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Therapy for Clinical Depression

If you think you might be suffering from clinical depression, the best thing you can do is make an appointment with a doctor. If you're having suicidal thoughts, or if you're thinking about endangering yourself in any way, please call 911 immediately. If you're just curious for now, or are interested in getting professional help, here's how to prepare yourself for your first appointment.

  1. Know You're Not Alone

    • Clinical depression is one of the largest mental problems today. According to "Psychology Information Online," 17 million American adults experience depression. Many people don't seek treatment, and some who do are misdiagnosed as having a purely physical problem. That's why it's important to arm yourself with the knowledge of what comprises depression.

    Know Your Symptoms

    • Recognize, and write down if necessary, what symptoms you are experiencing. Common symptoms of depression, according to the Mayo Clinic, include loss of interest in normal daily activities, feeling sad or down, feeling hopeless, crying spells for no apparent reason, problems sleeping, trouble focusing or concentrating, difficulty making decisions, unintentional weight gain or loss, irritability, restlessness, being easily annoyed, feeling fatigued or weak, feeling worthless, loss of interest in sex, thoughts of suicide or suicidal behavior and unexplained physical problems such as back pain or headaches.

      If any of the above common symptoms match your personal list, you may be depressed. You also may have also identified some problems that you weren't able to articulate on your personal list, or you may have written some down that aren't in the Mayo list. That's fine. Now that you've got a better grasp of what you're feeling, you're prepared to communicate clearly with your doctor.

    Your Treatment Plan

    • Your therapy may include a number of helpful elements. Your doctor will try to first diagnose you, confirming that what you're experiencing is depression or something else, and then will develop a plan for your treatment. This plan may include medication and/or counseling. As you begin your therapy, seek out friends, family or professionals to discuss your problems, if necessary.

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