Updated: Jun 30, 2023
Most people know at least one person who has been struggling with depression.
The likelihood you or someone you know has been touched by depression is high.
Approximately 1 out of 10 Americans have been diagnosed with a major depressive episode at least once. This number is much higher if we consider those who have not sought treatment. When you know someone who has experienced depression, a common question might be, what can I do?
Medication Treatment for Depression
Let's try to explore the question of what I can do to treat depression. The two most sought-after treatment methods for depression are medication management and therapy. Some seek the medication route as the first choice, while others try therapy. Which path is right for me? Let's start with reviewing the pros and cons of the medication route.
Pros and Cons of Medication Treatment
The first pro to taking medication is symptom relief. Be cautious because symptom relief via medication is not a quick process. A common limiting belief is that medication is a shortcut to curing depression and avoiding therapy. While it is true that medication can provide symptom relief, the process takes time. There are two factors associated with time. Let's consider them both.
Finding a doctor that is right for you
The first is finding a doctor you feel comfortable with, not to mention the complexity of locating a provider who is in-network with your insurance. The second is working with your doctor to find a medication that will work.
Medication takes time to work
The latter, in most cases, have a trial-error component in addition to most medications that do not act immediately. Another con is considering the side effects. While most drugs have been tested and are considered safe by FDA standards, it does not mean you should automatically lump all anti-depressants as safe.
Side-Effects
Most anti-depressant drugs have side effects. Long-term side effects include but are not limited to weight gain, sexual problems, reduced positive feelings, emotional numbness, and dependence on the drug. You are advised to educate yourself and discuss your research with your doctor. A sign that you have found a great provider is when they are open to discussing the short-term vs. long-term side effects with you. Before starting treatment, review the side effects with your doctor during your next appointment.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression Treatment
Lastly, medication generally does not address, in most cases, the underlying root cause attributed to the symptoms. While it is true there are cases where medication has been effective in restoring chemical imbalance in the brain without therapy, in most cases, medication alone will not address the underlining cause of the negative thought loops responsible for depression. Approximately 95% of depression cases in my practice were attributed to self-limiting beliefs and difficulty staying present. A frequent pattern follows cognitive distortions associated with a negative perception of self, regressive thoughts related to past actions and a negatively distorted perception of the future.
Why Goal-Oriented Focus and the role of Mindfulness Training in the Treatment of Depression
A healthy brain has a sense of direction, a positive outlook on the future, a realistic and positive concept of self, can form and maintain meaningful social relationships, and can stay focused in the present moment while moving toward a goal. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has the potential to accomplish all of the objectives previously mentioned, while the role of mindfulness training can expedite and shorten the time. I like to explain to my client the analogy of mindfulness training is like going to the Gym. Instead of working out your muscles, you work out your mind. The best workout for the mind experiencing depression is learning to be present and updating thought distortions. Training the mind to be present reduces anxiety and depressive thoughts and increases focus, productivity, memory recall, and stress.
How MMW does Therapy
Here at mentalmaptowellness, we use CBT and mindfulness tools to train the mind to have an accurate and positive perception of self, redefine a sense of a clear direction, re-align with meaningful work, build or rebuild social relationships, train the mind how to identify limiting beliefs and thought distortions and train the mind to be present.
