Depression how long does it take to get better

If left untreated, depression symptoms can actually become worse. In my case, I let myself stay in my depression for nearly ten years without any treatment, and things got very bad.

In addition to the possibility of facing issues similar to the above, untreated depression can increase your risk of suicide. If you want to treat your depression, you need to seek help from mental health professionals. Mental health professionals, such as therapists and psychiatrists, are trained in the science of how the mind works and can help you get on a path to feeling better. You can use Psychology Today to browse professionals in your area filtered by the type of therapy they offer, insurance they accept, and more.

After some sessions with your therapist, he or she may recommend that you go to your primary care doctor and get antidepressants. This helped me execute the exercises my therapist gave me more effectively.

It may be the case that you need to try a few different types of antidepressants before you find one that works. In some cases, if your depression symptoms are extremely severe as mine were , your doctor may refer you to a psychiatrist. Psychiatrists are doctors that specialize in mental health and the treatment of mental health disorders such as depression. While therapists help people address the cause of their problems, psychiatrists prescribe and monitor medications to control symptoms.

Fortunately, when I started treatment, including cognitive behavioral therapy and going on antidepressants, things began to turn around. While some people have only one, most people with depression have recurrent episodes throughout their lifetimes, which is why treatment is so important.

Left untreated, like any illness, the symptoms can get progressively worse and lead to significant impairment, interfere with relationships and job, or lead to self-harm or suicide. Individuals with major depression may experience a partial or total remission, where their symptoms go away or they experience no symptoms at all.

Researchers found that the risk factors for recurrent episodes of depression include:. Depression is a treatable illness, and the earlier treatment is started, the more effective it is, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Maintenance therapy is also useful in helping to prevent relapse in individuals living with recurrent depression. Treatment may not look the same for everyone.

Treatments should take individual characteristics, symptoms, and situations into consideration. Antidepressants can include:. Sometimes a combination of drugs might be used, as well as anti-anxiety medications, depending on your situation. Many people see a therapist for a variety of reasons, whether or not they have depression. It can be helpful to talk about issues arising in your life with a person who is a trained mental health professional. There are different kinds of psychotherapy, including dialectical behavior therapy DBT and cognitive behavioral therapy CBT.

This is to provide you with the support and treatment you need as well as to keep you safe until your depressive episode wanes. However, it can be effective in treatment-resistant, recurrent severe depression. The treatment consists of the use of an electrical current to stimulate a seizure while an individual is under general anesthesia. Depression is a serious illness, and for many individuals living with depression, depressive episodes are recurrent. There are a variety of treatments that can be used to help treat and reduce symptoms as well as to reduce the risk of recurrence or severity of an episode.

There are also tools to help you adapt and cope with depressive episodes. At its mildest, you may simply feel persistently low in spirit, while severe depression can make you feel suicidal, that life is no longer worth living.

Most people experience feelings of stress, anxiety or low mood during difficult times. A low mood may improve after a short period of time, rather than being a sign of depression. It's important to seek help from a GP if you think you may be depressed. Many people wait a long time before seeking help for depression, but it's best not to delay. The sooner you see a doctor, the sooner you can be on the way to recovery.

Sometimes there's a trigger for depression. Life-changing events, such as bereavement, losing your job or giving birth, can bring it on. People with a family history of depression are more likely to experience it themselves. But you can also become depressed for no obvious reason. Read more about the causes of depression. Treatment for depression can involve a combination of lifestyle changes, talking therapies and medicine.

Your recommended treatment will be based on whether you have mild, moderate or severe depression. If you have mild depression, your doctor may suggest waiting to see whether it improves on its own, while monitoring your progress.