Major depressive disorder, or clinical depression as it is often called, is a condition affecting 15 million American adults each year according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. As stated by Dr. Daniel K. Hall-Flavin, Mayo Clinic psychiatrist major depressive disorder is a persistent condition that interferes with one's ability to function and live life. It is a condition that can be overcome. You simply need to find the solution that meets your individual needs.
Step 1
Get a professional diagnosis. During a psychological evaluation, you may be asked about the symptoms you are experiencing, how severe they are and when they first began. Your doctor or mental health specialist will also ask you about your feelings and the events currently taking place in your life, all of which can be contributing factors.
Step 2
Take prescription medication. In cases of major depressive disorder, your doctor will typically begin by prescribing you medication to help ease your symptoms. The most commonly used medication, according to the experts at the Mayo Clinic, is an antidepressant called SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor). Many doctors feel that SSRIs are both effective and the best tolerated of all antidepressant medications. Your doctor may prescribe multiple antidepressants, or a combination of antidepressants along with mood stabilizers or antipsychotic medications.
Step 3
Undergo psychotherapy. Known also as talk therapy, counseling and psychosocial therapy, psychotherapy is typically used in conjunction with medication to help you overcome your depression. Even though psychotherapy is known by a variety of names, the treatment goal is the same for all--to help you overcome your depression by talking openly about your feelings and the issues which stem from them.
Step 4
Take an Omega-3 supplement. The best source of Omega-3 fatty acids is fresh fish. If you are not a fan of this brain food, you can take the supplement instead. According to the DepressionResourceCenter.com, eating fish two to three times a week, or taking 1,000 mg of the Omega-3 supplement, increases the communication between the nerve cells in your brain. This communication may help you overcome your depression.
Step 5
Exercise more frequently. Exercise in any form, whether it be a 30-minute walk each day or a half-hour jog three times a week, can help prevent symptoms of depression and the mood swings which accompany it. This is due in part to the endorphins released during exercise.
Step 6
Get enough sleep. The Depression Resource Center states that lack of sleep is both a cause and result of major depression. While many Americans suffering from this depression also suffer from insomnia, it is due to a mix up of hormones in your body. Your body needs serotonin during the day for energy and melatonin to sleep at night. When your body produces these hormones at the wrong time, you suffer the consequences, which include depression. To fix this problem, you simply need to stand in the sunlight for 30 minutes a day. This helps reset your internal clock, making it easier for you to sleep and overcome your depression.
