The Best Treatment for Depression?
What really works for depression? How do we efficiently access help? Is it talk therapy, medication, or both? This is an age-old question that researchers, clinicians, clients, and the lay public struggle with. It is a bit like asking which came first, the chicken or the egg. It is also the beginning of a larger conversation.
The Short and Sweet (or Bitter) of It
This short answer is … whichever form of treatment the client values and finds helpful. There is most certainly a biological component to depression which can be brutally crippling in its most severe form. Sometimes, we suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder or Postpartum Depression. Frequently, depression is also associated with thyroid disease as an organic reason for this behavioral change. The possibilities are endless, and we should start with our physicians. People with depression report that their energy is low, and their mind feels as if they are underwater; as clinicians, we call this “cognitive slowing.” The information is there, but it takes longer for the synapses to fire, and the brain slows down to keep up with the internal stress.
Depression: Zap It or Pop It?
Medication has been proven effective despite its side effects for some who need a more acute “jolt” to restore their natural selves. ECT, i.e., electroconvulsive therapy, has also been known to be helpful for those who are severely ill- sometimes depression becomes a life-or-death issue, and we need to do whatever it takes without blame or judgment.
In mild cases, depression can be treated with exercise and supplements such as SAM-e, St. John’s Wort, and TMG. Many people report that under an altered lifestyle, their depression improves.
Depression: Talk It Out
Whichever route one takes to climb out of the clutches of depression, everyone agrees that the best complement to psychotropics and lifestyle change is the benefit of cognitive behavior therapy, a form of talk therapy. There is no greater release than sharing your feelings in a non-judgemental environment that helps you cope with your life’s stressors.
Talk therapy aims to explore your emotions and empower the client to take back control of their lives with the support and encouragement of a trained helper. If you find yourself feeling depressed, don’t wait. Get help before depression overwhelms you.
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