Anyone with depression
knows that the condition can rob you of more than just happiness — its
debilitating symptoms can affect your relationships, your ability to
work, even your desire to get up off the couch. So should you just
cross your fingers and hope things get better soon?
“In some cases, depression may resolve on its own without treatment, but much of the time it doesn’t,” explains Michael S. Ziffra, MD, an assistant professor in psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Evanston, Ill.
Many people go through a trial-and-error period of treatment before they find the most effective combination of lifestyle changes, therapy, and medication, says Dr. Ziffra — but with the right treatment, the positives can be sizable (and well worth the effort): Better sleep. Better memory. Better sex life!
Once you get the right treatment for your depression, here’s what you can look forward to.
However, treating depression could help you achieve and maintain a healthy weight. A recent review of six years worth of research published in the Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners reported that people whose depression was stable or treated were better able to maintain their weight loss.
But overcoming depression may mean you start sleeping soundly. However, because some antidepressants worsen or fail to address sleeplessness, your doctor may recommend an additional medication to correct sleep issues until your sleep problem and the depression are resolved (a study of 385 adults published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry found that supplementing their primary antidepressant with one that targets sleep improved their sleep overall).
In fact, many people find that they’re better able to concentrate once they overcome depression. However, if your depression is related to another cause of memory loss, such as dementia or brain injury, depression treatment can improve your quality of life and might improve cognition, but it won’t cure the memory issues.
However, some research has found that depression treatments may bring back your desire: In an analysis of more than 1,000 adults who took the depression drug Abilify (aripiprazole) along with another antidepressant, women using the medication reported an increased interest in sex (however, men did not report similar results).
But if medications have turned you off, there are a number of things you can do turn on your love-life switch again: For example, you might be able to change to another depression drug or get an additional prescription. And remember, once treatment is over and you’re feeling better, your interest in sex should return, says Ziffra.
It’s difficult to determine whether the depression is due to ongoing pain or is simply making pain worse, but doctors recommend that you treat depression along with being proactive about pain management — the physical aches could dramatically improve once depression disappears.
However, a study of Korean workers published in Value Health found that just eight weeks of depression treatment reduced absenteesism and costs related to depression. So don’t delay treatment — your big promotion could depend on it.
However, Ziffra explains that once you take that first step off the sofa and start seeking help, you will start feeling more motivated to take other important steps, such as delving into challenging projects at work, reconnecting with the important people in your life, and renewing interest in the passions you used to enjoy (salsa dancing, anyone?).
“There’s some evidence that treatment may help to prevent relapse, especially in people who have had multiple episodes or who have a strong genetic predisposition,” Ziffra says.
“In some cases, depression may resolve on its own without treatment, but much of the time it doesn’t,” explains Michael S. Ziffra, MD, an assistant professor in psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Evanston, Ill.
Many people go through a trial-and-error period of treatment before they find the most effective combination of lifestyle changes, therapy, and medication, says Dr. Ziffra — but with the right treatment, the positives can be sizable (and well worth the effort): Better sleep. Better memory. Better sex life!
Once you get the right treatment for your depression, here’s what you can look forward to.
Healthier Weight
Some people with depression lose weight because their appetite has taken a hike; others cope with food and end up putting on pounds. Then add the fact that folks with depression are often stripped of their motivation to be physically active and may be less inclined to engage in other healthy behaviors, and that can lead to some serious weight issues, says Dr. Ziffra.However, treating depression could help you achieve and maintain a healthy weight. A recent review of six years worth of research published in the Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners reported that people whose depression was stable or treated were better able to maintain their weight loss.
Better Zzzs (and More Energy!)
One of the most pronounced symptoms of depression is sleep trouble, whether it’s sleeping too much or too little. For some people, the insomnia-depression cycle turns vicious: You may lose sleep over your mental health, and then the lack of quality sleep feeds the depression and makes it worse.But overcoming depression may mean you start sleeping soundly. However, because some antidepressants worsen or fail to address sleeplessness, your doctor may recommend an additional medication to correct sleep issues until your sleep problem and the depression are resolved (a study of 385 adults published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry found that supplementing their primary antidepressant with one that targets sleep improved their sleep overall).
Much-Needed Memory Jolt
Been feeling a little foggy? “One of the possible symptoms of depression is that it can affect some cognitive abilities,” notes Ziffra.In fact, many people find that they’re better able to concentrate once they overcome depression. However, if your depression is related to another cause of memory loss, such as dementia or brain injury, depression treatment can improve your quality of life and might improve cognition, but it won’t cure the memory issues.
A Sizzling Sex Life
Sex and depression are connected in quite complicated ways — while the mental health condition may dull your interest in sex to begin with, some people experience sexual side effects from the drugs they take to treat depression.However, some research has found that depression treatments may bring back your desire: In an analysis of more than 1,000 adults who took the depression drug Abilify (aripiprazole) along with another antidepressant, women using the medication reported an increased interest in sex (however, men did not report similar results).
But if medications have turned you off, there are a number of things you can do turn on your love-life switch again: For example, you might be able to change to another depression drug or get an additional prescription. And remember, once treatment is over and you’re feeling better, your interest in sex should return, says Ziffra.
Fewer Aches and Pain
The hallmark symptoms of depression are emotional, but the condition may also come with physical symptoms. In fact, numerous studies show that people who have a pain-related condition, such as joint pain or pain caused by cancer treatment, feel their pain more intensely if they are also depressed.It’s difficult to determine whether the depression is due to ongoing pain or is simply making pain worse, but doctors recommend that you treat depression along with being proactive about pain management — the physical aches could dramatically improve once depression disappears.
A Jump-Start on Your Job
What’s the leading cause of lost productivity and work time in this country? Depression. Estimates suggest that, in the United States, about $42 billion is lost annually because of depression-related productivity issues.However, a study of Korean workers published in Value Health found that just eight weeks of depression treatment reduced absenteesism and costs related to depression. So don’t delay treatment — your big promotion could depend on it.
More Motivation
If you feel robbed of your enthusiasm for the things you love, you’re not alone — in fact, depression can make it hard just to get off the couch.However, Ziffra explains that once you take that first step off the sofa and start seeking help, you will start feeling more motivated to take other important steps, such as delving into challenging projects at work, reconnecting with the important people in your life, and renewing interest in the passions you used to enjoy (salsa dancing, anyone?).
Less Likelihood of Relapse
Perhaps the only thing that can make you feel worse about your symptoms of depression is fear that you’ll go through depression again later on. But if you and your doctors aggressively work to overcome depression now, you can breathe a little easier.“There’s some evidence that treatment may help to prevent relapse, especially in people who have had multiple episodes or who have a strong genetic predisposition,” Ziffra says.
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