How to Finally Do Something About Your Depression

If you’re one of the hundreds of thousands of individuals who have depression, you know that it’s a complex problem. It can be very confusing to tell if it’s a “blue period” or a depression, but the standard reasoning is that if your feelings of being down, sleeping too much, or feeling worthless last longer than two weeks, it’s a good thing to talk to your doctor. But, when depressed, taking steps toward recovery can be overwhelming. How can you do something about your depression?

Talk to Your Doctor About Medication

Realizing that the brain is an organ of the body can help you immensely in your quest to talk to a doctor. If you were having issues with your kidneys or your heart, you would go to the doctor or clinic to make sure that you could be properly cared for and have the right medication. If you needed thyroid medication, or treatment with insulin, you would not see that as a moral or mental failure. Your brain, like every other part of your body, sometimes needs care from a physician to make sure it’s working properly. If a small amount of dopamine reuptake inhibitors stands between you and a functioning life, don’t delay going to get that help!

Try Alternative Treatments

You might be leery of medication, but there are many treatments which consider themselves alternative. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, (TMS), for instance, is a treatment which is being developed and used in select clinics for the treatment of depression. TMS is non-invasive compared to other depression treatments and has fewer side effects. Providers are seeing a 70-80% improvement in depression symptoms, quickly, and without any damage to the brain or body. Other alternatives include hormonal therapy, meditation, massage, and herbal remedies.

Find a Good Therapist

When you begin medical treatment for depression, there’s often times that it is curbing the effects, not treating the cause. Look into meeting with a psychologist to get at the root of what has caused this down period. Though it’s never easy, talking with a professional can help you to change your mindset. Still, if you are in therapy, on medication, and find that you feel better, talk to your doctor before just quitting your medication. Generally, medical options like antidepressants take about six weeks to get to full potency in the body. 

Brains just have trouble processing the brain chemicals they are given sometimes. It’s important to ask for help, and to allow yourself to accept the medical care your doctor offers. You deserve a life of joy and peace, and often medication is the first step towards making positive changes. Don’t short-change yourself for the future!

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