Depression is a serious mental health issue requiring medical care and treatment. If not treated, depression can have adverse effects on those who have it and their families. Fortunately, with timely diagnosis and treatment, therapy, and adjustment to lifestyles, depression is a condition that one can live with. It is imperative, however, to acknowledge the complexity of the illness and understand that there is no proven way that people recover from depression. However, there are many options for treatment for severe depression, and your doctor can help you establish the right treatment in a mental health treatment center.
What Is Severe Depression?
There are many types of depression. Some may be as a result of life events while others as a result of chemical changes in the brain. You may be wondering what severe depression is and how it differs from other forms of depression. Depression ranges widely in severity. If you are suffering from mild depression, you may be struggling with sadness, irritability, fatigue, and anger issues that may last for days, weeks, or even longer. In other cases, depression can be more severe with symptoms such as:
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Sleep problems
- Suicide thoughts
- Hopelessness
- Psychotic symptoms
What Are the Treatment Options For Severe Depression?
Treatment for severe depression include:
Psychological Treatments
Also known as talk therapies, psychological treatments for depression are designed to help individuals change their maladaptive thinking patterns, replace them with constructive behavior and thinking, and equip the patient with tools to cope with stress and triggers. There are a variety of psychological treatments as well as their delivery options.
Some people may prefer receiving treatment on-site with a professional while others may prefer telehealth consultation. Besides, depending on the severity of the condition, your doctor may recommend a residential mental health treatment program or an outpatient care program. Some of the common types of psychological depression treatment options include:
Cognitive Behavior Therapy(CBT)
This form of treatment is anchored to a notion that your thoughts and behaviors affect how you feel and ultimately your well-being. In this treatment, your therapist will help you identify your maladaptive behavioral patterns that trigger your depression or impede your recovery. Through the CBT, an individual is equipped with the tools to learn their thoughts and behaviors and shift their negative thought patterns into more realistic and constructive patterns.
Behavior Therapy
Behavior therapy is a subset of CBT, but unlike the parent, the goal is not to change thoughts, behaviors, beliefs, and attitudes. This form of therapy helps individuals find fulfillment in activities that are pleasant, rewarding, and satisfying. By encouraging these constructive and rewarding activities, behavior therapy is instrumental in mitigating or preventing relapse. It fills in the gaps of inactivity or withdrawal that exacerbate depression.
Medical Treatment for Depression
Antidepressant medication is the most common medical treatment for severe depression. If you are suffering from severe depression, your doctor may prescribe some doses of antidepressants alongside psychological treatments.
In most cases, medical treatment is used when other psychological treatment options have failed or are impossible due to the severity of the condition. The time in which the patient may be under medication is dependent on the severity of the disease. Your doctor can help you manage your medication in terms of dosage and length of time.
Finding the Right Treatment for Severe Depression
As noted above, there is no single proven way of treatment for severe depression, and it varies from one person to another. What works for one person may not be suitable for you. The most important thing is finding the right health professional to help you establish the right depression treatment program.