Depression I can be a serious mental illness. The good news is that it can be treated, and there are various treatment plans and effective interventions for this. In this article, you'll find out more about the many types of interventions for depression.
Medication is among the most commonly accepted approaches in treating different kinds of mental health problems. In fact, the use of antidepressants has increased by over 300% in the past 20 years. Despite that, the number of people with depressive disorders worldwide is still rising. However, there are also some people who claim of responding positively to the antidepressants that their doctors have prescribed them with. According to Stephen Ilardi Ph.D., a clinical psychologist and an active researcher, "I believe in fighting depression with every possible tool that we have."
Apart from antidepressants, there are natural interventions that have been proven effective in reducing the severity of depressive symptoms in some people. "We were never designed for the sedentary, indoor, sleep-deprived, socially-isolated, fast-food-laden, frenetic pace of modern life", said Dr. Ilardi. One of the potential reasons for the increasing rate of mental illnesses is today's modern lifestyle. Indeed, the kind of lifestyle that we have now is generally more toxic compared to that of our ancestors.
Inspired by the Kaluli of Papua New Guinea, Dr. Ilardi developed an intervention program that consists of some of the healthy habits of our ancestors, which are still being practiced by the Kaluli tribe today. The 6-step program is called the Therapeutic Lifestyle Change or TLC, which includes exercise, omega-3 fatty acids, sunlight, healthy sleep, anti-ruminative activity, and social connection.
Among the most commonly preferred non-conventional interventions for different mental health problems include exercise, yoga, meditation qigong and tai chi. "Exercise is medicine. It's even more powerful than any pill you can take", said Dr. Ilardi. Engaging in regular exercise can help boost your serotonin and dopamine levels. These are neurotransmitters in your brain that play important roles in regulating your mood, thus the antidepressant effect.
In addition to that, exercise has other health benefits including anti-aging effects and improved mental clarity or concentration skills. It can also help keep you physically fit. Having a leaner body can make you look good, which can in turn boost your confidence level and make you feel great about yourself.
Previous studies have indicated that exercise interventions can indeed help reduce depressive symptoms. This can even sometimes be just as effective as other forms of conventional interventions, such as psychotherapy or medication.
Exercise, Yoga, and Meditation for Depressive and Anxiety Disorders
"Exercise and yoga have multiple studies demonstrating their effectiveness, which is sometimes comparable with mainstream treatments and consistently superior to placebo."
Psychological treatments or talking therapies are considered to be among the most effective interventions for different kinds of mental illnesses. This type of intervention is aimed at helping you change your negative thinking pattern, and helping you focus on things that are going right instead. As your therapy progresses, you'll learn to develop the skills you need to cope better with your low moods and other depressive symptoms.
Some of the different types of psychological interventions for mental illnesses include Cognitive Behavior Therapy or CBT, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy or MBCT, Behavior Therapy, Interpersonal Therapy or IPT, Narrative Therapy and Counseling.
Psychological treatments for depression
"Psychological treatments provide either an alternative to medication or work alongside medication."
Understand that seeking help is not a sign of weakness. In fact, it just shows how strong you are in facing your mental health condition and having the courage to help yourself move to a better place. So, don't hesitate to get the support that you need. Maintaining a healthy social connection can help reduce your depressive symptoms, and stress levels as well.
You might sometimes feel like keeping yourself isolated from others because you don't feel like socializing. Realize that being alone by yourself can only make your symptoms worse. You need social intervention to help keep you distracted by your negative thoughts and feelings. So, make yourself get out there and enjoy the company of other people. It can be a good idea to surround yourself with those people whom you know truly loves and cares for you.
Some people get the support they need from their family, friends or colleagues. The support you get from them can sometimes be just as valuable as seeking help from a medical professional. However, it's also important to consider that it's also important to ask help from the experts. You can look for a doctor, therapist or counselor who can help you. They are the ones who are trained and knowledgeable enough to guide you towards your recovery.
Depression Treatment: Therapy, Medication, and Lifestyle Changes
"From therapy to medication to healthy lifestyle changes, there are many effective treatments that can help you overcome depression and reclaim your life."
It's important to understand that there's no 'one size fits all' treatment for depression. Yet keep in mind that there are many interventions and there are a lot of things you can do to help yourself get 'unstuck' from being depressed. It's just a matter of finding the right type of interventions that can be most effective for you. So, continue to educate yourself about your many other options and do something about it. Many others have managed to overcome their depression, and you can too!
See also
See also
Beating Depression With Cognitive Behavioral ...
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