Depression Treatment Methods

People who have depression can avail a variety of treatment options. These include psychotherapies, alternative treatments and medication.

Psychotherapy encompasses cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps people recognize and alter their thinking patterns. Other options include acceptance and commitment therapy and dialectical therapy for behavioral disorders, which are both designed for people who have depression that is who are resistant to treatment refractory depression.

Medication

The most effective treatments for depression medication is the depression treatment method, and the first method that most people try. They are especially effective in cases of severe or moderate depression or when there is a greater chance of suicide. The medication can ease symptoms quickly and help prevent relapses.

Antidepressant medications can be used to treat depression. The most popular antidepressant is fluoxetine (Prozac). It is taken orally in tablet form and has been used for quite a while. Sertraline (Zoloft) and citalopram and other newer drugs might be more effective, with fewer side effects.

Talk therapy is often combined treatment for severe depression. Psychotherapy aims to help you understand the causes of depression and to teach you how to treat anxiety And depression without medication to manage it. It can be carried out by yourself with a health professional, or with other patients in a group. Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), and interpersonal therapy are two kinds of talk therapy which have been proven to be effective treatments for depression.

Other treatments for depression include exercise, light therapy and meditation. A light box that mimics bright sunlight is used to treat seasonal affective disorder (SAD). It can also be used to treat chronic depressive disorder in people with bipolar disorders.

Your doctor might also use medication that treats a physical or mental condition, in conjunction with an antidepressant to enhance the effects. This is called augmentation. It might include the use of mood stabilizers, antianxiety or antipsychotic drugs, or it might involve thyroid hormone.

If your depression is mild and not too severe, your GP may recommend waiting a little while to see if the symptoms will go away on their own. This is known as "watchful waiting". It's essential to stay in contact with your GP and make regular appointments so they can monitor your progress.

Certain people suffering from depression might benefit from other therapies such as reflexology or energy healing which involves applying pressure to specific points on the body. Some patients experience relief through yoga or meditation. Some people find comfort through chanting or praying. If you're suffering from depression treatment for elderly severe or thoughts of self-harm, it's important to seek treatment immediately.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy, also referred to as talk therapy can help people discover why they are depressed and learn new ways to manage their symptoms. It can be used on its own or in combination with medications. It is crucial to begin treatment as soon as you can and be present for all sessions.

There are a variety of psychotherapy, and each one is best suited for specific situations or conditions. Individual therapy is a session with you and your therapist, group therapy involves two or more persons, and family therapy can teach your loved ones how to help you. Some therapists are experts in certain areas, like relationship issues or childhood trauma and offer specific treatments that are right for you.

Psychotherapy can be described as cognitive therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy and the behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy can teach you new strategies to manage depression and alter habits of behavior that aren't helping. Cognitive therapy is primarily focused on reversing negative thinking and unhelpful assessments that can lead to depression. Psychotherapy for interpersonal relationships is a short-term treatment that aims to address the relationships which are closely linked to your depression.

Getting the right type of treatment for you could take some patience and time but it's worth it in the end. It's also beneficial to have a supportive system that will aid you in staying on the right track with your treatment. Try talking to trusted family members or friends and joining a depression support group or reading self-help books and websites.

It's important that you see a doctor if you have serious health issues, such as an illness or injury. This will allow you to determine if your depression is caused by a physical problem. If there is, that condition will need to be addressed before you can begin therapy. Combining psychotherapy with medication is an a successful method of treating depression. Be aware that any treatment for depression will require time. You might also experience ups and lows during the process. If you stick to your plan, you'll be able to beat depression.

Light therapy

Light therapy involves sitting with an especial lamp, or light box, that emits bright sunlight. It's a very popular treatment for those suffering from seasonal affective disorder (SAD). It works by mimicking natural daylight and can boost the mood and energy levels. Light therapy has also been shown to help with sleep issues which are usually linked to depression. It's believed that light therapy affects circadian rhythms and increasing serotonin in the brain. It's also possible that it has a positive influence on the levels of other hormones, such as melatonin. It is released in sleep.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence suggests that SAD be treated the same as other forms of depression. 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 in the treatment of SAD has revealed that the majority of patients who utilized it reached remission, using strict criteria for diagnosis. This included a reduction in symptoms on a well-established measure that is the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale - SAD version. The study concluded that the treatment is safe and well-tolerated.

Keep in mind that light therapy isn't an all-in-one solution for SAD. It's still essential to see an expert physician and follow their advice. It's important to stay active, eat healthily, get enough sleep and reduce stress.

Antidepressants are also effective for treating SAD. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most commonly prescribed type of antidepressant to treat SAD, and they can boost your mood within a few weeks. They can cause side effects such as a dry mouth nausea, diarrhoea, nausea or constipation, however these tend to pass quickly.

Some people might find that light therapy doesn't help their symptoms or experience unpleasant side effects such as eye strain, headache, agitation or skin irritation. These are usually reduced by adjusting the duration of treatment, time of day, or products employed.

Alternative or complementary therapies

The use of prescription medications is a common treatment for depression, but it's not the best choice for all. If a treatment doesn't work or causes unacceptable side-effects it's time to look into alternative or complementary therapies. These therapies focus on your physical and mental health and can relieve depression symptoms like anxiety and chronic pain.

Acupuncture involves placing needles into various points of your body, like the ears, hands or feet. It can help with many symptoms like insomnia, anxiety, and depression. It has been shown to be similar to antidepressants, but without the side negative effects.

Meditation mindfulness: This kind of practice is focused on learning to be aware of your thoughts, feelings and actions without judgement. It helps you to feel more in control of your emotions. You can practice it on your own or with a professional therapist.

Yoga: This type of exercise can help lower stress and depression. It also improves your breathing and gives you an overall feeling of wellbeing.

Massage: It is calming. Deep-tissue massages are beneficial for anxiety, muscle tension, and depression. Aromatherapy Inhaling essential oils can help alleviate depression.

Energy healing includes techniques like yoga, reiki and tai-chi. They are based on the notion that the cause of illness is blockages in energy.

Exercise: Walking, swimming or any other form of exercise can help treat depression. A recent study revealed that 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week decreased the symptoms of depression.

Eye movement desensitization reprocessing (EMDR), an extremely new therapy that relies on repeated exposure to a distressing memory to help the brain process it. It has been shown to be very effective for PTSD however it requires more research to determine its effectiveness in treating depression.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists has reviewed the evidence on a number of CAM treatments for depression, such as bright light therapy and acupuncture. The reviews were small and some had limitations like a small number of trials included and small sample sizes. Therefore, the Royal College of Psychiatrists is not advocating any CAM treatments for depression.