Before you can treat depression you have to know exactly what you are dealing with. Depression is no laughing matter because about 15 million people in America suffer from it. The most troubling aspect is that only about 1/3 of those people seek help. It’s the stereotypes associated with mental illness that plague far too many people. Their character is so important that they don’t want a label like “crazy” to tarnish it. To treat depression first it has to be diagnosed. Diagnosis doesn’t happen while the sufferer hides the problem. It’s a vicious circle.
Depression has many causes. Biological, emotional, environmental and physical factors can result in depression . The genetic link cannot be ignored as well. Family history plays a major role in many diseases that are passed on down the line. It’s not just family history but also family dynamics. Living comes along with a lot of stress. For some there is a constant struggle to survive from week to week. Even success and fitting into society can be the problem for others. Despair can stem from people having been sexually abused, or even emotionally scarred. The list isn’t a short one.
Depression is often hard to find in its early form. It’s hard to see the symptoms even if a loved one suffers from this illness. Sadness on occasion is part of life. This is natural. Real depression is a lot more permanent and serious. It’s already too late for early detection when the symptoms interfere with life. People with depression feel lonely and fed up with general living. Signs of hope in their lives are gone. Sleep habits and enjoyment from life no longer exist. This is when treatment is critical.
Psychological treatment of depression (psychotherapy) assists the depressed individual in several ways. First, supportive counseling helps ease the pain of depression, and addresses the feelings of hopelessness that accompany depression. The length of treatment will vary, according to the severity of the depression, and the number and kind of life problems that need to be addressed. Most people will begin to experience some relief with 6 to 10 sessions, and approximately 70-80% of those treated notice significant improvement within 20-30 sessions. Mild depression may be treated in less sessions, and more significant depression may require extended treatment. Treatment sessions are usually scheduled once per week, although they may be scheduled more frequently initially, or if the person is experiencing significant life crises.
Cognitive therapy changes the pessimistic ideas, unrealistic expectations, and overly critical self-evaluations that create depression and sustain it. Cognitive therapy helps the depressed person recognize which life problems are critical, and which are minor. It also helps him/her to develop positive life goals, and a more positive self-assessment. Third, problem solving therapy changes the areas of the person’s life that are creating significant stress, and contributing to the depression. This may require behavioral therapy to develop better coping skills, or Interpersonal therapy, to assist in solving relationship problems.
Interpersonal therapy(IPT). This therapy How Does Grief Counselling Work is a short term therapy and mostly restricted to 15-20 sessions. Each session lasts for about an hour. The main approach to this therapy is around the root problem of depression. It is very helpful for a person to come out of the traumatic relationship or interpersonal events.
Psychodynamic therapy and group therapy are two different techniques for treating depression. They involve trauma or conflicts at childhood and though considered short term the procedure takes time. In group therapy people suffering from similar trauma get a chance to interact with each other and often it proves to be very effective or share the experience and ways to handle it.
Nearly two-thirds of depressed people do not get proper treatment:
* The symptoms are not recognized as depression.
* Depressed people are seen as weak or lazy.
* Social stigma causes people to avoid needed treatment.
* The symptoms are so disabling that the people affected cannot reach out for help.
* Many symptoms are misdiagnosed as physical problems
* Individual symptoms are treated, rather than the underlying cause.
Once you have a depression diagnosis, your doctor will discuss the different depression treatment options with you. The kind of depression treatment that’s best for you depends on the type of depression you have. For example, some patients with clinical depression are prescribed antidepressants. Others are prescribed antidepressants and psychotherapy. Still others may undergo electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), also called electroshock therapy. This treatment may be used with patients who do not respond to standard depression treatment options.
The afflicted needs a renewed sense of hope and meaning for an effective depression treatment. Psychotherapy often accomplishes this. It’s effective after months and sometimes years of treatment.
