Depression Counseling: Treatment Options and Where to Find Help    

Depression is a mental illness characterized by sadness, hopelessness, and emptiness. It is one of the most frequent mental health problems. In reality, more than 15 million persons suffered from depression in 2014. It is also predicted that 2 out of every 100 children and 8 out of every 100 teenagers suffer from depression.

 
Depression Services

Depression can have a significant impact on daily living. However, numerous effective treatments are available to help you manage your depression symptoms. Continue reading to learn about the many types of drugs and treatment options available for depression and how to locate mental health providers in your region.

Medications for depression

Depression medicines are frequently used in treatment. Some people use these medications for a short period, while others take them for an extended period. Before prescribing any drug, your doctor will evaluate several factors, including:

  • its possible side effects
  • your current health concerns
  • possible drug interactions
  • cost
  • your specific symptoms

The following medications are widely used to treat depression:

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors

These antidepressants, often known as SSRIs, typically have fewer adverse effects than other antidepressants. This category includes fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), and escitalopram (Lexapro). Serotonin deficiency is connected to depression (as well as low levels of dopamine, norepinephrine, and other brain chemicals). SSRIs block your blood from absorbing some of your brain’s serotonin. This results in a higher level of serotonin in the brain, which can help treat depression.

 

Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors

Duloxetine (Cymbalta) and desvenlafaxine are examples of SNRIs (Pristiq). SNRIs are thought to help treat depression by maintaining serotonin and norepinephrine levels in the brain, which are chemical messengers that impact mood. They accomplish this by preventing serotonin and norepinephrine from returning to the released cells.

Tricyclic antidepressants

Tricyclic antidepressants allow more serotonin and norepinephrine to remain in your brain, assisting in mood elevation. They can be highly effective, but they have more severe side effects. They’re frequently utilized if other drugs haven’t worked. Among these are imipramine (Tofranil) and nortriptyline (Pamelor).

Therapy for depression

If you are suffering from mild to moderate depressive symptoms, you may benefit from counseling with a trusted, trained therapist. Many experts will first try counseling before attempting the medication. If the depression is severe, many people will try a mix of counseling and medication.