Depression is a mood disorder that can interfere with every facet of your life, from forming important relationships to finding motivation to plan for your future. But you do not need to just grin and bear it. There are plenty of ways that you can alleviate the impact that depression has on your quality of life. But which treatments are right for you?
Read on to learn about the importance of treatment plans for depression and what options might be included.
The basics of treatment plans for depression
Let’s start by defining what a treatment plan is and how it is used to help patients with depression.
A treatment plan is used as a strategy to outline what treatment options you will try. It should include the resources for each option, such as referrals to specialists. The plan should also say when and how often the option will be completed.
It is possible to design your own treatment plan by seeking out individual mental health services on your own, but many people find it more beneficial to get the recommendations and insight of a mental health professional. When you are working with your provider to create a treatment plan, it is important that it is a joint effort. You can let them know about your long-term mental health goals and what types of treatments that you are comfortable with.
The benefits of having a treatment plan for depression include:
- Keeping you on track for your short- and long-term mental health goals.
- Monitoring the progress of each option.
- Increasing engagement in treatment.
- Fostering a collaborative relationship with your provider.
3 potential options for your depression treatment plan
With so many mental health treatment options available, it can feel overwhelming when you are trying to choose which ones will be the best to include in your treatment plan for depression. We have chosen a few effective options that you can discuss with your mental health provider to see if they align with your specific depression symptoms.
Here are three possible options to add to your treatment plan for depression:
- Psychotherapy — Also known as talk therapy, psychotherapy gives you space to discuss your depression with a licensed mental health professional. They can help you look at your disorder from every angle and work through your everyday problems that are contributing to your symptoms. Therapy can also help you develop lifelong skills to manage your symptoms in the future, such as coping mechanisms.
- TMS therapy — Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy is a FDA-cleared noninvasive treatment that uses pulses of magnetic energy to target specific areas of the brain that are involved in mood regulation. It is used to help treatment-resistant depression, which means that you have not shown improvement after two trials of antidepressants. It can also be an option for treating anxious depression.
- Esketamine — If antidepressants on their own have not been effective in reducing your symptoms, you can try coupling them with Spravato (esketamine). It is a derivative of ketamine that is administered through a nasal spray. It works by targeting the NMDA receptors, which balance other neurotransmitters to reduce your depression. Spravato is the only esketamine brand that has been FDA approved as a depression treatment.
Active Path Mental Health can provide options for your treatment plan for depression
If you are working with your provider to create a treatment plan for depression, you can feel overwhelmed by the different choices. Your plan should be as personalized as possible to your specific needs and symptoms. What works for someone else might not work for you. The good news is that at Active Path Mental Health, we have something for everyone, especially if you have struggled to see results in the past.
We provide a variety of approaches to treatment, from medication to talk therapy to TMS therapy to esketamine. Talk to your provider about which ones would be an effective addition to your treatment plan for depression.
Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.
