5 Possible Depression Treatments for Mild to Severe Cases

Depression is a daily struggle for far too many people. What’s worse, more than 80% of people suffering from depression don’t seek out help from a professional. Depression is such a demotivator that many people aren’t able to actively seek help, which contributes to the negative feedback loop of depressed thinking. If you have a friend or family member who suffers from depression, reach out to them today to offer your love and support. To spread awareness of the many different treatment options for mild to severe depression, here are some ideas that have helped others in the past.

1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
   Also known as CBT, cognitive behavioral therapy is one of the most popular and effective forms of modern psychotherapy. CBT combines elements of both talk therapy and behavioral therapy, and it is focused on changing the behavior and negative thinking that exacerbates depression. It is actually quite effective for mild to moderate cases of depression.
2. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors
   SSRIs are often the go-to antidepressant prescription for moderate to severe cases of depression. Studies have shown that SSRIs are equally effective as CBT in mild cases, but in moderate cases, using both treatment strategies together is the most effective. In cases of severe depression, antidepressants can often have a profound effect on patients, though it may take some time to find the proper medication and dosage.
3. Emotional Support Animals
   When you think of service animals, your mind might jump to people with physical disabilities. Rather surprisingly, then, there are many people who have support animals for depression. Service animal letters will help you overcome the barriers to bringing your pet wherever you go, so don’t worry about the logistics.
4. Exercise
   It might be a touch cliche and frustrating for people with depression to hear time and time again, but exercise really is among the best ways to overcome depression naturally. The qualifier here is that you must first overcome the depressive apathy toward exercise. For cases of mild to moderate depression, exercise has been proven to be equally effective as antidepressants in some patients.
5. Ketamine
   While this is still a highly experimental treatment for depression, it has shown repeatable success in early clinical trials. So much so, in fact, that many clinic doctors are prescribing it off-label. Ketamine has a murky reputation as a club drug, yet it was first created as a revolutionary battlefield anesthetic. Today, it is still used in hospitals for the same reason. Regardless of its original use, ketamine will likely only be prescribed for severe cases of depression.

There are many treatments available for people who suffer from depression. Some are old and some are new, yet all have their benefits when used properly. Whether you need to speak with a psychiatrist about medications or need a service animal letter, everyone deserves help coping with depression.