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Places to Go for Depression Treatment

Depression is one of the most well-known mental illnesses and one of the most treatable. A wide variety of options is available to treat your depression, depending on the type of depression you have, what treatment options you're most comfortable with, and the severity of your depression. Before beginning any type of treatment, be sure you learn as much as you can about your illness.

  1. Therapy/Counseling

    • According to HelpGuide.org, a variety of psychotherapies are available to help treat your depression. Therapy is also known as counseling, and can greatly benefit you if you have depression. First, you want to consider the type of therapy you think would work best for you. If you find yourself unable to cope with life's stresses and experience a constant barrage of negative thoughts, consider cognitive behavioral therapy. It focuses on helping you develop coping skills and challenging the habitual negative thoughts that are symptomatic of depression. If you feel that much of your depression is the result of relationship or family difficulties, try interpersonal therapy. This form of therapy focuses on your relationships with others and their influence on your depression. There is also psychoanalytic therapy, which helps relieve your emotional suffering through discussion and reflection. In most cases, your therapist will probably use a combination of these therapies, but it is important to be honest with yourself and your therapist if you feel that one therapy is more effective than another.The best way to find an effective therapist is to ask around. Look in the phone book for a listing of available therapists. In most cases they will also list their areas of expertise. Once you find a handful of therapists who seem promising, give each a call. Prepare beforehand with a list of questions including how they prefer to treat depression, their rates for treatment, and how long they expect treatment to last.

    Psychiatrist's Office

    • Medication is a popular and effective component in treating depression, but be aware that it is not an instant cure-all. There are a number of medications created specifically for the treatment of depression that work by increasing or adjusting the neurotransmitters in the brain, those chemical communicators that influence mood and energy levels. To get medication you should start with your general practitioner. This is your family doctor whom you would usually see to treat physical conditions or illnesses. Talk to your physician about your depression and your symptoms and ask her to refer you to a trusted psychiatrist. HelpGuide.org suggests that you seek medication from a psychiatrist instead of your general practitioner, as a psychiatrist will have a more complete understanding of your type of depression and which medications will work best for you. If you do not have a medical doctor, a number of social services offer listings of psychiatrists and counselors that work on a sliding scale or without a fee. See the "resources" section at the end of this article for places to begin your search for social services that can help you locate a psychiatrist.

    Hospitalization

    • If your depression is getting to the point where you are finding it increasingly difficult to care for yourself or if you are a danger to others or yourself, you may be hospitalized. According to the MayoClinic.com website, hospitalization usually consists of an initial 24-hour watch in which you are under the supervision and care of a team of mental health specialists. If your depression has given way to thoughts or attempts at suicide, you will also be given a mild sedative and/or mood stabilizer. After the initial 24-hour watch, a psychiatrist will usually discuss with you your options. You can either remain hospitalized or be treated in a residential facility. Both options are used to treat the most severe depression and can ultimately save your life.

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