[baccheion]

Yes, as I said in the other comment, I'm not suggesting all out self medication (or not involving a doctor), I'm trying to present a set of supplements and nootropics that many with these issues may have not heard about before. Maybe they can research each thing and/or talk about them with their doctor to see if they will help.

Also, I'm especially making these recommendations, as standard medications and advice from doctors didn't really help me, but when I tried these alternatives I had better success. That is, these are good things to keep in mind should traditional routes not work out well, or if the side effects from antidepressants or anti-anxiety meds grow unbearable.

[privateersman]

I can understand your viewpoint having gone through similar and fixed it on my own. If people want to cure their depression and anxiety through self help, my advice is to try adjusting your mindset before thinking about nutrients.

My theory is that having the wrong mindset for long enough sets in motion a process that ends up in physical illness, inflammation and nutrient problems - which make the mental illness worse. So people should try learning mindfulness, stoicism, CBT and giving them at least a few months (with a good diet/exercise) before trying this route.

Nutrient deficiencies can cause all sorts of problems - I read about it extensively when I was ill. At one point I was convinced I might have a magnesium deficiency but when I got a proper test done (not the standard one) it showed high levels of magnesium. So, it's not always the miracle that it appears.

[baccheion]

Yes, there are also other things like meditation and brainwave entrainment (Neuro-Programmer 3). Blood tests, urine tests, hair sample analysis, and assessing gene data are readily accessible (unless too expensive or not covered by insurance), so there shouldn't be anything standing in the way of at least getting those tests done to see if there are any immediately identifiable/addressable issues, deficiencies, or excesses.