Treatment of Depression
The information provided below is not comprehensive, but rather provides a general overview of the most common associated features.
Depression can be hard to manage, especially when symptoms often include lack of motivation and low energy. Taking those initial steps for treatment is crucial in recovery. There are many different ways to manage depression, such as therapy, medication, complimentary/alternative therapies (CAM) and treatment of underlying medical cause. Many people have already tried most of these means to manage their depression before they seek pharmacological intervention.
Therapy
Cognitive Therapy: Is based on the notion that our thoughts control our feelings. If we change the narrative that we tell ourselves (from negative to positive) it elevates the depression. The therapy is often short-term and goal-oriented. Homework is a key component to this modality.
Behavioral Therapy: The idea is that our behaviors impact our emotions. Therefore, therapy is focused on engaging in behaviors that foster wellbeing and avoid behaviors that enhance the depression.
Cognitive-Behavioral (or CBT): This is a very common form of therapy to treat depression. It combines both cognitive and behavioral approaches. Homework is often integral part of the process.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy: This type of therapy is similar to CBT, but combines more Buddhist principals. There is a focus on mindfulness and “coming to terms” with your negative thoughts and feelings so you can build coping skills to combat depression.
Psychodynamic Therapy: This is what is commonly thought of as traditional therapy. The individual delves into their unconscious thoughts to resolve internal conflict. This conflict most likely stemmed from your childhood. This approach is intense and take time.
Interpersonal Therapy: This approach is focused on interpersonal relationships and social roles. It looks at both the past and present of the individual. It is believed that by developing stronger relationship it will combat the depression. Role-playing is a therapeutic technique for this modality.
Pharmacological
This is a medicine-based approach that focuses on neurotransmitters and the up and down regulation of receptors. In other words: The medicine helps adjust the chemicals (neurotransmitters) in the brain. Pharmacological interventions are especially important in treating clinical or chronic depression.
The introduction of medications can be scary for some people, but try to remember that the medication is an exogenous chemical (mimics natural chemicals in your brain). Sometimes our brain produces too little or too much of a particular chemical, resulting in psychiatric symptoms. Medications help regulate those chemicals. This is similar to using insulin to manage diabetes.
Complimentary or Alternative Medicine
Complimentary Medicine is a term that refers to medical interventions that do not fall within the scope of scientific medicine. These therapies are often used in conjunction with scientific (or traditional) medicine. Some examples include:
Traditional alternative medicine (has been practiced for centuries)
Body and Touch (involves manipulation of one part of the body in order to affect another part of the body)
Diet and herbs (nutrition affects mental health)
External energy (energy from objects can affect a person’s health)
Mind (the mind and body connection)
Senses (touch, sight, hearing, smell, and taste, can affect overall health)
Treatment of Underlying Medical Cause
Sometimes there is an underlying medical condition that is causing the depression. Although there are many different conditions that can either cause or amplify depression, here are a few of the most common:
Therapy
Cognitive Therapy: Is based on the notion that our thoughts control our feelings. If we change the narrative that we tell ourselves (from negative to positive) it elevates the depression. The therapy is often short-term and goal-oriented. Homework is a key component to this modality.
Behavioral Therapy: The idea is that our behaviors impact our emotions. Therefore, therapy is focused on engaging in behaviors that foster wellbeing and avoid behaviors that enhance the depression.
Cognitive-Behavioral (or CBT): This is a very common form of therapy to treat depression. It combines both cognitive and behavioral approaches. Homework is often integral part of the process.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy: This type of therapy is similar to CBT, but combines more Buddhist principals. There is a focus on mindfulness and “coming to terms” with your negative thoughts and feelings so you can build coping skills to combat depression.
Psychodynamic Therapy: This is what is commonly thought of as traditional therapy. The individual delves into their unconscious thoughts to resolve internal conflict. This conflict most likely stemmed from your childhood. This approach is intense and take time.
Interpersonal Therapy: This approach is focused on interpersonal relationships and social roles. It looks at both the past and present of the individual. It is believed that by developing stronger relationship it will combat the depression. Role-playing is a therapeutic technique for this modality.
Pharmacological
This is a medicine-based approach that focuses on neurotransmitters and the up and down regulation of receptors. In other words: The medicine helps adjust the chemicals (neurotransmitters) in the brain. Pharmacological interventions are especially important in treating clinical or chronic depression.
The introduction of medications can be scary for some people, but try to remember that the medication is an exogenous chemical (mimics natural chemicals in your brain). Sometimes our brain produces too little or too much of a particular chemical, resulting in psychiatric symptoms. Medications help regulate those chemicals. This is similar to using insulin to manage diabetes.
Complimentary or Alternative Medicine
Complimentary Medicine is a term that refers to medical interventions that do not fall within the scope of scientific medicine. These therapies are often used in conjunction with scientific (or traditional) medicine. Some examples include:
Traditional alternative medicine (has been practiced for centuries)
- Acupuncture
- Ayurveda
- Homeopathy
- Naturopathy
- Chinese or Oriental medicine
Body and Touch (involves manipulation of one part of the body in order to affect another part of the body)
- Chiropractic and osteopathic medicine
- Massage
- Body movement therapies
- Tai chi
- Yoga
Diet and herbs (nutrition affects mental health)
- Dietary supplements
- Herbal medicine
- Nutrition/diet
External energy (energy from objects can affect a person’s health)
- Electromagnetic therapy
- Reiki
- Qigong
Mind (the mind and body connection)
- Meditation
- Biofeedback
- Hypnosis
Senses (touch, sight, hearing, smell, and taste, can affect overall health)
- Art, dance, and music
- Visualization and guided imagery
- Exercise
Treatment of Underlying Medical Cause
Sometimes there is an underlying medical condition that is causing the depression. Although there are many different conditions that can either cause or amplify depression, here are a few of the most common:
- Fatigue-When your mind and body are tired the symptoms you experience are similar to those of depression. However, instead of treating the depression, you treat the cause of the fatigue.
- Anemia-Your blood is not able to carry enough oxygen to your body and you become fatigue.
- Hypothyroidism-Underactive thyroid causes extreme fatigue
- Pain-There is a correlation between pain and serotonin (the leading neurotransmitter in depression).
- Heart Disease-Causes multiple difficulty in delivering oxygenated blood to brain and organs resulting in fatigue. Depression can also arise from fear associated with the unknown and potential
- Insufficient Sleep-Not enough sleep can cause fatigue and mimic the symptoms of depression
- Drugs and Alcohol-Causes central nervous system depression which results in sedation (fatigue)
- Head Trauma-this has been in the news lately with the increased reports of depression in athletes that suffered repeated head injuries, aka CTE. However, any type of head injury, traumatic or acquired (aka stroke) can cause depression due to actual changes in brain matter (organic) or difficulty accepting deficits.
If you would like to be evaluated for depression or seek pharmacological treatment.