{"id":18090,"date":"2022-08-26T17:15:00","date_gmt":"2022-08-26T17:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mastermindcontent.co.uk\/?p=18090"},"modified":"2022-09-20T08:56:50","modified_gmt":"2022-09-20T08:56:50","slug":"2-key-strategies-to-treat-depression","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mastermindcontent.co.uk\/2-key-strategies-to-treat-depression\/","title":{"rendered":"2 Key Strategies To Treat Depression"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I have first-hand experience in overcoming anxiety, depression and addictions. I tried medication and psychotherapy but found mainstream treatments were ineffective.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The rate of depression is accelerating. In 2021, The World Health Organisation (WHO) reported that 280 million<\/a> people globally suffer from depression. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The number of reported cases of depression worldwide<\/a> increased from 172 million in 1990 to 258 million in 2017.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One study<\/a> reports that an estimated 35 to 50% of individuals with severe depressive symptoms in high-income countries do not seek treatment. Moreover, only about 20% of the patients that do receive care for depression get effective treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mental health experts say that a combination of psychotherapy and medication is the best treatment for depression. This is backed up by the National Mental Health Association that confirm 80% of people who get treatment say they \u201cfeel better.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) say at least 50% of people that experience severe symptoms of depression will have a second episode even if they feel better after treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And about 80% of people who experience a second episode will have a third. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We should be asking a question here. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are psychotherapy and medication really the best treatment for depression or does it just make people \u201cfeel better\u201d for a while? <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n

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An Assessment of Common Treatment To Improve Depression<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Mental health experts claim that anti-depressants \u201ctake 3 to 6 months<\/a> for symptoms to improve to the point that you are no longer depressed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But mental health professionals also acknowledge patients can \u201cexperience a constellation of withdrawal symptoms<\/a>\u201d when they stop taking their medication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The statistics mentioned above in relation to relapses support this observation.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In other words, anti-depressants are not curing depression they are masking it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another issue is that the body develops tolerance to drugs to the point that medications become ineffective. That will account for second and third relapses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve documented the ineffectiveness of anti-depressants<\/a> in a previous article so won\u2019t go over it again here. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So what about the other aspect of mainstream treatments? I would expect psychotherapy to work, wouldn\u2019t you? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The APA<\/a> claims that 50% of patients coping with depression recover after 15-20 sessions. This is based on a self-reported measurement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The self-judgement may also be based on \u201cfeeling better\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Therapists prefer to continue sessions for a little longer. This way they can provide a professional assessment to determine whether the techniques improve depression for each patient. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It should be noted there is no single treatment to cure depression. Appropriate treatment should be given in relation to the root cause of depression and how well patients respond to suggested treatments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On average, therapists recommend 20-30 sessions over a period of six months. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research from the Netherlands<\/a> also found the average treatment period is around six months. Only 12% of patients had not recovered after 36 months. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The diagnostics for psychotherapy look more promising<\/strong>. Pills are nothing more than a copy mechanism to get you through your treatment, but could also be falsifying how you really feel. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When that\u2019s the case, patients that self-assess whether they have recovered from depression cannot confidently say their depression is cured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s take a look at the symptoms of depression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n