How can my girlfriend overcome her depression without medication?  She
has amazing potential and is super fun but it really gets in the way
of her life, her goals, and her dreams in part because it makes it
very hard for her to accomplish goals/tasks.  It also has negative
effects on her relationships with others and with me.  She has tried
medication and cognitive therapy, and has suffered from it even at
times when she was very athletic.  She says it started at age 12 and
she is now 22 and that it comes in cycles.  What can she do and how
can I help?

Even though this is a comment and not a formal answer, please keep in
mind the disclaimer at the bottom of this page. That said, I hope my
opinion can help. Among the variety of psychotherapy schools around,
through the decades I still find psychoanalysis to be the soundest and
most effective. I'd suggest to look for a good professional in that
field, and it is worth a try. It takes time, deep commitment and hard
work, but it works things out.

I am not a psychotherapist, nor am I becoming one.  However, that
being said, I have been a patient for many years, and I would say that
depression is a serious enough condition that psychotherapy is a
requirement even for mild depression.  Also, I would have her
seriously consider medication.  I, myself, refused to take any
medication whatsoever for many years, up to and including Advil, and
then I suffered an intense nervous breakdown, nearly culminating in
suicide.  Even mild depression can be a symptom of a more serious
underlying condition.  Medication is NOT a cure, however, it does make
things a lot easier.

Have you considered the fact that your girlfriend might be having
episodes of Manic-Depression, not just depression on its own?

This form of manic-depression (a.k.a. Bipolar Disorder) is very common
in younger people, and causes the patient to be extremely depressed
one day and very excitable, manic, overly-happy another day. Your
girlfriend needs constant reassuremant that you will always be there
for her, and tell her family to do the same. She needs to know she has
a family-friends support base, and of course Cognitive-Behaviour
therapy (CBT), which is the most effective therapeutic treatment for
manid-depression in young adults.

All that said, if she still remains depressed and no therapy or
therapeutic drug has worked. Depending on her age, she could have a
thyroid disfunction, which will cause the same symptoms. Try the
therapist first, as that is much more likely. But if that doesn't seem
to do anything, ask her doctor to order a series of thyroid studies.
The main symptoms of apathetic hyperthyroidism include depression
(even though the patient is actually upset about nothing), weight
loss, musculo-skeletal pain/tendonitis, irritability, fatigue, cardiac
dysrythmia, nervousness and sweaty palms.

Please note though, that most of the symptoms of hyperthyroidism,
mimic those of manic-depression (irritability, nervousness, fatigue,
weight loss/loss of appetite, etc.) so the only way you'll be sure is
with the blood tests.

Hope this helps, 
Baz :)

I'm not sure this question can be accurately answered without a
detailed history.  I'm not sure that psychoanalysis is the answer.  It
is true that bipolar disorder can be mistaken for depression. 
Traditional SSRIs can actually make bipolar disorder worse, without
treating the depressive component.  I would try another psychiatrist -
they vary widely in their abilities and patients often try many before
they find someone they work well with and who is able to figure out
their underlying problem.

Best,

     -welte-ga