Understanding Depression: Common Treatments

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Depression has been the talk of social, political and Health conferences. However, the rate of stigma and misdiagnosis of depression is surprisingly high. Studies suggest that the reason for such a high rate of misdiagnosis is because of symptoms that overlap with other health conditions. Fatigue, for example, is a symptom of many other diseases such as diabetes or even the flu.

Misdiagnosis and the lack of resources and knowledge of the signs and symptoms of depression are major factors contributing to the decline in access to treatment.

To help with this, this blog post will discuss the most common treatments for depression.

What is Depression?

According to the American Psychiatric Association, Depression, also known as major depressive disorder, is a prevalent and severe mental health condition that impacts your emotions, thoughts, actions, and overall perspective on life.

The most common symptoms of depression include; Persistent sadness, feelings of worthlessness and guilt, loss of interest in activities, fatigue and sleep problems. Symptoms are not a one-size-fits-all when it comes to depression – everyone experiences depression symptoms differently and in different intensities.

Why is Treatment Important?

Depression, as said before, is not just a normal mood disorder. It is a severe mental health condition that may have adverse effects on every part of the patient’s life if not treated. The symptoms, such as severe mood changes, fatigue, and sleeping problems among others may affect how you normally function at home, school and work. This may lead to a person losing their job,  and having unhealthy relationships with society, family and even themselves.

However, the good news is that depression is treatable and the following are examples of common treatments.

Types of Treatments for Depression.

Studies show that between 70% and 90% of patients receiving treatment for depression have shown quite a great improvement, according to the American Psychiatric Association.

The following methods of treatment depend on the type of depression, severity of the symptoms, response to previous treatments if any and the availability of various treatment options. Let’s discuss the methods below;

 

A.Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, is a treatment method that involves talking to a mental health professional. There are different types of psychotherapy

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. 

Changes in mood and attitude is mostly affected by either our thoughts or behaviours, yes numerous external factors affect your mood and ability to make the most of your day, how you act and your thoughts, however, play a big role in the same.

This is one of the most common forms of psychotherapy. It involves speaking to your mental health professional to effectively recognize and correct unhealthy thinking patterns and beliefs to change self-destructive behaviours and improve your mood. This is a combination of Cognitive therapy and behavioural therapy.

 

• Cognitive Therapy.

 “Our thoughts define us, shaping who we become. When our minds are clear and pure, happiness follows us effortlessly, like an inseparable shadow.” Buddha.

Studies have shown that our thoughts affect our moods and emotions more than we realise. The idea behind Cognitive Therapy is to help individuals identify constant repetition of negative thinking and, in a way, change the patterns into positive ways of thinking. This improves emotions and moods immensely.

• Behavioural Therapy.

The idea behind Behavioural Therapy is dealing with how one’s behaviours affect their moods and emotions, helping individuals engage in activities that enhance their well-being.

• Psychodynamic Therapy. 

Our childhood environment plays a huge role in who we become in our future, the behaviours we develop, our attitude towards different things and basically how we view people and situations in the world.

Psychodynamic Therapy also known as Psychoanalytics, is a type of psychotherapy that explores the psychological roots of emotional suffering. It has been found that some behaviours and conflicts originate from unresolved conflicts caused by various happenings in one’s life, such as traumas. This type of therapy is important in discovering the effect of an individual’s life experiences on their future and present self helping them navigate life better.

 

B.Medication

There are some medications recommended and may be prescribed by the psychiatrist to a patient. They are known as antidepressants. Antidepressants are usually prescribed depending on the types of symptoms, severity of the symptoms, reactions to previous medication, medical history and the patient’s preference.

The most common, safe and likely to have the least irritating side effects are known as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs). They are usually the first to be prescribed if medication is needed.

An individual can notice some improvement within the first two weeks of use. However, it is important to stay on the prescribed dose and seek help from your psychiatrist if you have any problems or concerns with the medication.

C.Coping Mechanisms

There are some healthy activities that people can engage in to reduce the severity and occurrence of depressive symptoms. They include;

Engaging in Social Activities. Human beings are naturally social, solitude is not encouraged especially when undergoing depression. Being around people and engaging in activities that you find fun helps take your mind off the stress that you might be going through, improving your mood greatly.

Physical Activity. Whenever you exercise or engage in physical activity, the body releases the “feel good hormone” scientifically known as Endorphins. The release of endorphins leads to a good change in your mood.

Mindfulness and Relaxation. You probably have heard about it-meditation. This is one of the techniques you can use to ensure that you are in the moment and have no unwanted negative thoughts floating around in your brain. Yoga and breathing exercises are some of the more popular relaxing and healthy mechanisms aside from meditation.

Lifestyle and Diet Changes. There are simple changes you can implement in your day-to-day life that can make a huge impact on your mood. These changes include working on your sleep patterns to ensure you get enough sleep, limiting alcohol and substance abuse, and adding balanced diets to your meal schedule. These might seem like small changes but they have the ability to ensure you have energy and improve your mood throughout your day.

 

CONCLUSION

Despite the popularity of mental health issues across the world, people especially in third-world countries undergoing depressive symptoms have little to no access to the treatment they require. By knowing what treatments are available you are able to seek help easier and encourage your neighbour to do so as well. Why? Because Depression is treatable.

Please seek professional medical advice if experiencing depressive symptoms, this is for informational purposes only.