| Millions of people who are suffering from depression | | | | antidepressants are not meant to be taken |
| are currently taking antidepressant medication in an | | | | permanently. When a patient stops taking them, he/she |
| attempt to battle the condition. Oftentimes, doctors are | | | | is likely to relapse.Depression is often better combated |
| quick to prescribe the medication -- in fact, many times, | | | | without any medication at all. Psychological treatment |
| it's the first thing they do after diagnosing a patient.One | | | | methods for depression -- especially certain kinds of |
| of the keys to understanding and treating depression is | | | | psychotherapy -- have proven highly effective in |
| understanding what antidepressants really do: they | | | | treating the condition permanently. Good counseling will |
| tackle the symptoms of depression, not the roots. In | | | | break down each patient's cycle of depression and |
| many cases, psychotherapy and behavioral therapy | | | | help the patient identify unhealthy behaviors or thinking |
| are much more effective in treating depression and | | | | patterns and teach him/her how to change them. If |
| preventing relapse than medication is. Antidepressants | | | | there is a particular event that triggered the depression, |
| can be useful, especially in cases where the | | | | counseling can help the patient work through that as |
| symptoms are so intense that it prevents the patient | | | | well.Some herbal remedies can be a good |
| from receiving any other kind of treatment. But even in | | | | complement to therapy by helping to naturally relieve |
| those cases where major depression treatment is | | | | some of the symptoms of depression. St. John's Wort |
| needed, antidepressants alone are rarely enough to | | | | is generally considered to be one of the most potent |
| permanently battle the condition -- they are just an | | | | natural remedies for depression, and is so effective |
| effective way to temporarily relieve the patient's | | | | that it outsells prescription medications in some |
| symptoms enough to allow him/her to receive proper | | | | markets. Other popular choices for treating depression |
| treatment.Antidepressants are used to treat chemical | | | | naturally include ginko biloba and passion flower.In all |
| imbalance in the brain, but what many do not realize is | | | | cases, depression should be treated with the help of a |
| that the chemical imbalance is usually a symptom of | | | | professional. However, the more responsibility you take |
| depression and not the cause. Even when treating the | | | | for learning about your condition, the better you'll |
| symptoms, antidepressants can be highly unpredictable. | | | | understand your options, and the more participation |
| In one third of the cases, the medication is effective; in | | | | you'll have in deciding which treatment is best for you. |
| one third, it is partially effective, and in the remaining | | | | Remember to allow time for whichever treatment |
| third, it is not effective at all. In many cases, even when | | | | option you choose to take effect, and to speak up if |
| the medication is working, the side effects are so | | | | you are uncomfortable. Eventually, you will find your |
| unpleasant that the patient elects to stop using it. Also, | | | | path to better health. |