Treatments for depression range from medication to therapy and counselling, herbal remedies and self-help. Different combinations of these things work well for different people. The effectiveness of the treatments depend very much on what causes the depression, if there is a cause (sometimes there does not seem to be an obvious one).
Every year more than seventeen million Americans suffer a bout of clinical depression which disrupts their working, or academic life. This costs the economy the huge amount of forty-four million dollars each year. The figures for Europe are similar percentage wise.
Eighty percent of people suffering from depression are successfully treated and treatment usually consists of a mixture of medication and various non-drug therapies. There are a number of natural therapies available as treatments for depression, including St. John’s Wort which is extensively used throughout Europe, especially in Norway and Sweden. Until fairly recent times doctors have not rated natural treatments for depression very highly, but now things are changing. Exercise and sunlight always work to lift depression and give a sense of well-being although no one is saying that they will cure all types of depression. The problem with this treatment is that depressed people seem to find it hard to motivate themselves to exercise, or get some fresh air and sunlight.
Omega-3 which is found in fish oil has been claimed to help in some people, but large doses need to be taken. Lab made chemical drugs are often prescribed by doctors for depression but not all of the drugs work in the same way with everyone. Some may lift symptoms for some people and others may even make the patient feel worse. So, treatments for depression need to be tailored to suit the needs of the sufferer.
Alternative treatments for depression include vitamin B6 which is found in yeast extract; the Chinese herb Yi Shi Ren; 5-HTP; passion flower; and melatonin. Each one of these herbal treatments seems to work differently in different people, so the choice of non-drug treatments is wide.
Treatments for depression vary in effectiveness between people. Results include a lifting of mood which, when combined with other treatments can encourage a change of attitude and mood that discourages depression and promotes a more positive outlook.
There are other natural treatments for depression which should be combined with drug, or herbal treatment. First of all, spend longer outside, even if there is no direct sunlight, there are benefits from being outside in the fresh air. Improve your diet and eat more fruit and vegetables to keep your body charged up with the vitamins and minerals it needs. It may take some kind to find the right combination of treatments to suit your own particular kind of depression, but the vast majority of people can be helped if they will first admit that they have a problem. If you do not tell anyone that you have a problem then no one knows that you need help. Getting help is the start of recovery.