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Depression – What You Need to Know
Depression can be a difficult and confusing condition. It can cause you to feel overwhelmed, hopeless, irritable and withdrawn from others. It can also lead to thoughts of suicide. It can affect your ability to work, sleep and eat.
The exact cause of depression is unknown, but it may result from a combination of biological, psychological and social factors. It can also occur after a person has gone through a stressful event, such as the loss of a loved one or a divorce.
There are a variety of treatment options for people with depression, including medication, psychotherapy and other approaches that may include exercise and changing habits such as eating healthy foods or getting more physical activity. Many people respond well to treatment but some do not.
Medication is often the first line of treatment for adults with depression. Antidepressants work by changing the way certain chemicals in your brain (called neurotransmitters) interact with each other. You can take these medicines as often or as little as your doctor recommends. Some can take as long as four or eight weeks to take effect.
Psychotherapy, or talking therapy, is also a type of treatment for depression. It helps you recognize and change your negative thoughts and behaviors that contribute to your depressive symptoms. It also can help you build self-confidence and improve your relationships with others.
It is important to talk to a therapist who specializes in treating depression. This will ensure you are receiving the best care possible.
There are many different types of therapy, but all have the same goal: to get you feeling better. Some of these techniques include cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy, family therapy and problem-solving therapy.
You can also try a variety of mind/body practices such as yoga, tai chi and qi gong. These can help you to relax, release tension and energize the body. These techniques can also help with stress management, which is another common symptom of depression.
The most common type of psychotherapy is called cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). This type of therapy teaches you how to recognize and change negative thinking patterns that cause you to be depressed.
It also teaches you how to manage your stress and deal with negative emotions. This can be helpful for reducing depression symptoms and preventing relapse.
Individual therapy can be more effective for some patients than group therapy, but both methods offer a safe and supportive environment. A therapist can also help you decide which option is best for you.
Your therapist will also help you identify any problems you might have in your relationship with your partner, parents or other close family members and teach you ways to cope with them. You might be able to participate in joint therapy sessions or other group activities with your therapist.
You might also be referred to a psychiatrist for more specialized help with depression. This type of psychiatric treatment can be in a hospital or residential setting, and involves taking medicine in addition to counseling or other treatments.
