you so much. I've been in, and out of counseling since I was 5 years old. Been on different meds, and stuff. I just wanted to find some different ways to try out, and see if it would help. I think I may start journaling like you said. Sounds like a great idea.! :)

Praying, meditating on God's Word, Christian music is so uplifting and helpful, exercise - like walking, getting plenty of sleep, eating healthy. These are all the things I'm trying to do better. I do not want to take medication at all if possible.

I have to agree Christian music is so uplifting. Thanks I will try some of these

Just a note on journals. You can set the privacy level on each journal entry. You can make it so that only you can see it, only friends can see it, or everybody can see it. And everybody means EVERYBODY on the internet.

Thanks for that info. I planned on buying a journal, and writing in it.

Hi Lauren9469. My name is Rod. I am new here but I have suffered from depressive episodes as many here do. I control and defeat my depression by way of deep meditation. I use calming music at first to calm myself and clear my mind as the sound tapers down to a background rhythm. Then I recall the good that is in me to come to the surface and allow the love of just "being" to flow thru me and take control. This technique takes time and forethought. You must get to know the good that lives within you first. Then while meditating focus on seeking the good and allow it to rise to the surface. My therapist suggested it. I seldom have depressive episodes now. Peace to you my new friend.

Thank you so much Rod. I will definitely try that too. :)