Alternative Ways to Manage Mental Health?

Self care is a hard one at 1st but it helps. Regular hygienics if you don't already (I personally didn't at my lowest point.) Try to eat healthier and get regular sleep. Working out has been my new go to when I'm feeling depressed. Also getting out into nature is also an option.

You can try journaling. A helpful habit I've found is gratitude journaling. Just write down at least 3 things you're grateful for. Itll help keep your mind focused on the positive. Also, if you find meditation difficult, keep in mind there a a few different kinds. Also, YouTube has some really good guides meditations which I've found to be very helpful. Exercise is good. If you have trouble motivating yourself to do daily tasks like cleaning etc, try just doing something for 5 minutes, or whatever time you're most comfortable with. You can do anything for 5 minutes, right? But you'll find that you usually end up completing the task because usually just getting started is the hardest part. Hope this was helpful.

Ok I'll keep that in mind I got a membership at YMCA today so I can start I pushed to come this far

I'm trying therapy later this week. Meds have helped, but diet and exercise have been the best thing so far. Running is helpful for me (getting motivated to do It is the hard part). Intermittent fasting has been helping- not sure why, or if it's other things, but have been doing IF for about 2 months, and feel better.

definitely therapy. i took various anti-depressants for 10 years and decided they’re not for me (at least for now) and now that i’m off of them i’m working on healing my inner wounds and generating my own self worth. it’s a slow process but meditation and talk therapy are helpful. and having compassion for yourself on the hard days

You can try therapy which is what most doctors recommend before you start medication as medications are the last option in most cases