The effects of depression can be devastating if the illness remains untreated. Unfortunately, for those who suffer from depression, symptoms do not dissipate on their own or over time. There is no exact cause of depression but rather a plurality of factors could be responsible for the onset of depression treatments are many and varied, they range from conventional, medicalized depression treatments to less conventional, or alternative treatments. This article explores the most popular treatments of depression. Firstly, the prescription of antidepressants is the most common treatment prescribed by medical experts. In most cases, antidepressants help reduce the symptoms associated with depression but they do come with side effects. Secondly, an evaluation of different types of counselling therapy as well as an overview of their respective advantages will be elaborated. Researchers suggest that a combination of both of these depression treatments heightens success rates for those suffer from depressive illnesses.
Depression is a mental illness that is more common than people believe. In fact, in America over 17 million people have been diagnosed with the condition. Depression affects people from every ethnic background, socio-economic status, gender and age. For the moment, researchers have not identified a precise cause for this illness. Depression can be caused by genetic, psychological, environmental, chronic illnesses, stress and hormonal factors.
Although depression can have devastating effects, there are many depression treatments that work. 80% of people who receive treatments for depression successfully overcome the illness and manage to lead a normal life with limited symptoms. In this article we will explore the more common depression treatments such as:
- Medication: antidepressants
- Counselling: cognitive, psychotherapy, ITP (interpersonal therapy), group counselling.
MEDICATION:
In most cases, medical experts will resort to antidepressants as a first choice of treatment for depression. Although medication diminishes depression symptoms, it does not cure it. Antidepressants are especially helpful when the depression is caused by a chemical imbalance. This treatment for depression operates on the neurotransmitters (serotonin, dopamine and noradrenalin) that are responsible for regulating the mood and allowing you to feel balanced and “normal”.
There are a plurality of drugs use to treat depression. These drugs usually belong to one of the following classes of antidepressants:
- SSRI’s: Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (Proxac, Zoloft, Paxil, Luxof, etc)
- MAOI’s: Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (Marplan, Nardil, Parnate, etc)
- Tricyclics: Anafranil, Asendin, Aventyl,Elavil, Sinequan, Triptil, ect)
- Lithium: Mood stabilizer commonly prescribed to as a depression treatment for bipolar disorder (manic depression)
The first thing that comes to mind when we are faced with the decision of taking antidepressants are the possible side effects. Side effects are the response to your body’s reaction to the medication. Since everyone’s biological makeup is different, side effects vary from one person to another although, n most cases, they are mild and temporary.
Here is a list of the most commonly cited side effects associated with antidepressants:
- Nausea
- Blurred vision
- Dizziness
- Dry mouth
- Insomnia
- Increased heart rate
- Headaches
- Sexual problems (deceased sex drive)
- Agitation, nervousness
- Weight gain
- Sleepiness
- Tremors
- Sweating
In some cases, antidepressants have the opposite effect: they amplify the symptoms rather than work as a depression treatment. As a result, the depression increases and the symptoms, including suicidal thoughts, augment. Children and teenagers are particularly at-risk, although this reverse reaction to antidepressants can occur to anyone taking antidepressants especially during the first few weeks of treatment.
It is important to take into account that all antidepressants have different side effects and that everyone reacts differently. If you are considering medication as a treatment for depression, keep in mind if one antidepressant does not have the desired effect, it does not mean that another one won’t be effective. Also, on average, a person will register changes in their symptoms after one to three weeks of treatment. While antidepressants are particularly efficient when depression caused by chemical imbalances, they do not provide the desired help when depression is caused by psychological or environmental causes.
COUNSELLING:
Counselling is a particularly helpful treatment for depression for people that want to acquire skills to help them prevent depressive episodes. Certain personality types are more prone to be affected by depression. Additionally, depression can be triggered by life events. During counselling session, the individual can receive different types of therapy. When dealing with depression, the most common types of therapy are:
- Interpersonal therapy: This type of therapy helps you deal with your personal relationships and the way you interact with others. This depression treatment will help you build stronger relationships and improve your existing relationships. This type of counselling has been known to be especially efficient for depression patients.
- Cognitive behavioural therapy: This type of therapy concentrates on helping the patient learn new ways of reacting to situations and improve their way of thinking. Experts believe that some people suffering from depression have adopted negative and detrimental techniques to deal with difficult life events. In other words, for some people, negativity and pessimism is a learned behaviour. Hence, they have to learn new techniques to manage their emotions in a way that is not harmful to their mental health. With cognitive behavioural therapy, patients will learn new behavioural skills and how to change their way of thinking.
- Group therapy: Group therapy can be particularly useful in helping the patient feel as if he/she is not alone facing this situation. During group sessions they can benefit from the advice of others that have gone through the same struggles they are facing at the moment. Furthermore, it may also help them elevate their self-esteem since they can also offer advice. This type of depression treatment, offers patients a place where they can talk about their emotions and be understood.
In many cases, a combination of treatments seems to be particularly effective. Antidepressants offer a relief of symptoms that may in turn allow a person to fell good enough to be able to engage in counselling. With a combination of treatments for depression, patients increase their chances of rehabilitating themselves in a more efficient manner. This combination of depression treatments allows people to diminish the symptoms when they occur as well as helping them learn to identify the triggers and stressors that provoke depression spells. There are many other alternative treatments for depression that are available such as St-John’s Wort, light therapy, acupuncture, massage therapy, etc. There are also depression treatment centers that offer in-patient care and treatments. While depression is a disabilitating disease that affects the entire body, the available treatments for depression can help people afflicted by the condition to lead a normal life.