What depression is and isn't Clinical depression is a tough illness. By seeing a doctor and getting a diagnosis, you've made an important first step toward recovery. Many people have a hard time accepting that they're depressed. They feel ashamed. But depression is not something you brought on yourself. It's a disease -- just like heart disease or diabetes. Depression can affect anyone. In the U.S., almost 15 million adults -- young and old, men and women -- have depression right now. Almost 2/3 of them never get appropriate help. That's tragic. Depression is a serious illness, but it's a treatable one. With treatment, you can beat depression and feel as good as you did before. What’s keeping you from starting treatment? Since you've been diagnosed with depression, now it's time to start treating it with medicine or psychotherapy, or both. But you might be hesitating. Maybe you're not sure that you really have depression, or wonder how depression is different from sadness. The idea of treatment -- a daily medication, talking about your personal life to a therapist -- might unsettle you. You might feel like you can beat it on your own or wait it out. Depression is too serious to delay treatment. It can take an enormous toll on your life. Without treatment, people may struggle for months or years, feeling down or outright miserable. Their families and careers suffer as well. That doesn't have to happen. With help, you can beat depression. The longer you put off treatment, the harder it can be to get under control. How to find the right treatment for you We now have more effective, proven treatments for depression than ever before. Your doctor will probably recommend antidepressants or therapy first. Studies have found that combining therapy with medicine usually works better than medicine on its own, depending on your symptoms. Your doctor might also suggest some lifestyle changes to help your treatment work better. Finding ways to manage stress, getting enough sleep, and exercising have all been shown to help. You can talk to your doctor about the possibilities. The important thing to know is that there are a lot of options. If one medication or treatment approach doesn't work for you, there are always others you can try. Medications Antidepressants are some of the best treatments we have for depression. They seem to work by making nerve cells form stronger and healthier connections in parts of the brain. Your doctor might start by prescribing a type of antidepressant called an SSRI, like Celexa, Lexapro, Paxil, Prozac, or Zoloft. If you're not feeling better after a while, he might try another type of antidepressant or a combination of medicines. There are many options with different benefits and side effects. Which one is right for you? Unfortunately, doctors can't yet predict that. Finding the right drug, at the right dose can take some time and trial and error. It can be hard when you're hurting, but try to be patient. Unlike a pain reliever or a sleeping pill, antidepressants can take weeks or months to take effect. Give your treatment time. Counseling/Psychotherapy Psychotherapy is a key part of depression treatment. While it might not work as quickly as medication alone, some studies show that certain types of psychotherapy may help your medication work faster, and have more lasting benefits. The idea of opening up to a stranger might seem hard. Just remember: Therapy is a medically proven treatment. It's helped countless people get over depression. Licensed therapists must keep your conversations confidential, too. There are different types of psychotherapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps you see how your own thought patterns can contribute to your depression and teaches you practical ways to change them. Other approaches focus more on your relationships or dealing with issues from your past. Therapy can be done one-on-one, with your spouse or family, or in a group. Take an active role. You have a lot of control over how well therapy works. Common concerns You might have worries about trying treatment for depression. Antidepressants will change my personality. Depression can be like a fog that hides the real you. Antidepressants don't change your personality, but they can help to restore your true personality, unclouded by the effects of depression. I'm worried about side effects. Antidepressants may cause side effects, but not everyone experiences them. If you do, many times they will fade with time. If they don't, your doctor can change your medicine or dosage or suggest other ways to manage side effects. I don't want to be in treatment forever. Getting help now doesn't mean you're signing up for lifetime treatment. Many people need medicine or therapy for a short period to get through their depression. Others may need treatment that lasts longer and helps prevent depression from coming back. What causes depression? You may be wondering: Why me? Don't blame yourself. It's not something you did. Depression, like many diseases, stems from a mix of biological and environmental causes. Genetics, hormonal changes, gender, and long-term illness can play a role in depression. So can big changes in your life, like a divorce, the loss of a loved one, or even positive things like starting a new job. Some people can point to a specific trigger for their depression. But others can't. Nobody knows for sure what causes depression, but we do know that there doesn't have to be a "reason" to feel depressed. Whatever the cause, depression is a very real illness. Imaging scans show that depression is associated with physical changes in the brain. Like any other physical illness, depression needs medical treatment. What you can do Adopting healthy habits isn't usually enough to heal depression on its own. But they can reduce stress and help you feel better while your treatment starts to work. Find new ways of taking care of yourself. Getting the right amount of sleep is important. While there's no "depression diet," making good food choices can help. Try to exercise at least a few times a week. Studies show that regular physical activity -- even walking -- can improve your mood, build stamina, and boost self-esteem. Getting on a daily schedule and setting modest goals will ease you back into the rhythm of your life. Learning to relax -- with yoga, meditation, or breathing exercises -- will help, too. Talking about it When you're depressed, you might turn inward and pull away from family and friends. But it's so important to stay connected. You need your loved ones right now -- not only for support, but to get your mind off your troubles. Breaking out of your isolation is essential to getting better. Choose a few trusted family members and friends and tell them how you're feeling. Give them some information about depression that will help them understand what depression is and how it's treated. There are also support groups for people recovering from depression that can help people feel less isolated and alone. What if some people don't believe you? They might feel you should just "snap out of it." They're wrong. Don't let them undermine you or stop you from getting the treatment you need. When to call the Doctor Don't try to push through your depression on your own. If your doctor has given you a prescription, get it filled. Make an appointment with a therapist. It's especially urgent if your symptoms are getting worse, or if it's getting hard to function day-to-day. If you are thinking about hurting yourself, get help immediately. Call your doctor or an emergency hotline. At its worst, depression can make things seem so black and overwhelming that you can't imagine they will ever get better. But depression warps your sense of reality, making things seem much worse than they are. The thoughts that make someone consider suicide aren't a sign of clear thinking. They're a symptom of depression. With treatment, those feelings will go away. You will feel better again. Source: webmd.com