The Best Way to Treat Depression

There are so many reasons that people may feel depressed, too many to count!  But please know that depression is a medical (mental health*) condition and as such, it generally requires medical treatment.

The best way to treat YOUR depression may not be the best way to treat your neighbor's or your child's or your friend's depression.

So, what is the BEST way to treat depression?

Seek and follow the treatment recommended by your licensed health care providers.  

A great place to start is with your primary care provider--such as a doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician's assistant--or a psychotherapist or counselor.  Any of these medical providers can assess you for depression and create a treatment program tailored just for you and your unique needs and situation.

You don't have to endure depression.  There is treatment available.  Take the first step today and contact a licensed medical provider for help.

You deserve to feel better!

Teresa

Teresa Heald LCSW

*Some medical conditions, such as thyroid disorder and Celiac disease, can cause depression as a symptom of those conditions.  Often once those underlying conditions are treated, depression lifts too.  Please talk to your primary care provider for more information; your provider may run some blood tests or other tests to rule out an underlying medical condition that may be the cause of your depression.

Help for Infertility

Couples who want to conceive a child but can not achieve pregnancy successfully may experience many emotional challenges.  Infertility can lead to stress, depression, and anxiety, among other issues.1  

But here is some great news:  psychotherapy can increase the odds that a couple facing infertility can become pregnant.1   Isn't that exciting?!

In addition, talking to a psychotherapist may reduce depression, anxiety, and the distress that oftentimes accompany infertility treatment.1

A type of therapy, called cognitive behavioral therapy, actually works better than the anti-depressant medication fluoxetine in treating infertility stress.2 

Who knew that going to a therapist could increase the odds that a couple can achieve pregnancy?  

If you are struggling with infertility, perhaps seeing a psychotherapist or counselor trained in treating infertility would be a helpful addition to your treatment.  

Be well!

Teresa

Teresa Heald LCSW

1 Frederiksen,, Y., Farver-Vestergaard, I., Skovgard, N., et al. (2015).  Efficacy of psychosocial interventions for psychological and pregnancy outcomes in infertile women and men: a systematic review and meta-analysis.  British Medical Journal Open, 5(1). 

2  Faramarzi, M., Pasha, H., Esmialzadeh, S., et al. (2008).  The Effect of the The Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Pharmacotherapy on Infertility Stress: A Randomized Controlled Trial.  Journal of Affective Disorders, 108(1-2), 159-64.