Depression is an illness of the mind and must be addressed as soon as possible. The disorder’s roots lie in an imbalance in brain chemicals, often passing from parent to child over generations.
Step one is getting an accurate diagnosis, which involves having a physical exam and medical history done by a licensed healthcare professional or mental health provider. Your treatment plan could involve psychotherapy (also referred to as talk therapy) or medication or perhaps both approaches combined.
Talk to a Psychiatrist or Mental Health Professional
If you suspect depression, the first step should be talking with your primary care doctor. Do not feel ashamed if telling him/her of any difficulties that you may be having; just acknowledge their existence without guilt or shame.
Mental health professionals will conduct an examination and ask about your symptoms, daily life and medical history. They may also detect physical symptoms such as stomach issues, sleep disturbances or pain that might need further investigation.
Your provider will then use criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders to make an accurate diagnosis, and may suggest cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which identifies negative thoughts and behaviors that contribute to depression and offers tools for replacement.
Your psychiatrist or therapist may prescribe medication or recommend a combination of therapy and medications tailored specifically to you based on individual needs, family circumstances and work commitments, personal preferences as well as any potential conflicts between therapies.
Try Medication
Antidepressants can help many people to cope with depression. By increasing activity of brain chemicals that regulate mood, antidepressants increase activity of those involved. While each body responds differently, most will see an improvement within several weeks – your doctor can help determine which medication best fits for you and for how long.
Other medications may help address symptoms like anxiety and insomnia that often accompany depression. Meditation, relaxation exercises and psychotherapy may also alleviate these symptoms.
Talk therapies such as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and interpersonal psychotherapy may be just as effective in alleviating depression than medications. CBT and interpersonal psychotherapy teach individuals how to identify and reshape negative thought patterns that contribute to depression, while helping individuals address any other factors making depression worse such as unemployment or relationship difficulties.
Participate in Group Therapy
Group therapy can be an invaluable resource for those battling depression. By sharing their struggles with others who understand, group therapy provides hope. Furthermore, people in a group may see someone succeed at something that they have difficulty doing themselves and try incorporating those successes into their treatment plans themselves.
Group therapy sessions may be led by professionals or they can take the form of self-help groups. While self-help groups typically involve sharing experiences and information, professionally guided group therapy sessions usually include discussing coping strategies. Group therapy sessions may be open or closed with people joining at any time (open groups) or limited to only core group participants (closed groups). Confidentiality is usually key component in group therapy sessions.
Get Social
Depression may make socializing seem uncomfortable or terrifying, yet it is important to make an effort–even if only small interactions–to get back into your routines as it will help alleviate loneliness and improve your mood.
Isolation is one of the hallmarks of depression, and left untreated it can quickly spiral out of control. If you find yourself avoiding phone calls or texts, canceling plans, or staying home more than usual, it may be time to speak to a psychiatrist or mental health provider about how best to cope.
Keep in mind that your friends may not understand your depression and could make comments that could sting, yet if they know your symptoms and see when you are struggling they can offer support – that’s why keeping an active support network close by, even if it just means texting each other or meeting up for coffee periodically, can make all the difference in recovery.