Depression: What It Is and What You Can Do About It

There are three basic ways to treat Depression: psychotherapy, self-help, and medication. Many people respond best to a combination of two or more methods.

Psychotherapy: Exploring one's beliefs and ways of thinking, and learning new ways of thinking and behaving, with the guidance of a professional. Self-help: Exploring one's beliefs and ways of thinking on one's own. Medication: Altering one's brain chemistry by taking antidepressant medication.

A physician may recommend medication when four conditions exist:

The patient's Depression is severe.

The patient has suffered at least two previous depressive episodes.

There is a family history of Depression.

The patient asks for medication only and refuses psychotherapy.

There are four types of antidepressant medication available today:

? Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)

? Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)

? Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

? Structurally unrelated compounds

The TCAs and MAOIs have been used for decades. The SSRIs (such as Prozac) and structurally unrelated compounds are newer and are being prescribed more and more frequently. They have fewer and less pronounced side effects than the TCAs and MAOIs.

Treatment without Medicine

One of the leading methods for treating Depression is cognitive therapy. Cognitive therapists help depressed clients feel better by identifying how faulty ways of thinking are making him or her feel bad. The client analyzes his or her thoughts and beliefs, and learns to substitute more healthy ways of thinking and believing.

Many mental health professionals believe that the ideal treatment of clinical Depression is medication in conjunction with psychotherapy.

Prevention of Depression

Depression can often be prevented. It is especially important to take preventive action if you are aware that you have predisposing factors such as those mentioned in the last newsletter.

Identify your risk factors and be aware of where you are vulnerable. Each of us has unique risk factors, such as things we were taught in our families of origin, values we have learned, and the presence or absence of a family history of Depression. Anything that has been learned can be unlearned and replaced with something healthier.

Learn to manage stress. You can learn proven techniques for calming and relaxing yourself. Consider taking a stress management class or buying a set of relaxation tapes.

Learn problem-solving skills. Many people who develop Depression never learned problem-solving skills. They need to develop the ability to see problems from many viewpoints and to look for a variety of solutions. Build your life around things you can control. Learn to recognize what you can control and what you can't. Avoid spending much effort on situations that won't pay off for you.

Learn self-acceptance. Instead of rejecting the parts of yourself you don't like, learn to manage them more productively.

Become aware of selective perception. Observe how you generate ideas and opinions about people and events. Remember that these are just your views, not necessarily objective facts.

Focus on the future, not the past. Depressed people tend to be focused on the past. People who set goals and focus on the future tend to be more positive about