Are you feeling depressed and searching for assistance? In the present time when all our lives are fast-paced, mental health goes at stake. Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses. It has a negative impact on your feelings, thoughts, and actions. But what is the only good thing about it?
How To Manage And Treat Depression?
Are you worried that you will be fine or not? Is it curable or not? But we can assure you that it is curable. If you are looking for help with depression, this is the right place for you. But before that let’s look at some symptoms of depression.
Depression can be severe or mild and some common signs of depression are:
· Feeling sad all-day
· Loss of interest in activities
· Weight loss or gain unrelated to dieting
· Disturbed sleep cycle
· Loss of energy or increased fatigue
· Questioning self-worth
· Anxiety in making decisions
· Suicidal thoughts
What are the different Therapies for Depression?
You must go for therapy if you are having the above-mentioned symptoms. A trusted therapist will give the right kind of therapy suitable for you. Some common types of therapies are:
Cognitive Therapy
This type of therapy helps people to identify their thought patterns. It aims to change wasteful thoughts into productive ones. Cognitive therapy is short and lasts between four to six months.
Behavioural Therapy
Behavioral therapy deals with the depressing habits of a person. It tries to replace self-destructive habits with motivating ones. This type of therapy engages people in activities that encourage them.
Cognitive- Behavioural Therapy
CBT is a mix of Cognitive and behavioral therapy. It focuses on the thoughts and behavior together. It works on changing the thought process which results in better behavior.
Talk Therapy
In talk therapy, an experienced therapist talks to you about your thoughts. The therapist will try to identify your mood pattern. You may be advised to start journaling or any physical activity. This type of therapy works only for mild depression. If you have severe depression, go for medication.
Medical Treatment for Depression
There is nothing to worry about going for medication. Like any other illness, depression can be cured by medical treatment. However, before going for medicine you must keep some factors in mind. These are your medication history, price, allergies, etc.
Commonly used medical treatments for depression are:
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
Amongst the earliest medicine for depression, MAOIs increase brain chemicals. These chemicals are serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. They help in enhancing the mood of the person.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
SSRIs have the least side effects compared to other medicines. This prevents the blood from absorbing serotonin from the brain. Hence, the increase in serotonin in the brain decreases depression.
Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
They help in creating a balance between serotonin and norepinephrine. It also prevents the chemicals from going back to the brain cells.
Other Treatments for Depression
Natural Remedies:
You can try some natural treatments for depression, alongside your medication. These include:
Lifestyle Changes
Little changes in the lifestyle can be a great help for depression. If you make some changes in your routine life, you will witness a great difference in your mental health. Things that you can look after are:
· Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol
· Try to follow a daily routine
· Do some physical activity every day
· Eat clean and healthy food
· Maintain a journal and put your thoughts on paper
· Assign yourself small tasks and reward yourself when it’s done
· Avoid negative news and too much social media
· Try to sleep early
How Can You Find Help for Depression Near You?
If you are witnessing some symptoms in you, see a doctor. After the initial check-up, they can recommend you, psychiatrists, in your area. You can get in touch with a counselor, psychiatrist, and therapists from a hospital Yetu. Check the reviews by previous patients before consulting anyone.
If you are religious, you may like religion-based therapy too. Some therapists combine religion and treatment plans to help you with depression. These are called faith-based therapy.
However, check if you are getting better or not. If your symptoms are not improving, chances are that your treatment isn’t working. In this case, consult your therapist or counselor immediately.
The Bottom Line
Depression can be a tough phase of life, but it is not the final destination. Make sure you talk to someone about it. Try to take help for depression in the way that suits you the most. Talk to yourself and keep on asking yourself positive questions