Depression Treatment Methods
Depression can be treated by many methods. These include psychotherapies, alternative treatments, and medication.
Psychotherapy encompasses cognitive behavioral therapy, which can help people identify and correct their negative thinking patterns. Other options include acceptance and commitment therapy as well as dialectical therapy for behavioral disorders both of which are designed for depression that is resistant to treatment.
Medication
The most common and effective treatment for depression is medication. They work especially well in moderate or severe depression or when there is a high risk of suicide. Treatment can help relieve symptoms quickly and help prevent relapses.
Several types of antidepressant medications have been proven to treat depression. The most popular antidepressant is fluoxetine (Prozac). It is taken orally in tablet form and has been in use for a long time. Sertraline (Zoloft), citalopram, and a few other drugs that are newer may be more effective with less adverse effects.
For people suffering from depression that are severe, talk therapy is often paired with medication. Psychotherapy is designed to help you understand your depression and to show you how to treat depression and anxiety without medication to manage it. You can go through it on your own with an expert or in a group of other patients. Two kinds of talk therapy that have been proven to be effective are cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and interpersonal therapy.
Other treatments for depression include exercise, light therapy and meditation. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is treated using an artificial light box that mimics bright sunlight. It is also used to treat depression that is chronic in bipolar disorder sufferers.
To enhance the effects, your doctor may also prescribe a medication for another physical or mental condition in conjunction with an antidepressant. This is known as augmenting. It could involve a mood stabilizer, antianxiety or antipsychotic drugs or even thyroid hormone.
If your depression is not severe, your GP might suggest waiting a short time to see if your symptoms will go away on their own. This is often referred to as watchingful waiting. It’s important to stay in touch with your GP, and make regular appointments to keep track of your performance.
Certain people suffering from depression might benefit from other therapies such as reflexology or energy healing which involves applying pressure to certain points on the body. Some patients find relief from yoga or meditation. Some people find relief through chanting or praying. If you suffer from depression that is severe or thoughts of self-harming, it is crucial to seek treatment as soon as you can.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, can help people understand the reasons behind their depression and develop new strategies to manage their symptoms. It can be utilized alongside medications or on its own. It is essential to start treatment as soon as possible and attend all of your sessions.
There are different types of psychotherapy. Each is suitable for specific situations or circumstances. Group therapy is a mixture of two or more individuals and you, while family therapy helps your loved ones learn how to assist you. Some therapists specialize in certain areas, like relationship issues or childhood trauma, and can offer special treatments that are ideal for you.
Psychotherapy can be described as cognitive therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy, and the behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy helps you learn to cope with depression, and can help you change your behaviors that aren’t helpful. Cognitive therapy focuses on changing pessimistic evaluations and unhelpful thinking patterns that cause depression. Interpersonal psychotherapy is short-term and aims to improve problems in relationships that are closely connected to situational depression treatment.
Finding the right treatment for you could take some time and patience but it’s well worth it in the end. It is also essential to have a support system that can help you stick to your best treatment for anxiety depression. Try talking to your trusted family members or friends and joining an online depression support group, or reading self-help books and websites.
It is essential to see an expert if you suffer from a serious condition like an illness or injury. This will help determine if your postpartum depression natural treatment is caused by a physical problem. If there is, the condition must be treated before you begin therapy. The use of medication can be a successful treatment for depression, and when combined with psychotherapy will help you recover faster. Be aware that any treatment for depression will require time. You might also experience fluctuations and highs during the course of treatment. If you stick to your plan, you’ll be able to beat depression.
Light therapy
A sitting position in front of an illuminated box or a special lamp that emits bright light is referred to as light therapy. This is a well-known treatment option for those who suffer from seasonal affective disorder. It mimics natural daylight and can improve energy and mood. Light therapy has also been proven to alleviate sleep issues that are frequently related to depression. It is believed that light therapy affects cycles of circadian rhythms and boosting serotonin in the brain. It’s also possible that it has a positive impact on the levels of other hormones such as melatonin, which is released when you sleep.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommends that SAD be treated the same as other types depression treatment facility near me. This can include talking therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as well as antidepressants and light therapy. It’s most effective if began at the beginning of winter before symptoms appear and continued until spring.
A recent study on the use of light therapy for the treatment of SAD has found that the majority of patients who used it reached remission, using strict criteria for determining. This included a decrease in symptoms using an established scale known as the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale – SAD version. The study also found that the treatment was safe and well-tolerated.
Remember that light therapy isn’t an all-in-one solution for SAD. You should still seek advice from a physician. It’s also vital to keep active, eat healthy meals and get enough rest, and to try to lessen stress.
Antidepressants can also be effective in treating SAD. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most frequently prescribed type of antidepressant to treat SAD, and they can lift your mood within some weeks. Side effects can include a dry mouth or diarrhoea, nausea, or constipation. However, these symptoms usually disappear quickly.
Some people discover meds that treat depression and anxiety light therapy does not improve their symptoms, or they suffer uncomfortable side-effects, like eye strain, headaches or agitation. Other side effects include irritation of the skin. These adverse effects can be controlled by adjusting treatment duration and time of day or product used.
Alternative or complementary therapies
Prescription medication is among the most popular treatments for depression. However, it may not be right for all people. If a treatment isn’t working or has unavoidable negative side effects, it might be time to explore an alternative or complementary therapy. These are therapies that focus on your physical or spiritual wellbeing and can alleviate symptoms of depression, such as anxiety and pain.
Acupuncture: This involves placing needles in different points of your body, such as the hands, ears or feet. It can reduce a number of symptoms, including insomnia, depression, and anxiety. It has been proven to be as effective as antidepressants but without the side negative effects.
Mindfulness meditation: This type of therapy focuses on the ability to be aware of your thoughts and feelings without judgment and will help you feel more in control of your emotions. It can be done by yourself or with a trained therapist.
Yoga: This kind of exercise can reduce stress and depression. It helps improve breathing and provides a feelings of well-being.
Massage: Touch is soothing. Deep-tissue massages are good for anxiety, tension in the muscles and depression. Aromatherapy: Inhaling certain essential oils can help alleviate depression.
Energy healing techniques like reiki yoga and tai-chi. These methods are based on a belief that illness is caused by blockages in energy.
Exercise: Swimming, walking or any other kind of movement can be helpful in treating depression. Recent research found that 150 minutes per week of moderate exercise decreased symptoms of depression.
Eye movement desensitization reprocessing (EMDR) is an extremely new therapy that involves repeated exposure to a disturbing memory to help the mind process it. It has been shown that EMDR is very effective in treating PTSD. However more research is needed to determine its effectiveness for depression.
The Royal College of Psychiatrists has looked at the evidence regarding several CAM treatments for depression, such as Acupuncture and bright light therapy. The reviews were not extensive and some had limitations like a limited number of trials that were included as well as small sample sizes. The Royal College of Psychiatrists does not recommend any CAM therapy for depression.