How Niacin Saved My Life – Battling Depression

Thank you so much for your interest in the post about depression and niacin. I have moved this article to my new blog. You can find this post here.

I had two reasons for moving it. One, this was meant to be a private blog about my family as a way of documenting our lives and keeping up with friends and family across the country. At the time it was the only platform I had, and I felt so strongly that I needed to share this information. However I never intended to draw so much traffic to a private space.

The second reason is I have a much larger platform on my other blog, and I can reach and help a lot more people. A year and a half later I have a lot more answers about my depression and have posted a follow up post about the root cause of my depression and how I treat it now. I hope that is also helpful.Ā Both posts haveĀ been life changing for me, and I hope it brings light to other people.

The final reason is I don’t check on this blog much, and I don’t usually get the notifications for comments. I have missed some of them for months and months, and my other blog I follow up with every day. I love reading the comments about how this has helped people. I wish I could move them over to the other blog to support and encourage those who are desperate for help.

Remember, depression is a liar. Hold on. Read these posts and ASK FOR HELP. The people in your life love and need you. You should be here.

 

35 thoughts on “How Niacin Saved My Life – Battling Depression”

  1. Love this post. Thank you for sharing, my friend. Your honesty and openness will help me, and hopefully others. So glad to hear you are doing better. Love and prayers.

  2. I’m so happy you shared this. It takes true courage and generosity to be this vulnerable. Sharing your experience on this topic is important for others to read. People experiencing something similar may be helped, and others who know people dealing with depression can share the knowledge and understand that much better what their loved ones are going through. Thank-you!

  3. Wonderfully written and well thought out. I can only imagine how difficult this was for you to write.
    Depression is an insidious disease. I am so glad you heard that song and that is spoke to you deep down, because depression is a liar.
    Thank you for sharing and being vulnerable.

  4. April,

    so glad you shared this. just this week some friends of mine were talking about niacin. one of them said this: “the first time I got niacin flush I was like, wth is happening??? I called my mom and said I felt like I was sunburned on the inside of my skin”

    but they rave about it. i’m so glad you’re feeling freed. what a blessing that is

  5. I’ve been in that place where I had convinced myself, “If I’m gone, my family would be better off. God will give my husband and kids a better wife, a better mother.” I’m glad that I made it through those times, and I’m grateful you did, too. Thank you for sharing this.

  6. Thank you for posting this. I admire your courage.its so challenging to admit when we are scared, or things feel out of control. Many of my clients combine natural remedies, such as niacin, with coaching. They find it really helps!

  7. I am so glad you shared this. Shared knowledge, shared strength. Thank you for being brave.

  8. Thank you for sharing. This is something I will research for my son. I’m so glad you pulled through this- it is impossible to know how much the hormones throw you into that downward spiral, or how it is we all deal with the chaos, pain, and loneliness so differently. There is always hope. I’m grateful you had the courage to find your cure, and the courage to share it with others. Stay strong, Sister.

  9. Thank you for so bravely sharing this. I cried for you. And then I cheered for you! How wonderful to be living your life again. I hope the future continues to be bright.

  10. April you are very brave to have posted this, but you will help people by sharing your story. My depression started in high school and it was bewildering to me. After my son was born several,years later I sank very deep and had no one to go to for help. After a move to another state when my children were small I again had a very hard time. When someone hinted to me that my problems were due to laziness or a lack of faith I became very angry.
    Now I know that in high school I developed the first of several autoimmune diseases. I was sick, but couldn’t understand what was wrong.
    I am thankful that today we have resources on the Internet to help find natural solutions. I take lots of vitamins and minerals and eat a very clean diet. I am thankful to Andrew Saul and others who have helped me too.
    Glad you are feeling better.
    .

  11. Thank you for sharing your story. I went through a rough time myself. I finally tried a high b liquid vitamin that I could absorb. It had niacin in it also. It helped me so much. Glad you are doing so much better. I am suite so many people will be helped by your story.

