Depression, like most mental illnesses, is treatable. Your doctor can help you determine the cause of your depression. Then, they can help you through the symptoms and get you on the road to recovery. Keep in mind that a diagnosis of depression only means that you are suffering from depression.
Your doctor can order a couple of tests to determine if you have depression. One is called the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. This will determine how much depression you are dealing with.
Another measure of depression is to do a blood test to look for signs of depression. In many cases, a blood test will come back as being depressed, but the reason for this is unknown. Just because you have a blood test and your doctor thinks you are depressed, doesn’t mean you necessarily are.
Postpartum Depression — Postpartum Depression is a severe form of depression that occurs shortly after giving birth. It is very painful and sometimes life-changing. It may continue for months. While the name would imply that it is only after the baby is born, it can also occur during pregnancy and just before delivery.
You can begin treatment for depression with medication and therapy, or you can continue to use depression medications to deal with your symptoms. Your doctor will help you determine which type of depression medications would be best for you. They can prescribe antidepressants and ask you to take them for at least two weeks, after which you will be evaluated. You will then be put on a maintenance dose.
Your doctor will also ask you about the frequency you take your depression medication. They may wish to adjust the frequency, or even cut it down if they think that’s the best approach. This is to help you cope with your depression.
Your doctor may also consider adding a high dose of your antidepressant to the cocktail of medications you’re taking. This is to help you overcome your depression. You may also be asked to take different types of treatments and therapy to help you cope with your depression.
Once you have been diagnosed with depression, you may receive a prescription for antidepressants. These medications work by lowering your levels of serotonin. The serotonin is responsible for keeping your moods stable. Serotonin levels can drop significantly as you go through the various stages of depression.
Drugs such as these are not the only forms of therapy available. You may also receive therapy from a counselor. There are some medications that you can take that contain antidepressant drugs that will work the same way as other medications do. These are known as non-drug therapies.
You should see your doctor for a treatment plan that will help you recover from depression and complete a step-by-step recovery plan to help you re-establish your mental and physical health. Your doctor will work with you to develop your plan.
When you have been diagnosed with depression, you need to find the right type of treatment for you. There are many types of treatments available. You should explore all options before making a final decision.
