Depression Treatment Methods

People who have depression can avail a variety of treatment options. These include psychotherapies as well as alternative treatments and medications.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is a type of psychotherapy that assists people identify and correct the faulty thinking patterns. Other options include dialectical behavior therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy, which are designed for treatment-resistant depression.

Medication

The most popular and effective treatment for depression is medication. They work especially well in cases of severe or moderate depression or when there is a high risk of suicide. The medication can relieve symptoms quickly and can also prevent relapses.

Antidepressant medication can be used to treat depression. The most commonly used antidepressant is fluoxetine (Prozac). It's taken orally in tablet form and has been around for many years. But newer drugs like sertraline (Zoloft) and citalopram (Celexa) are more effective and less likely to cause adverse effects.

Talk therapy is often paired with medication for severe depression. Psychotherapy helps you understand your depression and teach you ways to cope with it. It can be carried out by yourself, in conjunction with a health professional or with a group of patients in a group. Two types of therapy for talk that have been shown to be effective are cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) and interpersonal therapy.

Meditation, exercise and light therapy are other ways to treat depression. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is treated with a light box that simulates bright sunlight. It is also used to treat chronic depression disorder in bipolar disorders.

Your doctor may also prescribe a drug that treats another mental or physical condition in conjunction with an antidepressant to improve the effect. This is referred to as augmentation. This can include mood stabilizers, antianxiety drugs, thyroid hormone or antipsychotics.

If your depression is not severe and not too severe, your GP may recommend waiting a little while to see if your symptoms will go away on their own. This is often referred to as watchful waiting. It's important to stay in contact with your GP, and make regular appointments for them to monitor your improvement.

Some people suffering from depression can might benefit from other therapies such as energy healing or reflexology, which involves applying pressure to certain points on the body. Some patients find relief through yoga or meditation. Some people find relief through chanting or prayer. If your depression is serious, or you're having thoughts of suicide, it's important to seek treatment as quickly as possible.

Psychotherapy

Talk therapy, often referred to by the name psychotherapy, can assist people in learning how to cope with their symptoms and understand the reason for their depression treatment history. It can be used by itself or in combination with medication. It is essential to begin treatment as soon as you begin to notice symptoms and be on top of your appointments.

There are several types of psychotherapy, and each one works better for certain situations or conditions. Group therapy is a combination of two or more people and you, whereas family therapy teaches loved ones how to treat depression and anxiety to assist you. Some therapists are specialists in certain areas such as relationships or trauma from childhood. They are able to offer specialized treatment.

Some types of psychotherapy include behavioral therapy, cognitive therapy and psychotherapy that is interpersonal. Behavioral therapy can teach you new skills to cope with depression and alter behaviors that aren't helping. Cognitive therapy focuses primarily on changing pessimistic thoughts and negative evaluations that cause depression. Interpersonal psychotherapy is a short-term therapy that is designed to address issues in relationships that are closely linked to your depression.

It may take some time and patience to find the right treatment for you, but the results will be worth it. It's also crucial to have a supportive system that can help you stick to your treatment. Talk to trusted family or friends, join depression support group or visit trustworthy self-help books and websites.

If you suffer from a serious medical condition such as an illness or injury, it's essential to see a doctor examine you and determine if there's a physical cause for your depression. If there is, the issue must be addressed before you can begin therapy. Combining medication with psychotherapy is the most effective method to treat depression. Keep in mind that all types of treatment for depression will take time, and you may have a few ups and downs as you progress through the process. If you stick to your plan, you will be able to beat depression.

Light therapy

Light therapy involves sitting with a special light box, or lamp which emits bright sunlight. It's a popular treatment for people suffering from seasonal affective disorder (SAD). It mimics natural treatment for anxiety and depression daylight and can improve mood and energy. Light therapy has also been shown to alleviate sleep issues which are usually associated with depression. Light therapy is thought to be effective by altering the circadian rhythms of the brain and boosting serotonin. It is possible that light therapy can have an impact on other hormones, such as the hormone melatonin that is released when you are asleep.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommends that SAD is treated the same manner as other types of depression. This includes talking therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as well as antidepressants, and light therapy. It's most effective if it is initiated 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 found that the majority of patients who utilized it had a remission, based on strict criteria for determining. Hamilton depression treatment free Rating Scale - SAD version, a well-known measure of symptoms, showed a decrease. The study concluded that the treatment is safe and well tolerated.

It's important to remember that although light therapy has been shown to be an effective treatment for SAD but it shouldn't be relied on as a whole. You should still seek advice from a physician. It's also important to remain active, eat healthy food and get enough rest and to reduce stress.

Antidepressants can also be effective in treating SAD. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most frequently prescribed form of antidepressant used to treat SAD, and they can lift your mood within several weeks. The side effects could include dry mouth or diarrhoea or nausea, as well as constipation. However, these symptoms usually subside quickly.

Some people might feel that light therapy doesn't help their symptoms or suffer from unpleasant side effects such as headache, eye strain and agitation, or skin irritation. These adverse effects can be controlled by altering the duration of treatment and time of day or the medication used.

Alternative or complementary therapies

Prescription medication is a typical treatment option for depression however, it's not for all. If a treatment doesn't work or has intolerable side-effects, it's possible to consider alternative or complementary therapies. These therapies focus on your physical and spiritual health and can help alleviate depression symptoms such as anxiety and chronic pain.

Acupuncture: This is the practice of placing needles into various points of your body, such as the ears, hands or feet. It can be beneficial for a variety of symptoms including insomnia, anxiety and depression. It's been proven to be effective as antidepressants, but doesn't have the same side effects.

Meditation mindfulness: This type is about learning to be aware of your thoughts actions, feelings and emotions without judgement. It will help you gain control of your emotions. You can practice it on your own or work with a professional therapist.

Yoga: This form of exercise can reduce stress and depression. It also improves your breathing and provides you with a an overall feeling of wellbeing.

Massage The touch of a hand can be relaxing and deep-tissue massages may help with muscle tightness depression, anxiety and tension. Aromatherapy: Inhaling certain essential oils can lift a depressed mood.

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

Exercise: Swimming, walking or any other form of movement can be helpful in treating depression. Recent research has found that 150 minutes per week of moderate exercise helped reduce symptoms of depression.

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) It is a relatively new therapy that uses repeated exposure to a distressing memory to help the brain process it. It has been shown to be highly effective for PTSD however it requires more research into its effectiveness for depression.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists reviewed the evidence supporting a variety of CAM treatments for depression, including Acupuncture and bright light therapy. However, the reviews were small and some of them were not without limitations, like the small number of trials included and small sample sizes. Consequently, the Royal College of Psychiatrists is not suggesting any CAM therapies ect for treatment resistant depression (similar internet site) depression.