Depression can strike any one and at any time, but it is important to recognise the difference in feeling a bit low and suffering with depression. Signs of depression include a persistent sadness and low mood accompanied with a loss of interest in favourite activities over a period of at least two weeks. If you do receive a diagnosis of depression, treatment takes the format of the 3 Ts – time, talking and tablets.
It is important to realise that depression is not going to be fixed instantly, but over time, you will feel better. While giving yourself time and space, it is important to exercise regularly and follow a healthy diet. Physical activity can lift mood and reduce stress and anxiety. It boosts the release of the feelgood chemicals, endorphins, and not only helps you feel better about yourself, but if taken in the form of an exercise class or group, helps you meet regularly with other people. A healthy diet high in fresh fruit and vegetables and low in fat, alcohol and sugar can also help improve your mood. If you smoke, it is a good idea to stop, although it might be better to wait until you are feeling a bit better as failure to give up may adversely affect your mood. If you have mild depression, your GP may take the view that “watchful waiting” would be a good first line of treatment while encouraging you to improve your lifestyle. They would usually call you back for appointments every couple of weeks to monitor your mood level and, if necessary to move you onto the next “T”.
Talking can take a variety of forms: Talking with a friend or family member, talking to a GP, talking with a counsellor, in a group or individual setting, or undertaking a course of a specific talking therapy such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Interpersonal Therapy or Cognitive Analytic Therapy. The most common of these therapies look at helping you change the way you think and behave in the situations you find yourself in now, although some do examine historical issues too. It is important to get the right type of therapy and while CBT is the therapy most often recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), they do suggest alternatives in certain cases or where CBT has proved unsuccessful. Mindfulness has become very popular as well and trains you to concentrate on the here and now.
Finally, tablets can be prescribed to help you with your depression. Antidepressants help people with moderate to severe depression, although not everyone responds to the same one. Luckily there are almost thirty different kinds available. SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) are the most common type and help increase the level of serotonin, the natural good mood chemical in the brain. TCAs (Tricyclic Antidepressants) have been around longer than SSRIs and raise both serotonin and noradrenaline in the brain. There are a number of newer varieties of antidepressants such as SNRIs (Serotonin-Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitors) which work on both chemicals in the same way as the TCAs. If having tried several antidepressants with no improvement in your depression, lithium and other preparations (such as quetiapine or L-tryptophan) can be added to your treatment, to augment the benefits of the antidepressants. Each of these types of medication has side effects and regular check-ups are necessary.
Depression is one of the most common mental health conditions we see in patients at Private Psychiatry. Our consultant psychiatrists have many years’ experience in successfully treating depression. If you or someone close to you would like our help in overcoming depression, please get in touch to make an appointment.
Feeling low occasionally is normal, especially after stressful events. However, if you have been feeling persistently sad, hopeless, or have lost interest in activities you usually enjoy for more than two weeks, you may be experiencing depression and should speak to your GP or a mental health professional.
Mild depression can sometimes improve with lifestyle changes, social support, and time. However, moderate to severe depression typically requires professional help, such as talking therapy or medication, to achieve full recovery.
There is no single “best” treatment. The most effective approach depends on the individual. Often, a combination of time, talking therapies, and medication (the “3 Ts”) leads to the best outcomes. Your treatment plan should be tailored with the help of your healthcare provider.
Antidepressants are not addictive in the way substances like alcohol or benzodiazepines can be. However, some people may experience withdrawal symptoms if they stop taking them abruptly. It is important to taper off under medical supervision.
Antidepressants usually take 2–4 weeks to begin showing benefits, and therapy may take several sessions before noticeable improvement occurs. Recovery takes time and consistency, patience is key.
