One of the most critical questions depressed people ask when despair and agony have taken hold is whether depression can be treated or not.
The simple answer is yes, depression is treatable. Unfortunately, the path to recovery can be complex and varied because of individual differences, and since depression is never precisely the same. As a result, treatment isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution.
The good news is that many people experience significant improvement with the right treatment plan, and some bounce back entirely. The earlier depression is diagnosed and treated, the better the chances of a full recovery.
However, even in cases where depressive symptoms are chronic, dealing with these issues can help manage symptoms and improve a person’s quality of life.
Can depression be cured completely?
Depression can be cured completely, but that doesn’t mean that will be the case for everyone.
Even if you’ve recovered, it’s possible to relapse later in the future.
That’s why I consider it critical to treat mental illnesses early on. Learn what your stressors (what triggers your depression) are, and how to cope with these issues effectively.
I wouldn’t call myself cured, even though life is a lot better currently. I’m much more capable of managing it and understand that I’m becoming more depressed if I start to withdraw socially, and if my desire to drink alcohol (to self-medicate and feel better) increases.
Is depression treatable without medication?
If you’re “only” suffering from mild to moderate depression, then you can probably treat it without using any medication.
Still, it can help to ease the debilitating symptoms that often go along with the disorder, making it less painful to function in society and your daily life once more.
The effects tend to wane off for me, but they helped to make the first couple of months a lot more bearable.
Whether you decide to use medication or not is up to you. However, I consider it optimal to combine therapy with medication, as you want to create a holistic treatment plan that attacks this multifaceted disease from all angles.
However, you should definitely use antidepressants when severely depressed. Whatever arguments you might have against using pills, these are all invalid if you end up seriously harming yourself. ALWAYS employ medication when at risk for self-harm or when you’re having suicidal thoughts. That would be my rational recommendation.
Conclusion
Depression is treatable, even though it might not feel that way when you’re in the middle of it.
With the right combination of therapy, medication, lifestyle changes, and support, many people recover or find effective ways to manage their symptoms.
It might take time to find what works, but treatment does help, and healing is possible.
Please consider joining our forum and Facebook if you enjoyed reading this and would like to chat with like-minded peers about anything depression related.
It would certainly go a long way toward my dream of creating a thriving, supportive community!
