How Do I Get Out of Depression?

When you’re living with depression, a thought that often stays in your mind is, how do I get out of this? And the truth is, there isn’t one simple answer. Depression can look different in everyone, and what helps one person may not work for another. The good news is that depression is treatable, and there are several paths you can explore to treat depression. Understanding what your options are will help you decide your next steps in feeling like yourself again.

Understand What You Are Facing

The first thing to know is that depression is more than feeling sad. Depression is a condition that leads to a persistent feeling of sadness and a loss of interest. If you recognize this feeling in yourself, it’s time to take it seriously. Just as you would treat a physical condition, depression deserves the same attention and seriousness. 

Reach Out To A Professional

If you are trying to work through depression on your own, sometimes you can feel like you are drowning. Talking to a mental health professional is often the first step to figure out your best course of action. Therapists and psychiatrists can help you understand depression, give you a diagnosis, and explore treatment options. Just the feeling of speaking to someone else about what you have been going through can feel like a weight lifted off your shoulders.

Explore Your Treatment Options

Depression has a number of treatments backed by research. These therapies don’t work the same for everyone, and many people use a mix of approaches to get better. Here’s a list of the most common and well-tested options out there:

• Therapy: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or other types of talk therapy have proven to reduce depressive symptoms by addressing negative thought patterns, teaching healthier ways to cope, and offering emotional support to their patients.
• Medication: Taking antidepressants can help to rebalance brain chemistry and alleviate symptoms. Medication may take some time to see improvements and may require adjustments in dosage. For many people, they provide great relief.
• TMS: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive and drug-free option. Magnetic pulses stimulate specific areas in the brain associated with mood. It’s FDA-approved and has helped many who have not found relief with medication or therapy.
• Spravato: Another FDA-approved treatment, given as a nasal spray. It targets the brain differently than other medications. It is given under medical supervision and is usually recommended to those with severe depression. 

At MDDCare, we help people connect with clinics across the U.S. that specialize in offering depression treatments like TMS and Spravato, making it easier to find trusted clinics near you.

Focus on Lifestyle and Daily Habits

Getting treatment is very very important, but making small changes to your daily habits can also play a role in positive change and lifting your mood. Incorporating daily exercise, like light walks, can help to increase endorphins and improve your energy. Getting good sleep is also very important in reducing fatigue and stabilizing your emotions. Additionally, eating a balanced diet is important for your brain health and mood regulation. 

Keep Connected

Living with depression causes you to withdraw from others, but this isolation then makes your depressive symptoms worse. Try reaching out to a friend or a family member that can listen and remind you that you are not alone. This support isn’t going to fix your depression, but it’s about having the safety net of a loved one to help you get through the hard moments.

Be Patient

When you first start treatment, understand you need to be patient and that progress will be gradual. It’s important to manage expectations and know that you will have good and bad days. If one treatment doesn’t give you the results you’re hoping for, there are other paths to explore. It’s about finding what works for you, and that may take time. Don’t give up.

If you are ready to explore your options, visit MDDCare.com today. We make it easy to find evidence-based treatments for depression.