Depression Treatment

Treatment for Depression 

Depression is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act. Fortunately, it is treatable. The good news is that even with the most severe forms of depression, there is hope.



What is depression?

Depression is a common mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. It will interferes with your daily activities and relationships. Depression is different from feeling sad or unhappy for a few days. It’s a long-term condition that can last for weeks, months or even years.

There are five main types of depression:

  • Postnatal depression
  • Depressive disorder
  • Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
  • Grief
  • Bipolar

What are the symptoms of depression?

The symptoms of depression can vary from person to person, but some of the most common symptoms include:

  • Feeling sad or miserable
  • Pessimism
  • Loss of interest in activities you used to enjoy
  • Changes in your appetite (eating too much or too little)
  • Changes in sleep (sleeping too much or too little)
  • Changes in energy level (feeling tired or sluggish)
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Difficulty making decisions
  • Feeling worthless
  • Restlessness
  • Thoughts of suicide

 If you are experiencing a number of these symptoms for two weeks, it is important to see your GP.

The treatment for depression

There are two main treatments for depression which are:

  • Therapy: There are many types of therapy. CBT is common but is normally viewed as a quick fix and does not necessarily solve the underlying problem - it is best to get to the real cause. I am an integrative counsellor which draws on the best of many approaches to solve the problem. When you identify a therapist you should discuss their background and skillset with them.
  • Medication: You need to talk to your GP. There are many types of antidepressants including Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI), Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors  (SNRI) and Tricyclic antidepressants (TCA). They are designed to help improve mood and reduce symptoms of depression. Your GP will need to work with you to find the one that suits you.

A therapist is likely to recommend you see your GP with a view to taking anti-depressants to lift your mood while the therapy is taking place.

Self-care tips for depression

In addition to treatment, there are a number of things you can do to help manage your depression, including:

  • Get regular exercise. Exercise has been shown to be as effective as antidepressants for treating mild to moderate depression, it is good for severe depression too.
  • Get enough sleep. When you are well-rested, you are better able to cope with stress and manage your emotions.
  • Eating a healthy diet. Eating a healthy diet can help to improve your mood and energy levels.
  • It is usually said that you should avoid alcohol and drugs. Alcohol and drugs can make depression worse. Let’s be realistic here, reducing alcohol would be good for you.
  • Do things you enjoy. Make time for activities that you enjoy and that make you feel good.
  • Connect with others. Social interaction is important it can help to reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness.
  • Learn stress management techniques. Stress can make depression worse, so learning how to manage stress can be helpful.
  • Using a mediation app regularly to help you relax and achieve better sleep.
  • Use established breathing exercises.

As an experienced therapist I would cover these points with you.

Remember, you are not alone. Treatment for depression is available. With the correct treatment and self-care, you can feel better and live a full and productive life.

Read more about my depression therapy.

Depression Treatment


Depression Treatment Treatment for depression is likely to take two approaches - presciption drugs and counselling therapy. I would expect ..

https://letstalkaboutit.co.uk

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The advantages and disadvantages of online therapy

Image
 The advantages and disadvantages of online therapy Online Therapy and  Online Counselling Online therapy, often called online counselling are also known as viirtual therapy, tele-counselling and phone counselling. These forms of therapy have become increasingly popular and accessible, particularly since Covid. They offer several advantages and some disadvantages. Here is my breakdown for you to consider which choice to make.  Advantages of Online Therapy Accessibility. Online therapy allows you to access counselling/therapy services from your home or office. This is an advantage to people living in remote areas or anyone with mobility issues. Wider choice of Therapists (with different specialities). By going online there is a wider choice of therapists and it will be easier to find a counsellor who specialises in your subject. Convenience and Flexible scheduling.  Virtual counselling eliminates the need for travel time, making it more convenient for people who have ...
Read more

Why choose a specialist Bereavement Counsellor?

Image
  Why choose a bereavement specialist Would you go to your GP for cancer treatment – or to the best cancer specialist you can find? You don’t get better from bereavement of a loved one. You can alleviate stress or overcome many other mental health issues. Thoughts about the bereaved can come back weeks, months or years later. The slightest or most unconsidered trigger can bring back unhappiness. My aim is to explain how thought of bereavement work, and allow you to move on with your life. You will never forget the loved one. Most mental health issues are quite complex. Some more so than others. Counselling training will cover aspects of many different subjects. A bit like being  GP, they understand a small (relatively) amount about a lot of subjects. But if you want real advice would you not go to a specialist? There are many different approaches to bereavement counselling. Many different theories. I have studied these for many years. This includes reading many books, attendin...
Read more