Depression can be triggered by a variety of factors, some of which include abuse, death or the loss of a loved one, retiring, divorce, mental illness, taking certain medications that increase the risk of depression, and family history of depression (Causes of Depression).
To effectively treat depression, it's important to identify contributing factors and causes of this mental health condition. As humans, we cannot control every aspect of life, but we can control our thought processes and actions.
Treatment Through Lifestyle Changes
There are a number of simple measures that can serve to combat depression symptoms. The following lifestyle changes may be useful.
- Exercise: Exercising boosts healthy brain chemicals such as serotonin and endorphins. It also prompts the development of new brain cells (Depression Treatment). Exercise relieves stress and energizes you.
- Sleep: Another lifestyle change that you can implement involves improving your sleeping habits. Be sure to get enough sleep, as sleep deprivation causes irritability, mood swings, sadness, and fatigue which, in turn, may trigger depression.
- Stay Connected: Staying connected with others is another way to help combat the impact of depression. Isolation and depression often go hand-in-hand, therefore, try to keep in touch with family and friends. You can even volunteer somewhere to stay connected with the outside world (Depression Treatment).
- Reduce Stress: Stress is a big factor and it can exacerbate depression symptoms. Find ways to reduce or eliminate stress in your life (Depression Treatment).
- Thought Processes: Sometimes, depression is caused by the way we think. Try to eliminate negative self-talk and aim for positive thinking. I am a true believer of “everything that happens happens for a reason.” That is, something good comes out of every bad situation.
Treatment Through Therapy
Therapy, often combined with medication, is regarded as the standard treatment for depression. One thing to consider when seeking a therapist is the connection that you will have with the therapist. You want to find a therapist who makes you feel comfortable. Ask your primary doctor for a referral.
The National Mental Health Association may also provide a list of licensed medical professionals. When seeking therapy, you can also consider community mental health clinics, as the cost is often much less expensive. (Depression Treatment)
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Depression
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on maladaptive patterns of thought processes and what causes such thinking. For example, a depressed person may think that he or she is worthless and insignificant, but with this therapy, the individual will be encouraged to treat such thinking as hypotheses, not as facts and to test their hypotheses through experiments to prove how right they think they are.
Clients using Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy will be asked to keep a log of their thought processes. This aids in the identification of maladaptive thought patterns, which are then turned into positive thought patterns. CBT is problem-focused and goal-oriented (Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy).
Psychodynamic Therapy
Psychodynamic Therapy focuses on clients’ self-awareness. It encourages clients to understand the influence that their past has on their current behaviors. This approach enables clients to observe any unresolved conflicts that may still exist from past dysfunctional events. They also gain insight about themselves by understating how different behaviors in their life have developed.
Interpersonal Therapy
Interpersonal therapy focuses on the individual’s personal relationships. The goal of interpersonal therapy is to improve the depressed person’s communication pattern and help improve how he or she relates to others. According to Michael Herkov, PhD, techniques used during Interpersonal Therapy sessions include helping clients identify their emotions and causes, helping clients express their emotions, and fully dealing with all of the client’s emotions.
Depression Treatment With Medication
Even though depression medications are the most advertised treatment, that does not mean that it is the most effective treatment. Because depression is not just due to a chemical imbalance in the brain, medications may help relieve some symptoms; however, medication alone does not completely cure the problem. Medication is often intended as a short-term solution.
Depression medications can be associated with significant side effects and some patients report withdrawal-type symptoms once the medication is discontinued. If you decide to treat depression through medications, be sure to learn about the medication that you're prescribed.
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to treat or diagnosis depression in individuals. Anyone experiencing depressive systems should consult with a qualified professional before beginning or ending any treatment. Do not start or stop taking medications without first consulting with a qualified medical professional.
Sources:
- “Causes of Depression”; Amal Chakraburtty, MD; WebMD; 01 Mar 2010. Retrieved on May 25, 2011.
- “ Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy ”; Debbie M. Warman, Ph.D. and Aaron T. Beck, M.D.; National Alliance on Mental Illness; June 2003. Retrieved on May 26, 2011.
- “Depression Treatment”; Joanna Saisan, MSW, and Melinda Smith, M.A.; HelpGuide.org; May 2010. Retrieved on May 25, 2011.
- “Psychodynamic Therapy”; Jim Haggerty, MD; PsychCentral; 2006. Retrieved on May 26, 2011.
- “About Interpersonal Therapy”; Michael Herkov, PhD; PsychCentral; 2006. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
- "How Effective is Psychodynamic Therapy for The Treatment of Depression?"; Susan Stagno, MD; ABC News; 10 Mar 2008. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
- “Understanding Depression”; Melinda Smith, M.A., Joanna Saisan, MSW, and Jeanne Segal, Ph.D; HelpGuide.org. Retrieved on May 25, 2011.
Narmeen Badrah - Hello! I would like to start off by saying that I am a happily married woman and I have a seven and a half month old son. I graduated from ...
