- If you are using medicine, your doctor may have you try different medicines or a combination of medicines.
- You may need to go to the hospital if you show warning signs of suicide, such as having thoughts about harming yourself or another person, not being able to tell the difference between what is real and what is not (psychosis), or using a lot of alcohol or drugs.
If you don't get treated, depression may last from months to a year or longer. A small number of people feel depressed for most of their lives and always need treatment.
If you need help deciding whether to talk to your doctor about depression, see some common reasons people don't get help and how to overcome them.
You can help yourself by getting support from family and friends, staying active, eating a balanced diet, avoiding alcohol, and getting enough sleep. See Living with Depression.
Other treatments
Other treatments for depression include:
- Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).
- Complementary therapies are sometimes used for depression. Always tell your doctor if you are using any of them.
One Man's Story: "...[T]his was the first time I was willing to do anything to recover. It's changed my whole life."-Stan Read more about Stan's struggle with depression. |