Can you benefit from professional mental health treatment? If you're not sure whether you need the help of a psychiatrist or not, take a look at some of the most common questions about depression and treatment options answered.

What Is Depression?

Depression is a common mood/mental health disorder. In 2017, around 17.3 million American adults had one or more depressive episodes. While sadness and persistent, prolonged, or severe mood changes are primary symptoms of depression, people with this disorder experience other signs.

Along with sadness, depression may also make it difficult to navigate your day. You may also experience fatigue, anxiety, agitation, fogginess/difficulty thinking, frustration, insomnia, reduced or increased appetite, weight loss or gain, or unexplained physical issues such as stomach aches or headaches.

Does Depression Require Professional Treatment?

There's no standard answer to this question. Sadness is a normal human emotion. Everyone feels blue, down, or sad at some time. Temporary or situational sadness may not require psychiatric services. But when sadness begins to interfere with your normal daily life, persists, or worsens, you may need professional help.

If you're still not sure whether you need the assistance of an experienced mental health provider, make the appointment anyway. A psychiatric counselor can diagnose depression and help you to understand whether you need additional help to overcome your mood changes and the related symptoms.

What Types of Treatment Are Available for Depression?

Even though depression can interfere with your daily life and impact relationships, it is a treatable condition. This means you don't have to suffer through sadness silently. After a mental health professional diagnoses depression, they will create a treatment plan.

The type of treatment you choose depends on several factors. Some people can manage their symptoms with lifestyle changes and therapy, while others may need to take a medical approach. Common medications prescribed for depression include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), tricyclic antidepressants, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).

While these medications can effectively treat depression (especially in combination with therapy), some patients may not feel comfortable taking prescriptions. If you are ready to make a change but don't want to take a prescription, talk to your doctor about natural treatment options for depression. A qualified mental health professional can explain the alternative treatment for depression options and help you to choose the one that works best for your individual needs.

To learn more, contact local psychiatrists.