Is there any Treatment for Depression? #Mental Health Study Series (2)
This is the most questions that is being asked whenever I met new people. The same question is always asked and I have to repeat every single thing, which is very tiring because I need to start from A-Z. Yes, there is treatment for depression BUT it'll take a very long process to be completely cured from it. As far from what I knew and the people I've made friends with online, getting better from depression or any mental illness is not easy. You required to have more patience than what it is. That's what they said. Most , of them suffered for many years, seek treatment and now they're okay, I wouldn't say cured completely because relapse do happen.
-
What are the Treatments?
Treatment comes in many different form. Medication, other medical options, brain stimulation, therapy and lifestyle changes, and that of course, it depends on individual. Not everyone could stick to the same treatment. Remember, everyone is different..
First treatment is, Medications.
Anti-depressants is the most common medication that is given to individuals when it comes with an illnesses. It's not a medication that any doctor could give. For my case, I was given after my former psychologist said that my condition is worsen therefore I was officially supplied with one. Anti-depressants is a type of approved drug that is made for mental illness patients. They help to maintain our brain cells and our mind. And it's because our mind work 24/7, therefore we need a drug to calm our mind and also our brain. The kind of calmness is not that addicted calmness like what drugs addict describes. It's more of being calm rather than being disruptive. Medications come in 8 different categories but most common categories is SSRIs, SNRIs and NDRIs.
- SELECTIVE SEROTONIN REUPTAKE INHIBITORS (SSRIs) -
SSRIs medications helps to relieve the symptoms by blocking the absorptions which is also called as "reuptake" of serotonin by a particular brain nerve cells. Serotonin helps to regulate our mood. SSRIs medications include fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva). sertralin (Zoloft), citalopram (Celexa) and escitalopram (Lexapro).
- SEROTONIN AND NOREPINEPHRINE REUPTAKE INHIBITOR (SNRIs) -
SNRIs medications worked with a double type of actions which increasing the levels of serotonin and norepinephrine that inhibits the chemicals being absorbed back into brain cells. SNRIs medications include duloxetine (Cymbalta), venlafaxine (Effexor), desvenlafaxine (Pristiq, Khedezla) and levomilnacipran (Fetzima).
- NOREPINEPHRINE-DOPAMINE REUPTAKE INHIBITORS (NDRIs) -
NDRIs medications help to increase the concentrations of mood regulators in the brain. NDRIs medications includes bupropion (Wellbutrin, Aplenzin and Forfivo XL) and mirtazapine (Remeron).
whilst the 5 categories is which made out of :
- TCAs (which means Tricyclic Antidepressants).
- MAOIs (which means Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors).
- Atypical Antidepressants.
- Atypical Antipsychotics (which means Second-Generation Antipsychotics or SGAs for short).
- Newly-Approved Antidepressants.
- Lithium (mood stabilizer, it helps with patients with bipolar disorder which is also called as manic-depressive disorder).
- Thyroid treatments (there's 2 different ways to treat depression. Most often used as augmentation for patients who responds insufficiently to anti-depressants).
- MDMA (also known as "molly" or "ecstasy", is a psychoactive substances which is used for patients with PTSD).
- Marijuana (out of 195 countries in the world, only 42 countries are allowed ; legal for consumptions, 14 countries allowed for the use of marijuana only if with permits).
- Psychedelics (those who consumed are to be closely monitored).
- Electroconvulsive Therapy (which is also known as ECT, a treatment resistant depression and severe depression. ECT also involves in transmitting short electrical impulses into the brain, helping to balance the chemical cells).
- Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (which is also known as rTMS, a brain stimulation which is similar to ECT but rTMS uses magnet instead of electrical current).
- Vagus Nerve Stimulation (which is also known as VNS, treatment for patients with major depressive disorder and treatment resistant).
- Deep Brain Stimulation (which is also known as DBS, a first approved treatment for patients with Parkinson's. It involves pulses of electricity from an implanted battery pack. It is also approved to treat patients with OCD but for patients with depression, it is remains experimental).
- Find meaning purpose in you life. Why? To have a strong purpose of life offers a buffer against inevitable setbacks and obstacles. Activities that connects with something greater such as pursuing a college degree, or mastering a challenging task. It not only provide a goal to work forward but it gives a good healthy and meaningful distraction.
- Cultivate social support. Why do we need social support? Personal connections with others such as friends, family members, neighbors etc provides reasons to get up in the morning. It helps for strong relationship and reduces isolation and loneliness.
- Develop coping skills to reduce stress. You need to identify the cause of your stress and avoiding those situations could help. Do something that provides you a distraction. Journalling? Knitting? Making slimes? Making your own jewelry?
- Get a sufficient amount of restorative sleep. Sleep helps to maintain the brain function. Maximum of 5-8 hours of sleep would be good enough.
- Make sure you move, everyday. Wake up in bed and have a minimal walk, be it going to the bathroom or the kitchen or the living room. A small activity can make a big impact.
- Eat clean. Diet that includes fresh foods, staying hydrated, cutting out sugary beverages, reduce caffeine and alcohol consumptions. If these is hard, try to cut down at least one and make it into a habit.
- Stay motivated. Even if the day is a very bad day, it's alright because we all do have bad days. Reward yourself with things you enjoy.