There is no unique way to deal with depression, every person is a universe and each universe has its chasms, black holes and hidden forces, knowing how to wake them up, first calming despair, sleepless nights, fear and apathy, will require specific strategies. . Because everyone is imprisoned from their own prison and it’s not the same key that serves everyone.
When we are diagnosed with depression there is something that changes in us, on the one hand we feel relief, because all the ailments, lack of energy, moodiness and desire to cry can be contained in a single medical diagnosis, something. that is, in a way, a starting point for them to help us, however, it is common for something very special to happen: that we ask ourselves the classic question: what now, will I be dependent on a series of drugs or therapies?For the rest of my life?
- “Black holes aren’t as black as we thought.
- The eternal prisons we once thought of.
- Can’t we all get out of them as we move forward?-Stephen Hawking-.
Sometimes we have a limited view of what depression treatment is supposed to be, antidepressants are not the only strategy and are often not necessary, this is a decision of the local professional, besides, another aspect to consider is that dealing with this disability The psychological condition is like embarking on a journey, a journey to find the best ways , the ideal routes to return home, to return to our private balance, to our lost fortress.
There is a fact that we see more and more often: general doctors prescribe antidepressants and anxiolytics very easily. Are they, in general, the front door for the person who comes to them for help, telling them that they can no longer cope, that they need to sleep, relax, stop crying so often?
To treat depression properly and comprehensively, we need more strategies, more professionals, so it is essential that the medical center has psychologists, who work closely with primary care physicians, as well as psychiatrists, it is also ideal to include social workers who can be of great help in many cases; We must not forget that in recent years, the group of people with the most depression has the least resources.
To date, the most effective therapeutic strategy in the treatment of depression is cognitive behavioral approach, so if we combine these techniques with a pharmacological approach, we will soon begin to identify significant advances.
As we have already indicated, there is no single strategy to treat depression, there are several, and we have to find the one that best suits our needs as well, while cognitive behavioral therapy is one of the most effective, there are others that can help us.
Interpersonal psychotherapy is useful when depression is the result of a problem in the patient’s interpersonal context (for example, the breakdown or loss of a loved one). The goal of therapy is to address vital and stressful events, as well as work on oneself. -estimate or facilitate strategies to improve relationships with others.
Greenberg’s emotional therapy is a combination of Carl Rogers’ approach and Gestalt therapy, is very useful for treating depression and aims to help patients identify, work and treat their emotions, all in a safe context provided by the therapist, where it becomes possible to manage anxiety and work with the most difficult emotions.
We are aware that a person suffering from depression will not have the strength or courage to go swimming, cycling or taking a zumba class, that is clear. However, as much as possible, the most appropriate thing in these cases is to be able to leave the house, feel the heat of the sun, the noise from the outside and then walk.
Something as simple as going out and walking 20 minutes a day has many advantages.
A good diet will not make our depression disappear, what we will achieve is that our immune system strengthens and our brain has the right nutrients, which promote the release of certain neurotransmitters that will help us feel better every day.
Fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, fatty acids such as omega-3s and magnesium-rich foods are recommended.
There are scientific studies that confirm the usefulness of St. John’s wort as a complementary treatment for mild to moderate depression, so don’t hesitate to consult a specialist to find out which dosages are right for you.
Many patients show no improvement after undergoing various psychological treatments and medications. In such cases, it is necessary to request a second diagnosis. The reason? Sometimes behind depression there may be a personality disorder that has not been identified.
Medications treat depression, but don’t cure it, psychological therapies treat, facilitate the process, and give us strategies to cope with depression, psychological support from those we love, trust placed, and feeling understood and helped are things that cure Cure and allow other strategies to work in the same direction to succeed.
Therefore, we must surround ourselves with the people we value most to deal with these situations.
Our minds may not be receptive to the search for new hobbies that motivate us and act as reinforcements; however, a very effective strategy to treat depression is to introduce in our daily life tasks, hobbies or dynamics that we like, relax and arouse interest.
Thus, exercises such as painting, writing, music or yoga can have very enriching results.
One fact we cannot forget is that after overcoming depression, there is a risk of relapse, in fact, in two or three years, you may knock on our door again.
To prevent this from happening, we count, for example, on mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, ideal for applying breathing and meditation techniques in our daily lives to work our negative thoughts, those that sometimes, and often inadvertently, continue to germinate in our lives. ,like weeds.
In conclusion, let us remember again what we reported at the beginning: there is not a single way to treat depression; Are there thirty modes, fifty modes, much more?It is about finding the set of strategies that best suit our needs, for this we have psychologists and psychiatrists to help us on this path to light.