Depression Support Groups II
Online Depression Forums II
Depression & Exercise II
Depression & Diet II
Dealing with Depression II
Herbal Remedy for
Depression II
Depression Therapy
II
Coping II
Vitamins ll
Depression Cure
Therapy for Depression.
If you are suffering with depression, you may benefit from
therapy. Today, there is no stigma attached to seeing a counselor
to help you work through your depression.
Television movies used to portray characters who needed to see a
“shrink” as disturbed individuals; however, today average, sane
people experiencing depression seek therapy as a way to cope.
If you go to a psychiatrist for therapy, he or she will be able to
treat your depression with medication since he or she is a medical
doctor. If you visit a psychologist or counselor for therapy, he
or she will not be able to prescribe medication for therapy.
Instead, the psychologist will focus on past traumatic events,
interpersonal relationships and your internal dialogue or thinking
that relates to your depression.
The first step before receiving therapy for your depression is to
visit a family physician. Your doctor will not think you are crazy
for having depression, but may recommend you visit a psychiatrist
for therapy if there are no signs of physical ailments.
Your physician might suggest you need psychotherapy to help treat
your depression. A common therapy for depression, psychotherapy
can enlighten you concerning depression by showing you what
happened to you in the past.
If you are experiencing depression, different forms of therapy can
be a source of great relief. You can let down your guard with a
confidential, sympathetic, understanding and uncritical listener
who understands the causes of depression.
Expect to spend at least one hour on your first visit with a
psychiatrist for therapy to treat your depression. Most people
suffering with depression feel as though they are in a fog or numb
so don’t worry about whether or not you remember all the details
of how your depression came into being. Some people feel
comfortable inviting a friend or relative to join them on their
first “interview” with a psychiatrist treating them for
depression. This way the psychiatrist can get an unbiased
perspective of the situation that led to your depression.
A psychiatrist might prescribe antidepressants for your signs of
depression, but additional therapy might be warranted. Some of the
other forms of therapy include “interpersonal therapy” which
focuses on how to develop positive relationships.
Another popular form of therapy for depression is called, “talking
treatment,” and it involves communicating innermost feelings and
remembering past experiences that may have been traumatic or
repressed. The downside to talking therapy is some people end up
feeling animosity and resentment toward family members who they
blame for something negative in their childhood that was dug up
during therapy.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a form of therapy used for
depression because it zeroes in on negative patterns of thinking
and behaving
Since depression is often caused by specific situations such as
divorce or a death in the family as opposed to a chemical
imbalance, you might not need cognitive-behavioral therapy at all.
Your depression could be treated through bereavement counseling or
marriage therapy.
If you opt for talking treatments for your depression, it’s
important to understand this kind of therapy may dig up repressed
unhappy memories from your childhood. Some people feel less
empowered and unable to cope with depression when they dwell on
their troubles from the past during therapy sessions.
On the other hand, cognitive therapy gives you an opportunity to
examine and change the ideas you have that make you depressed.
Some people have a negative internal tape they listen to that
feeds their depression and low self-esteem, and this form of
therapy can replace that internal tape with more positive
messages.
You may want to consider joining a support group to help you deal
with your depression instead of formal therapy sessions with a
psychiatrist. You will be in a safe environment with other people
who also battle depression, and you might gain insights by hearing
about their experiences.
Finally, if you need more specialized treatment and therapy for
your depression, you may need to rely on a community mental health
team. Your therapy team will be made up of a psychiatrist who
specializes in the treatment of emotional and mental disorders.
Other community team members who will help treat your depression
may include a nurse, psychologist, social worker or occupational
therapist.