  12. Oh my goodness. Thank you so much for sharing this post with the world – as difficult as it was. I’m sure you will do a lot of good because you had the courage to share your personal experience. Thank you. Today I listened to a Glen Beck clip about his mom committing suicide when he was 13 and how he thinks she thought their lives would be better without her. But as he explained how much they needed her, I saw the longing and sincerity in his eyes from all those years of wishing she would have stayed with them. Thank you for giving your children the gift of yourself! I know they need you so very much.

  13. Thank you for sharing this. Words can’t express how much I needed to read this. This post is my version of your song “You should be here”. Thank you.

  14. Thank you so much for sharing this! I am going to do some research on this for my husband. He has been having issues with depression for a few years now.

  15. Thank you to everyone who has commented. If this post helps even one person get to a better place, it will be worth it. Each of your comments means a lot, and I appreciate the support.
    Jenn, you are right. Depression is a liar.
    Shawna, I’m going to look for that clip with Glen Beck. Anonymous, you should be here. You really should. This is your call to stay, and to endure. You can do this. Tell someone that you are struggling and ask for help.

  16. It breaks my heart to hear what you’ve been through. I’m so grateful you found a way to feel like yourself again and to know of your self worth. You are an amazing person!! Your story is truly inspiring and will help others.

  17. I am so pleased to hear your happiness. We are all here and all wanting
    Happiness and Joy today šŸ™‚

  18. Thank you for sharing, April. I know how difficult it was for you to do so. I’m running to the store as we speak to pick up some Niacin. Fingers crossed it will help. I’ve been sliding back into the black hole again for the past few months and really need some help, too.

  19. Thank you for sharing this heart felt story, very eloquently written. I will try Niacin for myself. I wonder how or if this works for teenagers too…

  20. Bless your heart ,April.Its a difficult thing to expose yourself like this but clearly you knew it was for the greater if the good and I thank you.I’m going to take some RIGHT now.

  21. I went to the health food store as soon as I left work and bought the type you recommended. I started taking it every evening, and yes, right when you’re ready to drift off is great because you do sleep through it…I’m noticing immediate lifting of depression symptoms and actually wanting to live life for the first time in a long time. Thanks for sharing this, I really appreciate it.

  22. Thank you for sharing this. As someone who has also struggled with depression, my heart goes out to you! I am so glad you’ve found something to help you feel like yourself again. I will be trying it asap!

  23. Thank you for sharing your experiences. In the past year or two I’ve been feeling similar to how you shared you’ve been feeling… very low, but also very private and doing my best to hide it from everyone. I recently went to my doctor for a check up and when she was going over my labs she noticed how low my B3 levels were. She recommended I take niacin daily and I remembered your post. I’ve just started taking it and hope to feel the effects soon. Thank you for sharing and helping me feel like I am not alone in my struggles. <3

  24. I’m so glad I came across your blog and Food Matters. I’ve been dealing with depression since I was about 14 and I just thought something was wrong with me and I’d have to deal with it. The older I got through research and hearing other stories, I knew I had depression. Mine is not as severe as you described yours was, but I could relate with what you were saying and it certainly affects my day to day life.I didn’t want to have to rely on medicine to function though. I’m going tomorrow to try Niacin to see how it makes a difference. I’m so excited!! Thank you for being so transparent and sharing your story. It’s made a big difference šŸ™‚

  25. April, I’m a father of three who desperately needs your help. I’m on the verge of insanity. Please contact me using my email. I beg you.

  26. Please, I’m afraid if I don’t hear from someone I won’t be able to take this much longer. I’ll tell you my entire life story. Will niacin help me? Do you still take it? Can we get an update? What’s your dosage? I wanna live April. Please I’m holding on with the hope that I’ll hear from you.

  27. I’m a guy age 44 that goes to the gym 5 times a week. I was divorced about 4 years ago and I am haunted by this on a daily bases. I don’t miss her or want her back because of the evil actions of her and her family towards me but I keep on thinking why this and why that. I have quit jobs that people dream of making over 200k a year. From the second I get used to the second I sleep I feel this dark saddness that will not go away. I keep on thinking why was it when I was younger living with parents I did not need a girl in my life, money or anything in that matter to be happy. What was so different? Yes I lived with people where I don’t now but after reading many posts about niacin I realized something…I barely eat…I’m a guy that lives off of microwave food and I only eat when food is right in front of me. I also have been taking pain killers to numb my pain but that only lasts an hour then I go right back to my depression.

