Conventional Treatments for Depression and Mental Illness

Medications

If you are at risk for a suicide attempt, it's probably a good idea to take some medication, at least until you're no longer feeling suicidal. The rules on who can prescribe medication may vary, but often times a regular doctor (general practitioner) can prescribe them (particularly antidepressants). Psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses, and sometimes psychologists can also prescribe them.

Medication can help treat a variety of mental health conditions, including depression, bipolar depression, schizophrenia, and others. There's often a variety of meds that can be prescribed for a condition. No one med works well for everyone. Sometimes a particular med is ineffective, or has side effects. If there are side effects that you would find intolerable (e.g., sexual dysfunction or weight gain), you may want to discuss that with your prescriber in advance. Also, it may help to tell your prescriber the full range of symptoms that you are experiencing, both physical and mental. Some drugs may tend to help treat certain conditions, like nausea, insomnia, anxiety, headaches, etc., but those benefits are not the primary reason why they are prescribed. Knowing the full range of symptoms you are experiencing, as well as any side-effects you can't tolerate will help the prescriber select the best medication for you.

If you have a close biological relative (parent, sibling, grandparent, cousin, aunt, uncle) who is being successfully treated with a medication for any mental health condition, you may want to discover what that medication is if you suffer from the same condition. Genetic factors can influence what medications will work best, so you may be prescribed the same medication as your relative.

Meds often take time to "kick-in", so it may be worthwhile to stick with taking a scheduled med even if it seems like it is not working. It's ok to ask your prescriber or pharmacist how long you can expect to wait until you start feeling results.

If you feel a med isn't working, things are getting worse, or you are experiencing side effects, you should probably talk to your doctor or pharmacist. You may want to ask to try another medication, or to adjust the level of medication that you are taking. Some people go through many meds before finding one that they like. You also might want to try a different prescriber. Not all doctors are equally competent.

If you decide that you don't want to take a medication anymore, it's important to let your prescriber know. Suddenly ceasing to take a medication can have side effects. Usually when you stop taking a medication, the dose is reduced gradually.

Medications typically come with some information about them, and it's a good idea to read it.

Medications don't typically cure mental health conditions on their own, but for example in the case of depression, medication can help you make work, relationship, and lifestyle changes that lead you to feeling better. It's maybe a bit like taking cold medication. It won't cure the cold, but if you're able to get a good night's sleep, it will help you recover faster. It's particularly important to make positive changes while you are taking an antidepressant as some people report that they stop working after long-term use.

Ketamine therapy is a relatively new, experimental treatment for depression. The treatment so far seem to have mixed reviews.

Therapy

There are different styles of therapy, and if you are dissatisfied with one kind, you might want to try another.

Some therapists are really terrible, some are great. Some therapists are just a better match than others. It can be good to shop around and see if there is someone that you like. If you are in the US or Canada, 211 may be able to help you find a therapist, and may also be able to help you to find subsidized or lower-cost care.

Some people benefit from having very intensive therapy (therapy everyday, or long sessions of therapy); this is known as Intensive Outpatient Therapy, or IOP.

Some people prefer the group interactions to meeting with a therapist one-on-one. Group therapy is also often cheaper.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is considered one of the best styles of therapy for depression. It's also used to treat PTSD and some other conditions. There's evidence that you can get some benefit from learning CBT techniques at home. A member has recommended the book Mind Over Mood. CBT can help you change the way you look at or react to things. If you live in the UK, there is an online course in CBT available through the NHS.

reading-well.org.uk has a list of books about depression, insomnia, mental health, chronic illness, bullying, and other subjects for adults, teenagers, and children.

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) is considered one of the best styles of therapy for Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). BPD is also sometimes known as Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD).

There are quite a few other styles of therapy. You may want to do some research about a style of therapy before you try it.

Other medical treatments

Certain medical conditions can mimic depression, or occur simultaneously with depression and make it worse. You might want to get an exam from a medical doctor to check. Sometimes people have vitamin deficiencies, such as b12 and d3, which are easy to check for and easy to treat. Thyroid hormone levels and chronic infections like Candida can also produce similar effects.

rTMS (repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation) and ECT (electro-convulsive therapy).

rTMS is a relatively new form of treatment for depression. Few people who get rTMS get positive results, but those who do often get very positive results. It also has far fewer negative results than ECT.

Electro-convulsive therapy is the modern term for shock-treament. The current form of treatment applies much milder electrical current than was once used, and under anesthesia. Treatments are often given in multiple sessions (up to 10?). ECT is often given to people who have not been helped by medications or therapy. Many people have positive results from ECT, but others experience no benefits or feel worse after treatment. Memory loss is a frequent side effect of treatment.

There's also more to treating depression and other mental illness than just conventional treatment methods. These links have some information

Alternative Treatments for Physical and Mental Illness

Self-Treatment Methods for Physical and Mental Health

 

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