3 Therapeutic Techniques To Treat Depression

Depression can occur after a devastating loss. People sometimes develop depression following the loss of their job or the death of a loved one. The symptoms of depression may not be immediately recognizable if you've never dealt with depression before. While this condition can manifest with feelings of sadness, depression can have physical effects as well. People who are depressed may feel fatigued. You may sleep excessively or have a hard time falling asleep at night. Depression can also increase or decrease appetite.

Depression therapy is an effective method of treatment that can be provided by a mental health counselor. During therapy, your counselor will use various modes of talk therapy to treat your condition. Here are a few different therapeutic techniques you may be exposed to:

1. Eye Movement Desensitization And Reprocessing

Depression therapy isn't the same as trauma therapy, but there can be some overlap. People who have gone through traumatic experiences are more likely to become depressed. Dealing with your trauma can help reduce your depression symptoms. When you recall traumatic memories, your brain experiences the same emotions, which may re-traumatize you. Eye Movement Desensitization And Reprocessing, or EMDR, is an effective way to reprocess trauma.

EMDR allows you to remove the emotional component from traumatic memories. During an EMDR session, your therapist will ask you to focus on a moving object such as a pen or their finger. While your eyes follow the object, your therapist will ask you to recall an upsetting memory. The EMDR process can allow you to neutralize traumatic memories, which can lessen their impact on your life. 

2. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is commonly used to treat depression and anxiety. CBT acknowledges that some thought patterns are maladaptive. Depression can make people believe things that aren't really true. For example, many people who suffer from depression believe that they are burdens or that their loved ones would be better off without them. CBT will allow you to examine these thoughts and come up with strategies to refute them. Over time, CBT can lessen feelings of self-doubt and self-hatred. 

3. Psychoanalysis

Psychoanalysis is a traditional form of therapy based on Sigmund Freud's theories. Therapists who engage in psychoanalysis strive to help their patients understand themselves better. By getting to the root of your depression, you can figure out how to change your life appropriately. You can make choices that are in line with your values when you understand why you do the things you do.