Depression Treatment
After a long period where everything closes in on you, where there's no strength or ability to get out of bed, where life seems meaningless, you've discovered that you're probably dealing with depression. The first thing you need to know is that this is not your fault; the second is that there's a way out of this as well.
Depression is one of the mind's mechanisms for coping with difficulty and emotional pain. You didn't choose depression - it came to you - and yet there's a good chance that guilt accompanies you. Helping yourself at this moment, helping yourself emerge from depression, sometimes involves letting others help you.
Online Depression Treatment
Even without leaving the house, it's possible and worthwhile to begin treatment. To start being in contact with someone who understands your situation. Someone who can offer new perspectives on the current, painful, and heavy experience of depression. Someone who can suggest small steps toward change, so that together you can see the broader picture of your life and find points of light and a way out.
Returning to life after a period of depression is like a journey with a heavy bag on your back. Every step is difficult at first; sometimes it feels like you need to learn everything from the beginning. In therapy, we'll start from the basics - creating renewed points of meaning in life, returning to routine, and functioning. And along the way, we'll also make space for all the feelings and pain that were with you before the depression, during it, and after it. We'll learn again how to live a whole life—one that contains both pain and beauty, difficulty and hope.
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FAQ
What are the main causes of depression?
Factors of Depression
There are several factors found to contribute to the development of depression. No single factor stands alone, and usually multiple factors converge in the life of a person who begins experiencing depression:
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Psychological factors - Negative thinking patterns, learned helplessness, low self-image - all of these are acquired psychological traits that increase the likelihood of developing depressive states. (These are also the traits that can be refined and changed through psychological treatment for depression.)
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Environmental/social factors - Difficult life events such as separation, loss, violence, poverty, and social rejection can be challenging to cope with, followed by a period of depression.
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Behavioral factors - including a lack of physical activity, poor sleep hygiene, and substance/alcohol use- can affect an individual's emotional state. In a state of emotional imbalance, a person is more vulnerable to depression.
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Biological factors - Imbalance in certain brain chemicals, such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine, can cause the disorder. Depression also has a hereditary component, so some people have a genetic predisposition to depression.
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Neurological factors - Changes in brain structure and deficits in the activity of specific brain areas are associated with the onset of depression.
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Medical factors - Chronic illnesses, certain medications, and neurological syndromes can cause depression-like symptoms.
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Age - Depression is more common among older adults, especially in later life, due to biological and environmental changes.
As mentioned, in most cases, there is a mutual influence between several biological, psychological, and environmental factors in a person's struggle with depression. Understanding the various aspects and identifying the significant ones can help guide appropriate treatment.
How long does depression treatment take?
Duration of Depression Treatment
The duration of depression treatment varies from person to person and is determined by the severity of the condition and response to treatment. However, in most cases, several months of treatment are required to achieve significant improvement.
If treatment includes antidepressant medications, it's essential to consider that at least 4-8 weeks are needed to see their full effect, as they do not work immediately. Psychological therapy (in combination with medication therapy or alone) requires work on returning to functioning and an active, meaningful life, alongside understanding the emotional world that led to depression and developing abilities and tools for coping with the emotional problems that preceded it. To see significant improvement, progress must occur in both of these areas.
After achieving initial improvement, many continue with medication or psychological therapy at a lower frequency to prevent symptom recurrence. The required treatment duration can vary according to each patient's specific condition, available mental and social resources, motivation, and willingness to implement therapeutic techniques in daily life. Impatience and early abandonment can sabotage the recovery process.
It's important to remember that in severe or treatment-resistant depression, more prolonged treatment may be required that could last several years. A patient and determined approach is key to successful depression treatment.