Learn what treatments help depression.
Major depression can make you feel hopeless and helpless. You might think that you will never find the right treatment. However, this belief is not true. There is a lot that you can do to fight back against depression. Depression is treatable. Most people get better with treatment. The problem is that there are so many treatments for depression out there and not all of them are effective or even safe.
Are you wondering what treatments are available for depression that will actually help? I’ve examined tons of studies to determine what works and what doesn’t. Here are four proven depression treatments.
#1 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been found to be just as effective as medication in treating depression for most people.1 CBT can help you combat depression by learning to identify and replace thoughts that lead to negative emotions. Depression tends to affect the way a person thinks. It skews thinking towards the negative. So, when you are depressed, your thoughts are predominately pessimistic. The negative thinking becomes a habit that you are unaware you are doing.
CBT helps you identify when your thoughts are negative and teaches you how to replace harmful, untrue thoughts with ones that are more positive and realistic. More positive thoughts about yourself can lead to a lasting change of behavior. Rob Evans specializes in CBT.
#2 Family and Marriage Therapy
Depression affects your marriage and the entire family, which is why couples or family therapy can be helpful for people with depression. The consequences of depression can really impact a relationship. For instance, the depressed partner may become distant, or they may stop working, which causes the other partner to become resentful. Family or marriage counseling can help your partner understand your depression better and keep the lines of communication open.
#3 Medications
For people with severe or chronic depression, antidepressant medications can be helpful. Research has found that medications plus CBT are more effective than just medications alone. 1 There are various types of medications for depression. The most common are:
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Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) – These are the newest type of antidepressant compared to SSRIs. Cymbalta, Effexor, and Pristiq are all SNRIs.
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Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) – These medications include Prozac, Celexa, and Zoloft.
All medications have side effects. It is not uncommon for people to be prescribed several antidepressants before finding the one that works for them. The critical thing to remember is to talk to your doctor if you have side effects or other issues with medications.
#4 Support Groups
Depression is a chronic and debilitating illness. That is why it is so important to seek support. Just as cancer support groups help people with cancer cope with their disease, there are support groups to help people with depression in much the same way. Depression support groups involve receiving support from peers and giving others encouragement and support, as well. 2 There are many depression support groups both online and in the community. To find a depression support group near you, talk with your therapist.
At the Relationship Therapy Center, we provide a range of therapeutic services to residents in the greater Sacramento and surrounding areas. Contact us to schedule an appointment and get help for depression and anxiety today.
References:
#1 http://dare.ubvu.vu.nl/bitstream/handle/1871/48057/2013%20Cuijpers,%20Meta%20CBT,%20Can%20J%20Psychiatry.pdf?sequence=1
#2
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3052992/
Nancy Ryan, LMFT
Nancy Ryan, LMFT specializes in working with individuals and couples who want deep, satisfying relationships with themselves and their partners. She works with couples who are ready to stop the destructive patterns and want to build the love, friendship and romance back into their partnership.
We have a therapist that is right for you at Relationship Therapy Center in Roseville, CA or Fair Oaks, CA
Call us at 916-426-2757 for a free consultation today.