How long depression treatment

Left untreated, like any illness, the symptoms can get progressively worse and lead to significant impairment, interfere with relationships and job, or lead to self-harm or suicide. Individuals with major depression may experience a partial or total remission, where their symptoms go away or they experience no symptoms at all.

Researchers found that the risk factors for recurrent episodes of depression include:. Depression is a treatable illness, and the earlier treatment is started, the more effective it is, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Maintenance therapy is also useful in helping to prevent relapse in individuals living with recurrent depression.

Treatment may not look the same for everyone. Treatments should take individual characteristics, symptoms, and situations into consideration. Antidepressants can include:. Sometimes a combination of drugs might be used, as well as anti-anxiety medications, depending on your situation. Many people see a therapist for a variety of reasons, whether or not they have depression.

It can be helpful to talk about issues arising in your life with a person who is a trained mental health professional. There are different kinds of psychotherapy, including dialectical behavior therapy DBT and cognitive behavioral therapy CBT. This is to provide you with the support and treatment you need as well as to keep you safe until your depressive episode wanes.

However, it can be effective in treatment-resistant, recurrent severe depression. While sadness is a common emotion that everyone experiences from time to time, depression is a mental health disorder characterized by more persistent and severe feelings of sadness.

For someone to be diagnosed with depression, their symptoms must last for at least two weeks. Some people may have depression that fades, but others may struggle with depression on and off their whole life. Some types of depression go away with time and are more short-lived by nature. For example, seasonal affective disorder or winter depression is depression that recurs during a certain season each year.

As the seasons change and the days pass, the symptoms begin to go away. In cases such as these, you can't just "make it go away. Besides, you deserve proper and individualized depression treatment. There is no harm or shame in asking someone to help you begin to feel better again. Everything feels more challenging when you're dealing with depression.

Get our free guide when you sign up for our newsletter. National Institute of Mental Health. Published American Psychiatric Association. What is depression? Published January Cleveland Clinic. Alternative therapies for depression. Anxiety and Depression Association of America. Patel R, Rose G. Persistent depressive disorder. Depression basics.

Updated Dhar A, Barton D. Depression and the link with cardiovascular disease. Front Psychiatry. Burcusa S, Iacono W. Risk for recurrence in depression. Clin Psychol Rev. Depression: How effective are antidepressants? Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Computer-assisted cognitive-behavior therapy for depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Clin Psychiatry. Psychotherapy for depression: Procedure details. Craft L, Perna F. The benefits of exercise for the clinically depressed. Kennedy, S. A review of antidepressant therapy in primary care: Current practices and future directions.

Your Privacy Rights. Also, ask your therapist if he or she can recommend a trusted source or program. Some may not be covered by your insurance and not all developers and online therapists have the proper credentials or training. Smartphones and tablets that offer mobile health apps, such as support and general education about depression, are not a substitute for seeing your doctor or therapist.

In some people, depression is so severe that a hospital stay is needed. This may be necessary if you can't care for yourself properly or when you're in immediate danger of harming yourself or someone else. Psychiatric treatment at a hospital can help keep you calm and safe until your mood improves.

Partial hospitalization or day treatment programs also may help some people. These programs provide the outpatient support and counseling needed to get symptoms under control. For some people, other procedures, sometimes called brain stimulation therapies, may be suggested:. Explore Mayo Clinic studies testing new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition. Depression generally isn't a disorder that you can treat on your own.

But in addition to professional treatment, these self-care steps can help:. Alternative medicine is the use of a nonconventional approach instead of conventional medicine.

Complementary medicine is a nonconventional approach used along with conventional medicine — sometimes called integrative medicine. Make sure you understand the risks as well as possible benefits if you pursue alternative or complementary therapy. Don't replace conventional medical treatment or psychotherapy with alternative medicine. When it comes to depression, alternative treatments aren't a substitute for medical care.

Nutritional and dietary products aren't monitored by the FDA the same way medications are. You can't always be certain of what you're getting and whether it's safe.

Also, because some herbal and dietary supplements can interfere with prescription medications or cause dangerous interactions, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking any supplements.

Integrative medicine practitioners believe the mind and body must be in harmony for you to stay healthy. Examples of mind-body techniques that may be helpful for depression include:. Relying solely on these therapies is generally not enough to treat depression.

They may be helpful when used in addition to medication and psychotherapy. You may see your primary care doctor, or your doctor may refer you to a mental health professional.

Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment. Take a family member or friend along, if possible, to help you remember all of the information provided during the appointment. Your doctor will likely ask you a number of questions. Be ready to answer them to reserve time to go over any points you want to focus on. Your doctor may ask:. Depression major depressive disorder care at Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission.