The 10 Worst Depression Treatment Methods FAILS Of All Time Could Have Been Prevented
Depression Treatment Methods
Depression can be treated with various methods. They can avail alternative treatments, psychological therapies and medication.
Psychotherapy includes cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps people identify and change distorted thinking patterns. Other options include dialectical behavior therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy, both of which are specifically designed to treat depression that is resistant to treatment.
Medication
The most effective medication is the treatment for depression and the first method that people attempt. They are especially effective for those suffering from severe or moderate depression, or when there is a chance of suicide. Treatment can help relieve symptoms quickly and prevent the possibility of relapses.
Antidepressant drugs can be used to treat depression. The most popular antidepressant is fluoxetine (Prozac). It is taken orally in tablet form and has been in use for quite a while. But newer drugs like sertraline (Zoloft) and citalopram (Celexa) are more effective and less likely to cause side effects.
Talk therapy is often combined medications for depression that is severe. Psychotherapy is designed to help you understand your depression and to teach you how to cope with it. You can go through it on your own with an expert or in a group setting with other patients. Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and interpersonal therapy are two types of talk therapy which have been proven effective.
Other treatments for depression include exercise, light therapy and meditation. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is treated with an artificial light box that mimics bright sunlight. It can also be used to treat chronic depressive disorder in people with bipolar disorders.
To increase the effectiveness of the medication, your doctor may prescribe a medication to treat an additional physical or mental disorder in conjunction with an antidepressant. This is called augmenting. This could include mood stabilizers, antianxiety drugs, thyroid hormone or antipsychotics.
If your depression is mild and not too severe, your GP might recommend waiting a little while to see if your symptoms disappear on their own. This is called "watchful waiting". It's essential to stay in contact with your GP and make regular appointments so that they can examine your progress.
Certain people suffering from depression may benefit from other treatments such as reflexology or energy healing, which involves applying pressure to certain points on the body. Some patients experience relief through meditation or yoga. Others find relief in chanting or praying. If you are suffering from severe depression or have thoughts of self-harm, it is essential to seek help as soon as you can.
Psychotherapy
Talk therapy, also known by the name psychotherapy, can assist people in learning how to manage their symptoms and comprehend the reason for their depression. It can be used on its own or in combination with medications. It is crucial to begin treatment immediately after you start to feel symptoms, and keep track of your sessions.
There are many kinds of psychotherapy. Each one is better for specific situations or circumstances. Individual therapy involves you and your therapist, group therapy involves two or more persons, and family therapy can teach your loved ones how to support you. Some therapists are experts in certain areas, like relationships or trauma from childhood and offer special treatments that are ideal for you.
Psychotherapy includes psychotherapy that is based on interpersonal psychotherapy, cognitive therapy, and therapy for behavioral issues. Behavioral therapy can teach you new skills to cope with depression and change habits of behavior that aren't helping. Cognitive therapy focuses on changing negative perceptions and destructive thinking patterns that lead to depression. Interpersonal psychotherapy is a brief treatment that is designed to help improve the relationship issues that are most closely related to your depression.
Finding the best type of therapy for you might take some time and patience but it's well worth it in the long run. It is also important to have a supportive system that can help you stick to your treatment. Talk to your trusted family members or friends, joining a depression support group, or reading self-help books and websites.
If you have an illness that is serious, like an injury or illness, it's important to see a doctor examine you to determine if there's a physical cause for your depression. If there is, that condition will need to be treated before you begin therapy. Medicine can be a powerful treatment for depression, and when combined with psychotherapy can help you recover more quickly. Be aware that all treatments for depression take some time and you'll be able to experience a variety of ups and downs while you go through the process. But if you stick with your plan, you will be in a position to beat depression.
Light therapy
Light therapy is the practice of sitting in front of a special lamp, or light box which emits bright sunlight. It's a well-known treatment for people 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 proven to help with sleep issues which are usually associated with depression. natural remedies for depression thought that light therapy affects circadian rhythms and increasing serotonin levels in the brain. It's also possible that it has a positive influence 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 depression. This could include talk therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as well as antidepressants, and light therapy. It is most effective to begin treatment at the beginning of winter, before symptoms start to manifest, and continue until spring.
Recent research on the effectiveness of light therapy in the treatment of SAD discovered that the majority of patients who took advantage of the treatment were able to achieve remission following strict criteria. The results included a decrease in symptoms using an established scale, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale - SAD version. The study found that the treatment is safe and well-tolerated.
It's important to remember that while light therapy has been proven to be a highly effective treatment for SAD, it can't be relied on as a whole. It is still recommended to seek advice from a physician. It's essential to be active, eat a balanced diet take a good night's sleep, and reduce stress.
Antidepressants can also be effective in treating SAD. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most frequently prescribed type of antidepressant for SAD and can boost your mood within several weeks. Some side effects include dry mouth, diarrhoea, nausea, or constipation. However, these symptoms usually disappear quickly.
Some people find that light therapy does not improve their symptoms, or they experience undesirable side effects like eye strain or headaches or agitation. Other side effects include irritation to the skin. These adverse effects can be controlled by altering the duration of treatment or time of day or the product employed.
Alternative or complementary therapies
Taking prescription medication is a common treatment option for depression but it's not the best choice for everyone. If a medication doesn't work or has unacceptably adverse side-effects, it's possible to consider a complementary or alternative therapy. These therapies are focused on your physical and spiritual health and can ease depression-related symptoms, such as anxiety and chronic pain.
Acupuncture: This involves placing needles into various points of your body, like the ears, hands or feet. It can alleviate various symptoms, including 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 observe your thoughts actions, feelings and emotions without judgment. It will help you gain control of your emotions. It can be performed by yourself or with an experienced therapist.
Yoga: This form of exercise can help reduce stress and depression. It also improves your breathing and gives you the feeling of being well-being.
Massage: Touch can be soothing, and deep-tissue massages can help with muscle tightness, anxiety and depression. Aromatherapy Inhaling essential oils can help to lift depression.
Energy healing is a combination of techniques such as yoga, reiki, and tai chi. These methods are based on the idea that illness is due to blockages in energy.
Exercise: Swimming, walking or any other kind of exercise can help treat depression. A recent study found that 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week decreased depression symptoms.
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR): This is a fairly new therapy that uses repeated exposure to a painful memory to assist 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 for a number of CAM depression treatments, including 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. This is why the Royal College of Psychiatrists is not suggesting any CAM treatments for depression.