How to Talk to a Doctor About Depression

Depression is a devastating disorder, robbing otherwise healthy people of the most basic pleasures. Depression can strike at any time, but most people tend to experience its onset in their late teens and into their 20s. When it arrives, depression can be swift and debilitating, stealing your identity and supplanting it with constant rumination and hopeless thoughts. If you have found yourself lacking the ability to enjoy your life or maintain a base-level sense of worth, it may be time to talk to a doctor about your symptoms.

Instructions

Find a Doctor

• 1

  Talk to your physician about psychiatrists in your area who may be able to help. Generally, your primary care physician will have a list of good resources for your area.

• 2

  Visit more than one psychiatrist before you commit to one course of treatment. "Shopping" such as this gives you a better chance of finding someone with whom you have a rapport.

Stick With It

• 3

  Begin with your history of depression. Context such as this will usually color what kind of treatment you can expect, so you may also want to do some digging to include your family history.

• 4

  Stay honest about your depression. It's not unusual for depressed people to develop a habit of "downplaying" their despair because they believe nobody wants to hear about it. But candor is precisely what your doctor is there for.

• 5

  Try and remember the times you are most depressed. Sometimes discovering these triggering events and situations can help you understand what underlies the issue.

• 6

  Ask your doctor about more intensive talk therapy such as psychoanalysis. Many patients find that daily visits in a prone position can help unlock more deep-seated emotional patterns.

• 7

  Stick with the therapy until you feel like you have the emotional and medical tools to maintain a more contented existence. Don't be afraid to return in the future if you find your depression deepening once again.