Depression: Is There Real Help?
Investigation of Depression Diagnoses, Therapies and Treatments
Investigates diagnoses, therapies and treatments, as well as other approaches to treating depression.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 14.8 million people currently suffering depression ask themselves if they will ever feel normal again as they make the decision to drag themselves out of bed each morning, or not.
Search for Help
“I’ve been in and out of therapy for more than 20 years,” says Melinda, 40. “I’ve been on at least six different drugs. And I still have these episodes of deep depression that have destroyed relationships and affected my career.”
Millions of books have been written to help people suffering from a depressive illness and medical professionals see countless victims each day who are seeking relief from its debilitating symptoms. An article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association estimates a $44 billion per year in lost revenue due to depression. If you count its cousins, bi-polar, anxiety disorder and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD, the cost is even greater.
Will They Ever Feel Right Again?
The question is: Will those affected by a depressive illness ever feel right again? The answer is: It depends.
Diagnosing a depressive illness is tricky. Most clinicians agree it’s akin to art more than a science. It seems a patient suffering from a depressive illness must be a willing and motivated participant in an experimental journey of drugs, therapy and stress-relieving activities—and any combination of the three, before a firm diagnosis and relief can truly occur.
Finding a Diagnosis
“I was diagnosed as bi-polar II by a psychiatrist a couple of years ago and most recently by a physician’s assistant,” Melinda shares. “Both times I was diagnosed, they asked me a list of questions. It took less than 10 minutes, and ‘boom’ I was bi-polar. In between these diagnoses another psychiatrist declared that I suffered from chronic depression instead. I saw him several times. I just started taking Zyprexa with Cymbalta, but when I talk to my friends who have known me a long time, they disagree that I’m bi-polar. They’ve urged me to get a second opinion. I was so eager for relief I took what they prescribed. Now I’m not so sure. My most recent therapist says I might be suffering from Post Traumatic Stress due to early childhood trauma. So who knows?”
Sound depressing? For those in the deepest throes of depression, drug therapy is generally the quickest fix, followed by regular sessions with a licensed therapist to learn strategies to cope with the symptoms.
Strategies to Cope
Dr. Michael D. Yapko, author of Breaking the Patterns of Depression, writes, “the best evidence to date states that…for most people, depression is the product of a hurtful way of interpreting and responding to life experiences.”
Yapko claims it isn’t necessary to rehash the past to fix the present. Rather, it’s a matter of retraining the brain to think in different patterns. According to Dr. Yapko, there are currently three forms of therapy: cognitive, behavioral and interpersonal.
Cognitive therapy explores how a person thinks and works to retrain the mind to see situations differently. Behavioral therapy helps patients learn new behaviors to help find relief—embracing the old “fake it till you make it” adage. Interpersonal therapy reframes social skills for those who need help relating to others.
In addition to drugs and therapy, there are alternative treatments such as electroshock therapy, hypnosis and EMDR, a relatively new treatment that psychologists are excited about.
So which is right for you? Again, it depends. All experts agree: if you feel depressed for more than two weeks, seek help. There is relief, if you are willing to look for it.
