I saw a psychiatrist who suggested I take medication. My mood would get better after each counseling session, but the depression still lingered. I have been taking the medication consistently and it does lift my mood temporarily, but when I go for checkups, the depression level is still severe, except for my mood getting better. I've been on medication for two years now and am severely depressed and would really like to know what can be done to help me recover completely?
Hi friend! As a partner who has also experienced depression, I wanted to share with you some of what I know.
First of all, regarding depression, the mainstream view is that it is caused by insufficient secretion of 5-hydroxytryptamine in the brain, and this disease has a great impact on both the body and mind. Data show that depression has a high recurrence rate, so it usually requires psychotherapy, medication, and physical therapy to control symptoms or reduce episodes, but it's hard to guarantee that it won't recur after stopping medication. Simply put, depression, like high blood pressure or diabetes, is a chronic physical disease that needs to be managed over time and cannot be completely cured at this time.
In the treatment of depression, recognized effective methods include psychotherapy, such as psychological counseling, sand tray therapy, positive thinking meditation and hypnosis; medication, such as quetiapine, fluoxetine, paroxetine, etc. (but make sure to use the medication under a doctor's supervision); and physical therapy, such as painless electroconvulsive therapy (MECT), transcranial magnetic stimulation and music therapy.
Because 5-hydroxytryptamine has receptors in several organs throughout the body, both depression itself and antidepressant medications may cause some physical discomfort, such as headaches, hair loss, digestive problems, changes in appetite, or sleep disturbances. Depression medications are slow to work, usually taking about a month to see significant improvement, and sudden increases or decreases in dosage can lead to intense discomfort and physical damage. If your current treatment regimen is causing you pain, be sure to talk to your primary care physician about making adjustments. In addition, these medications may affect liver and kidney function, so it's important to have regular follow-up appointments to make it easier for your doctor to monitor and adjust the dosage.
Chronic depression alters the structure of the amygdala and frontal lobe of the brain, making people prone to anger, panic or agitation, so positive thinking meditation can help improve emotional control and reduce episodes. A balanced diet, adequate quality sleep, and moderate exercise can help maintain endocrine balance, while appropriate labor and good social relationships can provide supportive space and enhance self-evaluation when emotions are low.
The above is what I have shared with you, maybe the statement of "no complete cure" will disappoint you, but just like J.K. Rowling, who was once deeply depressed, wrote in Harry Potter: We can't choose where we come from, but we can decide what kind of person we will become. I believe that you too can find your inner light and dispel the darkness of this nothingness as soon as Harry defeats the dementors. The world and I love you.