Is clinical depression treatable?
Clinical depression is readily treatable with counseling and
medication. Many people suffer needlessly from depression because they don't
seek treatment. They may feel that depression is a personal weakness, or
they may try
to cope with their symptoms alone.
If you are feeling depressed and have been for over a
month, you should consider seeking professional help from a LGBTIQ-positive
therapist, doctor, psychiatrist, or other health care provider. There are
plenty of mental and other health professionals who will support you and
guide you towards being a happy and healthy LGBTIQ person — you deserve nothing
less. If you are looking for a LGBTIQ-supportive counselor, ask friends for
referrals or call a local LGBTIQ-friendly mental health agency.
If you are
unsure if a provider or agency is “LGBTIQ-friendly,” ask them! It is
absolutely okay to request a provider who has experience working with LGBTIQ
clients/patients.
A study performed by the National Institutes of Mental
Health showed that after 16 weeks of psychotherapy, 55% of those with mild
to moderate depression reported significant improvement. Different people
react in different ways to various types of counseling, but cognitive
therapy — in which you learn to recognize and replace depressive
thinking —can be particularly effective for people experiencing depression.
When there is a chemical component to depression, antidepressant medication
can help to correct the chemical imbalance (low levels of brain serotonin
and norepinephrine). People with moderate to severe depression are most
likely to benefit and improve from the use of medication.
Many different
types of antidepressants have been developed-if one doesn't work for you,
another one probably will. Some studies have shown that combinations of
antidepressant drugs and good psychotherapy may be the best approach.
For more information:
Top of Page |
Q & A
What is clinical
depression?
Is clinical depression
treatable?
Depression and suicide
Tips for handling depression
What to do if someone you love is depressed
Who is at risk for clinical depression?
Depression screening questionnaires
Other types of emotional and mental health problems
|
