How will you cope/deal with depression post SHTF

[BigJockC]

Hi all, don't want to come across as morbid or anything, however I was wondering if anybody has given thought to coping after any kind of situation with moments, periods or events of breakdown in yourself or those closest and dearest to you. I have coping mechanisms in place having had personal experience for most of my service and now time in civvie street to deal with me, but starting to think of those I choose to be around me, and how they will cope?

A different kind of prepping, I know, but water, food and protection are only ever part of it?

[unsure]

not some thing i want to think about , but if i can suffer when times are lets say ` normal ` then ive no idea how i`ll fare when things go south . having been there all ready i hope i`m better equipt to spot the signs . the truth is i just don`t know .

[nickdutch]

IMHO, the first thing to do is to live as healthy as you are able to pre any issue of that kind happening. Diet, nutrition, exercise and sleep. Also be growing things that you can just munch on in the garden to give you some basic high quality nutrition when you need it. Make sure you have vitamins and minerals in supply to support the body for when you can't get nutrient dense foods. Also, have things to cheer you up. Music, instruments, things to learn and play with, things to get obsessed with and to take you out of the emotions that you are in.

[hobo]

It's a very good question - and something I haven't addressed - and need to, as both me and my OH are bipolar......
I'm on low level meds and have healthy creative outlets. My OH is the opposite.........

I need to give this some thought. I think I'll start by looking into what happy food I can grow.... I'll get back to you!

[Hamradioop]

St Johns wort

Common St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) is a flowering plant of the genus Hypericum. In humans, it is a medicinal herb with antidepressant, antibacterial, antioxidant, neuroprotective, and potent anti-inflammatory properties as well as potential anti-cancer and antiviral properties.[1][2] Clinical evidence supports the use of St John's wort preparations as a treatment for depression and certain other conditions.[1][3] However, it is toxic to certain species of livestock when ingested and is also considered a weed when growing wild. Hypericum perforatum is indigenous to Europe but has spread worldwide as an invasive species, including to temperate and subtropical regions of Turkey, Ukraine, Russia, the Middle East, India, and China. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypericum_perforatum


St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) has a history of being used as a medicine dating back to ancient Greece, where it was used for a range of illnesses, including various "nervous disorders." St. John's wort also has antibacterial and antiviral properties. Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, it has been applied to the skin to help heal wounds and burns. St. John's wort is one of the most commonly purchased herbal products in the United States. http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/st-johns-wort

In recent years, St. John’s wort has been studied extensively as a treatment for depression. Most studies show that St. John's wort may help treat mild-to-moderate depression, and has fewer side effects than most other prescription antidepressants. But it interacts with a number of medications, so it should be taken only under the guidance of a health care provider.

You shouldn’t try to treat severe depression -- where you may not be able to function day to day, or have thoughts of harming yourself or others -- with herbs. Always see a doctor if your depression is making it hard for you to function (See "Precautions" section).

[ukpreppergrrl]

Just to add about St John's Wort - it can cause you to get sunburn much more easily. No idea why this is. A few years back I was taking it and sat out in the garden with some other people in Spring and ended up with sun burn! So be a little more careful in the sun.

[hobo]

Thanks both! I'll be growing this next year!!

[Decaff]

Also please read: http://www.mind.org.uk/information-supp ... de-effects

[poppypiesdad]

Interesting ..... but wonder if we'll all be too busy to think about our problems , thank goodness ive never has any problems like that .

J

[Holomon]

Interesting ..... but wonder if we'll all be too busy to think about our problems , thank goodness ive never has any problems like that .

J

I think there's something to that, particularly among the prepper mindset. I think psychologically anybody that has spent significant time, resources and research on preparing for an upheaval, will actually end up with a form of relief that it's finally happened and a sense of superiority that they saw it coming.
A bit like the chap in that Blackout thing on C4, you'd have a big upswing of happiness in that you already know what to do, what to open and eat, how to cook etc. The trick then is to realise that probably isn't the case with the people around you, and that you need to focus on keeping their morale up.
Plus not being so flipping obvious about it like the doughnut on the telly did.

Depression would most likely set in if there was a prolonged event, because that's when hope starts to decline and you'll then realise your stockpiles won't get you through it without doing the harder stuff.
Definitely staying healthy, eating well and keeping to a varied routine would stop boredom setting in. Plus "analogue" games like cards - especially if you can play strip poker with the girls in the next survival shelter over from you.