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How To Treat Depression

February 29, 2024

Most people get downhearted every so often, and sometimes you may feel “the blues” for a couple days at a time. But if these emotions often affect your enjoyment of life and never seem to dissipate, you could be experiencing a depression disorder. Notions of hopelessness or sorrow may hinder you from enjoying daily activities, and social isolation and anxiety can have life-threatening ramifications. Thankfully, there are depression treatments available for you.

What are the ways to treat depression? Depression treatment typically involves therapy, antidepressant medications, or a blend of the two. On occasion, depression can get to a stage where inpatient care seems more suitable. You’ll even find options that take on treatment-resistant depression. Regardless of how you treat depression, it should be custom-tailored to you.

How Can Therapy Treat Depression?

Speaking about your thoughts and feelings can be invaluable for treating depression. One-on-one therapy with a qualified professional will bring to light the root reasons for your depression and relax the grasp it has on you. While merely discussing your situation will help, there are particular kinds of therapy you may find beneficial, including these options:

  • Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) examines faulty or unhelpful manners of thinking or acquired behaviors. CBT strives to alter these thoughts and behaviors.
  • Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) follows the technique of CBT but deals more specifically with severe negative emotions. This therapy explores more constructive ways to manage these emotions.
  • Trauma-informed therapy investigates how trauma from your past has factored into your depression. This is able to nurture the healing process and help you find a path forward.
  • Motivational interviewing draws on your own inner strength and ability to make necessary alterations to your life.

Each person responds to therapy differently. A skilled therapist will help decide the kind of therapy for you. Your therapist may also recommend group therapy or family counseling. Therapy is most effective in set intervals, whether it's monthly, weekly or, in some situations, daily. Contingent on the intensity of your disorder and if you are dealing with self-harm or suicidal ideology, you might obtain the support you need in an inpatient facility.

How Will Antidepressants Alleviate Symptoms?

Antidepressants have been effective in alleviating symptoms of depression. Most of these medicines help by increasing levels of chemical neurotransmitters found in the brain such as norepinephrine and serotonin. These chemicals are widely believed to bolster particular neural circuits that affect mood and obstruct signals of pain.

Reuptake inhibitors are the most prevalent types of antidepressants. Reuptake is a means in which neurotransmitters are naturally absorbed back into nerve cells. By inhibiting this process, antidepressants can keep the chemical neurotransmitter in the brain for longer periods. Steadily, you then begin seeing improvement, particularly when you fortify your medication management with therapy.

What Answers Are There For Treatment-Resistant Depression

Have you tried more than one antidepressant with no lasting success? You could have what is treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Fortunately, you have another treatment with SPRAVATO®. This FDA-approved esketamine nasal spray for treatment-resistant depression helps provide relief for depression symptoms by acting on certain brain receptors. SPRAVATO may only be used under medical supervision in an accredited facility. You could be eligible if you meet the following criteria:

  • You have a diagnosis of a depression disorder
  • You’ve already been prescribed no less than two antidepressant drugs
  • You currently have moderate to severe depression symptoms

Get Help For Depression Today At The Counseling Center

There’s no reason to face depression by yourself. Get the professional care you need at The Counseling Center. We’ll begin with a thorough assessment to better understand your unique situation, paying close attention to your symptoms, the medicine you’ve tried, and your medical history. We’ll craft a personalized plan for you that could include a blend of medication and therapy. Call today at 866-850-5001 or submit our contact form on this page.