When you are experiencing depression symptoms, it can seem like there is no end in sight. But it is important to remember that you don’t just have to be a passive bystander to your mental health journey. There are a variety of treatment options that can loosen the tight grip that depression can have on you.
Major depressive disorder can affect your quality of life. The symptoms can impact nearly every aspect of your well-being, from your productivity to your connections with others. The good news is that there are plenty of ways to help reduce and manage your symptoms.
Read on to learn about depression and treatment options for major depressive disorder. We’ll also cover the benefits of treating your symptoms.
The basics of major depressive disorder
Depression is the commonly used term for major depressive disorder (MDD). It is a mood disorder that affects more than 17 million U.S. adults and causes overwhelming negative emotions. People with major depressive disorder are likely to experience pervasive feelings of hopelessness.
Major depressive disorder can affect your mental, emotional and behavioral health, making it hard to complete your responsibilities at school, work and home. It can also be hard to maintain interpersonal connections and set goals for the future.
Major depressive disorder is often linked to anxiety, potentially leading to anxious depression. This refers to the symptoms of anxiety that can be experienced by an individual who has been diagnosed with depression. It is important to distinguish anxious depression from individuals who have depression symptoms that stem from an anxiety disorder diagnosis. Common anxiety disorders include generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder.
5 treatments for major depressive disorder
There are many treatment options that can help you manage your major depressive disorder. It is important to discuss your choices with your healthcare provider. They can help you determine what will be the safest and most effective for your particular symptoms.
Some treatments for major depressive disorder are acts of self-care that you can complete on your own. Others may require the assistance of a mental healthcare provider.
- Exercise — Working out on a regular basis can provide just as many benefits to your mental health as it does for your physical health. Exercising is often used as a stress-relieving activity because it releases endorphins. These hormones trigger feelings of happiness and euphoria. It also releases hormones called dopamine and serotonin. Serotonin can improve your overall mood while dopamine plays a role in motivation.
- Mindfulness — MDD can cause your brain to constantly cycle through negative thoughts. Those thoughts can damage your self-esteem and hope for the future. Mindfulness is about focusing on being present in the moment. It helps reduce your depression symptoms by preventing you from feeling overwhelmed. It is usually accomplished through meditation and deep breathing.
- Psychotherapy — Talk therapy, or psychotherapy, is one of the most effective treatment options for depression and anxiety. It involves talking with a licensed mental health professional to get to the root of your depression symptoms. You also learn how to get through the everyday grievances that are contributing to them. A therapist can help you develop healthy coping mechanisms to help manage your symptoms in the future.
- Esketamine — Medication is one of the most effective courses of action for depression. If antidepressants have not reduced your symptoms, then you can couple it with esketamine. It’s known by the brand name Spravato. Esketamine is a FDA-approved derivative of ketamine that’s administered through a nasal spray.
- TMS therapy — For treatment-resistant depression and anxious depression, you may benefit from transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy, or TMS therapy. It is a FDA-cleared, noninvasive treatment that uses pulses of magnetic energy. The pulses stimulate brain activity in underactive areas that are involved in mood regulation.
Active Path Mental Health offers treatment options for major depressive disorder
We understand that it can be intimidating to see the number of options available for major depressive disorder. Whether you are looking for medication, like esketamine, or you prefer psychotherapy or TMS, we are here for you. We are ready to help you every step along the way in your mental health journey.
Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.
