Thanks for your post, and thanks for whoever vouched for this. I have a similar background to you, including age, living in a northern latitude with short winter days, long term sleep issues, and suicidal ideation.
5-HTP - There seems to be wide variation in the formulations available from manufacturers. Some have given me no issues at all, another brand, of the same strength, consistently leads to intense nausea and vomiting, followed by a significantly altered mental state. Almost tripping, and yes, I'm familiar with that.
THC - agree with your comments, but by far the biggest advantage for me is that it enabled me to completely quit drinking. Alcohol is terrible in that it will temporarily shut those intrusive thoughts off, but then they seem supercharged them when they inevitably return after a few hours. Drinking definitely exacerbates my actual depression even if it masks some symptoms.
I do use melatonin occasionally/as required but not super often. It's very effective as a sleep aid, but I have not noticed any antidepressive effects in myself. Valerian is also an extremely effective sleep aid for me. Will have to research L-Dopa.
Consider trying Sceletium Tortuosum extract (Kanna). It has been commercialized as "Zembrin" and is available in OTC supplements. There are peer-reviewed studies indicating that it is safe and effective, and personally, I've found it to noticeably effective against anxiety, less so for depression. As supplements go, it's inexpensive.
Finally, psilocybin has been revolutionary for managing my mental health, and specifically depression. I found microdosing to be ineffective. A full trip sets me right for several weeks, to the point where it is startling when the intrusive thoughts start up again.
5-HTP - There seems to be wide variation in the formulations available from manufacturers. Some have given me no issues at all, another brand, of the same strength, consistently leads to intense nausea and vomiting, followed by a significantly altered mental state. Almost tripping, and yes, I'm familiar with that.
THC - agree with your comments, but by far the biggest advantage for me is that it enabled me to completely quit drinking. Alcohol is terrible in that it will temporarily shut those intrusive thoughts off, but then they seem supercharged them when they inevitably return after a few hours. Drinking definitely exacerbates my actual depression even if it masks some symptoms.
I do use melatonin occasionally/as required but not super often. It's very effective as a sleep aid, but I have not noticed any antidepressive effects in myself. Valerian is also an extremely effective sleep aid for me. Will have to research L-Dopa.
Consider trying Sceletium Tortuosum extract (Kanna). It has been commercialized as "Zembrin" and is available in OTC supplements. There are peer-reviewed studies indicating that it is safe and effective, and personally, I've found it to noticeably effective against anxiety, less so for depression. As supplements go, it's inexpensive.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8124331/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3828542/
Finally, psilocybin has been revolutionary for managing my mental health, and specifically depression. I found microdosing to be ineffective. A full trip sets me right for several weeks, to the point where it is startling when the intrusive thoughts start up again.