5 Essential Remedies for Treating Depression: Coming Back from the Brink
Graeme Cowan suffered through a five-year episode of depression that his psychiatrist described as the worst he has ever treated.
Part of his recovery involves helping people build their resilience and mental fitness as the Director of R U OK? In his book, Back From the Brink: True Stories and Practical Help for Overcoming Depression and Bipolar Disorder, he offers advice gleaned from interviews with 4,064 people who live with mood disorders.
He asked the respondents to rate the treatments they had tried and how much each had contributed to their recovery. Here’s what he found.
The following were the top eleven most effective treatments:
Supportive psychiatrist
Supportive psychologist
Support group, emotional support of family and friends
Vigorous exercise
Psychotherapy
Fulfilling work, paid or voluntary
Sleep
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
Reducing intake of alcohol and other non-prescription drugs
Belief in God, spirituality, religion
Other helpful treatments include:
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT)
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
Hobbies, such as gardening, pets, or music
Massage
Yoga/meditation
Medication
Relaxation
Good nutrition
Keeping a gratitude journal
Acupuncture
Cowan then categorizes the effective approaches into five major themes:
1. Emotional Support
We are social creatures who crave empathy and connection. That’s why emotional support, reassurance, and compassion from psychiatrists, psycholog...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatrists and Psychologists Authors: Therese J. Borchard Tags: Bipolar Depression Disorders Family Friends General Medications Mental Health and Wellness Motivation and Inspiration Psychiatry Psychology Psychotherapy Research Self-Help Treatment Bipolar Disorder Clinical Psychology C Source Type: blogs
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