Archive for April, 2013

Finding the right Doctor or Therapist to Treat Depression

If you believe that you are suffering from depression, you must first visit your family doctor who will conduct a thorough checkup. There are many medical conditions like female hormone changes, vitamin deficiencies, thyroid conditions and mineral deficiencies that can lead to depression. Also, some medicines could have depression as one of the side effects. If your family doctor does not find any health problem, your doctor may refer you to a mental health professional.

If you are seeing a specialist for depression, it is important that you approach a person who is qualified to give you advice. If you visit your family doctor, your doctor may prescribe antidepressants but may not be qualified to treat depression. Most family doctors cannot offer psychotherapy because they don’t have experience or qualification for prescribing medications for depression.

Questions you must ask

Since the symptoms of depression may vary from person to person, it is important that you analyze the situation you are in before you approach a healthcare provider. Here are a few important questions you must ask yourself before approaching a doctor or therapist.

What kind of health expert should I approach?

People, who suffer from symptoms of depression, usually see several experts. Some people not only visit a therapist but also a doctor to get medication. If you have health insurance, it is a good idea to call your insurance provider to find out the cover offered by them for depression. If psychological therapy is not covered, you could approach a therapist who offers sliding scale based on your income.

How do I find a good psychiatrist or therapist?

You could ask your family doctor for help or you could contact organizations like National Alliance for Mentally Ill who can suggest good experts in your area. Make sure the healthcare professional you approach for treatment is a licensed practitioner as there are many quacks that claim to be qualified therapist.

What should I consider when selecting a psychiatrist or therapist?

Psychiatrist and therapist use several approaches. Some therapist may focus on practical or day-to-day issues to understand your problem, while others may go deeper into your past to understand the cause of the problem. So talk to a few psychiatrist or therapist and find out the approach they are going to use. If you are comfortable with the approach, you can continue with the psychiatrist or therapist. However, if you don’t find the approach useful, you can always find someone else.

What if the approach used by the psychiatrist or therapist fails?

Once you have settled for a psychiatrist or therapist and a doctor, you must give the treatment a chance to work. Dealing with symptoms of depression is not easy and it may take you several months to come out of this problem. Initially you may find the therapy difficult as it is not easy to open up to new people about personal incidents of your life. However, after a few sessions you are likely to get better.

Importance of selecting the right professional

Unlike other medical fields, psychiatry is an art that deals with human behaviour. Giving medication for depression is not as easy as giving medication for cold or flu. Some people require a few trials of medicines to find out which medicine is best suited to relieve their symptom. Many people may need more than one medicine to counteract the side effects of the problem and to improve positivity. At times, medications are not enough to deal with the problem. You may require a proper mix of psychotherapy and medicines to deal with the situation. Selecting the right professional will help in correct diagnosis of the problem. For example, some specialists misdiagnose bipolar disorder as depression because the symptoms of both the problems are similar. Even though the symptoms of both the problems are similar, they both require a completely different treatment.

Many people prefer visiting a psychologist or a counselor for their initial evaluation. This may help a few people but most people have to visit psychiatrists because they are qualified to prescribe medication. If the symptoms of depression are because of chemical imbalance in your body, counseling sessions are not enough to deal with the situation. It is in your interest to visit a psychiatrist who can offer psychotherapy and prescribe medication. This two-pronged attack on the problem will help you in finding an easy solution of your problem.

Second Opinion

When you visit a psychiatrist, don’t be surprised if your doctor refers you to a non-medical professional who will handle your therapy sessions. While your doctor will be responsible for your medication, the talk therapist will help you understand your mental state which will make it easier for you to deal with the symptoms of the problem. The role of talk therapist in treating depression has increased in the past few years because the biological basis of mental illness and depression has changed.

Take a test to find out if you are Suffering from Depression

How to deal with Depression

If you have found out that you are suffering from depression and are scared of visiting a doctor, you can follow these simple steps. These steps will help you in understanding what you are going through and help you deal with the problem. Since these steps are simple guidelines, there is no guarantee that these steps will help everyone. If you feel that these steps are ineffective, make sure you visit your doctor immediately. Here are the steps that can help you deal with depression:

Lead an Active Live

Depressed people who withdraw from life must put in effort to make changes in your life. You must take steps to improve your relations with your family members. Try to speak to as many people in your home and office. You can also call up a few of your friends when you feel low. This will help in changing your mood and improve your self-esteem.

You must also make it a point to do some form of exercise every day. This will improve your mood and give you more stamina to complete your work. If you haven’t exercised for several months, you can start by walking for at least 20 minutes every day. You can also attend classes at a local sports center or join a club. If these facilities are not available in the area you live, you can take simple steps to be more active in your daily routine. For example, instead of using a car for your travel requirements, you can use a cycle.

Learn to Deal with your Fears

Most people resort to drinking to avoid things that they find difficult. You must try to deal with your fears and handle each problem with courage. Running away from the problem will only increase your problem. If you are unable to find a solution for your problem, try discussing the problem with the people who care about you. Once you starting facing up to problem situations, you will be able to solve your problem.

Here are a few tips that will help you deal with your fear:

• When you are afraid of something, you are flooded with feeling of anxiety. To deal with this situation, you must give yourself a break. When you have calmed down, you will be able to find the best solution for your problem.
• When you are scared, you must understand that it is not the end of the world. You must consider the worst possible outcome of the project. If you write down the worst possible outcomes, you will realize that your problem is not very big and can be solved if you have a clear mind.
• Running away from your fear will make it scarier. If you are scared of dogs, try to go near the dog and feel the fear until you are no longer scared of dogs. Once you face your fear, it will start to fade away.
• You must get real and understand that same problems will not attack you again and again. For example, if you are attacked by a thief when you where returning home, it does not mean that a thief will do that every day.
• Everyone in this world has some imperfection and you must not curse yourself because you have some shortcomings. Everyone has to deal with stressful situations and setbacks. So don’t be scared just because you have to face a problem.
• When you face a problem, you can calm your mind by imagining a place of happiness and safety. It could be a picture of you enjoying your morning walk or spending time with your friends. These positive feelings will soothe your mind and you will feel relaxed.

Lead a disciplined life

Most people who are down don’t lead a disciplined life. They stay up late and sleep for several hours during the day. You must try to stick to a routine which includes eating healthy food, sleeping on time and exercising. If you lead a disciplined life, you will get more time and strength to deal with your problem.

Take a test to find out if you are Suffering from Depression