    I have tried a few other over the counter herbs and I haven’t gotten better. In fact last week I took something that made me feel like brain dead the entire day and I’m like am I ever going to get better. Maybe I’ve done something so bad that I’m cursed and this is what I’m supposed to go through. I refuse to take depression meds as I read up on all the bad things after you get used to it.

    Well here’s the thing just like you, I felt exactly what you are going through and I finally tried niacin. I took a 500mg with food and it’s only been a couple of days but I feel like something great has happened and I’m praying that this does not disappear.

    The first time I took it was 8pm after the gym and by the time I got to my family’s house to visit I was like wait why do I feel so calm. No anxiety, no sadness, nothing other than just right. I didn’t get any flushing so I was not sure if it was working other than I felt good. I spent the night talking to my family, like holding a normal conversation and hugging my nieces and nephews. I stayed up like normal but I started feeling sleepy like a normal sleepy no insomnia. I woke up and a smiled and said to myself OMG this stuff must be still working because I woke up happy no sadness I felt like getting my day started. I don’t want to jump the gun as it’s been only a couple of days but I have not felt like this in years and I don’t have the urge to take any pain killer meds. If I keep on getting better and feel like this I will tell the world about niacin. My mom sufferers from depression too and many other people I know. No human being should ever go through so much sadness. Depression really is a killer and maybe this is the miracle that we all need. This is my first post ever in my life and I have to share this for the sake of all others living with depression. I pray for all of us that we may live a life filled with joy & happiness.

  28. Chris I’m so sorry I didn’t get the notification for your comments. I just saw this. I’m not a doctor, so I can’t tell you if it will help you, but it did help me. I started with a lower dose of 500 mg and settled around 1500 mg. I felt better within days. I noticed that the more energy I used, I needed a little more. I actually found out that the root of my depression was linked to the MTHFR gene mutation and excess estrogen, so I’m on a special methylated B vitamin and something to control my estrogen. Niacin saved me until I found a doctor to diagnose the true cause of my problem. Chris, remember that depression is a liar. Your family wants and needs you. Don’t listen to the dark voices in your head. Tell someone how you are feeling and ask for help. Call your doctor right now. Tell someone. Don’t let it eat you alive. You can do this.

  29. Anonymous, I can’t tell you how happy this makes me. I brings me to tears every time someone shares that this helped them, and as I remember how low I was. I encourage you to still see a doctor and see if they can find what else might be at the root of the problem. Thank you so much for sharing. I hope it helps all the others who come along. You made my day.

  30. Thank you,thank you,thank you! Every word you said I actually thought was me talking! I’ve felt like this for years. I’m off to get Niacin right now after reading and googling everything I could get my hands on, I truly believe it’s a miracle vitamin.

  31. I just tried niacin for the first time yesterday after reading this. I suffer from social anxiety disorder, have tried therapists, pills, and I recently paid a hypnotherapist a TON of money.

    Nothing changed. Still broke out in embarrassing head/face sweats whenever I had to talk to people, which is humiliating.

    But after my second day using the niacin, I feel a lot better. There were several “opportunities” for me to sweat today, and…I didn’t. I felt like I SHOULD, but I didn’t.

    I also slept GREAT last night. As a sleep apnea sufferer that means a lot.

    I don’t want to get my hopes too high, but after all these years and literally nothing else working…I hope this is it. I NEED for this to work.

    I appreciate this post.

  32. Anonymous, thank you so much for sharing! I hope it is still working for you and you are continuing to feel better and better. On Monday I am sharing a followup post about my current depression treatment. You can find it here on Monday. I’m still hammering it out and editing it, but it will be ready then.

  33. Lorn I’d love to hear if this is helping you. On Monday I am sharing a followup post about my current depression treatment. You can find it here on Monday. Iā€™m still hammering it out and editing it, but it will be ready then.

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