Depression Treatment Methods

People who have depression can avail a variety of treatment methods. They can avail psychotherapy, alternative treatments and medications.

Psychotherapy includes cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps people identify and correct their negative thinking patterns. Other options include acceptance and commitment therapy as well as dialectical therapy for behavioral disorders that are both designed for depression resistant to treatment.

Medication

Medicines are the most significant depression treatment method, and the first method that people attempt. They are especially effective in moderate or severe depression, or when there is a high risk of suicide. Treatment can ease symptoms quickly, and it can also help prevent relapses.

Antidepressant medications can be used to treat depression. The most common is fluoxetine (Prozac). It is taken orally in tablet form and has been in use for many years. Sertraline (Zoloft) is a citalopram derivative and other newer medications could be more effective and have less side effects.

Talk therapy is usually combined with medication for severe depression. Psychotherapy is designed to help you understand the causes of depression, and to teach you how to deal with it. You can work on it by yourself with an expert or in a group setting with other patients. Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) and interpersonal therapy are two types of therapy that have been proven beneficial.

Meditation, exercise and light therapy are all other options for treating depression. A light box that resembles bright sunlight is used to treat seasonal affective disorder (SAD). It can also be used to treat chronic depression disorder in bipolar disorders.

To increase the effectiveness, your doctor may also prescribe a drug to treat another mental or physical condition in combination with an antidepressant. This is known as augmentation. It might include a mood stabilizer, antianxiety or antipsychotic drugs, or it might involve thyroid hormone.

If your depression is mild or not severe, your GP might suggest waiting a short time to see if your symptoms will go away on their own. This is called "watchful waiting". It's important to stay in contact with your GP, and make regular appointments for them to monitor your improvement.

Many people suffering from depression benefit from other therapies like reflexology, which involves pressure being applied to special points on the body, or for energy healing. Some patients find relief from yoga or meditation. Others find relief in chanting or praying. If you are suffering from severe depression or have thoughts of self-harm, it is important to seek treatment immediately.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy can help people discover why they are depressed and learn new ways to cope with their symptoms. It can be used in conjunction with medication or alone. It is important that you start the treatment as soon as possible and attend all sessions.

There are different types of psychotherapy. Each is best for specific situations or circumstances. Group therapy is a mix of two or more people and you, while family therapy teaches loved ones how to support you. Some therapists are experts in certain areas, such as family issues or childhood trauma and can provide specific treatments that are right for you.

Certain types of psychotherapy include cognitive therapy, behavioral therapy and interpersonal psychotherapy. Behavioral therapy teaches you how to cope with depression, and can help you change your behaviors that aren't helping. Cognitive therapy is primarily focused on changing negative thinking and unhelpful evaluations that cause depression. Interpersonal psychotherapy is a short-term therapy that seeks to fix problems in relationships that are most closely associated with your depression.

It can take a bit of patience and time to determine the best treatment for you, but the outcomes will be worth it. It's also crucial to have a system of support to help you stay with your treatment. Talk to your trusted family members or friends, join a depression support groups or go through trustworthy self-help books and websites.

If you have an illness that is serious such as an injury or illness, it's essential to have a doctor examine you to determine if there is an underlying physical reason for your depression. If it is, the issue must be treated before you begin therapy. Combining psychotherapy with medication is an an effective way to treat depression. Remember that all types of treatment for depression take some time, and you will be able to experience a variety of ups and downs while you work through the process. If you stick to your plan, you'll be able to beat depression.

Light therapy

A sitting position in front of a light box or special lamp that emits bright light is known as light therapy. It is a popular residential treatment for depression option for people suffering from seasonal affective disorder. It mimics natural daylight and can boost energy levels and mood. It's also proven to improve sleep issues which are often linked to depression. Light therapy is thought to work by altering the circadian rhythms in the brain and increasing serotonin. It is possible that light therapy can have an effect positive on other hormones, such as the hormone melatonin that is released when you sleep deprivation treatment for depression.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence suggests that SAD be treated the same as other types depression. This includes talking therapies like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and light therapy and antidepressants. It is most effective when it is began at the beginning of winter before symptoms begin to manifest and continues until spring.

Recent research into the use of light therapy in the treatment of SAD found that most patients who took advantage of the treatment were able to achieve remission following strict criteria. This included a reduction in symptoms on a well-established measure, the Hamilton depression treatment exercise Rating Scale - SAD version. The study found that the treatment refractory depression (Nerdgaming.science) is safe and well-tolerated.

It's important to keep in mind that even though light therapy has been proven to be a successful treatment for SAD, it can't be relied on alone. It is still recommended to seek advice from a physician. It's essential to be active, eat healthily take a good night's sleep, and reduce stress.

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

Some people discover that light therapy does not improve their symptoms, or they suffer unpleasant side-effects like eye strain or headaches or agitation. Other side effects include irritation of the skin. These adverse effects can be controlled by altering the duration of treatment, time of day, or the medication employed.

Alternative or complementary therapies

Prescription medication is one of the most common treatments for depression. However, it may not be suitable for everyone. If a medication 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 spiritual wellbeing and can ease depression-related symptoms such as anxiety and chronic pain.

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

Mindfulness meditation: This type of therapy focuses on the ability to observe your thoughts and feelings without judgment, which can help you feel more in control of your emotions. It can be performed by yourself or with trained therapist.

Yoga: This kind of exercise can reduce depression and stress. It also improves your breathing and gives you a feeling of well-being.

Massage: Touch is soothing. Deep-tissue massages are beneficial for muscle tension, anxiety, and depression. Aromatherapy: Inhaling certain essential oils can lift a depressed mood.

Energy healing techniques like reiki, yoga, and tai chi. They are based on the idea that illness is caused by blockages in energy.

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

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) It is a fairly new therapy that uses repeated exposure to a stressful memory to help the brain process it. It has been demonstrated to be very effective for PTSD however, it needs more research into its effectiveness for depression.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists reviewed the evidence supporting a variety of CAM depression treatments, including bright light therapy and acupuncture. The reviews were not extensive and some had limitations like a small number of trials included and small sample sizes. The Royal College of Psychiatrists does not recommend any CAM treatment for depression.