A Guide For Dealing With Depression

Take Prescribed Antidepressants

Depression can be caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain, so one way to treat it is to take prescribed antidepressants. Depending on the type of depression an individual has, they may need to take more than one medication to fully manage it. For example, patients with bipolar depression typically need an antidepressant medication like a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) combined with a mood stabilizer. Some patients will add medications like bupropion to their normal antidepressant to help increase the medication's efficacy.

Depression is often caused by a lack of serotonin in the brain, which medication can help with. The patient and their doctor should talk about the possibility they may have mood disorders other than depression though. Mood disorders like bipolar disorder may be caused by having too much of certain neurotransmitters, and adding serotonin to that can cause problems.

Engage In Mindfulness

If individuals engage in mindfulness, they can become more aware of the world around them. Mindfulness helps individuals focus outward instead of becoming trapped in negative internal thought spirals. When individuals have depression, they're more likely to get stuck on bad things. They need to make an active effort to notice and appreciate the good things in their life.

Mindfulness also helps individuals break out of painful thought processes that are unhelpful. Patients can use mindfulness at any time, in any situation. When individuals feel their thoughts flying away from them, they should pay conscious attention to their surroundings. They can tell themselves what they're seeing, hearing, and smelling. They will be present in the moment instead of trapped in their head.