Depression Treatment

Why You Should Seek Treatment for Depression

Depression Treatment | A staggering percentage of South Africans live with depression today. Yet, only a fraction of those receives adequate depression treatment for the condition.

Whatever the reason for the lack of depression help, it's clear that the condition can be so debilitating that it affects all aspects of life – work, school, and family. Therefore, the decision to go untreated can severely impact your quality of living, and it's a consequence that's entirely avoidable. Speaking to the right people to find the best way forward is the first step you can take in achieving a life of balance and well-being.

If you're living with depression, treatment can be as simple as reaching out to the relevant mental health specialists. In this age of holistic therapy and medicine, there is no reason why you shouldn't be living your best life right now.

Get in touch with a professional

Contact us today if you or a loved one needs professional help with depression.



Contact us

Depression Treatment

Depression Treatment
What is Depression?

Depression is often defined as a medical illness that has a negative effect on the way a person thinks, feels, and acts. Adult and teenage depression is becoming increasingly common and is so much more than simply feeling sad all the time. The pervasive nature of the illness has both an emotional and physical impact whereby your ability to function in everyday life is greatly impeded. When left untreated, this condition can cause you to lose your job, do poorly at school, and continually fail at maintaining healthy relationships. Depression treatment should be sought as soon as possible to achieve a sense of control in managing the condition and have a chance at a fulfilling and satisfying life.

Depression Treatment
Symptoms of Depression

Feelings of sadness and low self-worth are the key symptoms of depression that impact your life and lead to other symptoms that help specialists identify when something is wrong. For instance, excessive fatigue or lethargy, loss of interest in activities you used to enjoy, and recurring thoughts of death and suicide are all run-on symptoms from the initial feelings of extreme sadness and negative image of oneself. Additional signs that you're dealing with more than sadness include loss of appetite, insomnia, inability to focus, and prominent indecisiveness. When you get help for depression, the presence of these symptoms and the severity with which they arise will dictate the course of treatment.

Depression Treatment
Causes of Depression

Depression is an illness that doesn't discriminate and can affect anyone, starting from teen years all the way through old age. This makes it difficult to pinpoint a singular cause of the condition. Studies have shown that a combination of factors could be the likely reason behind it – brain chemistry, genetics, individual personality, and environmental issues. Treatment for depression always starts with obtaining a 'whole picture view' of the above factors to understand the condition better. When you understand the underlying risk factors feeding your depression, mapping a path to treatment becomes easy.

Treatment for Depression

Depression Treatment
Therapy

Psychotherapy, or 'talk therapy, is one of the most common types of treatment for depression. In mild cases, therapy on its own is enough to help an individual manage their condition. When instances of depression are more severe, therapy is often used in conjunction with anti-depressant medication. Psychotherapy can be done on a one-on-one basis or in a group, depending on the specific needs of the person involved. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is another form of therapy used in treating depression and looks at helping an individual recognise and correct problems in behaviour and thought patterns. Therapy often forms part of depression treatment plans at private clinics and psychiatric hospitals.

Depression Treatment
Prescribed Medication

Since brain chemistry plays a significant role in emotions, drugs that specifically modify the chemicals within the brain are prescribed to help with depression. There is a wide selection of anti-depressant medications available. Because of their targeted effect on the brain and often habit-forming nature, they are only prescribed by a psychiatrist or other adequately qualified mental health professional. These medications help regulate the chemicals in your brain to decrease intense feelings of sadness, thereby alleviating the general symptoms of depression. People on anti-depressants are advised to go for maintenance checks to ensure their dosage is correct and the medication is not harming them in any way.

Depression Treatment
Natural Treatments

We've looked at the immense benefits of exercise and mental health, and the same applies when coping with depression. Getting your heart rate up with regular aerobic exercise is one of the best ways to treat depression. During exercise, your brain releases endorphins that make you feel good and relieves stress. Exercising through depression also leads to improved sleep and better concentration too. Lack of appetite in depression often means eating all the wrong foods, which does more harm than good. Follow a healthy nutrition plan so your mind and body get what it needs to function at its best.

Depression Treatment

Depression Treatment
What is Depression?

Depression is often defined as a medical illness that has a negative effect on the way a person thinks, feels, and acts. Adult and teenage depression is becoming increasingly common and is so much more than simply feeling sad all the time. The pervasive nature of the illness has both an emotional and physical impact whereby your ability to function in everyday life is greatly impeded. When left untreated, this condition can cause you to lose your job, do poorly at school, and continually fail at maintaining healthy relationships. Depression treatment should be sought as soon as possible to achieve a sense of control in managing the condition and have a chance at a fulfilling and satisfying life.

