Managing Depression

Depression Treatment
    Therapy  for depression offers assessment to learn about the causes of pain and sadness  in peoples’ lives and the tools to begin overcoming it. People can learn skills  to avoid unnecessary suffering from later bouts of depression.
 

Peaceful Solutions Therapists Can Help You

• Identify distorted, negative thinking patterns that lead to depression 
• Focus on how to lessen contributing events and factors by taking positive steps to improve life situations.
• Explore learned behaviors that might contribute to a low mood. Patterns of interactions over years become habits that we are unaware of and can lead to depression.
• Regain a sense of control and pleasure in life. Therapy helps people see choices as well as gradually incorporate  enjoyable, fulfilling activities back into their lives.

Role of Family and Friends in Depression Therapy
    It  can be extremely difficult and stressful to live with, or be around, a person  with depression. Loved ones feel helpless and often feel a loss for the person the  depressed patient used to be. They may even feel angry at the person with  depression, even though they are aware it is a mental illness and not something  being done on purpose. Some family involvement in therapy for depression can  increase understanding and awareness of the condition, as well as teach ways to  help cope with the deperssion symptoms. That way, all loved ones can practice healthy coping  techniques together and encourage wellness and the continuation of depression  therapy. Loved ones then become part of the support network for the person with  depression and can help them move forward through treatment.

Antidepressants and Depression Therapy
  Antidepressant medications can be very  helpful for reducing the symptoms of depression in some people, particularly in  cases of moderate-to-severe depression. Many healthcare providers treating  depression may favor using a combination of depression therapy and medications.  Given the possibility of medication side effects, any use of medication  requires close monitoring by the prescribing physician. Antidepressants may  also stabilize a person enough to make them more successful at depression  therapy.
We do not  prescribe medications at Peaceful Solutions Counseling, but we will collaborate  with other treatment providers if you are on medications or would like to be  considered for medication for depression.