So You've Bought Depression Help ... Now What?

How to Get Depression Help

Depression is more serious than a severe blues or a bad case and is treatable. Therapy, medication, or a combination of both can help many people. If your symptoms are severe an inpatient stay could be needed.

A history of substance abuse and medical conditions, along with certain medications and genetic factors all increase the likelihood of developing depression. Depression can also be triggered by specific circumstances, including:

Speak with a psychiatrist

It's important to speak to your doctor if you are suffering from depression. Depression is more serious than feeling sad or depressed for a few weeks. It can be life-threatening if not addressed. If you're not already made an appointment, make one with your family physician or visit a walk-in clinic. They can diagnose depression and prescribe medication, as well as refer you to a mental health professional for additional help.

A psychiatrist will ask you questions about your mood and what's been going in your life. They might also conduct an examination or order lab tests to check for any health issues that may be underlying.

Psychiatrists can prescribe a variety of drugs to treat depression, including antidepressants as well as other psychotropic drugs. Antidepressants help balance the chemicals in your brain that control mood. Selective serotonin Reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like Prozac (fluoxetine) and Zoloft (sertraline) increase the amount of serotonin that is present in your body and SNRIs such as Effexor (venlafaxine) and Cybalta (duloxetine) aid in the increase of both serotonin and norepinephrine.

When selecting a mental health professional to treat depression, pick one with experience and whose manner of conduct is comfortable for you. Don't be afraid to speak with various psychologists or psychiatrists until you find one that you like.

Take your medication

The use of medications is often a part of treatment for depression, specifically for those with moderate to severe depression. There are many different types of antidepressants. But they all function by altering neurotransmitters. It is normal for people to to try several drugs before they discover one that works.

The most common antidepressant is the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). These medications are considered safer and generally cause fewer side effects than older drugs. Examples include citalopram (Celexa) and escitalopram (Lexapro), paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva), sertraline (Zoloft) and fluoxetine (Prozac and Sarafem). Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are similar to SSRIs, but they also affect other brain receptors. SNRIs include duloxetine venlafaxine, Pristiq, Khedezla and levomilnacipran.

Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) are older drugs that are still being used by certain people. They can be effective in reducing depression symptoms but may have more serious adverse effects. Some of the most common side effects are stomach disturbance insomnia, sexual issues, insomnia as well as weight changes and fatigue. Tricyclics can also increase blood pressure and heart rate. Some people require mood stabilizers along with antidepressants in order to combat depression. Examples include lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid), Valproate (Depakote, Depakote ER), and trazodone (Desyrel, Trazodone). Mood stabilizers aren't as effective as antidepressants, however they can be beneficial to some people. They can be used in conjunction with psychotherapy. Some people can prevent depression by taking mood stabilizers.

Change Your Diet

Changes to your diet may aid in reducing stress. Dark chocolate, leafy vegetables, salmon, and berries are all foods that contain nutrients known to boost mood. Other foods, including processed meats, refined sugars and fried food items, should be avoided as they can cause alternative depression treatment options-related symptoms to worsen.

A balanced and healthy diet should include vegetables and fruits whole grains as well as seeds and nuts, and lean proteins such as chicken, fish and yogurt. Limit added sugars, processed oils and salt. It is also important to consume enough fiber and drink plenty of water. According to some research foods that are high in tryptophan (a precursor of serotonin) could help reduce depression symptoms. Tryptophan is present in a variety of foods high in protein, like eggs, poultry and dairy products.

A poor diet can lead to a number of health issues. Depression isn't the only one. Green noticed an improvement in her mood after she changed her diet from fast food to fresh vegetables and fruits. She now craves nuts as a snack and sticks to salmon or homemade burgers for dinner and has a small portion of dark chocolate to eat for dessert. While eating healthier won't help with depression, it's an easy, self-empowering method to get support while striving to get back on track. It's also a safe and non-invasive alternative treatment for depression and anxiety to medication, which often comes with a myriad of undesirable side effects.

Exercise

Depression is more than a mood swing. It is a serious disease that can impact your physical and mental health. Treatments include antidepressants and talking therapies. Exercise is among the most effective things you can do to combat low spirits. Exercise increases levels of chemicals in the brain, including endorphins and serotonin, which enhance your mood. And it's also good for your body, boosting energy, sleep and anxiety.

Exercise can also improve your self-esteem and can help you connect with others. Exercise can also help reduce the feelings that are a major contributor to depression, including isolation. Aerobic exercises like walking, swimming, and running have been proven to decrease depression symptoms. However, non-aerobic exercise, such as yoga, are also helpful.

A study published in February 2019 collected data from every experiment using exercise to treat depression and discovered that it had the same effects as psychotherapy or medication alone. It's not known what causes the exercise to work however it is possible that the changes in the brain caused by exercise -- such as the creation of new neurons and the development of connections between them -help to recover from depression.

The researchers recommend that primary care physicians encourage exercise as a shock treatment for Depression option for depression. However, it's important to keep in mind that a lot of depressed patients are sedentary, and require encouragement and support to get started exercising.

Join a Support Group

A support group can provide an opportunity to speak with others who are facing similar situations. The people who attend a group might be suffering from an illness such as depression, anxiety or an eating disorder, or might be caring for someone who is suffering from one of these disorders. The benefits of a support group include social interaction with other members and the opportunity to talk about feelings and concerns, and guidance from mental health professionals, who can act as facilitators.

There are forums on the internet for people who suffer from depression or other mental illnesses. Some forums are open to all who would like to join, while others require registration in a formal manner and a commitment to regularly attend. For example, Mental Health America offers an online forum called Inspire which hosts discussions on more than 20 different mental health topics. Other online support groups are more specialized in particular areas, like those for postpartum depression treatment depression or for people with particular ethnic identities.

Ask your psychologist or psychiatrist for advice if you're not sure where to begin. Look up online resources like the ADAA's National Support Group Listing. It might take some time to identify an organization that is the best fit, but it is worth trying out. Support group members are more tolerant than friends and family members, and can offer a new perspective on your situation.

Seek Counseling

Depression can affect your ability to handle problems and challenges in life. It can make it hard to sleep, eat or concentrate. It can also trigger feelings of despair, helplessness and guilt. Depression can affect both women and men of all different ages and backgrounds. It can also cause relationships problems. Additionally, depression can result in an increase in consumption of alcohol and drugs.

Talk therapy (or psychotherapy) is a crucial part of the treatment for depression. It can be done in person or via the internet. Depression is among the most treatable mental conditions. Psychotherapy can help you build coping skills to manage your symptoms. It can help you recognize negative patterns in thought and behavior that are a cause of depression.

A therapist can help understand why you feel like you do and identify factors that contribute to your depression. Various types of psychotherapy may be helpful, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps people to challenge unhelpful thinking patterns and change their emotional patterns. Interpersonal therapy is a form of therapy that focuses on relationship issues that could be causing depression is a different option.

You may be reluctant to seek treatment for depression because of the stigma still surrounding mental illness. However, it is important to understand that depression is a disease that is very treatable and not an indication of weakness. In fact, the majority of patients who seek treatment for depression express regret that they had sought help sooner.