How to Deal With Major Depression & Taking Zoloft

Zoloft is an SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) antidepressant, used to treat various forms of depression. It works by increasing levels of serotonin in your brain, which consequently acts to elevate your mood. Depression is a serious condition requiring professional treatment to cure. While taking Zoloft, a few additional steps can help expedite your recovery.

Instructions

• 1

  Keep an eye out for Zoloft's side effects and relate them to your doctor if you experience them. They can include insomnia, diarrhea, impotency and a dry mouth. In very rare cases, they constitute Serotonin Syndrome--a dangerous condition marked by fever, altered heartbeat, breathing difficulties or excessive sleepiness.

• 2

  Speak to a professional therapist while taking Zoloft. Although the medication helps to stabilize your emotions, it's not a cure-all. Therapy helps you identify the sources of your major depression and resolve the issues they created, and also to learn how techniques for coping when depression strikes you. When used in conjunction with Zoloft or other SSRIs, talk therapy makes for effective treatment.

• 3

  Maintain healthy habits while taking Zoloft. Get to sleep at a regular time each night, eat nutritious meals and start an exercise regimen. Daily exercise is especially important because it increases your energy levels and helps you feel more upbeat.

• 4

  Find projects that help you feel good or that allow you to make good use of your talents. In addition to engaging your mind, this conveys a sense of positive action--an ability to exert control on the world around you and thus on your emotional state.

• 5

  Keep in touch with friends and family members. Isolation often makes depression worse and many people in your life who know about your condition will be happy to spend time with you in order to keep your spirits up.

• 6

  Pace yourself. Depression can be exacerbated by an overloaded schedule, and Zoloft isn't as effective when it has to compensate for long hours and multiple tasks. Set a reasonable workload, beg off projects that you feel may be overwhelming, and see if any friends or family members can lend a hand.