Depression Treatment Methods
Patients suffering from depression can avail a range of treatment options. 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 behavioral therapy that are both designed for people who have depression that is resistant to treatment.
Medication
The most common and effective treatment for depression is medication. They are especially effective in cases of moderate or severe depression or when there is an increased likelihood of suicide. Treatment can help relieve symptoms quickly and help prevent relapses.
Several types of antidepressant medications have been proven to combat depression. The most common antidepressant is fluoxetine (Prozac). It is taken orally in tablet form and has been around for quite a while. Sertraline (Zoloft) is a citalopram derivative and other newer medications could be more effective and have fewer side effects.
For those suffering from severe depression, talking therapy is often combined with medication. Psychotherapy helps you understand your depression and help you learn how to deal with it. You can do it alone with a professional or in a group setting with other patients. Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), and interpersonal therapy are two kinds of therapy that have been proven beneficial.
Other treatments for depression include light therapy, exercise and meditation. depression treatment for teenagers www.iampsychiatry.com that mimics bright sunlight is used to treat seasonal affective disorder (SAD). It is also used to treat chronic depression disorder in people with bipolar disorders.
Your doctor might also use a drug that treats another physical or mental condition, in conjunction with an antidepressant to enhance the effects. This is called augmenting. It could be a combination of mood stabilizers, antianxiety drugs, thyroid hormone or antipsychotics.
If your depression isn't severe, your GP might suggest taking a few days off to see if the symptoms go away on their own. This is known as "watchful waiting". But it's important to keep in touch with your GP and make regular appointments so they can check your progress.
Some people with depression might benefit from other therapies such as energy healing or reflexology, which involves applying pressure to specific points on the body. Some patients find relief from meditation or yoga. Some people find relief through chanting or praying. If you're suffering from depression severe or thoughts of self-harm, it is crucial to seek treatment as soon as you can.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy can help people discover why they feel depressed and discover new ways to cope with their symptoms. It can be used in conjunction with medication or by itself. It is essential to begin treatment when you begin to notice symptoms, and to be on top of your appointments.
There are many kinds of psychotherapy. Each one is better for specific situations or clinical circumstances. Individual therapy involves just you and a therapist group therapy is for two or more people, and family therapy teaches your loved ones how to support you. Certain therapists specialize in particular areas like relationship or childhood trauma. They are able to offer specialized treatment.
Psychotherapy can be classified into cognitive therapy, behavioral therapy, and interpersonal psychotherapy. Behavioral therapy can teach you new strategies to manage depression and alter patterns of behavior that aren't serving you. Cognitive therapy focuses on changing pessimistic judgments and negative thinking patterns that cause depression. Interpersonal psychotherapy is a short-term therapy that seeks to fix problems in relationships that are closely associated with your depression.
Getting the right type of therapy for you may require some patience and time but it's well worth it in the end. It's also crucial to have a supportive system to help you stay with your treatment. Talk to trusted family or friends, join depression support group, or read reliable self-help books and websites.
If you suffer from a serious medical issue such as an illness or injury, it is essential to see a doctor examine you and determine if there's a physical cause for your depression. If it is, the issue must be treated before you begin therapy. Medicine can be a powerful treatment for depression, and combining it with psychotherapy can help you recover faster. Keep in mind that all forms of treatment for depression take some time, and you will experience ups and downs as you go through the process. If you stay with 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 is a popular treatment option for people suffering from seasonal affective disorders. It resembles natural sunlight and can improve mood and energy. Light therapy has also been shown to help with sleep issues that are frequently associated with depression. It's believed that light therapy affects the rhythm of the circadian cycle and increasing serotonin levels in the brain. It's also possible that it has a positive effect on the levels of other hormones such as melatonin, which gets released when you sleep.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence suggests that SAD be treated the same as other types of depression. This could include treatments for talking like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and light therapy and antidepressants. It is most effective to begin treatment at the beginning of winter before symptoms begin and continue through spring.
A recent study of the use of light therapy for the treatment of SAD has found that the majority of patients who used it experienced remission after completing strict criteria for diagnosing. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-SAD version, a well-established measurement of symptoms, showed a decrease. The study also showed that the treatment was safe and well-tolerated.
It's important to keep in mind that even though light therapy has been shown to be an effective treatment for SAD however, it cannot be relied on as a whole. It's still necessary to see a doctor and follow their advice. It's essential to be active, eat healthily, get enough sleep and reduce stress.
In addition to light therapy, antidepressants have also been proven to be effective in treating SAD. The most frequently prescribed antidepressant for SAD is selective serotonin reuptake reduces (SSRIs). They can boost your mood within a couple of weeks. Some side effects include dry mouth, diarrhoea, nausea, or constipation. However these symptoms typically diminish quickly.
Some people are disappointed when light therapy does not help their symptoms, or they suffer undesirable side effects like eye strain or headaches and agitation. They also experience irritation of the skin. These adverse effects can be controlled by altering the duration of treatment and time of day or product used.
Alternative or complementary therapies
Taking prescription medication is a common treatment option for depression, but it's not right for everyone. If a medication doesn't work or has unavoidable negative side effects, it might be time to try an alternative or complementary therapy. These are therapies that concentrate on your physical and spiritual health and can alleviate symptoms of depression, such as anxiety and discomfort.
Acupuncture involves inserting needles in different parts of the body such as your ears, hands, or feet. It can alleviate a variety of symptoms, including insomnia, depression, anxiety and depression. It's been proven to work as well as antidepressants, but doesn't have the same side effects.
Mindfulness meditation: This form of therapy focuses on the ability to look at your thoughts and emotions without judgement and can help you feel more in control of your emotions. You can practice it by yourself or work with a qualified therapist.
Yoga: This form of exercise can help reduce stress and depression. It also improves breathing and creates a sense of well-being.
Massage is a soothing experience and deep-tissue massages may aid in relieving muscle tightness as well as depression and anxiety. Aromatherapy Inhaling essential oils can alleviate depression.
Energy healing involves techniques such as yoga, reiki, and tai chi. They are based on the belief that illnesses are caused by energy blockages.
Exercise: Walking, swimming or any other type of exercise has been proven to to treat depression. Recent research revealed that 150 minutes of moderate exercise helped reduce symptoms of depression.
Eye movement desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) It is a relatively new treatment that relies on repeated exposure to a stressful memory to help the brain process it. It has been proven to be highly effective for PTSD however it requires more research into its effectiveness in treating depression.
The Royal College of Psychiatrists reviewed the evidence available for a variety of CAM treatments for depression, such as bright light therapy and acupuncture. However the reviews were brief and some were not without limitations, like the small number of trials included and small sample sizes. Therefore, the Royal College of Psychiatrists is not suggesting any CAM therapies for depression.