Depression Treatment Approaches
There are a variety of ways to combat depression. The most common treatment methods are:
Psychotherapy (also called talk therapy) is a fantastic way to gain support and master new techniques. It can be conducted in individual sessions or groups and may include a counselor, social worker, or psychiatrist. Another important part of the treatment is medication.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a form of psychotherapy that helps to reduce the symptoms of depression and mental health issues. It's based on the notion that emotions, thoughts and behavior are interconnected. Negative or unhelpful beliefs or thoughts can cause anxiety and cause self-defeating behaviours. A therapist can help identify negative patterns and help you learn new ways to react in various situations.
A therapist will use interactive question-and-answer sessions to discover the source of your emotional difficulties. They will encourage you to be aware of the times when you are feeling anxious or depressed and discuss the feelings you experience. Together, you'll be able to identify unhealthy patterns of thinking, deformed perceptions, or behaviors that cause depression and anxiety.
Your therapist will also help you to develop and implement self-help techniques to help you manage your concerns now. They are commonly referred to as "cognitive restructuring methods," and include goal-setting journaling, mindfulness meditation, journaling and exposure therapy. Your therapist may suggest that you practice new behavior and coping strategies in a controlled, secure environment to help you master the skills.
CBT has been shown to be effective in a number studies of psychiatric disorders that include anxiety, depression disorders, and substance abuse issues. It can be performed as a stand-alone treatment or in conjunction with an psychiatric drug.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a process that requires commitment and a willingness to change. If you're interested in finding out more about this method discuss it with your doctor or find a therapist who is specialized in CBT. You can also look into your health insurance policy to see whether they cover these services. And if you need financial assistance There are online resources to allow people with limited incomes to access treatment for mental illness. Finding help when you need it is the first step towards recovery and living a healthier life.
Interpersonal Therapy
IPT created by the late psychiatrist Gerald Klerman is another talking therapy that addresses specific issues that can cause depression. It is based on the idea that depression is a predisposition which can be triggered by the challenges in a person's social setting. It also suggests that the problems with relationships that cause depression can be addressed by solving the relationship issues that can trigger symptoms.
IPT is different from other modern psychotherapies, which focus on the unconscious motives of a person's actions or previous traumas. This treatment approach recognizes that those suffering from depression are often unable to express and coping with emotions like anger and frustrated and this may affect relationships with family and friends.
The initial phase of IPT can last up to three sessions. It concentrates on identifying the specific area of interaction that may contribute to the depression-related symptoms. Your counselor will ask you to review your significant relationships that are both past and present and classify them into four possible problem areas: unresolved grief (often caused by the loss of loved ones) or a role change and conflict over roles, or interpersonal problems.
The middle phase of IPT usually occurs between sessions four and fourteen. Your therapist will use strategies to address the specific challenge area. For instance your therapist can help you navigate difficult transitions in your relationships, help you to validate and vent your anger, or find more effective ways of interacting with others.
Your therapist will assist you in identifying the skills that you have acquired during your treatment and that you can use at home. They will also advise you to keep in touch with your therapist even after sessions, such as via weekly phone calls or a monthly face-to-face meeting, so that you can avoid relapses and continue to improve your abilities. Therapists may also suggest maintenance sessions for people suffering from mental health conditions that are persistent or recurrent, such as PTSD.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy
DBT is an evidence-based treatment approach created by psychologist Marsha Linehan to treat borderline personality disorder (BPD). The therapy focuses on teaching people to manage their emotions, behaviors and build skills that aid them in establishing healthy relationships and manage distress. DBT is divided into four phases. The first phase focuses on changing the way you react to certain situations, such as how you react when you're angry or sad. The second stage helps to create emotional regulation so that you are able to better manage your emotions. The third stage will teach you how to maintain your efforts for change and build an existence that is worth living.
The fourth and final stage teaches you to apply the skills you learned in therapy outside of your regular sessions. Your therapist will utilize tools like homework assignments, telephone coaching, and other tools to show you how to apply these techniques. A DBT-certified therapist will help you realize that your negative feelings and thoughts are normal and aren't necessarily "wrong". They're the result of the challenges you've had to face in your life. They'll also teach you to balance and combine seemingly contradictory methods like accepting changes and accepting.
DBT has been proven to be effective in treating a wide spectrum of disorders. For instance, one study compared standard DBT to standard treatment for women suffering from BPD and found that those receiving DBT had significantly lower parasuicide behaviors, suicide attempts and psychiatric hospitalization days as compared to those who received the control group. DBT was also associated with reduced aggression and better social functioning.
In addition to group and individual therapy sessions, DBT includes practice at home (e.g., by using a telephone coaching system and homework) regularly scheduled sessions with a therapist proficient in DBT and participation in the DBT consultation team. The team is comprised of therapists who regularly meet to discuss common clinical issues like treating patients with suicidal tendencies or helping them keep their engagement in therapy.
The team meeting is a time for therapists are encouraged to, even in tough situations, to be compassionate and non-judgmental to their patients. They're also supported and encouraged to avoid burnout and they're monitored for adherence to DBT procedures.
Medication
Many people suffering from depression discover that medication can reduce symptoms and speed recovery. If you're thinking of taking antidepressants, consult your doctor about the various options available. It could take some time before you discover the best medication for you. It is important to speak with your doctor about any changes to your lifestyle that can help ease your depression, such as exercising or better sleeping habits.
If you are not getting relief from depression through treatments or medications, it may be an appropriate time to seek out a specialist. They will go over your history and treatments, and perform an extensive medical examination. stay with me can test to see whether there are any medical conditions that may be causing depression, like the rheumatoid and hypothyroidism. They can also test for depression using tests called pharmacogenetic tests, which can predict your body's reaction to certain medications using genetic markers. These tests are not currently covered by insurance.
In some cases, doctors may add a medication to a depressant in order to enhance its effect. This is known as an augmentation therapy. Medications like aripiprazole (Abilify) or the brexpiprazole (Rexulti) or quetiapine (Seroquel XR) are FDA-approved for this purpose. Some doctors may also prescribe ketamine, an anesthetic drug that can provide rapid relief for people with treatment-resistant depression. This procedure is carried out in a hospital or in a clinic.
Talk therapy is an essential component of treatment for depression. However, some people do not seek help because they believe that the condition will disappear on its own or that therapy is ineffective. Talk therapy can help you gain knowledge and insights to speed up your recovery and prevent depression from returning.
The use of talk therapies is usually in conjunction with other depression treatment options, including lifestyle changes. Even if you're not depressed, it is important to adhere to your treatment plan. Participate in all sessions. Don't skip your medication, either. If you stop taking your prescription then your depression could be recurrent and you could suffer withdrawal-like symptoms.