Therapy important aid
Going to therapy is still one of the first treatments recommended for depression. The right amount of sleep is also an important aspect.
How long to continue antidepressants is a question that often comes up.
Experts urge a continuation until you experience benefits for at least six months. After that, you can discuss with your therapist whether it is time to reduce the doses, or stop completely.
“Patients who do well on antidepressants are more likely to experience relapse of depression if they stop taking antidepressants,” says Kao-Ping Chuahealth researcher at the University of Michigan Medical School.
No “quick fix”
A common misconception is that the pills are “quick fixes”, which is not the case, according to Chua.
It usually takes a month or so to find the right dose for each individual. If it still doesn’t work, “you can switch to another antidepressant.”
Many tests
It is important not to stress your way through the road to better mental health and believe that the first best pill will solve the problems.
It’s about calmly finding the antidepressant that fits, and that can involve many tests.
Again, keep in mind that a healthy lifestyle already goes a long way towards better mental well-being.
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