The course of the treatment

If you've been feeling depressed for some time we would advise you to go and see your doctor. He or she can either offer you the treatment you need or refer you to a psychiatrist.

If the psychiatrist believes that you are very unwell, he or she may suggest admission to hospital. Read more about admission here.

Antidepressants
The primary treatment for moderate to severe depression is antidepressants, possibly in combination with psychotherapy.

Many new antidepressants have become available in recent years. These new medicines are more effective and better tolerated than many of the old medicines. The side-effects are usually mild and transient.

It’s important to realize that if you require ongoing treatment that you are not “addicted” to antidepressants. It simply means that you have a chronic illness that requires ongoing medication to ensure normal functioning. Read more about treatment here.

Psychotherapy and other forms of therapy
Mild depression can be treated with psychotherapy. But if you suffer from moderate to severe depression, your treatment will probably comprise a combination of psychotherapy and antidepressants.

Read more about psychotherapy here.

The timing of psychotherapy depends largely on how you feel. Sometimes it may be necessary to wait until your medication takes effect before psychotherapy is started.

You can also try to help yourself feel better. If you are at home, you can find activities that you enjoy, either on your own or with a member of your family and/or friends. You can start by planning an enjoyable daily activity. Try to structure your day. By keeping active, you will find it easier to get though your day, and you will not have as many negative thoughts.

Be patient
Antidepressants usually only take effect after a few weeks so it is important to be patient and take your medicine as prescribed by your doctor.

The first couple of weeks can be very difficult to get through, and you will need support and encouragement during this period. You may experience side effects and start to doubt whether the medicine is having any benefit.

Trust your doctor and if you have any concerns, talk to him/her.