Depression is a mental health condition that many people will experience at some point in their lives. It comes with symptoms that can impact your life significantly, and finding the right treatment will be essential to managing it successfully. Besides therapy, medication can be a vital part of your treatment plan as it can help to reduce your symptoms. However, some individuals may be resistant or skeptical about taking prescription medications. In this blog, we will explore five ways medication can help manage your depression effectively.
Increase Serotonin Levels
Your psychiatrist, psychologist, or primary care doctor may recommend an antidepressant to help you manage your depression. These medications typically work by increasing the serotonin levels in your brain. Low serotonin levels have been scientifically linked to an increase in depressive symptoms. These symptoms can include low mood, lack of energy, changes in appetite and sleeping patterns, and difficulty concentrating. An antidepressant helps increase the serotonin level in your brain to improve your overall mood and reduce your symptoms of depression and at Agave Psychiatry, our skilled clinicians are prepared to help you find the medication that works for you.
Increase in Norepinephrine and Dopamine
Besides Serotonin, some antidepressants will also increase a second neurotransmitter called norepinephrine. Studies have found that low norepinephrine levels are also associated with increased symptoms of depression. By taking the right antidepressant, your doctor may be able to increase the norepinephrine levels which can help reduce your depressive symptoms.
Other medications can be prescribed to increase dopamine levels. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that plays a role in regulating your motivation, happiness, and pleasure response. By increasing your dopamine levels, you can experience improved moods that may help to manage your depression.
Reduce Anxiety that Comes with Depression
Depression can often come with symptoms of anxiety and worry. These heightened emotions can make it difficult to carry out everyday tasks and reduce your quality of life. Medications, such as antidepressants, can help reduce your depression and anxiety symptoms. From intense worrying to anxious thoughts and racing heartbeat, medications can help reduce these symptoms to allow you to live a healthier life.
If you are skeptical about taking prescription medications or are concerned about the side effects, it is important to talk to your doctor. Your healthcare provider will be able to discuss the best options for you and ensure that you are on the medications that will be most beneficial for managing your depression.
However, if you are someone worried about taking multiple medications, there are medications that can help with both depression and anxiety. Your doctor may be able to prescribe something that works for both conditions. This way you will be able to get the help you need without having to take multiple medications but it depends on your individual situation.
Medications Can Supplement Other Treatments
If you are already in therapy for your depression, medications can help supplement your treatment plan. This more holistic approach can help to reduce your symptoms more effectively and allow you to work on yourself at a deeper level. A combination of medication and therapy can give you the best chance at managing your depression and living a better life.
As therapy will help you uncover the root causes of your depression and equip you with coping strategies, medications can help to reduce your symptoms. This way, you can work on uncovering the root causes while also getting relief from the symptoms of depression. Medications can also help you focus more in therapy as you will be less distracted by your symptoms.
For example, before starting medications, you may find it difficult to concentrate on the conversation between you and your therapist. After taking medicines, you may be able to better process and engage in your therapy sessions. Or, you may have felt unmotivated and lethargic before medications, thus making it difficult to even attend your therapy session. After taking medicines, you may feel more energized and motivated to attend and engage in your therapy sessions.
Improve Your Sleep Quality
When you are depressed, it can be difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep. You may even experience insomnia due to feeling as though you can’t “turn your mind off.” As depression affects your sleep cycle, this can lead to exhaustion and fatigue, and even insomnia. This can further worsen your depression symptoms as lack of sleep is associated with increased depressive issues, low mood, irritability, and apathy.
Medication can help to regulate your sleep and improve your overall quality of sleep. This will allow you to get the rest your body and mind need, which can be beneficial for managing your depression. However, depression can also cause individuals to sleep for much longer durations. Medication can help to reduce the amount of time spent sleeping and improve your sleep quality. It does this by increasing your energy levels during the day, allowing you to better manage your emotions and sleep cycle.
Stabilize Your Mood
Experiencing depression can lead you to feel different each day. You may experience a range of emotions, from intense sadness and anger to guilt, confusion, and more. Simply put, you may even notice you just don’t feel like yourself anymore.
Medication can help to stabilize your mood and reduce the intensity of emotions during fluctuations. It can also help to reduce feelings of irritability, which may be beneficial when dealing with stress and anxiety. This way, you are able to see things more objectively and feel more balanced overall.
Medications can also help to regulate your thoughts, allowing you to gain perspective over any situation and make decisions more objectively. This can be beneficial when dealing with daily tasks, problem-solving, and understanding the perspectives of others. Especially if you are experiencing hopelessness, medications can help to give you a sense of control over yourself and your life.
Begin Depression Treatment in Arizona
Sometimes therapy isn’t enough to manage your depression. Medication can help supplement your therapy plan and give you the relief that you need. It can also help you manage your symptoms so that you can feel like yourself again. At Agave Psychiatry we are committed to supporting you on your journey to finding relief. Follow the steps below to get started on your journey to healing.
- Get to know our skilled team of Clinicians here.
- Fill out our convenient online mental health contact form here.
- Start finding relief from depression with Agave Psychiatry!
Other Online Mental Health Services offered at Agave Psychiatry
In addition to Depression Treatment, we also offer a wide variety of other mental health services. These include treatment for Nutritional Psychiatry, ADHD, Insomnia, PTSD, Eating Disorders, outpatient substance abuse treatment, and Anxiety. In fact, we offer online treatment for both adults and children, and adolescents in the state of Arizona.
