Clinical depression is considered to be a disease much like the flu or heart disease. As our understanding of how the brain and emotions work has increased, medicine has become better at treating clinical depression. Currently there are a number of different treatment options for people dealing with clinical depression, which allows them to choose the options that they prefer.
Step 1
Take medication. According to the Mayo Clinic, there are a number of different medications that can be prescribed to help treat clinical depression. They all affect levels of chemicals in the brain. One kind is called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These include citalopram, fluoxetine and sertraline. SSRIs work by increasing the amount of serotonin (which is a chemical that modulates mood) in your brain. Other medications include tricyclic antidepressants, which are used as a second-line treatment because they cause more side effects.
Step 2
Receive psychotherapy. Psychotherapy is another treatment option that can be used as an alternative or in addition to pharmaceutical treatments for clinical depression. There are a number of different approaches with psychotherapy, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (which works to identify situations and thought processes that contribute to depression and training you how to deal with them). For this option, you need to meet with a trained psychotherapist with whom you feel a connection.
Step 3
Undergo electroconvulsive therapy. This type of treatment, though drastic, is a very effective treatment for clinical depression. Electroconvulsive therapy uses an electrical current to induce a seizure and can be used to treat severe cases of depression.
