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When an individual is depressed, it can feel like they will never get out from under its shadow. However, depression responds very well to treatment. With professional help and support, most depressed people experience a significant reduction in their symptoms. However, finding the right treatment strategy isn’t always easy. There is no one therapy, pill or treatment that works for everyone and even when you find the winning treatment combination, feeling better takes time. It’s important to be patient, work closely with a therapist or doctor and follow through with treatment. 
The Importance of a Diagnosis
Before you can be treated for depression, you need a diagnosis that confirms depression is the problem. Although it may look and feel like depression, it doesn’t necessarily mean the problem is psychological. Many medical conditions and medications can cause symptoms of depression including sadness, fatigue and the loss of pleasure. If your depression is the result of medical causes, therapy and antidepressants will do little to help. The depression won’t lift until the underlying health problem is identified and treated. That’s why it’s important to see a doctor if you’re feeling depressed. Your doctor can screen for drugs and diseases that could be causing your symptoms.
When it comes to a depressed mood, illnesses involving the heart, the brain, the immune system and the endocrine system are among the possible culprits. Hypothyroidism or low thyroid, is a particularly common mood buster, especially in women. Prescription drugs that can cause depression as a side-effect include antibiotics, sleeping pills, heart and blood pressure medications, steroids and birth control pills.
The Diagnostic Exam
A good diagnostic evaluation will include an interview about your symptoms, a physical exam and lab tests. The doctor will also ask you questions about your medical history, the medications and supplements you’re taking and what’s going on in your life. The information you provide affects the accuracy of the diagnosis, so answer as honestly and openly as possible. Since substance abuse can also cause depression or make it worse, be sure to tell your doctor about your drinking habits or any drug use.
Some questions the doctor may ask:
- When did the symptoms start?
- Have you ever had them before?
- How are the symptoms affecting your life?
- Did something happen to trigger them?
- Have you ever been treated for depression before?
- Do you have a family history of depression or mental illness?
- Do you drink alcohol or use drugs?
- Have you had thoughts about death or suicide?
Treating Depression
If your doctor determines that there are no health problems causing your depression, then it’s time to explore your treatment options. This is best done with the help of a mental health specialist, as well as your general practitioner. While general practitioners can prescribe antidepressants, depression is not necessarily their area of expertise and they aren’t likely to be up-to-date on the latest research or cutting-edge treatments. A better option is to work with a psychiatrist or a psychologist with advanced training and extensive experience treating depression.
While psychiatrists are the only mental health specialists who can prescribe medication, keep in mind that they may not be trained in talk therapy. If you’d like to pursue talk therapy, also consider psychologists, counsellors and social workers.
Finding a Treatment Provider
Treating depression takes time and throughout the process you’ll be working hand-in-hand with your doctor or therapist, so finding the right health care professional is important. To find a good therapist, start by asking around. Get recommendations from friends and family members or ask your doctor for a referral. It’s a good idea to check credentials - just remember that credentials aren’t everything. It’s more important to find a health care professional that you connect with. Make sure you feel comfortable opening up to this person.
Developing a Treatment Plan
Once you’ve found a therapist or psychiatrist you click with, you will work together on a personalised treatment plan. The most common treatment approach for depression involves some type of talk therapy, antidepressant medication or a combination of the two.
While your doctor may suggest taking an antidepressant, medication is by no means the only way to feel better. In fact, research shows that talk therapy is equally effective. Even if you decide that medication is right for you, it’s a good idea to pursue therapy as well. Studies show that for depression treatment, a combination of medication and therapy works better than medication alone.
In Australia there are a large number of possible treatment and management methods for depression depending on an individual’s symptoms, type of depression, severity and the cause, if it is known. A combination of psychological therapy and antidepressant medication is commonly considered the most effective treatment for depression in Australia, however, depending on the nature of the depression, there are a number of other combinations and options that may be suitable for depression management and treatment, including self-management approaches.
References:
Better Health Channel
depressioNet
Helpguide
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