Depression Treatment
Symptoms of Depression

Feelings of sadness and low self-worth are the key symptoms of depression that impact your life and lead to other symptoms that help specialists identify when something is wrong. For instance, excessive fatigue or lethargy, loss of interest in activities you used to enjoy, and recurring thoughts of death and suicide are all run-on symptoms from the initial feelings of extreme sadness and negative image of oneself. Additional signs that you're dealing with more than sadness include loss of appetite, insomnia, inability to focus, and prominent indecisiveness. When you get help for depression, the presence of these symptoms and the severity with which they arise will dictate the course of treatment.

Depression Treatment
Causes of Depression

Depression is an illness that doesn't discriminate and can affect anyone, starting from teen years all the way through old age. This makes it difficult to pinpoint a singular cause of the condition. Studies have shown that a combination of factors could be the likely reason behind it – brain chemistry, genetics, individual personality, and environmental issues. Treatment for depression always starts with obtaining a 'whole picture view' of the above factors to understand the condition better. When you understand the underlying risk factors feeding your depression, mapping a path to treatment becomes easy.

Treatment for Depression

Depression Treatment
Therapy

Psychotherapy, or 'talk therapy, is one of the most common types of treatment for depression. In mild cases, therapy on its own is enough to help an individual manage their condition. When instances of depression are more severe, therapy is often used in conjunction with anti-depressant medication. Psychotherapy can be done on a one-on-one basis or in a group, depending on the specific needs of the person involved. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is another form of therapy used in treating depression and looks at helping an individual recognise and correct problems in behaviour and thought patterns. Therapy often forms part of depression treatment plans at private clinics and psychiatric hospitals.

Depression Treatment
Prescribed Medication

Since brain chemistry plays a significant role in emotions, drugs that specifically modify the chemicals within the brain are prescribed to help with depression. There is a wide selection of anti-depressant medications available. Because of their targeted effect on the brain and often habit-forming nature, they are only prescribed by a psychiatrist or other adequately qualified mental health professional. These medications help regulate the chemicals in your brain to decrease intense feelings of sadness, thereby alleviating the general symptoms of depression. People on anti-depressants are advised to go for maintenance checks to ensure their dosage is correct and the medication is not harming them in any way.

Depression Treatment
Natural Treatments

We've looked at the immense benefits of exercise and mental health, and the same applies when coping with depression. Getting your heart rate up with regular aerobic exercise is one of the best ways to treat depression. During exercise, your brain releases endorphins that make you feel good and relieves stress. Exercising through depression also leads to improved sleep and better concentration too. Lack of appetite in depression often means eating all the wrong foods, which does more harm than good. Follow a healthy nutrition plan so your mind and body get what it needs to function at its best.

What Happens when Depression is not Treated?

People tend to shy away from getting help with depression because of the stigma attached to mental health problems. There is a lot of shame involved, and they often see it as a personal weakness.

When depression treatment is ignored, there is also the risk of the symptoms worsening. There is mounting evidence that physical health and depression are closely linked. People with untreated depression may suffer from heart disease, leading to heart attacks, chronic headaches, backaches, or strokes. Following bouts of serious illness, there is a higher risk of burnout than people who healthily manage stress.

Finding Help for Depression

You shouldn't let stigma get in the way of seeking treatment for depression. Even mild cases shouldn't be ignored because things can escalate without warning, complicating effective treatment. If you think you might require depression help, speaking to your doctor is an excellent place to start. They will help you reach out to mental health professionals who can guide you regarding the best treatment plan.

At ZwavelStream, we specialise in depression treatment and provide our clients with a safe, healthy environment in which to regain balance in their lives. Therapy, medication, and a highly skilled staff contingent are available to see you on your road to wellness. Every case is treated with the utmost confidentiality, and treatment is planned on a client-specific basis. Contact us for more information about how you can get the help you need.

Basic Mental Health Quiz

Taking the first step to mental health involves determining whether you may have a problem. Our quick online questionnaire will assist you do that.



Basic Mental Health Quiz
March 31, 2023
Seasonal Affective Disorder 950x600
Published by Dewald at March 31, 2023
Categories

Holiday Seasonal Affective Disorder Discussed

At the start of autumn and winter, we experience shorter daylight and colder temperatures Subsequently, it can trigger decreased motivation, interest loss, fatigue, and low moods […]
Do you like it?1
Read more
February 9, 2023
Knowing depression featured image 950x600
Published by Dewald at February 9, 2023
Categories

Types of Depression and Their Treatments

Everyone experiences sadness at some point in their lives Occasionally, this feeling disappears on its own. Some people experience this persistent emptiness, unhappiness, and hopelessness regularly. […]
Do you like it?2
Read more