What to Do When Your Depression Treatment Isn’t Working

You finally spoke up about your depression. You discussed your mental illness with your doctor, got prescribed medication, and started seeing a counselor. Maybe you’ve even made healthy lifestyle changes like eating better, staying active, and engaging in things that bring you joy, but for some reason, you still feel stuck in a rut. 

Unfortunately, this is the case for many people suffering from depression. The traditional methods of treatment aren’t working, despite their best efforts. Some, spiral even more out of control as they begin to feel helpless that they’ll find an effective solution. 

What must be understood, however, is that depression is a complex disease that impacts everyone differently. As such, it can take a combination of medications, therapies, or lifestyle changes to find the best resolutions to heal. It is important, therefore, for people suffering from depression to be aware of signs that their treatment isn’t working and turn to medical and/or alternative solutions for the answers. 

Signs Your Depression Therapy Isn’t Working

It is important to note that there is no magic pill or solution that will treat depression the same day you start taking it. As with any medication or therapy, you have to allow it time to work. With that being said, here is a look at signs your depression treatment isn’t working: 

Medications Don’t Provide Relief After 4-6 Weeks

Those who suffer from chronic depression are often prescribed a medication known as antidepressants to help subside their symptoms and improve their mood. Your doctor will inform you, however, that these medications can take several weeks to get into your system and start reducing symptoms of depression. If you take the medication as prescribed for a month or longer and don’t feel any better, this is a sign the treatment is not working. 

Talk-Therapy Isn’t Effective

When you’re suffering from depression, having a trusted source you can confide in can help improve your mood. Counselors often use cognitive therapy techniques as a means of helping you to retrain your brain to eliminate negative thought patterns. Again, it can take several weeks for you and your counselor to get acquainted, comfortable, and to a point where the treatment is effective. If after a month or so of seeing your therapist, however, if there is no change in your mood or health, this is a sign it’s not working out. 

Side Effects Are Overwhelming

Like any medication, antidepressants have side effects. They can range from an upset stomach and nausea to sexual issues and even suicidal thoughts. These side effects can have a negative impact on your life if experienced for long periods of time and worsen your depression. If this happens, it is a surefire sign that your treatment isn’t working. 

What to Do About it? 

So, you’ve reviewed the symptoms and believe that your depression treatments aren’t working. Before giving up or feeling like it’s a hopeless process, consider trying these solutions listed below: 

• TMS Therapy – Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a treatment used for depression patients when other solutions haven’t worked. Magnetic pulses are delivered to nerve cells in the brain which help to reduce symptoms of depression. The procedure is noninvasive and has proven to be effective. You can find a service provider that offers Los Angeles based treatment for depression such as Pulse TMS or identify a company located near you to learn more about the process, costs, and effectiveness. 
• Change Medications – If you’ve been taking medication for depression for a month or more with no positive impact and/or the side effects are too extensive another solution might be to change medications. Your doctor may decide to increase the dosage of your current medication, prescribe another medication to take with your antidepressants or switch to another medication altogether. 
• Find a New Counselor – Who you decide to open up to about your depression matters greatly. If you do not feel comfortable with the therapist you’re visiting, it can hinder your ability to really open up and try their therapeutic techniques to improve. After a month or so, you may want to try looking for another therapist. Interviewing counselors prior to your appointment can give you a better idea of whether or not you vibe with their personality, views, and techniques for treating depression. 

Depression is a life-altering mental illness that impacts every aspect of your life. As you seek help for depression, remember that the journey isn’t always black and white. It will require some time and patience as well as some trial and error. The real lesson here is to not give up. If you feel like you’ve been trying to get better to no avail, look into the solutions listed above to find the right treatment for you.