Anti-depressants, Psychological Therapy, And Depression
Many people believe that the effectiveness of treatment for depression will largely depend on the individual being treated
. However, most doctors will disagree and say that medication and psychological help are needed.
The first thing to do to treat depression is to seek help. It is time to see a doctor if there is a deeper reason for "down" moods than just having a bad day. If the patient is really depressed, the doctor may prescribe anti-depressants and refer him to a psychotherapist.
Doctors treat depression using widely-used medications called anti-depressants. These drugs help in balancing out brain chemicals. The different reactions of depressed people to situations are usually caused be a chemical imbalance in their brain.
Awareness of the differences of the types and brands of anti-depressants is not common among those who haven't tried them yet. These drugs may have some side effects. Trying out a few different types of anti-depressants may be needed before finding the right one for them. Some people are willing to endure the side effects because of the relieving power of the drugs with regards to their depression symptoms.
The medication should be taken regularly for 4 to 6 weeks before seeing any results. The medication is usually disregarded by patients because they feel like it doesn't work. It is important for depressed people to regularly take their medication whether they immediately feel better or not. Getting into the brain and balancing out the chemicals takes time.
When a person first starts on an anti-depressant, the doctor will prescribe a very low dosage. This is done so that the patient does not experience drastic side effects. An increase in dosage will only happen if the patient has a positive drug response. It is important to be aware that improvement in the moods of 70% of depressed people are seen after they started on anti-depressants.
The majority of people suffering from depression will find that getting psychological treatment will also aid their recovery. People can improve their moods by getting cognitive behavior therapy, family therapy or individual counseling. Cognitive behavior therapy is probably the most helpful because patients are taught to think rationally about the potential problems that they might experience as they go through life.
No matter what treatment for depression the depressed person decides to get, help from a medical professional should always be sought. Severe cases of depression may lead to suicide.