How to Treat Depression
When you are feeling sad, hopeless, and empty inside, chances are, you are suffering from depression. It is one of the most common illnesses people suffer from, and they don’t know. From the studies, over 15 million adults suffer from depression annually. Eight out of a hundred teenagers suffer from depression, while two out of a hundred children suffer from the same.
Depression can be severe and debilitating if there are no steps to manage the condition. Luckily, there is an effective treatment for this condition.
Where to find treatment
The first step to finding treatment for depression is to make an appointment with general doctors near you. They will refer you accordingly to psychologists they know. You can also ask your religious or spiritual caretaker to refer you to a counsellor. Many people prefer to see faith-based counsellors and incorporate their religion into the treatment plan for depression. If you have access to the internet, check databases for psychiatrists, therapists, and counsellors. Here you will get the relevant information you might need to find the right counsellor such as certifications, insurance info, and reviews left by past clients. It will provide an excellent place to begin your search.
Treatment
Talk therapy is the first line of depression treatment in Brisbane, followed by medication. Talk therapy involves discussing your issues with a therapist. A trained therapist can detect a pattern in your behaviour that contributes to the condition. Talk therapy may entail tracking your mood and entering in the journal for a specified period. The procedure will help you continue with the therapy treatment outside an appointment with your therapist. Your therapist will formulate exercises that will help you reduce stress and anxiety or help you understand the source of your illness so that you can avoid it.
A therapist will help you identify triggers that exacerbate your illness and develop strategies to help you cope with triggers that lead you into depression. Talk therapy is effective in resolving temporary and mild depression. It can also help alleviate severe depression that does not require medication.
Another method of dealing with depression is taking medication. It is a standard part of dealing with severe depression. There is the medication for short-term and long-term, but the therapist or the doctor will consider many factors before prescribing these medications. These factors include:
- Possible side effects
- Existing health concerns
- Cost of treatment
- Possible drug interactions
- Specific treatment
Examples of these treatments used for treating depression include; SSRIs (Selective-serotonin reuptake inhibitors) that typically have fewer side effects compared to other antidepressants. Other treatments are SNRIs and Tricyclic antidepressants that are more effective but cause severe side effects. These types are useful when your depression condition is non-responsive to other medications. Mood stabilizers combined with antidepressants can work wonders sometimes. If your therapist cannot prescribe medications, they will contact a doctor to prescribe medication for you.
Alternative treatment for depression
There are natural options and other alternative medications for treating depression, but you should take them under the guidance of a specialist. Alternative remedies for depression include; massage therapy, acupuncture, relaxation techniques, omega three fatty acids, and meditation.
Specific lifestyle changes can treat depression when used along with a prescription from a therapist. Doing away with drugs and alcohol can impact significantly in alleviating depression. Drugs and alcohol can be a temporary solution for depression, but once they wear off your body, depression sets in again.