Depression is a mental health condition that affects every individual differently. It can be a limiting condition, and however severe your depression may seem, you should understand that it is treatable.
The treatment options for depression range from medications and therapy to lifestyle changes. Just as every individual is differently affected by depression, the treatment also may change from person to person. Sometimes, a mental health professional may use only medication or only psychotherapy. If needed, both kinds of treatments may be taken together.
Medication
Antidepressants can be useful for treating moderate-to-severe depression. These medicines can take 2-4 weeks to show an improvement in the symptoms of depression. Different antidepressants are prescribed by the doctor based on symptoms. While antidepressants have a high chance of success, they may have side effects as well.
The common side effects associated with antidepressants are:
Nausea
Headaches
Difficulty in sexual arousal
Dry mouth
Weight gain
Sweating
Dizziness
While these symptoms may not persist for a long time, you must inform the doctor if you have any so that they can suggest ways to minimise the side effects of your medication.
Psychotherapy
The most common forms of therapies used for treating depression are:
Cognitive behavioural therapy
Psychodynamic therapy
Interpersonal therapy
Psychotherapy can help you to:
Find the reason behind your depression
Introspect
Identify your triggers
Modify your negative thinking patterns
Improve your behaviour
What other steps can be taken for depression?
In addition to finding the right treatment for your symptoms of depression, exercising and lifestyle changes can help you combat your depression more effectively. Talk to your family members or seek out a support group that will help you cope with your depression.
Making positive lifestyle changes such as the following can help you to combat depression faster:
Exercise: It can boost the release of the ‘feel good’ natural brain chemicals that trigger the growth of new brain cells. Just 30 minutes of walking on a daily basis can make a huge difference in your symptoms.
Diet: Take care to include more nutritious food items on your plate instead of sugary foods. Eat small, balanced meals to help you minimise the fluctuations in mood and keep your energy up.
Restful sleep: Not getting adequate sleep can worsen your symptoms and lead to irritation, mood swings and tiredness. Plan such that you get a minimum of 7 to 9 hours of sleep every night.
Busting stress: Increased stress increases your depressive symptoms. Try to cut out stressors such as unsupportive relationships from your life or find ways so that their impact on your life is reduced.
Social support: Do not isolate yourself, build a social support system. Engage in hobbies and pleasurable activities that put you in touch with other people. You can volunteer so that you help yourself while helping others. Surround yourself with positive and supportive people or support groups.
Other alternative techniques that you can choose from to spring back from depression are relaxation techniques such as meditation, yoga and deep breathing, which can help in boosting positive emotions.
It is also important to know the cause of depression. If your symptoms of depression are due to nutritional deficiency, the doctor may prescribe health supplements.