Depression, Anxiety, PTSD: What to Do When Nothing Seems to Work

When I am depressed I cannot exercise and nothing irritates me as much as the people who recommend exercise as a therapy for depression. I can only speak for myself but I suspect the same is true for most other people who suffer from depression. If I were able to go out running, I wouldn't be depressed (and brush my teeth twice a year).

My provider doesn’t want details. She asks me if the meds are working and if I haven’t been hospitalized or arrested lately I say yes. I wish I could find someone like Dr. Marks but it seems like the people in my insurance bracket don’t even have the relevant degrees. You’ve no idea how valuable these videos are. You’re helping some of us, more than our actual clinicians

There are no words to express my gratitude for how much better you make me feel about my depression and anxiety. Hearing that certain things I feel and deal with are common is therapeutic in itself. Poor mental health can make you feel so alone and like you're the only one with certain struggles. Thank you so, so much for your perspective, Dr. Marks, and for doing all that you do.

"I'm just prioritizing my sleep" --me using therapy-taught reframing when spending 18 hours in bed.

I think the issue with some of you guys commenting is that you always have one negative thought to put under this video that’s about looking at the positives in your daily life. The improvements seem small to you but they are a huge change to your mental health, the more you keep up with improving on what you’re going for the better it gets. This is what’s keeping you from feeling better.

I never had an issue UNTIL I was in a car wreck. It wasn't the injuries (which caused severe disabilities) so much as the fact that the person who caused the accident, was never held responsible. It was 30+ years ago. A judge's daughter who was high on drugs, her driver's license had been revoked so didn't have one. She walked, and my case was dropped by a judge who was a friend of the judge. There was nothing I could do to get justice. The physical pain pales to the emotional disillusionment of what happened.

Nice video edit this days. SO much to say but I just say this. You really don't know how much your videos have helped a lot of us. Been battling bipolar 2, anxiety, cptxd for years. And is EXHAUSTING. Somehow after my last suicide attempt your videos somehow gives me relief. Even though it doesn't take the pain away. believe me when I say their things worst than death and living with a mental illness when nothing is working is among them. And you can't die except you cause it and you can't live either. IT'S SO PAINFUL. I CAN'T EXPLAIN IT.

Thank you so much. May you be free from hostility, danger, mental, physical, and spiritual suffering. May all beings, seen and unseen, in all realms and planes of existence bless you. May all beings feel inner peace and happiness. Amen

I started regular good high quality multivitamins. Then fish oils. No alcohol. After a month feeling much better I added ginseng. A mild stimulant feeling for me. My life is considerably better. I'm ready for more exercise. Life is good.

When my sleep got fixed ..I found myself in a much better mental state ..and the meds stopped..any progress is a win..

You missed a big thing when it comes to females. When I turned about 36 years old I started getting depression. It was so bad I ended up going in and out of mental hospitals and no medication or treatments helped. It took till I was 42 and fully entering menopause that they put me on HRT. Since starting HRT after a month, my non treatable depression was gone and I can live a normal life again. Sometimes mental health problems are due to physical health problem.

There should be a legal option to opt out when one has endured years or even decades of suffering and no treatments have helped. Mental or physical, traditional and holistic. We should have a choice to continue or not.

Thank you. My spouse suffers from PTSD, depression and anxiety. I watch your videos to help me be able to better help them. I would also share with them some of what you advised. Hoping to continue to help them with your guidance. Thanks again!

You know, I just always feel this huge disconnect with thinking of my extreme depression and anxiety as "mental health" issues. My body does not work. I cannot make it do what I need it to do. I know the disfunction is centered in my brain. But my brain is demonstrably my body, whereas my mind is some ephemeral, indefinable entity that does the thinking. I'm not having mental problems. I'm having body/brain problems.

Thank you for posting this

Thank you Dr. Tracey. ❤

Really APPRECIATE this video-As a PHMNP and coming across patients daily who are so quick to blame medication/provider for not doing "anything" this video provides great reassurance for these types of patients. I always prioritize symptoms and just like you suggested will circle back with the patient on those specific symptoms at the follow up and more than likely there has been improvement. As a psych provider it can get exhausting hearing "nothings working" over and over again and pts assuming we can just jump from one medication to the next so this video again solidifies that perspective is huge!

Great info!

Thank you

I refer patients to your videos. The more times and ways a person hears a message, the greater chance it will sink in. You have a friendly yet knowledgeable expert presence that many ppl resonate with. Plus, you’re “on call” 24/7, in a manner of speaking. Thank you for what you do!