Depression and anxiety are the two most common mental illnesses, and you may not realize their devastating effects on so many of us. Did you know that depression is the number one cause of disability worldwide?
Fortunately, that doesn’t have to be the case for you. There are treatment options available to those in need. Let’s talk about how to find the right help for your needs to overcome depression and anxiety.
What Is Depression?
There are too many types of depression to discuss. However, the most common is major depressive disorder, affecting millions each year.
Depression is not a general sadness, which all of us experience from time to time. Rather, depression is a chemical imbalance in the brain that can lead to feelings of numbness, worthlessness, and severe sadness. Some people may experience low energy levels, a lack of interest in their passions, and an aversion to social behaviors.
What Is Anxiety?
While there are many types of anxiety disorders, anxiety is defined as a feeling of nervousness, panic, or unease. This can be toward an imminent event with an uncertain outcome, which is situational anxiety. Alternatively, it could be a more generalized feeling, known as a generalized anxiety disorder.
Anxiety affects over 6.8 million adults in the US, making it one of the most common mental illnesses in the country. While there are many types of anxiety, treatment is relatively similar.
The Importance of Mental Health Treatment
If you suffer from anxiety and depression, you may feel like there’s no hope. Many people don’t even realize they aren’t supposed to feel this way, especially if they’ve had symptoms for a long time.
Otherwise, symptoms will only get worse the longer they are left untreated. Without proper treatment, this can lead to serious issues including self-harm, self-medication, suicidal thoughts or actions, and other serious and harmful effects.
For this reason and more, it’s essential to find the right treatment plan for your needs as soon as possible. Here’s what you need to know.
Outpatient Treatment For Depression and Anxiety
For most people with depression and/or anxiety, outpatient treatment is the best option. However, if your anxiety and depression are severe, you may need residential mental health services, especially if you are having suicidal thoughts or plans. Look into mental health treatment options right away if that is the case, as everything else in your life can wait!
Otherwise, here are some common outpatient treatment options for depression and anxiety.
Therapy Services
Therapy services should be the top priority for anybody with anxiety or depression. Ideally, this should be with a licensed psychiatrist, preferably one who specializes in your conditions.
Unfortunately, it’s not a “patient’s market” right now, as waiting lists are quite long nationwide for therapy services. Still, it’s better to get matched with a therapist as soon as possible, even if there is a wait time.
Support Groups
We wouldn’t suggest this as a sole treatment option, but it can offer plenty of benefits to those struggling with mental illness. You may even find a group tailored to your needs. There are support groups for people with certain traumas, conditions, and more.
For example, if a cause of your anxiety and depression is growing up with an alcoholic in your home, there are groups for that. There are also groups for:
- Sexual assault survivors
- Domestic abuse survivors
- Child abuse survivors
- Those with certain mental illnesses
- Those in recovery
- People with specific values, ethnicities, or religious beliefs
The list goes on. If you feel like you could benefit from talking to people with familiar struggles, this can be a great supplement. You won’t feel as alone, and you can network with and learn from people with similar goals to you.
Medication Treatment
If you do not have a psychiatrist, we at least recommend talking to your primary care doctor about your anxiety and depression. Your doctor may choose to refer you to a psychiatrist or specialist, or they may be able to offer you medication treatment.
Medication treatment won’t solve everything, especially not the underlying causes of your conditions. However, they can dramatically improve the symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Some of these medications are habit-forming, so if you have a history of addiction, tell your doctor before accepting any medications. Medication treatments can make a world of difference for mental health, but only when used as prescribed by a medical professional.
Remember, if you have a psychologist or other counselor, they will not be able to prescribe medications. In this case, it’s important to talk to your physician about proper care.
Rehab Services
Sometimes, depression and anxiety treatment need more intensive care. In that case, you may need the help of rehab centers in San Diego, which can offer intensive outpatient programs to help with depression, anxiety, and issues that may arise as a result, including self-medication or addiction.
If you need help with substance abuse and mental illness, then we recommend dual diagnosis treatment. This is designed to help you address your substance abuse, as well as its underlying causes. Dual diagnosis treatment is the best and fastest way to get your life back on track with minimal bumps in the road, so look into treatment options right away!
Find Help Today
Depression and anxiety may be two of the most common mental illnesses, but they are not something to take lightly. If left to persist, they can worsen overtime and become debilitating and more challenging to treat.
Stay up to date with our latest mental health and recovery tips, and don’t hesitate to contact us for help finding a treatment plan that’s right for you!