Depression Treatment: Why are some days good and some days bad? (Depression Treatment)

Are you struggling with depression? You may have already started treatment. When you are receiving such treatment, sometimes you feel very light and healthy. But suddenly, for no reason, the old sadness, anxiety, and heaviness in your heart reappear. Don't think that you are alone with these ups and downs. This is a normal thing for many people who are receiving treatment for depression. So today, let's talk about why this happens, and what can be done about it.

Why don't antidepressants always work the same way?

When you're being treated for depression, sometimes a medication that worked well at first doesn't seem to work as well as it used to. Doctors call this a 'relapse', or the return of symptoms. Studies have shown that up to 30% of people who are on treatment experience this within a year.

Think about why this is happening. There could be several reasons for this. Simply put, something could be interfering with the way the medicine you are taking works.

Are you thinking of stopping your medication? What are the risks of doing so?

Some people get tired of taking medication because of the side effects it causes. At such times, some people stop taking the medication as they feel like it, or take it every other day.

What are these common side effects?

• Sexual dysfunction: The main issues are a lack of erection in men, inability to achieve orgasm in women, and low libido in both partners.
• Weight gain: Some medications can cause increased appetite and weight gain.

If you have a side effect like this, the best thing to do is to talk openly about it with your doctor. He or she can switch you to a different medication that is more suitable for you.

Another problem is not taking the medication properly. Some people say, "Yes, I take my medication every day," in front of the doctor, but when you ask them a little harder, they say, "Oh... I forget to take it three or four days a week." If you take it for a day or two and then don't take it for three or four days, the medication doesn't build up to the level it needs to work in the body. Therefore, it doesn't get any results.

Do you feel like your emotions are 'numbing' because of the medication?

This is also something that some patients have heard about. This is especially true for a small number of people taking SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors), a commonly prescribed class of medications.

Some people say, "I don't feel as sad as I used to, but I can't be as happy as I used to. Everything is the same."

This may be because these medications affect a chemical in the brain called dopamine , which is associated with feelings of pleasure and well-being. In such cases, your doctor may decide to add another medication (such as Bupropion) to your medication or switch you to a different medication.

This is something that often goes away completely when you change medications, so there's no need to worry.

What to do if old symptoms reappear (relapse)?

The most important thing is not to panic. If you feel like your depression symptoms are coming back, the first thing to do isTalking to your doctor.

Then he will give you the most suitable solution. It might be something like this:

• Increasing the dosage of the medication you are currently taking.
• Switching to another medication.
• Adding a new medication to the current medication.
• Starting psychotherapy, that is, talk therapy, along with medication.

If the condition is very severe, doctors may sometimes recommend specialized treatments such as 'shock therapy' (ECT). However, the most important thing is to take steps to take the treatment to a higher level.

Is talk therapy important along with medication?

Absolutely yes. While medication works to correct the chemical imbalance in your brain, psychotherapy helps you to talk about your problems and the events in your life that have caused your depression.

There are now short-term, targeted treatments for this.

• Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT): This involves talking about the life events that led to your depression (e.g., death of a loved one, breakup of a relationship) and teaching you how to cope with them.
• Cognitive Therapy: This involves identifying unwanted negative thoughts and incorrect attitudes in your mind and helping you change them.

This treatment is especially important if the parents are depressed. Research has shown that when parents' depression is treated, their children are happier and less likely to develop mental illnesses like depression in the future. That's like killing two birds with one stone!

Studies have clearly shown that people who take antidepressants have a two- to three-fold increased risk of relapse if they stop taking them suddenly. So, the best thing you can do is work with your doctor and continue treatment.