Treating depression isn’t a “one size fits all” type of thing. Different treatment modalities are available. Before choosing which of these is best for you, there are a few things that you should consider.
Depression’s Many Symptoms
There are many different symptoms associated with depression (e.g., persistent feelings of sadness, loss of interest in things that previously interested you, sleep issues, appetite changes, difficulty concentrating, low self-esteem, and thoughts of suicide). However, some of these symptoms are more common than others.
Isolation and Distance
When you’re suffering from this mental health issue, you’ll probably notice that you’re growing more isolated and distant from your friends and family. This is because you may feel guilty or worthless, so you unknowingly feel as though other people don’t want to spend time around you. A lot of people don’t fully understand what you’re going through when you’re feeling depressed, which means that even more distance and isolation develop between you.
Irritability
This symptom can cause numerous issues with your relationships because people don’t understand why you’re feeling this way. Some people may even feel as though they’re the target of your irritability. Here, without treating depression, tension may develop. Therefore, this mental health issue may result in your relationships growing tense or even becoming damaged.
Substance Abuse
Treating depression frequently results in substance abuse. Unfortunately, this will have an even greater impact on your mental health, thus causing more damage to your relationships. This vicious cycle becomes especially problematic for those relationships in which you’re living and spending a lot of time around someone. If your partner doesn’t agree with or support your substance abuse (which they shouldn’t), it’ll cause additional difficulties in your relationship.
Finding Support for Your Depression
When you aren’t the one who’s dealing with a mental health issue, it can be challenging to support someone who is. While you may be fine offering short-term support, when it comes to offering long-term support, it can be much more challenging. This is because of the amount of mental energy it requires, which can then impact your own mental health. When this happens, both of you will be in a toxic situation wherein there are feelings of anger, resentment, and anxiety. This is why an important part of treating depression has to do with finding the right support for it.
Only when you’re able to find this support will you be able to start overcoming these challenges so that your relationships are both healthier and happier. Some of the most common ways of treating depression include:
- Talk therapy allows you to speak openly and honestly with a supportive professional about what’s going on in your life and how you’re feeling. This is especially helpful if you don’t feel like you can talk to anyone about your feelings and concerns.
- Couples therapy is another form of talk therapy. Here both people in the relationship are present so that they can talk about their issues together. This allows them to resolve deep-rooted issues and get the support and help they need.
- Medication is also used in some cases. It’s usually helpful when you’ve tried other treatment modalities and haven’t had much success with any of them.
Depression affects many different aspects of a person’s life, including personal relationships. Treating depression can be challenging. It may take you years to treat and overcome it. At the Advantage Mental Health Center in Clear water, FL, we’ll look at how this mental health condition is affecting your life and what we can do to help you reduce its symptoms so you can live a fulfilling life. Contact us today to get the help that you need.