Therapists cannot help patients that will not admit that they have a problem and that they require help. Many depressed people are like this. They either deny their condition or they ignore it because they think that it is a shame to admit to such a weakness. They seldom realize just how badly their symptoms impact on the quality of life of those around them.
Before any treatment program can be decided upon, depressed patients need to undergo a full psychological and medical examination. Many medical conditions can manifest as symptoms normally associated with depressed patients. Therapists may also recommend that their new patients are placed on anti depressants for at least as long as it takes for them to cope alone or until treatment has produced some positive results. For this, the services of a psychiatrist are necessary.
Treatment will normally kick off with a number of sessions during which the patient is encouraged to talk about his emotions, his expectations and his frustrations. Patients know that the relationship with their therapists is strictly confidential, so they are more likely to be honest. Most depressed people do not know what it is that caused the condition, so these sessions help them to get to the heart of the matter.
At an early stage of the treatment, therapists normally advise their patients to make at least some changes to their lifestyle. They have to get into a routine. They need to exercise regularly, follow established sleeping patterns, eat regularly and take care of their personal hygiene. A structured routine helps many patients to get up each morning with certain things that must be done.
Depressed patients often feel isolated. That is why therapists normally combine individual sessions with them with group sessions. In these group interaction sessions patients learn how to communicate and share their feelings and how to emphasize with the problems of others. This healthy interaction often leads to mutual support and encouragement and in the process the patient does not even realize that he is progressing as an individual.
In very severe cases, where patients simply do not react to the treatment program or the medication that they use, they are admitted to a hospital or institutions geared for drastic interventions. Many of these patients pose a serious danger to themselves and sometimes even to others. They need to be monitored constantly and their treatment programs are much more intensive.
Life can be an enjoyable experience and the majority of people know how to cope with the inevitable frustrations of daily living. Depressed people have no joy. In fact, the suicide rate has soared over recent years. But there is hope, if only those suffering from this terrible ailment will seek help.
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