Depression
Depression (major depressive disorder) is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act. Fortunately, Depression is among the most treatable of mental disorders. Between 80% and 90% percent of people with depression eventually respond well to treatment. Almost all patients gain some relief from their symptoms.
What This Page Covers
With Research, Links, and Personal Experience
Medication
First things first. Always stay in communication with your prescriber and stick to appointments. Medication can make all the difference in helping you live a happy and fulfilling life but there's also a chance of bumps in the road. Your prescriber needs to know any changes you are going through, no matter how small they may seem.
Highly Recommended Watch
Depression: What You Need to Know About Medications (adaa.org)
If you are currently on medication and have some negative side effects, you are not alone. Millions of people experience unwanted side effects of medication that can range from common side effects such as weight changes, headaches, or sexual dysfunction to more rare/uncommon ones like hallucinations, paranoia, or loss of smell. As every commercial states "If you are experiencing negative side effects, talk to your doctor". You might be worried about being put on another medication after just getting adjusted to your current one. Or maybe you are anxious about if the next medication will be worse. These are normal thoughts and the most important thing you need to know is that you are in control. If you don't want to switch, you don't have to. Disclaimer: if side effects of medication are physically harmful and serious such as suicidal ideation or self harm, your doctor is required by law to take action necessary to help by discontinuing the medication or refer you to another treatment. Pros should outweigh the cons. It is important to note the time you start or stop a new medication. Side effects are normal during these periods. Do not stop taking your medication without talking to your doctor. This can result in withdrawal and has a potential to be harmful to your health.
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For getting on prescription for the first time (or trying again after a lengthy break), this can be scary. Whether you are looking at the possibility of medication or are just starting, take a deep breath. It's hard not to overwhelm yourself, especially when there's uncertainty, skepticism, or bias.
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Tip: Meet up every week or every other week with your doctor (depending on the time it takes a medication to take effect) to talk about how you're doing. I've had many people want to switch medication without letting the first one take effect.
Reassurance: Medication is trial and error. It takes time. While medication might not be for everyone, it has helped so many people manage symptoms short term and long term. It is your journey so take the time you need. You are not a bother to anyone and they are there to help you.
Advice: You aren't always the one that knows what's best for yourself. Sometimes you need an outside perspective to take a look and help. This could be a friend, loved one, trusted colleague, or a medical professional. Mental illnesses can cloud judgement so just remember to take other ideas into consideration for your own well-being. At the end of the day, the choice is yours.​
Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a brief, goal-based therapy that has been proven to be effective for treating depression. CBT aims to reduce negative or unhelpful thoughts and behaviors common in those with depression through practical problem-solving and homework assignments. CBT has the strongest evidence base of all the psychological treatments for depression. It has been shown to be effective in reducing symptoms of depression and preventing relapse
Research in CBT
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression - PMC (nih.gov)
Advantages of cognitive behavioral therapy in depression
1. It is used to reduce symptoms of depression as an independent treatment or in combination with medications
2. It is used to modify the underlying schemas or beliefs that maintain the depression
3. It can be used to address various psychosocial problems, for example, marital discord, job stress which can contribute to the symptoms
4. Reduce the chances of recurrence
5. Increase the adherence to recommended medical treatment
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Tip: If you get a chance to go to CBT, really get into the homework. You won't be penalized for not doing assignments but you are there for a reason and all the work is what you make of it. I suggest taking an hour out of your day to set aside time to read, practice, and understand the important things you will learn. It is treatment after all.
Reassurance: If you've been going to therapy or are fairly self-aware, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy might not seem helpful at the moment. It doesn't mean you are beyond help if they tell you things you already know. For me, things became clearer and easier to practice in hindsight. For others, they've felt relief the moment they walked in the room. Go at your own pace, don't be afraid to ask questions, and remember...you can always learn something.
Advice: Talk to your therapist (or doctor if you don't have a therapist) to see if CBT might be a good fit. It is also beneficial to see what out of pocket and insurance coverage is.​
Therapy
It can be tough to see a therapist. I started when I was in fourth grade and I was just scared and confused and angry. As an adult, I wondered why I couldn't just function like others seem to be doing. Why couldn't my brain just work like it needed to? Over time, I've seen therapy go from being an issue people didn't discuss, to seeing it advertised and openly talked about. There are still some who might think therapy is for the weak, people with disorders, is pointless, etc.
Narrowing down a therapist
Find a Therapist, Psychologist, Counselor - Psychology Today
Advantages of cognitive behavioral therapy in depression
1. It is used to reduce symptoms of depression as an independent treatment or in combination with medications
2. It is used to modify the underlying schemas or beliefs that maintain the depression
3. It can be used to address various psychosocial problems, for example, marital discord, job stress which can contribute to the symptoms
4. Reduce the chances of recurrence
5. Increase the adherence to recommended medical treatment
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Tip: If you are uncomfortable with silence, you and me both. This is a tactic therapists use to get you to talk more. This can be filled with asking questions such as "what would you like to know?" to make the process go a bit smoother and get the most out of it.
Reassurance: Same with CBT, if you've been going to therapy or are fairly self-aware, it doesn't mean you are beyond help if they tell you things you already know, take a second to think, write something down, ask you to clarify something, or the process takes longer than you want. It's alright to take it slow when you're processing difficult things.
Advice: Get a goal right away. Your therapist should do this but it's not always a given right away. It's always good to work towards a goal and know what your treatment plan looks like. Feeling out your therapist is important in order to get comfortable. Creating a safe space may require reassurance. You are there to talk about you and receive help, but asking questions to give yourself reassurance such as "what area do you specialize in?" to make sure they can really help might be helpful. See Therapy/Therapists.​